Horse Slaughter?????

Question

For all the "save the horses" people out there. ALL of you for the ban, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

HAVE YOU????

1. Added your local rescue or retirement home to your expense record and cut them a good sized check every month?

2. Have you gone out and "rescued" one to care for, for its entire life?

3. Have you started any fund raisers or done anything to help all the horses out there?

4. Did you make a stand on the starving horses in Burns, OR? WE POSTED IT SEVERAL TIMES HERE, NEVER GOT MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF RESPONSES.

Or, do you just keep yelling stop the slaughter and figure the rest is up to others to deal with???????

IF, YOU CAN ANSWER YES TO EACH ANSWER.....GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T, WELL, JUST ZIP IT AND GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING TO "SAVE THE HORSES"!

Furisded: Young peoples voices were heard when it came to ending slaughter. You can start up a website, find ways to raise money, make awareness to those that do not understand what is going to happen to alot of these horses now. Those of us already spending all our money on horses cannot pick up where those in favor left off. So, if you are for the ban, get out and do what you can. 13 is not a reason to say you can't do anything for 5 years!

Sidler: IF you voiced your opinions and are for the ban. Get out and start talking, you can raise money and awareness! I'm against the ban and I WANT THOSE IN FAVOR OF IT TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING THEMSELVES. Don't drop the bomb on us to pick up where you left off!!!!! Most of us who support slaughter barns, already dedicate our lives to horses and their well being!

Tom: You talk about others getting there facts straight. 1. come on over and find a bred mare on my property today, also I'd make more money betting you on this fact than anything else. 2. Since you were at my sight, I'm sure you've seen the horses that I have taken in and GIVEN away to good homes.. right????

Answer 1

WELL SAID!!!!!
Reality and or life can show its ugly color's when you truly open your eyes! Those of you that this question is referenced to, need to do just that!
Unless your willing to act on your voice, you should NOT be heard!
Again, WELL SAID!!!!

My opinion on the subject, just for the record...
This is an unfortunate, necessary evil.

I never saw the post on the starving horses in OR, what happened?

Answer 2

People also forget sometimes it's a have-to-sell situation. Things happen. Pastures for rent become unavailable - and when there's a short period of time to find a new place or sell them sometimes the one way trip to the auction is the only choice. :-( Rescues can not and will not absorb the numbers of horses that now are not going to slaughter. Many of the horses - from a kill buyer's view - ideally are the unbroke 4-8 year old horses that have been in a pasture. The typical "Molly's so pretty let's breed her" offspring that become not cute when they're a year old and turning nasty because they've never been disciplined a day in their life. That is not the fault of breeders/trainers. A couple months ago horses here were $15-20. There is precious little hay and less pasture to be had. Between the drought in some places and the floods in others hay is going to be very scarce this year. Each person who campaigned for it surely can take 10-15 of these horses - That'd solve the 'overpopulation' in no time - work the magic and make them all into good using horses. Of course many aren't suited to that - I know of a mare once that, sadly, the best place for her was slaughter. She was dangerous for experienced handlers and would hurt inexperienced ones. And for those saying how we don't do it here...it wasn't that many years ago horse meat WAS eaten here in the US; it was on the meat counter. There's a USDA nutrition site that still has current nutrition content for horse meat. If we weren't so spoiled with plenty here - or if beef prices continue to rise - it wouldn't surprise me the tide would turn again. There was even an episode of All In The Family in the '70s that was about buying horse meat and serving it - and Archie thought it was wonderful beef. It's a distasteful subject, no pun intended. But there's too many unknowns for euthanasia - no one has answered what will happen when those 50,000+ (depending on what statistic you read up to double that) horses loaded with deadly chemicals reach the ground water supply. Indeed it seems those screaming for euthanasia never think about it nor want to discuss that. And for what it's worth - if people get hungry enough they'd eat a dog or cat too. :-/

Answer 3

Awesome! And I agree. Do not be part of the problem, but part of the solution. Don't breed just because you can or want to see what color two horses will produce (and I see this kind of question here all of the time). Pull your heads out of the sand and realize that your really cute baby will grow up to weigh a 1000 lbs. Don't get the idea you can make a fortune in the breeding business just because you have a mare and a stud. Go around and educate 4-H groups and other horse people on the realities of back yard breeding. These are the horses that wind up in the houses and rescues because they are nuts (due to inferior breeding) or some jerk paid $200 (who would not pay $1000 for a half way decent horse) for their kid a horse, not realizing that it is not a bike that can be put in the garage and seen once a month. And after feeding it a month or two, they realize it is not as much fun as it was. So they dump the animal at the local auction. Stallion owners need to stop breeding anything that pulls in their driveway with a tail. Before you breed, ask yourself what your mare can contribute to the betterment of the equine world. If the answer is nothing, the do not breed her. If your stallion is not better than his sire, then GELD (this is not a four letter word). There is no law anywhere that I know of that says a mare has to reproduce. Breed associations need to make it tougher to get papers.. But until pressure is put on them to do this, nothing will happen.

Answer 4

You must be directly affected. I have rescued lots of horses and spent most money out of pocket for rehab and vet work to get them well enough to find new homes. I spent $8,000 on the last one and adopted her out for $600. All of my adopted horses have approved adoption contracts and I have the right to confiscate any horse at any time. My two personal retired show horses just passed away on my farm at 32 years old and 45 years old. The 32 yr. old was completely blind for years.
I am not against or for horse slaughter I have not joined either ban. I can see both sides to be honest with you. I guess I should educate myself a little more where the horse slaughter is involved. I have never given up a horse to a slaughter facility. I usually save them from slaughter. I am only one person doing very little in a world of so many needs. Good luck in whatever you are trying to accomplish. Wish I could do more.

