horse slaughter

[hdembski]

I happened to watch the news last night and was deeply distutrbed. Although we all know Horse slaughter has been stopped in the US. apparently these animals are being shipped to Mexico and Canada for "the deed to be done". I could barely watch the footage. I hope everyone who loves these animals does everything they can to help end this. How anyone could destroy horses like this when they are so regal and beautiful is beyond me. I don't think much of Europeans or Japanese who consider the meat "delicacy" or whatever. Whoever kills these animals should rot in hell

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED ... tcosponsor

[springboro]

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a moment...

what makes a horse any different from other livestock? Why would it be more horrible to kill a horse as opposed to a cow? Or a pig?

Of course, we are all horse fans here and the vast majority of us feel that horses are somehow above the livestock title.

What about overpopulation of horses? What about horses that aren't "useful" anymore?

Something to consider as you send the killers off to hell.

On a personal note, we used to have a trader around these parts who drove a truck that read, "By the hoof or by the pound" or something like that... really made me crazy.

[Toccet02]

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a moment...

what makes a horse any different from other livestock? Why would it be more horrible to kill a horse as opposed to a cow? Or a pig?

Of course, we are all horse fans here and the vast majority of us feel that horses are somehow above the livestock title.

What about overpopulation of horses? What about horses that aren't "useful" anymore?

Something to consider as you send the killers off to hell.

On a personal note, we used to have a trader around these parts who drove a truck that read, "By the hoof or by the pound" or something like that... really made me crazy.

I'd argue that what makes horses different is that, with racehorses, they started off as valuable sporting commodities. Not as meat or labor.
Once they outlive their usefulness, they are "demoted" to livestock.

Cattle are raised to be used for meat, leather, milk, etc.

[hdembski]

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a moment...

what makes a horse any different from other livestock? Why would it be more horrible to kill a horse as opposed to a cow? Or a pig?

Of course, we are all horse fans here and the vast majority of us feel that horses are somehow above the livestock title.

What about overpopulation of horses? What about horses that aren't "useful" anymore?

Something to consider as you send the killers off to hell.

On a personal note, we used to have a trader around these parts who drove a truck that read, "By the hoof or by the pound" or something like that... really made me crazy.

A pig is commonly used for pork or bacon, how many of us eat horse meat? Even if i argue that we kill them for their meat, if you watch these videos you learn there is no "humane way" to kill a horse. They generally use some stun gum to hit them square in the head. In the special i watched the horses could see other horses being killed and started to freak out, and it was hard for them to hit them square in the head and the pens they used were for cattle not horses. I've always considered horses differently than some cow or pig. To me a horse would be no different than say my dog who is "my kid" i think they are intelligent, loving and as i said if they had to be put down, do it right via euthanasia not inhumanley so you can eat their meat. When they are no longer usefull? as i said do it humanely via shot, treat them with dignity.

[horsenuts]

I know of no one who relishes horse slaughter..... yet I know of few people who can afford to keep a crippled or used up horse around to be fed for 30 years or so which is often the life expectancy of a horse. Feeding and keeping a 1000 pound animal is very expensive and not many can do it. Horse slaughter served a purpose like it or not and I recommend it be reinstated so long as humane practices are used.... albeit the anti-slaughter folks see no way this is possible and our politicians kow-tow to this crowd rather then stand up to them so I don't expect a reversal anytime soon if ever.

[horsenuts]

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a moment...

what makes a horse any different from other livestock? Why would it be more horrible to kill a horse as opposed to a cow? Or a pig?

Of course, we are all horse fans here and the vast majority of us feel that horses are somehow above the livestock title.

What about overpopulation of horses? What about horses that aren't "useful" anymore?

Something to consider as you send the killers off to hell.

On a personal note, we used to have a trader around these parts who drove a truck that read, "By the hoof or by the pound" or something like that... really made me crazy.

A pig is commonly used for pork or bacon, how many of us eat horse meat? Even if i argue that we kill them for their meat, if you watch these videos you learn there is no "humane way" to kill a horse. They generally use some stun gum to hit them square in the head. In the special i watched the horses could see other horses being killed and started to freak out, and it was hard for them to hit them square in the head and the pens they used were for cattle not horses. I've always considered horses differently than some cow or pig. To me a horse would be no different than say my dog who is "my kid" i think they are intelligent, loving and as i said if they had to be put down, do it right via euthanasia not inhumanley so you can eat their meat. When they are no longer usefull? as i said do it humanely via shot, treat them with dignity.

Cattle have as much personality as a horse. I have worked with both most of my life and if anything cattle are even more personable and trusting of humans. An animal is an animal and if you oppose killing one then all should be banned.

[going4stamina]

Slaughter bound auctions are not humane for any horse--especially not injured.
Slaughter transport is not humane--especially not for the injured.
Slaughter holding pens are not humane.
Captive Bolt or even worse, Mexican knifing, is not humane.
No amount of government oversight would make HS humane in the US--it is not a humane end, it is a money machine.

Our racers, breeding horses, and pleasure horses who gave their best for their humans deserve re-training or $60 humane euthanasia if they are not a candidate for re-training (injury or temperament). Please, if you really have to squeeze $250 bucks out of a horse (some of whom have made $100K plus!), you really can't afford to be in the business. If you keep breeding your mares when you can't afford to care (emotionally or financially) for the ones coming off the track, well you should really stop and think about your responsibility to these animals for a moment.

