Sat in tears.

It is horrible and upsetting, but consider this. Every time somebody buys one of these horses to 'rescue' it from the meat trade in continental Europe they have given the breeders the incentive to continue - they don't care if they sell to the meat trade or soft hearted English people.

Join the ILPH and help to make a real long term difference for all horses, not just one.
 
I used to be invovled with this group a couple of years ago, was a moderator on the forum until I saw things weren't going quite the way they ought to be. Have a look at the link on my website "Chantelle's Story". The people who ran the ES site were partly responsible for the state she was in. Nowadays the horses advertised on there, in my opinion are NOT meat horses, the asking price is almost double meat price. I believe that the farmers have got greedy, knowing that they can depend on us soft brits to think with our hearts not our heads and that they will get the money.

Saying that I think that the people who run ES are doing what THEY believe is right. However with the amount of horses right here on our own doorstep in need of help, the money spent on getting one horse from France can cover the cost of maybe 5 here. Trust me on this one, I do know as I actually bought 2 of them before I opened my eyes.
 
That's a very honest and candid post BankEndRescue.

Mother_Hen is right, make sure you support the ILPH Campaign Sally.

There are plenty of horses and ponies here in the UK who need saving too. Sadly the good meaning intentions of people saving those abroad has created a market over there. The farmers must love us Brits.
 
ll im afraid im a bit cold hearted on this subject i dont think the horse meat trade is horrible at all but i think the conditions they are travelled in can be horrific.I do bits for ILPH sell raffle tickets do fundraisers ect,but i dont disagree with the meat trade at all.

What people need to understand is these horses abroad ARE actually bred for meat and meat only they are not just pulled out of a feild.They are not backed and treated like pets they are first and foremost as much cattle to them as cows and sheep are to us.But the only reason it gets peoples backs up so much is because we can love a horse as a pet where you cant with a cow you wont win badders on a dairy moo.

So yes maybe im a bit cold hearted but there will always be a trade for it even zoo's in england use horse meat to feed lions and tigers.

So yes improve the travelling conditions BUT the meat trade will always be there so the horse meat industry and demand will always be there.And if we go rescuing them then they will only get more from somewhere else anyway so in theory no good is been done by saving them because the stock get replenished.
 
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What people need to understand is these horses abroad ARE actually bred for meat and meat only they are not just pulled out of a feild.They are not backed and treated like pets they are first and foremost as much cattle to them as cows and sheep are to us.But the only reason it gets peoples backs up so much is because we can love a horse as a pet where you cant with a cow you wont win badders on a dairy moo.


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I actually disagree with this; to me, that is like saying that it is ok for people in third world countries to live without clean food, water, healthcare etc, because that is what they are born to and how they are brought up. Some animals are destined only for meat - sheep, cattle, pigs and chickens are never credited with much intelligence, never really held up to be anything other than a means of providing food. Yet we admire horses for their intelligence, their sensitivity and versatility - just because a horse raised for meat has not been broken/trained, does not mean it is any less intelligent or capable of feeling the same emotions as a riding horse would. This is why I find it hard to accept the horse meat industry, although I accept it is unlikely that it will ever be abolished, and so all I can ever wish for is that the standards of transport and slaughter are as stress and pain free as possible.
 
well no not really of course its every persons right to have basic things people in 3rd world countries dont have.

But if you look at the ammount of views on this post then how many people have actually replied you may see the majority agree with those of us who think of it in this way.
I think this topic comes up so much people are actually not bothering to aknowledge it now.Fact is they are bred for meat in these countries they are not pets that does not lower the inteligence level but they are cattle transport conditions are not good and slaughter is not always nice but then its not a nice thing all round is it.

To me getting so het up about the trade is a pointless waste of time but the transport conditions is a worthy cause.
 
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well no not really of course its every persons right to have basic things people in 3rd world countries dont have.

But if you look at the ammount of views on this post then how many people have actually replied you may see the majority agree with those of us who think of it in this way.
I think this topic comes up so much people are actually not bothering to aknowledge it now.Fact is they are bred for meat in these countries they are not pets that does not lower the inteligence level but they are cattle transport conditions are not good and slaughter is not always nice but then its not a nice thing all round is it.

