shooting horses!

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lovnuggs

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i have just found the most horrible site set up by tauton animal activists.this slaughter house is very local to me i know unwanted animals have to go somewhere but i never knew they met there end in such a way as this.the man who ends these horses lives is very cold and unafeccted by his job as i such emagine u would have to be to do it,he is very good at his job thank god what happens to the not so quiet ones? i just am amazed by how he despatches these poor horses and what he uses i thought it was a captive bolt not what looks like a shot gun.thank god i shall never send a horse to the knackers man,but sorry still better than live export.
 
You are very close to me then.

This is a bit of a sore topic - some people choose to have their horses shot as a form of euthenasia, rather than having the injection. Is that wrong? Obviously the people who choose this as a form of euthenasia do so in a respectful way, and our friends had their horse shot in the field while he was grazing. He knew nothing of it. I couldn't do it myself.

I meant to say that a few years ago there was this repulsive woman who brought her horse to our yard. She was very odd, very secretive. Her horse got a sarcoid and as she couldn't afford to treat him and had no insurance, she sent him to Potters
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I hate the 'send him to Potters' mentality. Don't these animals deserve more than this?
 
I see your point but would you not rather see horses sent to potters than be left to suffer. I know what I would prefer and in the "nasty lady" circumstances would do the same.

In videos I have seen of potters the horses are calmly led through and then dead no more pain no more nastiness from humans.
 
Sorry, but really, what is so wrong with that actual clip?

The pony didn't look stressed, the handlers were quiet, and quite frankly, in my opinion that pony didn't suffer at all. Neat, quick and efficient. Not at all what I was expecting.

It is people like these activists who did the marvellous job of getting horse slaugherhouses shut down in the US, and everyone knows how that benefitted horses don't they? No time for these types at all.



 
I'm with you Enfys, apart from the odd looking gun, nothing wrong with that. I would hate to see a slaughter ban here, as it would simply mean more horses making the journey across the channel
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Yes, I would rather they were euthanised than sent to suffer; but what I actually meant was: do horses not deserve a more dignified end? This woman sent her horse off in a lorry all alone to a strange place, where he was shot. I find that quite upsetting.

I don't agree with animal activists, but as I said in my first post, it's a sore topic because I believe horses who are shot as a form of euthanasia, do not know anything of what happens, particularly in the case of our friends' horse, who was happily grazing in the field.
 
The horse would, undoubtably have been better with someone with it that it knew, however I am not sure that horses understand the concept of dignity.
 
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mmmm, this old chestnut? Can't see vid but think I've seen before.

Horses are shot on a daily basis - because you're not exposed to it, it's traumatic. People who do it on a daily basis are not going to cry and be in fits of tears about it are they?

Would you rather a horse was transported across europe and ended up a complete state at the other end and was THEN shot?

Seriously people, think about it.
 
I have had several horses shot over the years for a number of medical reasons and it is one of the hardest things to do , the first was a pony called Elf when I was 5 who broke his leg in the field and the most recent last year , none of them have ever been stressed / aware what was about to happen and it has always been a tough decision, however I always am of the opinion it is much better to face reality and kinder than battle on & on with vets that are reluctant to be defeated with bills being paid for by insurance

Although the drive home from the kennels with an empty lorry have been some of the worst experiences of keeping horses over the years I regard it as the other end of the stick to all the great times I have enjoyed and try to focus on that.

I watched a friend of mine put her happy hacker through 3 years of failed ops etc on its legs before finally having it shot by the hunt.IMHO the vet should have encouraged the lady to be more practical in the first place but it is all to easy when you think someone else is paying the bill

Shooting if handled correctly seems much more efficient than an injection and thus enables places like the one at Taunton to remain open by virtue of being economically viable and reducing the need of live export for slaughter.

On the bright side I have a horse that I thought I would be losing due to kissing spine, having had a miserable evening I drove to the kennels to let them know I would be bringing one in later . I got to Rossdales and two vets talked through the options for over two hours with me and I agreed to let them operate.That was a year ago and the horse is fit and well and has just completed his fist advanced with my wife on Monday so I am not always right.
 