Having trouble paying for all the herd in these hard financial times? Nothing is more disgusting than seeing pictures of near term mares going to slaughter or delivering and taking care of the poor babies in the feedlots/holding pens. Good grief-stop breeding if you can't handle the financial load.

[achinjrt]

Slaughter bound auctions are not humane for any horse--especially not injured.
Slaughter transport is not humane--especially not for the injured.
Slaughter holding pens are not humane.
Captive Bolt or even worse, Mexican knifing, is not humane.
No amount of government oversight would make HS humane in the US--it is not a humane end, it is a money machine.

Our racers, breeding horses, and pleasure horses who gave their best for their humans deserve re-training or $60 humane euthanasia if they are not a candidate for re-training (injury or temperament). Please, if you really have to squeeze $250 bucks out of a horse (some of whom have made $100K plus!), you really can't afford to be in the business. If you keep breeding your mares when you can't afford to care (emotionally or financially) for the ones coming off the track, well you should really stop and think about your responsibility to these animals for a moment.

Having trouble paying for all the herd in these hard financial times? Nothing is more disgusting than seeing pictures of near term mares going to slaughter or delivering and taking care of the poor babies in the feedlots/holding pens. Good grief-stop breeding if you can't handle the financial load.

AMEN!!!!!!

[hdembski]

Slaughter bound auctions are not humane for any horse--especially not injured.
Slaughter transport is not humane--especially not for the injured.
Slaughter holding pens are not humane.
Captive Bolt or even worse, Mexican knifing, is not humane.
No amount of government oversight would make HS humane in the US--it is not a humane end, it is a money machine.

Our racers, breeding horses, and pleasure horses who gave their best for their humans deserve re-training or $60 humane euthanasia if they are not a candidate for re-training (injury or temperament). Please, if you really have to squeeze $250 bucks out of a horse (some of whom have made $100K plus!), you really can't afford to be in the business. If you keep breeding your mares when you can't afford to care (emotionally or financially) for the ones coming off the track, well you should really stop and think about your responsibility to these animals for a moment.

Having trouble paying for all the herd in these hard financial times? Nothing is more disgusting than seeing pictures of near term mares going to slaughter or delivering and taking care of the poor babies in the feedlots/holding pens. Good grief-stop breeding if you can't handle the financial load.

i can't say it much better than that. As a human being, to watch those news reports from canada with horses slipping in the pen (used for cattle) being smart enough to try and avoid the "stun gun" was beyond sad and horrific. No man or animal deserves it. Use regular euthanasia. Let the Japanese or Europeans raise their own horses for meat. what's next? keep horses in pens all their life and message them to make "Kobe horse meat" so Bobby Flay can cook it up medium rare with a nice Cianti?

[madelyn]

The last time I put down a horse (last month) the shot was $150 plus a $50 farm call. It is illegal to bury them here, and the animal pickup was $275.

[achinjrt]

There is a group starting a Humane Euthansia Fund, that will help owners with the expenses for their horse. To me, it is something that should be part of horse ownership, making sure that the end is as dignified as possible. JMHO

[Equipoise28]

what's next? keep horses in pens all their life and message them to make "Kobe horse meat" so Bobby Flay can cook it up medium rare with a nice Cianti?

Emeril, maybe. I believe Bobby Flay owns a few racehorses.

[horsenuts]

Slaughter bound auctions are not humane for any horse--especially not injured.
Slaughter transport is not humane--especially not for the injured.
Slaughter holding pens are not humane.
Captive Bolt or even worse, Mexican knifing, is not humane.
No amount of government oversight would make HS humane in the US--it is not a humane end, it is a money machine.

Our racers, breeding horses, and pleasure horses who gave their best for their humans deserve re-training or $60 humane euthanasia if they are not a candidate for re-training (injury or temperament). Please, if you really have to squeeze $250 bucks out of a horse (some of whom have made $100K plus!), you really can't afford to be in the business. If you keep breeding your mares when you can't afford to care (emotionally or financially) for the ones coming off the track, well you should really stop and think about your responsibility to these animals for a moment.

Having trouble paying for all the herd in these hard financial times? Nothing is more disgusting than seeing pictures of near term mares going to slaughter or delivering and taking care of the poor babies in the feedlots/holding pens. Good grief-stop breeding if you can't handle the financial load.

A $60 "humane" euthenasia injection is fine but selling for processing is not? Ridiculous reasoning.


Anti-horse slaughter runs on emotion and nothing more. It is bad animal husbandry to have banned it as it served a purpose whether you like it or not. The results of the ban are starting to become obvious and common place as few can afford to feed large animals long term which is leading to the obvious i.e. abandonded horses.... emaciated horses by folks who simply can't feed said animals etc. and no demand for low end horses in fact I have people wanting me to buy low end horses non-stop now and some who want to simply give them to me.

[ArchDandy]

No slaughter=overpopulation, terrible cheap prices for horses, hay goes up more, horses die in backyards of starvation, or are simply let out loose like in kentucky. People cant afford it, and many wont think twice.

[horsenuts]

The last time I put down a horse (last month) the shot was $150 plus a $50 farm call. It is illegal to bury them here, and the animal pickup was $275.

Good grief...... but don't you feel better then selling said animal for $500 to be processed? LOL!


Folks, the end is the end whether the horse is sold to be processed or "humanely put down"(whatever that means).


Reinstate horse slaughter and put an end to this nonsense.