JM07
Well-Known Member
This is an email i received from the Horse Trust...its a generic reply, sent to "members" of a "rescue site"..as the particular "rescue site" sent several complaints to the HT regarding the Horsemart article I put on here last week.....
Sadly, this particular site is, as usual, totally missing the overall point...even blaming members of H&H for the Horse Trust article....
the email...
Thanks for your email in response to our recent press release warning people of the pitfalls of purchasing ponies over the internet
The Horse Trust appreciates you want to save horses from the meat trade and agrees that the way in which these ponies are often bred, treated and then sent to slaughter can be horrific.
We want to ensure that if people purchase horses from this avenue that they do it wisely and fully understand the responsibility that they will be taking on and can manage the horse, for example, both financially and behaviourally otherwise the horse may have an uncertain future.
We believe it is vital for people to inspect any pony which they purchase to ensure they have the necessary expertise, resources and time to care for that animal. Many people who are drawn into the emotion of saving a pony from certain death make the decision to purchase it based on sentiment and do not seek out the facts.
The decision to purchase any pony should be determined by balancing the needs of the pony with the capabilities and resources of the potential owner. What happens all too often is that the rescued pony finds itself in another desperate situation with an owner who is not capable of meeting its needs and in actual fact it is then far from being saved.
If members of the public want the live export of horses for slaughter to end there are better ways of contributing to this process than buying horses destined for slaughter.
It is necessary to look at the issue long term and not to become too emotionally attached to the individual horses involved. By purchasing animals in this trade, people are contributing to the supply and demand mechanism of the trade.
If the farmers realise, which they do, that there is an increased demand for these types of ponies they will breed more of them, and the actual number destined for the meat lorry will be the same.
The purchaser of the animal may feel they have saved the horse - and in many ways they have - but it is unlikely that it will have reduced the actual number of horses going to slaughter through this channel. People are ensuring the cycle continues by contributing towards the supply and demand economics of the business.
Better ways to help reduce or ideally stop this trade altogether are to lobby for a change in the law to stop horses being exported for slaughter, for stricter enforcement of the transport regulations, animal welfare act and tripartite agreement. This would therefore not aid the meat trade, but would better safeguard the horses within the trade. Most animal welfare organisations would not be opposed to horses being sold for meat - what the organisations are opposed to is the health and welfare of horses being compromised by this trade, particularly through transportation.
These internet websites prey on peoples emotions and animal loving instincts and encourage the purchase of horses destined for the meat trade. The not-for-profit status of an organisation can only be verified if they make their accounts available to the public, as is the case with registered charities.
I apologise if what has been written by The Horse Trust has offended you. The Horse Trust cares passionately about the health and welfare of horses.
We feel it is important to take a long term view of the live export of horses for slaughter. It is impossible to save all the horses concerned and by doing so we would be helping the very people who compromise the health and welfare of horses.
The Horse Trust, as an animal welfare charity, is working hard to promote the improvement of health and welfare standards within the trade and to stop the root causes of welfare concern through the measures suggested above.
The Horse Trust would like to persuade people that if they want to rescue a pony, they would be better served to do so through a registered charity in the UK, which in turn would create a space for another animal which is in need of specialised care. Rescuing French meat horses will not reduce the numbers destined for this end.
We may not agree on this issue but we conversely share the same compassionate concern for horse welfare. I am happy to discuss this issue with you further, if you so wish.
Regards
Rebecca Evans
Equine Welfare and Grants Manager
The Horse Trust
"Welfare Through Knowledge"
as you can see, it makes interesting reading...
JM
Sadly, this particular site is, as usual, totally missing the overall point...even blaming members of H&H for the Horse Trust article....
the email...
Thanks for your email in response to our recent press release warning people of the pitfalls of purchasing ponies over the internet
The Horse Trust appreciates you want to save horses from the meat trade and agrees that the way in which these ponies are often bred, treated and then sent to slaughter can be horrific.
We want to ensure that if people purchase horses from this avenue that they do it wisely and fully understand the responsibility that they will be taking on and can manage the horse, for example, both financially and behaviourally otherwise the horse may have an uncertain future.
We believe it is vital for people to inspect any pony which they purchase to ensure they have the necessary expertise, resources and time to care for that animal. Many people who are drawn into the emotion of saving a pony from certain death make the decision to purchase it based on sentiment and do not seek out the facts.
The decision to purchase any pony should be determined by balancing the needs of the pony with the capabilities and resources of the potential owner. What happens all too often is that the rescued pony finds itself in another desperate situation with an owner who is not capable of meeting its needs and in actual fact it is then far from being saved.
If members of the public want the live export of horses for slaughter to end there are better ways of contributing to this process than buying horses destined for slaughter.
It is necessary to look at the issue long term and not to become too emotionally attached to the individual horses involved. By purchasing animals in this trade, people are contributing to the supply and demand mechanism of the trade.
If the farmers realise, which they do, that there is an increased demand for these types of ponies they will breed more of them, and the actual number destined for the meat lorry will be the same.
The purchaser of the animal may feel they have saved the horse - and in many ways they have - but it is unlikely that it will have reduced the actual number of horses going to slaughter through this channel. People are ensuring the cycle continues by contributing towards the supply and demand economics of the business.
Better ways to help reduce or ideally stop this trade altogether are to lobby for a change in the law to stop horses being exported for slaughter, for stricter enforcement of the transport regulations, animal welfare act and tripartite agreement. This would therefore not aid the meat trade, but would better safeguard the horses within the trade. Most animal welfare organisations would not be opposed to horses being sold for meat - what the organisations are opposed to is the health and welfare of horses being compromised by this trade, particularly through transportation.
These internet websites prey on peoples emotions and animal loving instincts and encourage the purchase of horses destined for the meat trade. The not-for-profit status of an organisation can only be verified if they make their accounts available to the public, as is the case with registered charities.
I apologise if what has been written by The Horse Trust has offended you. The Horse Trust cares passionately about the health and welfare of horses.
We feel it is important to take a long term view of the live export of horses for slaughter. It is impossible to save all the horses concerned and by doing so we would be helping the very people who compromise the health and welfare of horses.
The Horse Trust, as an animal welfare charity, is working hard to promote the improvement of health and welfare standards within the trade and to stop the root causes of welfare concern through the measures suggested above.
The Horse Trust would like to persuade people that if they want to rescue a pony, they would be better served to do so through a registered charity in the UK, which in turn would create a space for another animal which is in need of specialised care. Rescuing French meat horses will not reduce the numbers destined for this end.
We may not agree on this issue but we conversely share the same compassionate concern for horse welfare. I am happy to discuss this issue with you further, if you so wish.
Regards
Rebecca Evans
Equine Welfare and Grants Manager
The Horse Trust
"Welfare Through Knowledge"
as you can see, it makes interesting reading...
JM