The problem is, I understand the concept of dignity which is why watching a video like that upset me. Not saying horses understand the concept of dignity, but they understand fear.

I neither agree with the OP about it being totally wrong, nor with those who say it is fine, because my argument, it seems, it different. I would rather a horse was euthanised than either made to suffer in pain or transported across Europe (and in fact, the latter is deplorable); however, I would also rather the horse not be Euthanised at a slaughterhouse. This is simply because I love my horses and would rather they were done at home. Personal choice, and one I had to make myself 10 weeks ago.
 
And no one go thinking I'm some kind of pink, fluffy animal activist who chains myself to fences.

I grew up on a dairy farm and animals were slaughtered all the time. I saw animals die, I watched calfs die when born etc. I've hunted and am pro-hunting and actually am not that fond of animal activists. Like I said, my argument is obviously different and I'm viewing it from the point of view that I wouldn't want George to be taken there to be done.
 
of course - most of us would prefer our horses to be PTS at home but sometimes that's not practical.

My old boy was shot at home but if Oscar was ever to be PTS I'd have him injected due to him being a bit headshy.

Surely though, it's better for a horse to be shot by someone competent and calm than have it's owning screaming and wailing next to it.......then yes, they would pick up on the fear of it!
 
Yes you're absolutely right - it is still better than live export.

The guy uses a rifle. He's very proficient and clearly knows his job. He deals with the horses in a very professional manner and the horses haven't a clue what is about to hit them - in my opinion, a darned sight better having people just chattering around the pony, then bang! , than having some weeping owner crying their eyes out, possibly causing the horse's last moments being anxious.
 
Thats the whole point of these places without which who knows what suffering would go on, not everyone is able to have this done at home
eg to take a horse to the kennels £ 150 and for them to come out £300 based on my local hunt

If you own horses you must be practical , the pony in that video was treated very humanely as he met his maker.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I grew up on a dairy farm and animals were slaughtered all the time. Like I said, my argument is obviously different and I'm viewing it from the point of view that I wouldn't want George to be taken there to be done.

[/ QUOTE ]

So what is the difference between cows, sheep & pigs going to a slaughter house to that of a horse going to one?

If they are going for meat they have to be slaughtered at a licenced slaughter house & then bled straight after killing or the meat is of no use. Same as keeping them calm, as a stressed animal releases endomorphins into their muscles & thus taints the meat & again is no use for consumption.
 
I have seen this video before and whilst I hate the idea of horses being sent to slaughter I do still belive that it is a necessary service which is provided. Whilst the slaughterman in this clip is unemotional I think he handles the horses well and is efficient with what appears to be no stress on behalf of the horses.

As already mentioned, a ban on horse slaughter will have dire consequences such as it did in America. If keeping slaughter houses open prevents live export for slaughter then they should be kept open.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlaf43hpsvk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8KBhaeOp2yA
 
I don't see whats wrong with that video and ithe sentence about 'discarded kids ponies' should alert you to the fact that its just animal roghts b0ll0cks anyway - good kids ponies are worth thousands and I've never heard of anyone who routinely sent their childs beloved pony to be slaughtered as soon as they outgrew it!

Of course its better for them to be PTS at home but thats up to the owner. Out of interest, what has happened in America?
 
of course the man appears cold and unaffected, he has no emotional attachment to these horses, he is just doing a job and as far as i can see doing it quietly and cleanly with no fuss or commotion. typically emotive activist waffle 'ponies like these teach children how to ride..part of the family blah blah' for all they and we know that pony could have been a child hating mean little sod who'd injured 3 kids in the last week ( ok unlikely i know but you get my point)

sorry but there are far more worthwhile things to get petitioning against, like the live export trade
 
I dont think the horse suffered at all but i honestly do not know how people can send there horses off to be shot either at a slaughterhouse or kennels and just drop them off and go it makes me my blood boil that people actually can be that heartless at times!

