Am I the only one who does NOT want to save a horse from slaughter?

Im on the fence, im one of those people that doesn't want horses to die (sad git i know) but to be honest, if hey have to die it should be in good conditions and with respect. I was watching a video on horse slaughter in the us and i cried at the way they were treated and the fear that the poor animals showed in their eyes. Call my silly but i wouldn't want to die afraid :-)
 
The USA banned all horse slaughter some years ago, and it has actually caused lots of problems. Horses are abandoned, people try to PTS themselves with horrific results, or they end up being exported - often to Mexico, where welfare standards are very very low. I have seen footage of horses being slaughtered in Mexico and it is pretty hideous - in no way comparable to what happens in this country.

Humane slaughter is a necessary evil.
 
I wouldn't touch a horse from aboard I would be worried about some strange diesase ( can't spell to save my life) coming into this country. Wouldn't that be awfull ... You save a horse from aboard but kill off half the horse population in the uk, what a thought. Anyway going back to it my boy has no problems and has a well earned place on the hunting field. I lost a mare just over 2 weeks ago after she got kicked in the field and broke her elbow, she was put down in my arms and my world fell apart and I felt like giving up. She was the first horse I took and worked with and totally loved her. There's a hole in my yard now and it will get filled when I find the right horse. I want to give a home to a horse who's furfure is uncertain
 
If people are willing to munch on a cow, lamb, pig etc then why not a horse? and cats and dogs for the matter! I don't like it when people get moody over eating the fluffy pets. They are all animals! I'm vegetarian so don't eat any, but If I did I would eat them all. I prob wouldn't eat cat or dog in certain countries due to the suffering they inflict on them before 'slaughter' So the welfare of the horse before it dies is important, so travelling for hours on end in cramped uncomfortable conditions with no medical care is not on IMO.

I would also prefer to see a horse with problems that can't be dealt with have it's life ended, be it PTS or slaughter, rather than pushed from pillar to post through lots of homes that can't deal with it.
 
wattamus said:
I was watching a video on horse slaughter in the us and i cried at the way they were treated and the fear that the poor animals showed in their eyes.:-)
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Comparison between PETA/SHARK (etc) inspired footage of slaughter houses in the US and those in the UK is incomparable.

What you saw may have been a Mexican abbatoir as the tree huggers (Oh yes, PETA and SHARK etc, no surprise there:mad:) shot themselves in the foot when they pressed for closure of the US abbatoirs. They stopped most of the slaughter in the US only to cause far worse welfare problems with horses being transported thousands of miles to Mexico and Canada from the kill pens in double decker road trains to the same end. God Forbid that they ever succeed in doing the same in the UK.
 
One hundred percent in agreement with you Booboos. I don't see either what difference it makes as to what the horse did before it died as to whether it goes for food or not.
 
I also agree with you, Booboos. I'd go as far as to say the UK needs more slaughterhouses for horses so that the unwanted ones do not get shipped live abroad.
Animals should be slaughtered in country of origin, without exception.
 
It would depend on the horse. Years ago we bought a pony that was destined for Reading market. He was 14 years old so possibly would have gone for meat at that time. We bought him because he was the most genuine pony ever to walk the earth and we knew he would go for meat because he was not a looker and was old but he was a genuine family pony. (I am talking about 30 years ago so 14 was considered old then.) We found out later that several other people had heard he was going to Reading and were going to go to bid on him! They all felt the same as we did. LOL! He would have made the best price of the day with everyone bidding against each other to "save" him from the meat men. :D

So I would save if the horse was worth saving.But I wouldnt go out looking for one to save. It would have to fall in my lap!:)
 
booboos said:
i don't have a problem with horses being killed. If they are sick, injured, unwanted, or just tasty they should be slaughtered. I don't want to save horses from slaughter any more than i want to save pigs, cows or chickens from slaughter.

I don't think slaughtering horses is a welfare issue. Horses do not know their future, they can't anticipate their death and they don't dread dying.

What is a wellfare issue is how we treat horses before they are slaughtered or otherwise die. The live transport of horses, horse neglect and abuse are all huge welfare issues - we should concentrate on those and on improving conditions for living horses rather than saving horses from death.
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well said!!
 
I'm vegetarian but I dont think eating horse is any worse than any other animal.

