| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  Save The Horses  |
|
|
countrynmore
True Blue Farmgirl
1975 Posts
Sharon
CA
USA
1975 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 10:34:13 AM
|
I am a person who likes animals, especially horses, but unfortunately in 2009, more than 90,000 American horses were exported for slaughter -- mostly to Mexico. Our horses have been bought and slaughtered by a predatory, foreign-owned industry for sale to high-end diners in Europe and Asia.
<img SRC="http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL932/703169/22842888/381954035.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Congress holds the fate of our American horses in its hands. Call your U.S. Representative and urge support for this bill. You can say: "Please co-sponsor and push for the passage of H.R. 503/S. 727, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act." failure by the US Congress to pass legislation banning horse slaughter means that American horses are still being slaughtered for human consumption abroad. Tens of thousands are shipped to Mexico and Canada annually, where they are killed under barbaric conditions so their meat can continue to satisfy the palates of overseas diners in countries such as Italy, France, Belgium and Japan.
This site is very informative:
http://www.saplonline.org/legislation/horse_slaughter/
www.countrynmore.com
www.countrynmore2.etsy.com
http:// www.qualityfabricsandsupplies.ecrater.com
http://shop.ebay.com/fabrics4u23/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340
www.countrynmore.blogspot.com
|
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 10:53:47 AM
|
I, like most, am sickened by this, but I wonder what the fall-out will be on all those horses that are now "saved", and could very possibly end up in horrid conditions right here in the USA. Left to starve to death, cause their owners can no longer afford to feed them, die in agony due to preventable problems like good hoof care, worming, teeth floating etc, cause their owners can no longer afford to feed them. Here, where I live, horses are being turned loose, or trailered out to an area no one will see, and shot, and left for the coyotes and ravens. They are in our local newspapers for "free", and most of us know, that if you can't afford t buy a horse, most likely , you can not afford to own one either. The economy has made it impossible for alot of people to continue owning these animals, horse ownership is a huge responsibility and expense. I DO NOT CONDONE the conditions those horses are subjected to , when sold for slaughter and transported to either Canada or Mexico, but I wonder if those conditions could be improved greatly, would it be better than what is happening all around this country to our "throw away" horses??? Horse rescues all around the country are overflowing and donations are way down, and this is happening to all our companion animals, we must deal, using our minds and think, "is a shot, bullet or" better than the prolonged agony of the other???Just my Opinion and thoughts.........
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
 |
|
|
Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 11:06:34 AM
|
The root of the problem with unwanted horses and slaughter, etc. is the fact that there are waaaaay too many people out there breeding waaaaaaay too many horses.
Breeding of back yard type of horses needs to stop. In other words, just because you have a mare doesn't mean you need to breed her.
Also, many of those numbers are racehorses who didn't run well, didn't win, and are disgarded by trainers. Even though the racing authorities made it "illegal" for trainers in race barns on tracks to ship horses to slaughter, it still happens.
I think there needs to be "caps" on how many Thoroughbreds are bred by each TB breeder. And I think people need to be discouraged from keeping (mediocre) stallions. And discouraged from breeding (mediocre) mares. You should only breed a horse if you have a plan for the foal, and ask yourself: "If I can't sell this foal, can I afford to keep it indefinately?" And answer honestly.
Indescriminant (sp?) breeding has got.to.stop.
My husband and I rescue racehorses off the track; on our own dime. Then we try to find them good homes. It is hard. And often I don't know how we can afford the next bag of feed; or the next farrier bill..... but even if we get a handfull, that is one handfull less being shipped to Europe as steaks; or left to starve in a muddy paddock; rotting in their own manure.
