Horse Slaughter Returning

[BornToRide]

As long as there's a market and surplus horses they will always find ways to slaughter horses

[Bluey]

As long as there's a market and surplus horses they will always find ways to slaughter horses

Well, at least those horses no one wants will have one more use slaughtered, as they have for centuries and still have today in most of the world.

Remember, we are not talking about your or my horses, only those that no one wants, of which there are many, many out there without homes today and more every day.

[BornToRide]

The point is that there are too many horses produced and not enough permanent homes for all of them.

The worst part about the slaughter is really how it is conducted, how the animals are held, transported , handled and killed. That applies to other critters too. There should be more kindness and consideration given, even when taking a life for food!

[Bluey]

The point is that there are too many horses produced and not enough permanent homes for all of them.

The worst part about the slaughter is really how it is conducted, how the animals are held, transported , handled and killed. That applies to other critters too. There should be more kindness and consideration given, even when taking a life for food!

Right, we all agree with that.
Now, who is to say what is a proper way?
I too have reat about all those horror stories the AR sites like to use for their propaganda, some of the videos clearly staged.

The one time a friend went to a slaughter plant and was there thru most of two days, he said it was not any different than horses walking down the alley at the BLM pens or at the local auction to get their Coggins or whatever they need.
Except they were shot at the end, which is terrible to see, but not terrible for the horses as far as they knowing anything.
He never saw a miss in the many he saw and when he asked, he said the people were very worried if someone missed, that it was very rare and disturbing to all, no one wanted that to happen.

I think all those gruesome stories may have had some basis in some abuse cases, but it was not the norm they made them sound, any more than abuse in rescues as we are just again hearing about is the norm for all rescues.

[FillySire]

Oh I sure hope so!!!!!!

What an asshole. I hope you get kicked in the face.

[Calamber]

Wow, FS, can you tone down the hate a bit? Remember the rules of the bulletin board, if you have not read them in a bit I am sure the Mods can remind you.

[Pony Person]

Absolutely, delicious, especially the children, they are so tender. Just like butter.

That reminds me of that one thread about CoTHers eating babies! Anyone else remember that?

[Pony Person]

Wow, FS, can you tone down the hate a bit?

Yeah, that was really uncalled for.

[vineyridge]

I've read several stories in the news that since Iceland's economy tanked, the Icelanders are eating more horse meat, which is cheaper than other kinds of animal protein. The Icelanders love their ponies but aren't averse to eating them at the end of their productive lives.

[jse]

Just a thought, if people are against slaughter what do they think of the fox hunts who take "donations" of horses that their owners can't afford to medicate or take care of due to injury or disease or they have the means to put them down but have nowhere to burry them? It is my understanding that the horses are slaughtered and the meat is fed to the hounds. (I definitely could be wrong, don't quote me on that.)
Not trying at all to stir the pot but to me (and correct me if I'm wrong), this is a method of horse slaughter and it goes on every day. Had a man from a local fox hunt come to pick up a mare with a tumor on her hind leg (it had been oozing for weeks and in fact like a month ago I said to my husband "Why on earth are they keeping that poor girl around? She's in too much pain.")the other day. Mind you this is NOT my mare, but she is one that we've been feeding for someone this winter.

Thoughts anyone?

[anita m]

What an asshole. I hope you get kicked in the face.

Wow. That was really uncalled for. There are a lot of valid reasons to be happy about it, because many people believe it will actually reduce horse suffering.

[trafalgar]

I do not even like the idea of eating cows so don't get me wrong but There is a good argument for having more local slaughter houses for horses. One of the most painful aspects of horse slaughter is the way they are transported and then depending on the slaughter house (in Mexico or Canada) they can be killed horribly. Here in the US they would have more regulations and probably humane officers at the plants to make sure the horses are treated properly. Also they would spend much much less time on the van so maybe it should be considered

[caffeinated]

I've read several stories in the news that since Iceland's economy tanked, the Icelanders are eating more horse meat, which is cheaper than other kinds of animal protein. The Icelanders love their ponies but aren't averse to eating them at the end of their productive lives.

They also have always actively raised them as meat animals too. There's a poster over on horsecity from Iceland, who is quite interesting to talk to about it. The herds seem pretty well divided between "good quality riding stock" and the culls. Sounds like the culls live a pretty good life, sort of like range cattle, until they are slaughtered. But that's probably a whole other topic...

[anita m]

I couldn't agree more, trafalgar.

