Horse slaughter is a very large issue with many opinions and views.
Fact-It is now a felony in California to possess, import or export a horse for the purposes of human consumption. Selling horsemeat is a misdemeanor.
Many of the horses that end up at slaughter are Thoroughbred racehorses that are not fast enough to make it on the track or had gotten injured while racing are is not capable of racing anymore.
Fact-Racing writer Mike Mullaney uncovered that Exceller, a Grade I winner in both the U.S. and Europe and the only horse ever to beat two Triple Crown winners, ended up in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.
Many other horses that go to slaughter are camp, show, "backyard", rental and Amish horses, urban carriage horses, PMU mares and foals, and unwanted pregnant mares and barren broodmares. Both that are still capable of continuing their life. They may not be able to win big events but most are still capable of being loved and to give love and companionship.
Fact-Today, an average of over 100,000 American horses are slaughtered annually at U.S. and Canadian plants. It is estimated that more than a third of all slaughter-bound horses in the U.S. are bred for racing.
The Beginning
Usually its starts with owners/breeders. Breeders for breeding horses/ponies without care of conformation, disposition, or trainability/ridability. Or breeders that sell horses/ponies as quickly as possible for fast money and the horse/pony might end up in bad or inexperienced hands that may not understand the care and or have good horsemanship to handle the horses or pony or the person then may supposedly not have time anymore to care properly for or train the horse/pony. That owner then sells that horse not caring who it goes to as long as it is out of their hands and “supposedly” not their responsibility anymore and to get a little money in their pocket. I believe everyone has the responsibility of finding their horse a good home if they cannot care for it themselves any longer or safely. The animal may then again end up in bad or inexperienced hands that may not understand the care and or have good horsemanship to handle the horses or pony. The horse or pony by now may be in bad health, slightly unmanageable, may have developed a bad habit or vice, or had rushed or no proper training. The horse or pony then may be sold again to some random person or the horse/pony might just sent to a local weekend auction, where they are packed into small pens, without regard to gender, height, size, or size of the pen, usually without food or water.. The private buyer may be a killer buyer (someone who just buys horses/ponies to take to a slaughter house/plant) or someone who sells to a killer buyer. If the horse is at an auction it may be lucky to be bought by a equine rescuer, a trainer, or other person who knows what they will be getting at an auction, where and what kind of things may be wrong with the horses/ponies at the auction. It might also be bought again by someone who is looking for a cheap horse/pony and does not know how to properly take care of a horse that may have many problems. Or it may have the terrible fate of many other horses and ponies and be bought by a killer buyer.
br>Yes, certain auctions have regulations concerning the animals there, such as food, water, shipment etc, but usually they are not followed or enforced.
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Their Ride and Their End
When the horse(s) are bought by canner/middleman/killer buyer they are usually put into a kill pen where they await loading, maybe for hours or even for days until the killer buyer has enough horses to fill his/her truck, usually without food, water, or medical attention if needed.
The Ride
When it comes time for loading they are jammed into truck regardless of age, gender, weight, height, and/or current condition. Some of the horses, lame and infirm, are in no shape to handle such rough travel but they cannot be put down beforehand because the toxins used to euthanize a horse make it unfit for consumption. Rubber mats are situated on the floor which are usually slippery and not covered with new/correct bedding.
There are certain trucks that are illegal in some states for transporting horses that are called double-deck trailers that are ment for cattle and other smaller animals. Horses that are put on these trailers have a choice, either to jump to the lower half or to the upper half. Due to the height of the decks they damage their heads.
For more pictures visit: http://www.elitetrailers.com/lvstk2.html
The horses are shipped to their death cross country without food, water, rests, or medical care. Horses have no space to lay down and those who do usually never get up again. Other injuries result from fights and struggles to keep their footing on the mats/ground that is covered with urine and manure.
The End
When they reach the slaughter house they are driven off the truck then either put into small pens with no food, water, or medical attention to wait their turn for slaughter. Chains drag off those who cannot walk.
But if there is room for them they are send straight up a slippery ram to a kill stall/box or "stun" shute. By Federal law requires that horses be rendered unconscious prior to having their throats slit. Horses are usually "rendered unconscious" by a "stun" gun. Only "stunned", not dead, the horse is then chained by the hind leg and hoisted into the air to have its throat slit then butchered for human consumption and transport overseas to other countries.
A "downed" horse lies in manure at Bel-Tex slaughterhouse in Texas.
The treatment and care of horses heading for slaughter is inhumane. All animals should be cared for and treated humanely up to and at their death. The inhumane treatment of these horses is cruel and those who do not see that the animals are well taken care of should be punished. Animals are living things just as we are and deserve the same love and care as we do. We have a responsibility to care for and treat humanely the animals that we raise our pleasure and companionship.
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