To me getting so het up about the trade is a pointless waste of time but the transport conditions is a worthy cause.

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I'm with you there; we should all be campaigning to improve the conditions, for that at least is an area we can ame a difference in. I just know that on a personal level, I would never be able to separate a riding horse from a horse bred for meat; they are simply not meat animals in my view. But then I am an incredibly sentimental person; as much as I understand and support the need for beef/lamb/pork farming etc, I could never eat any animal I had had contact with whilst it was alive! But that is going off on another tangent
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Sorry MizElz but if you do some very basic research you will find that pigs are as intelligent, or more so, than dogs. And sheep, cattle and even chickens get terrified, feel pain and suffer. To my mind, the overriding priciples that should guide ALL meat production is those embodied in Compassion in World Farming.
 
Do horses have emotions? more than any other animal? I am in total agreement with James, all animals should be treated with respect and humanely, whether for pleasure (horses, dogs etc) or for meat (horses dogs cows, sheep etc) Just because in the UK we tend not to eat horse or dog are we justified in slating those who do. Sometimes the transporting and slaughtering are done in an inhumane way and could be improved on. I wouldn't say a horse is more intelligent than any other animal apart from sheep that is, it is just due to the amount of time we spend teaching them tricks, such as being ridden etc, no doubt if we spent 4 years teaching a cow or pig something it would surprise us.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not personally saying any animal is less intelligent than another - but it is one of those things that people generally tend to believe (remember The Sheep Pig?). As I said before, I think my feelings on the matter are more to do with sentiment than sense, and I am merely expressing an opinion - I dont expect anyone to share it, for I'm quite aware that I'm on a hiding to nothing in arguing against the horse meat trade! Having said that, I was very, very surprised when I first came on here about the number of people who agree/are not against the consumption of horses; in my circle of horsey friends, everyone is so staunchly against it that this was a real eye opener for me! My views on the matter will never change, but I like to think I am open enough that I will not slate anyone else for views they may hold.
 
I am completely against the comsumption of horses for meat for similar reasons to others - I love horses and cannot bear to think of them suffering and being slaughtered
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I don't think that other countries will stop eating horse meat though, at least horses are not an endangered species. However countries like Japan still hunt whales, who are endangered, for meat
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If you eat any meat then it strikes me that you cannot complain about any animal going for slaughter. My concern is the need for the welfare of all meat animals during transport and at the abbatoir. We have a pet sheep and it has not stopped me eating lamb and mutton. We will be having the wild rabbits shot on our land in the next week or so (hopefully) and they will be cooked and eaten. Our dentition is such that we are omnivores, therefore designed to eat meat, grains and vegetables. I do not believe that buying horses destined for slaughter does more than leave a lot of animals with poor conformation to find good care, in an already overstocked market.
 
I think it is one of those subjects which people get themselves tied up in knots over without really thinking it through logically. Some countries eat horses, it's a fact and not one that we have the right to try and change, we would not take too kindly to another country telling us we can no longer eat cows because it is againt their beleifs!
What needs to be addressed for all animals not just horses is the way they are farmed ,transported and slaughtered.
As for 'rescueing' these horses, we're not, we're just giving the farmers incentives to produce more, if you wouldn't buy a puppy from a puppy farm why get a horse from a meat farm?!
 
If you eat meat at all then you can't slate people for eating Horses. I personally wouldn't, but I don't have a problem with it.......some countries eat Dogs as well. The big issue is the horrific transport conditions.

My local saddler has a campaign to save these Horses, and also a tin for the ILPH. I know which one my money goes in, the one that is campaiging for the right things. Can you imagine people from abroad campaigning to save a few cows destined from sluaghter in the UK?? No, I would say not.

We should be fighting for the transport issue. Also, plenty of animals in need in this country that need helping.

Unless you are a total vegeterian that doesn't use any meat by-products (and that includes leather) then you can't criticise people for eating animals of any kind. We are carnivores after all. What we can try and do is stop unecessary suffering and educate people.

Why is a Horses life worth more than a cow? Animals all have intelligence, emotions and feelings.
 
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