Where the USA dumps it's unwanted horses for a few bucks - sickening.

cefyl

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Now there is a mainly countrywide ban on horse slaughter in the USA the trade has deverted to unregulated slaughter plants in Mexico. The methods are sickening, not to mention the unregulated transport there from across the US border in the first place, hours of cramped dirty trucks in hotter than hell temperatures for much of the way. And this is 1,000's of equines from just off the track unwanted TB's, ex-competition horses, old, the lame, all bought by the meat trade for a few bucks because the owners don't care they just want whatever price they can salvage for their rejects.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5175642.html
 
that is barbaric!
It saddens me that this happens- I am not so naive to think that this doesnt happen but I dont know how on earth they can begin to regualte this so animals dont suffer unnessarily.
It makes so angry- but I accept on a daily basis I dont do anything to stop it.
very very sad and equally disturbing,
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From what I understand, the shippers from the USA cannot legally transport horses for slaughter to Mexico or Canada. That is, if our borders were monitored and the laws upheld. Which brings up a whole other debate ...
 
OMG that's terrible!
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Why do these things have to happen? It angers me that the US Government has the power to put a stop to this, at least for the US horses, but it always takes forever for them to do something about it
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It's so sad that there are so many people out there who have no regard for the lives of animals. I know they have to make money, but surely they can do it without causing so much agony and terror to these poor animals?
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To have horses at such a low value, the problem must be overbreeding...as well as ridiculous laws banning slaughter in the US.
I have to say I have nothing against horse slaughter, but there are humane ways to do it, and procedures leading up to it to minimise stress...
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Read the article, there is as yet NO ban on transporting live equines for slaughter to Mexico. There is a bill being put together to present to congress but that will take months / years to pass if at all.

Money talks and the traders are a huge group. And money talks in the equine community. I have seen horses that cost $100,000 upwards dumped at auctions because they are no longer winning on the hunter jumper circuit, ex eventers who can no longer compete, ex TB's off the tracks whose owners who will not put their money into vets fees and rehab but just want shut of the un-claimed claimer to make way for another hopefull that may bring them some glory.

And at times like this the USEF and TOBA and other equine societies and associations that promote breeding / competition, etc should stand up with the rest of those who care and show they do too about what happens to the ones who have seen better days, and even those who may be potential superstars whose chance of a life is dashed before it has really begun. How many more have to suffer before they can be bothered to speak out. They can well divert some of the 10's of $1,000's they plough into the likes of training squads for Olympic Glory (like Amy Tryon) into fighting this horrific trade but will they? I think not.
 
You simply cant understand it really, when it is so simple to kill these animals humanely, sick bstds its like the poor dogs in china.
 
They banned horse slaughter and this is the result. Bunny hugging do gooders have a lot to answer for.

And this is what will happen if they ever ban horse slaughter in the UK - except ours will travel to Italy.
 
How ridiculous to ban Horse Slaughter in the States, this causes the need to travel them long distances to a country who have no idea.
 
it makes me feel sick, i feel so powerless, being a vegetarian animal lover, i can (just about) accept that the cute lamb or calf will end up on a dinner plate - but it's animals suffering that really gets to me... how can people be so barbaric????? in this day and age i can't believe this kind of thing still goes on, is there to be no progress?!!
i'm a pacifist, but if i got my hands on those people....
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Grrrrrrrr

sorry, rant over
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Those of us who opposed the horse slaughter ban in the US warned the proponents of the ban that this would happen. Opponents of the ban pushed for more regulation on the shipping and slaughter methods that would make them more humane. Unfortunately the PETA and HSUS factions and their emotional arguments about the "noble horse that built America" prevailed and now we have this. BTW, oxen pulled more Conestoga wagons and plows in the pioneer days of the Western US than horses and we still eat beef.
I do think the UK and European campaign of export on the hook, not the hoof makes a lot more sense. The bottom has fallen out of the lower end of the horse market. There have been reports of horses just being turned loose on public lands and in peoples pastures. My neighbor has had a decent looking paint mare given to her. This past Saturday when I went to feed our colts there was a very poor quality stud horse out running loose in the pasture with our other horses. I have no idea where he came from, checked with all the neighbors, no one is missing a horse. If no one claims him I will have to have someone shoot him as he doesn't appear to be broken and I don't particularly want to shell out the fees to have him gelded and broken as I have my own better quality horses to tend to.
 
Don't you have shelters for horses in America? If you don't want to spend the money on him perhaps you could try and find somewhere that he will be cared for. Personally I am disgusted to be human - what we do to animals is awful. He may not be worth anything to you, but do you not think of him as a life that should be valued for itself rather than it's worth to you? I don't mean to have a go but I really don't like the attitudes of so many people. Would you not rather see him galloping round a field and happy than a heap on the floor?
 
There are shelters for horses in America but most of them are full and not taking any more horses. I called the local sheriff and animal shelter and left a notice that I found him and I'm hoping someone shows up to claim him. I'm also going to call around some more to see if someone knows where he might belong. I'd love to see him galloping around a field but just not mine. He's wreaking havoc among my horses. My old retired QH has bite marks all over his neck, my daughter's pony looked like he'd been run through the fence and the stranger had decided that my old, arthritic QH mare was to be his new girlfriend. He doesn't appear to be even broke to lead, I tried to get near him and he wouldn't have any of it. I'm afraid to push it as I know nothing about this horse's disposition and stallions can be dangerous. The sheriff did say that they had someone that would impound stray livestock and hold them until the owners showed up. If no one claims him soon then that is what I will do. I don't really want to have him shot if there are other options but rather than let him hurt my horses, me or my daughter I would have it done.
 
Sounds like a pain, at least you have tried to do something to help him, from what I've heard the overbreeding of unwanted horses in America is ridiculous... I can't believe someone would just dump their horse in your field. I hope you can find somewhere for him to go, and your horses are all ok.
 
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