While I abhor the idea of horse slaughter, I abhor the idea of slow starvation worse, or starvation and transport on a double decker trailer, and then death.

Shoot, I even hate to see dead deer by the side of the road.

In fact, I hate all suffering. It hurts my heart.

Yet, there is nothing we can humanly do to prevent it all.

If only we could.

[Blinkers On]

The point is that there are too many horses produced and not enough permanent homes for all of them.

The worst part about the slaughter is really how it is conducted, how the animals are held, transported , handled and killed. That applies to other critters too. There should be more kindness and consideration given, even when taking a life for food!

I agree with that and I agree with the law posted by ?Bluey?
Sadly not all horses are wanted and production is far greater than demand. Even more now as the economy spirals down hill. There has to be a middle of the road compromise that recognizes that people are abandoning horses in the most harsh of situations to wipe their hand clean some how of the death of the horse. And sadly death isn't kind in this instance either. Maybe equally as awful as slaughter other than it is "natural" between a predator and an animal of prey. As opposed to human against horse. Neither is a lovely thought.
I do hope a better form of handling pre slaughter can be accomplished. It is needed. Sadly. People are struggling like I've never witnessed and the animals will suffer one way or another. They always do.

[Appsolute]

Bute was developed for humans and used to be a legal for human use. It was untill it showed to have many bad side effect that it was banned.

I seriously doubt that you could feed enough bute to a horse where it could store enough of the drug in its muscles to kill some one who ate a few ounces of it.

I know there are many strong feelings on the subject, but I eat meat, have known some nice, cool cows.

I really don't see a difference in eating one animal over the other.

But I do agree that many plants and transpertation methods are not suitable for horses. This needs to change.

In todays economy I think slaughter isn't the worst outlet for the glut of unwanted horses

[Blinkers On]

I've taken bute. I had a few broken bones and dumb enough to try to continue to work. Bute was the only option at the time. Can't say it made me feel poorly.

[Susan P]

Actually we could be talking about my horses, we could be talking about my horses stolen and sold for slaughter. As long as it's an easy transaction we run that added risk of not only having our horses stolen but brutally slaughtered. It's very hard to trace and way to easy to do. I've heard plenty of horror stories, such as when the wagon train went through the country, some horse thieves went along with them and there was a rash of horse theft wherever they went. No trace of the horses, none of them were tracked down as far as I know and it really didn't make the front page of the newspaper either.

One of the sadest stories I heard was the little girl who's pony was taken and they found it's hyde in the pile and identified it at Cavel. The father took his daughter to Washington to lobby to end horse slaughter with their story. Cavel offered to compensate them for the value of the meat. That was all they were entitled to get.

Overbreeding is not the answer!

Well, at least those horses no one wants will have one more use slaughtered, as they have for centuries and still have today in most of the world.

Remember, we are not talking about your or my horses, only those that no one wants, of which there are many, many out there without homes today and more every day.

[Susan P]

Do you eat dog and cat too?

I don't eat horse, I do eat other animals, like cows, most Americans don't have cows as companion animals. In America, horse is not an acceptable meat neither is dog and cat. It's our society's standard, other societies can do what suits them with their animals, we can't stop them nor can we interfere. When they set up shop killing American horses they are interfering with our culture.

Bute was developed for humans and used to be a legal for human use. It was untill it showed to have many bad side effect that it was banned.

I seriously doubt that you could feed enough bute to a horse where it could store enough of the drug in its muscles to kill some one who ate a few ounces of it.

I know there are many strong feelings on the subject, but I eat meat, have known some nice, cool cows.

I really don't see a difference in eating one animal over the other.

But I do agree that many plants and transpertation methods are not suitable for horses. This needs to change.

In todays economy I think slaughter isn't the worst outlet for the glut of unwanted horses

[sanctuary]

Well, at least those horses no one wants will have one more use slaughtered, as they have for centuries and still have today in most of the world.

Remember, we are not talking about your or my horses, only those that no one wants, of which there are many, many out there without homes today and more every day.

Absolutely. A vet was telling me the other day how a friend of hers delivers brand new Sundowner Trailers. The guy stopped at a diner to get some lunch with a new 4 horse trailer. When he came out, there were 4 horses standing on the trailer!

As for there being more and more homeless horses, that is absolutely the truth also! I've been having people coming up to me everyday "do you need lesson horses? I have xyz that I don't/can't keep anymore. Please help me find him a home". It's only going to get worse. Without slaughter, there will be more horses than homes and they will end up neglected and starved to death instead.