Answer 5

I'm against the bans, but I can still answer yes to most of those questions. I implore anyone who wishes to comment or post on horse slaughter to do research at reputable sites.

And age has nothing to do with it. You can still volunteer at a local rescue. You can make friendship bracelets and cookies to sell with the proceeds going to horse rescue. The horses that did not go to slaughter are now starving to death. A much worse fate than a quick death.

Answer 6

I have owned Horses all my life,I truly love the beasts, But I have also learned, like every thing else in life, that there is a limit to what you can do. You can't save all the horses,nor do I believe all horses should be saved. Some are just better off being "PROCESS"
The first thing I think we, as horse people, need to do is change our terminology, slaughter is the wrong word to use in a politically correct society. The term slaughter brings to mind a cruel and uncaring blood letting, and as we know there are laws in place to oversee the humane treatment of all animal that are "PROCESS" in this country. We as a society need to realize that not everyone Iodizes horse and we need to use every resource we can to feed ourselves and the the world. If we are going to use corn for engine fuel (E-85) and fuel for heating(corn burning stoves) that will only take away from the food source for people, than add to that, the ideal of keeping every horse alive. We will end up feeding (God only knows how many horses)not only corn, but other feeds used to feed the animals, that feed us; milk,eggs,cheese and yes meats, we are going to get pretty hungry or pretty poor quick. So from now on lets "PROCESS" livestock,it sounds more politically correct and is closer to what really happens to the livestock.

TOML: You tell a fancy story and you think, that we are so dumb, that we are to take you at your word. As so far as the ticket you show at the start of your web-site, all it tells us for sure is that, that hauler delivered a load of horses in a humane manner, no cuts or bruses. It dose not say what type of horses were brought in (old,lame or unwanted) just that they were brought in, in a humane manner. Now about your photos, I would like to know many were taken outside of the U.S. in other parts of the world. You keep talking about horses being hit over the head several times to kill them, and you show photos of a kill box, I don't know where there would be enought room to swing a big hammer, so as to kill a horse. I am sure that they don't chase the horses around the plant trying to hit them over the head with a hammer, so how believable can your story be. Lastly the polls. Polls only show what a person opinion is, it does not show a persons knowledge of a subjuct, or if they even know what they are talking about. At our county fair we had "PETA" people going around and making the little 4H kids cry about their animals going to market, these kids work hard and really care about their animals. The money they make from the sale of their animal goes to their schooling and college funds. It is a part of the cycle of life.
TOML, ARE YOU ONE OF THESE "PETA" PEOPLE?

Answer 7

Thanks for putting my thought to words, I'd tried to make this Point in the past on a "Stop The Slaughter" question. Unfortunately there are a lot of great horses killed out there and it does pi** me off, But what can we do? It cost a lot of money to keep these unwanted or sick animals and with today's warm & dry temperature pastures and hay bales are getting scares.
For the people that donated a couple hundred to support them, Thanks (I really mean that) ! But if people want to really help these horses don't go buy a horse, Go Adopt one or two or pay $100 - $500 a horse (Lots go for that cheap), or what ever you can afford. Most people go and spend lots of money on horses when they could save a horse from slaughter and spend a little bit of money on training.

And "STOP" the over breading, If we're slaughtering horses , It means the number of horses are out waighing the damaned

Answer 8

I am only 14 years old and I already have 2 horses. If I could adopt and rescue a horse I would but I dont have enough money! As it is my family pays more than $500 a month to board the two horses we have! I have put on plays and had a rummage sale with my own stuff to have money to donate. I am trying to help but I dont have hardly any money to give!

Answer 9

I am with you on this!!! People just hear the words "SLAUGHTER" then think BAD..... I don't have answers, just stop breeding grad horses & or just breed when you have a buyer. My father & I own 151 acres in WY (my dad lives there until I move, in Vegas to make $ befor I move) the ranchers there are stuck with there horses that are crippled on the range. Now they will start putting them down themselfs. Myself & my sister has saved 4 of them & still have them. I understand both sides..... But like you said now what are people going to do with all the unwanted horses??? My thing is they should have to do it humainely(How ever you spell it)!!! I have not seen anything on the OR horses..... What is going on there??? I think the stop the slaughter has put us in a pickle.....

Answer 10

YES!! GREAT QUESTION!!

Add a line about taking a stand against casual breeding and I'd give you 3 stars if I could.

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to see horses slaughtered!! Nothing at all!!!

But people have to realize slaughter is a symptom...not the problem itself. Get rid of the problem and slaughter becomes economically unattractive and largely goes away by itself.

The problem is unwanted, overpopulated horses, created largely by irresponsible breeders and owners driving the market down. Man, I love foals, just love them, to scratch their chest and watch them do the ol' elephant nose, to play with them and bond with them...but until things change, my mares are committed to a life of celibacy. (SORRY GIRLS)

Young people opposed to slaughter, put your money where your mouth is. You are in a unique position to generate funds to help horses in need...it just requires work, creativity, and committment. It's harder than posting on Y/A! So don't let your age stop you, unless you're just looking for an excuse. You're a valuable resource.