What does p*ss me off big time is attending the lower end sales and seeing the ones that go to the meat man.

Old and injured pet horses in the pens really upsets me. If you dont have the financial means to give your old horse or pony a dignified end at home then you shouldn't have one. Oh and a retirement plan/humane end planned if your horse becomes unridable. How many times do we see people trying to pass off lame & injured horses as companions to end up god knows where.

Too many people own horses who either dont care or cant afford them, same as dogs, cats and other animals (kids too if you think about it)

I also agree about humane treatment before they are killed
 
I too wouldn't 'save' a horse from slaughter, the market is full of horses at the moment. If they are going for slaughter there is a reason for it and many more waiting in the wings. Also agree there is too much indisciminate breeding, which leads to more poor quality animals. As for importing cast off animals from other countries, well words fail me.
 
I am saving at least four from the meat market - by not selling them on or breeding from them (talented though they are) and by keeping them til the end of their days!

I haven't got the emotional resources to do the rescuing thing. In fact I have to plug my ears and pretend the horrors are not happening. It's the only way I can stay sane.
 
Booboos said:
I don't have a problem with horses being killed. If they are sick, injured, unwanted, or just tasty they should be slaughtered. I don't want to save horses from slaughter any more than I want to save pigs, cows or chickens from slaughter.

I don't think slaughtering horses is a welfare issue. Horses do not know their future, they can't anticipate their death and they don't dread dying.

What is a wellfare issue is how we treat horses BEFORE they are slaughtered or otherwise die. The live transport of horses, horse neglect and abuse are all huge welfare issues - we should concentrate on those and on improving conditions for living horses rather than saving horses from death.
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Hear, hear!
 
Well said ladyt25. Nothing inherently wrong with a horse going for slaughter and indeed, there are far worse things that can happen to a horse. But I do have a problem with owners who have enjoyed a horse or pony for perhaps years and years and then can't be bothered to either properly rehome it or do the decent thing and have it destroyed at home with dignity and compassion. "Surplus to requirements" sent my rescued shetland to the abattoir. Surplus to requirements? I thought the definition of a civilised society was one that embraced compassion and responsibility. God helps us all if "surplus to requirements" becomes the policy of the future because where do you draw the line? Think about it.
 
Ada Cole actually set up a horse abbatoir in Lincolnshire in the early days of the ILPH, for just this reason. BooBoos – nail on head. It's the treatment before that matters.
I'd also like to see people breeding fewer horses that they aren't going to use or train properly (and less "wastage" in the racehorse industry).
 
Another vote for humane slaughter, not just for horses either.
Perhaps if there was less stigma about sending horses to the slaughterman, more of the unwanted wouldnt be sent to market to be passed around and would have a kinder end. Wishful thinking on that one I suspect.
 
Booboos said:
I don't have a problem with horses being killed. If they are sick, injured, unwanted, or just tasty they should be slaughtered. I don't want to save horses from slaughter any more than I want to save pigs, cows or chickens from slaughter.

I don't think slaughtering horses is a welfare issue. Horses do not know their future, they can't anticipate their death and they don't dread dying.

What is a wellfare issue is how we treat horses BEFORE they are slaughtered or otherwise die. The live transport of horses, horse neglect and abuse are all huge welfare issues - we should concentrate on those and on improving conditions for living horses rather than saving horses from death.
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totally and utterly agree.
 
Booboos said:
I don't have a problem with horses being killed. If they are sick, injured, unwanted, or just tasty they should be slaughtered. I don't want to save horses from slaughter any more than I want to save pigs, cows or chickens from slaughter.

I don't think slaughtering horses is a welfare issue. Horses do not know their future, they can't anticipate their death and they don't dread dying.

What is a wellfare issue is how we treat horses BEFORE they are slaughtered or otherwise die. The live transport of horses, horse neglect and abuse are all huge welfare issues - we should concentrate on those and on improving conditions for living horses rather than saving horses from death.
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I have to say, even i agree with this and im a veggi and couldn't stand eating meat but, if injured horses ect go to slaughter then fine but as you say its a welfare issue. I think they should be looked after better and things. Im not so clued up on what goes on but from what i have read on hear it sounds like they are kept in bad conditions on the way over their. If that was to change, a lot less people would have a problem with it i think.
 
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