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com
|
|
|
|
countrynmore
True Blue Farmgirl
1975 Posts
Sharon
CA
USA
1975 Posts |
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 11:53:18 AM
|
Hosanna, I agree with you about breeding, it should also be the same for dogs, and in some places it is, ,but it does not stop people from breeding anyway. I , over the years, have seen some of the worst stallions, who should not excist as a gelding , being bred to some of the worst mares I've ever seen, the resulting foals are so completly , put together , so badly, they will be crippled up before a year old. I have gone to auctions and had to walk out due to the amount of horses there that should have never been born, let alone allowed to grow up to crippled, in agony, turning rouge just because of pain, horses. Unless you are extremly wealthy, "YOU HAVE TO LEARN, YOU CAN NOT SAVE THEM ALL", no matter what your heart says. I applaud all who rescue what they can, and at the same time , hope that they are not just getting in over their heads with grief and sorrow and pain, and good intentions are not always good for the animal. I have brought home a few over the years cause "I felt sorry for them", but I also knew that I would be able to financialy care for them for their life span, and I also knew if the time came, I would be able to humanely euthanize. One of my grandsons ponies is a rescue, she was a walking skeleton, who was full of parisites, needed her teeth floated and was walking on her heels, her feet were so bad, it took to years of blood, sweat and tears to get her happy and healthy, and she is a wonderful kids pony. I also rescued a reg 1/4 mare about 12 yrs ago, she also was starved, feet were a mess and had dangerous ground manners. The healthier she got, the more dangerous she became, she kicked, reared and struck out, bit with more savageness than a rabid dog. It was no excuse at all, but I see why she was put in a back corral and not dealt with. I ended up on useing a traq rifle to make it safe enough to euthanize her, after working with her for 2 years, it was completly heartbreaking, but she would have killed someone, one day. Then there are people I know that have rescued many, and they all have gone on to become wonderful companion and or riding horses. Its luck of the draw, and your own will to keep going.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
|
Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 2:52:36 PM
|
Until recently I worked for the largest Equine Rescue in America and I can tell you that backyard breeding is the main problem. It needs to be stopped both in just the regular backyard breeding and the Race-Horse, Quarterhors etc. associations. I agree that there needs to be a way that these horses can be cared for. Slaughter is not the answer unless they can do the killing in a humane way. They are shot in the head with a bolt. Sometimes they die, sometimes they don't and they are immediately hung up by one back leg and skinned. (Sometimes alive) That doesn't even bring the transport nightmare into account. Where they are packed so tightly into a trailer that they can't move and are sometimes trampled to death. If they would kill them humanely then slaughter would not be so bad. The real answer to this problem is to stop over breeding. The American Quarterhorse Assoc. encourages breeding and the racing community is very quilty of over breeding.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
|
|
|
rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2010 : 09:06:08 AM
|
I don't think we'll ever come to a decision that everyone is comfortable with on this topic. Someone once told me that a subject with an ethical or moral basis will never be solved, because it can swing either direction, depending which side you are on. I agree that horse slaughter is not something that I wish happened, but horses didn't used to be considered companion animals either. I wish I could put my blinders on, but deep down, I would sooner have them spend one or two days on a trailer to a US slaughterhouse rather than to Canada or Mexico. The logistics is something to consider too in the humane treatment before slaughter ever even occurs.
I used to work with an equine vet and when he was trying to start his business, he had to prove/suport in his business plan that people would spend money to care for their horses as they would for a dog or cat. They used to be on the food animal list. Many people in my area see horses either way as a pet or commodity. I live about an hour from a horse auction barn. It is the type of barn where the meat buyers go. I've never been to an auction there, but have heard some things.
I agree with Hosanna. Just because you have a mare doesn't mean you have to breed her. Working with the vet, I saw this alot. In fact, we had one mare that came to the clinic. I don't remeber if she foaled there or the baby had a leg problem. Anyway, she was the meanest, most horrible disposition mare I've ever met! There were days I thought I might get killed cleaning her stall while she and the baby were in it. I finally told doc that I was scared to death of her. I didn't have a fear of horses until after I worked there. The vet I worked for said that the horse industry follows the economy. He's right. My father-in-law bought a quarterhorse at a horse sale for $600.00! It needed some tlc, but he's one of the smoothest riding horses he's ever had.
This problem will only get worse I'm afraid before it gets better. Not only are people discarding horses, but dogs and cats too. But, no one has any money right now, what are we to do? Like Teresa said, we can't save them all. We just have to save what we can.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: Save The Horses |
|
|
|
Save The Horses
