Suffolk Downs begins zero-tolerance slaughter policy

ArchDandy · Postby **ArchDandy** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:03 pm

http://thoroughbredtimes.com/national-n ... olicy.aspx

I dont know how this will work, many trainers have no idea if their horses get sold for slaughter.

aardvark · Postby **aardvark** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:50 pm

applause, applause

That is the first step

The next steps are to clearly specify what options a trainer has and provide get a trainer or owner sign-off on the horse's first transfer.

surprisewind · Postby **surprisewind** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:55 pm

I think this is a GREAT step, but it seems like some bugs need to be worked out. What happens to the trainer who, in good faith, gives/sells a horse to someone and that horse winds up in a kill pen? Or, aardvark, is that what you meant by a sign-off?

horsenuts · Postby **horsenuts** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:08 pm

In other news on this date the Feds are considering euthanizing wild horses as they are overpopulating their ranges and are overcrowding holding pens.

Wild horses have over populated the lands and the BLM can't afford to care for the number of horses that have been rounded up. Add to that fewer people are adopting horses.

Monday marked the first time the federal agency has publically considered killing the animals.

KamiBrooks · Postby **KamiBrooks** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:16 am

horsenuts wrote:Monday marked the first time the federal agency has publically considered killing the animals.

Huh? I don't think its the BLM, I think its the state. They're also the same state that is killing all the Bison. I think they're working on turning the whole state into one giant feedlot for beef :-)

tmacew · Postby **tmacew** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:15 am

I applaud what Suffolk is doing. I think this is an issue that the industry has to attack head-on. If we want new fans of the sport, we have to put this type of stuff behind us.

So, along those lines, I would be interested in hearing people's opinions on a thought that occurred to me the other day. What if the auction companies forced the buyers of every horse that goes through the ring to sign a "no-kill" contract upon purchase. The contract could be worded (and I am no lawyer, but....) so that every subsequent owner would be bound by the contract. It would be like a lien on a piece of proerty sold..it would follow the horse through its natural death. I am sure there are issues I am missing, but I think it would take drastic actions at the top of the TB industry pyramid to affect system wide changes.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:10 am

Sounds like a whole lot of rattle but no teeth.