I dont have alot of money but i would rather both my ponies pts at home by injection with me there for them so there end is happy and stress free. I would not care how much it cost me either theres things called credit cards, savings and insurance if thats what it ment for them to die a dignified death.
 
i don't think they're being heartless,!! some people can't deal with being there at the end, i made my OH take our dog to the vet when the time came , not because i was heartless but because i knew that my crying and stressing would upset her
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i stayed with my horse because she was already down and in shock , no amount of wailing from me could have got through to her, i'm not sure if i will stay the next time i have to go through it,
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Here we go again.
Whilst we would all love our animals to live for ever, this can't happen.
Whilst we would all love our animals to die quietly in their sleep, this can't always happen.
Whilst we would all like our animals pts at home, this is not always possible.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this clip. The videographers do NOT know about the animals they have filmed, the reason why they are there. It is far preferable to send them to slaughter like this than to make them suffer needlesly, or to add to their suffering by sending them 'abroad' to be slaughtered.
 
My choice on PTS for my own horses is to shoot them vs. needle and I do it myself .They know me ,realize I care about them and no drama , strangers bobbing about smelling funny etc. We have a slaughter ban here in the USA and horrible ! Knacker fulfill a need , would you rather the shooter wept , closed his eyes , and sent the bullet off mark because he hasn't the ballocks to do his job? Or be cool and proficient ?
 
Please dont call people heartless that send their horse to these places I have more respect for them than the people who put horse through any other unnecessary suffering. I always hold my horses at the clip as I think it is important to realise the reality and responsibility of owning a horse. This is not for everyone I know which is why there are people like the guy in the video
 
lovnuggs...


2 things.....get a grip..and get a life.

any site set up by "activists" of any type, is emotive claptrap....




oh, and use "spell check"..thank you.
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oh, and the guy who works for Potter's..the wicked evil pony killer in the Vid, lives just up the road from me.

he's a great guy, hunts with our local hunt and owns 3 fabulous horses/ponies of his own.

he'll certainly get the job if any of mine need to meet their maker anytime soon...

ETS.....He uses a RIFLE.....NOT a Shotgun....more incorrect facts...typical of people who know fk all about a subject they profess to know so much about
 
I would prefer to have my horses PTS at home but recognise that this isn't always an option.

I would rather have a professional job done by an expert like the people at Potters/Turners than leave an elderly/lame horse mouldering away in the field with a poor quality of life.

My strongest feeling however is that prevention is better than cure. I wish that the breeding industry was better regulated so that poor quality horses were less likely to be produced, and that owners would have an "end of life" plan for their horses when the time comes, rather than hoping the horse quietly dies in its sleep-unlikely.

It makes me very sad when someone has a mare that has been retired due to performance/injury/temperament issues and they decide to put it in foal, when the mare isn't neccessarily the best quality.

The problem in the USA is that the American slaughter houses have been closed following campaigning by animal rights activists. Unfortunately the majority of slaughter bound horses are now being sent to either Mexico or Canada on unmodified cattle trucks and enduring long and terrifying journeys.

The slaughter houses they go to are unregulated and the methods used to kill the horses are very dodgy indeed (Dagger to the back of the neck). Many of the plants are not correctly equipped to deal with horses, who often slip and fall on the floors etc.

Here's a link to a very good Canadian documentary report into the issue. Some of it is upsetting, but sadly this is the state of play out there.

http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/06/canadian-media-expose-truth-about-horse.html

The Fugly Blog is an excellent read too.
 
Our local horse slaughteres are an established family firm. 30 years ago the man who owned the firm came out at 6:30 at night to despatch our old Lad who had fallen and was never going to get up again. This easter his daughter came out on a snowy saturday morning to put and end to the suffering of our (then) big girl. With a span of 30 years the efficiency of this family firm remains excellent. The firm now act as a pet crematorium, rather than relying on horse meat as their main source of income. Without them we would have been in serious difficulties, particularly as in the second case we had difficulty getting hold of a vet.
 
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