| I have been aware of horse slaughter since I was a | | | | or unproven Thoroughbred stallion for as little as $300. |
| kid. It was a well known fact Thoroughbred ex-race | | | | Boom! For less than a beater car, you too can own |
| horses that came through the barn had one shot to | | | | the next derby champ! |
| make it in the hunter/jumper ring (as riding horses). If a | | | | Wrong. |
| horse didn't stay at the barn, we knew the horse | | | | Of course, many Thoroughbreds going for meat are |
| would end up back at dealers, and dealer returns | | | | actually well bred, expensive horses. Some may have |
| meant the horse was going to slaughter. | | | | stud fees of $500,000 or more. By and large, |
| As a child, horse slaughter was simply a fact. Now, it's | | | | racehorses don't retire to green pasture if they don't |
| almost a necessity. I don't agree with slaughtering | | | | win. They mostly go to auction. Even when trainers try |
| horses, nor do I want any horse to end up at a | | | | their best to find a new owner and a new job for the |
| slaughterhouse, but our society produces far too many | | | | horse, Thoroughbreds off-the-track are not just for |
| unwanted horses. | | | | anyone. Most of them need experienced handlers and |
| I receive emails on a weekly basis from several | | | | trainers. |
| different horse industry and horse welfare news | | | | With the 2008 Kentucky Derby ready to hit the |
| streams. Every time I read one of these legislative | | | | starting gate on May 3rd, what is the average |
| "updates", I wonder: When is horse slaughter legislation | | | | American going to see of the racing industry? Horses |
| going to start with the cause of unwanted horses? | | | | worth millions of dollars? Shiny, lucky horses cared for |
| Though anti horse slaughter groups have successfully | | | | better than most people? |
| shut down horse slaughterhouses in America, horse | | | | I wish happenings at an average American |
| breeding has only increased. If horses at auction don't | | | | Thoroughbred Racetrack were televised. Horses |
| wind up at slaughter, where are all the "unwanted" | | | | running at tracks not called Churchill Downs, Belmont |
| horses going to go? As with the millions of unwanted | | | | Park, or Pimlico don't have the luxury of being |
| dogs and cats who are euthanased every year, it | | | | considered anything but expendable or replaceable. |
| would be nice if we could say unwanted horses are | | | | And besides, with reality TV all the rage, is there |
| "humanely destroyed." But, horses are just not that | | | | anything more cut throat [pun intended] than watching |
| easy to put down. Besides being big, difficult to | | | | broke down horses running in races that are paying |
| transport, to house, and to feed, horses cost several | | | | out $500 with the losers highly unlike to get another |
| hundred dollars to put down. For "humane" treatment, | | | | chance? |
| horses need not only feed, water, and vaccinations, but | | | | The large majority of horses who will not see the |
| also farrier care and often special nutritional, veterinary, | | | | glamorous camera lenses pointed at them (beside |
| and stabling. | | | | closed circuit monitoring) are only bred to be good for |
| When is horse slaughter legislation going to start with | | | | a year or two. These "modern" Thoroughbreds, the |
| the cause of unwanted horses? | | | | ones at your average, dirty, shady, tracks, aren't bred |
| Horses end up at auction if they can't be sold privately, | | | | to run the Kentucky Derby; they are bred to MAYBE, |
| can't be cared for, or are (simply) unwanted. If a horse | | | | MAYBE win their owners and investors a couple |
| owner sends an "unwanted" horse to auction and the | | | | thousand dollars. The main purpose of the average |
| horse doesn't sell, what happens to the horse? If the | | | | Thoroughbred is to honor the owner with the distinction |
| previous owner can't or won't care for the horse, who | | | | of owning a racehorse. Thoroughbreds, by their nature, |
| will? | | | | are bred to be hot, a trait which does not to serve |
| It's the same with the overpopulation of dogs and cats. | | | | them well outside of running. They are no longer bred |
| It's better to have a humane society take an | | | | with long lines, or big strides even. They are bred to run |
| unwanted pet and euthanize it than have a pet return | | | | and move flat, fast, and that's it. Outside of the few |
| to a home where it isn't wanted or cannot be cared | | | | races they MIGHT run, Thoroughbred racehorses |
| for. But again, horses are extremely difficult and | | | | serve limited purpose. |
| expensive to care for. Some say re-homing unwanted | | | | Interestingly enough, even Kentucky Derby winners |
| horses is not a big deal since the total number of | | | | aren't safe from slaughter. With the 2002 slaying of |
| American horses slaughtered per year "only" equals | | | | 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand at a Japanese |
| about 1% of the total American horse population. | | | | slaughterhouse, the horse racing industry has proven |
| Based on current horse populations (about 9 million in | | | | time and time again it does not even value it's most |
| the US), 90,000 "homeless" horses is still a lot of | | | | prize assets. |
| horses. With hay prices up, gas prices up, and | | | | Thusly, even well bred but only "medium" caliber |
| affordable land becoming more scarce, most horse | | | | racehorses, such as those bought and sold at the |
| people in any part of the country will tell you; "you can't | | | | Keeneland Auction for an average of $100K, may not |
| even give 'em away these days." | | | | ever win, even at a small racetrack. With the hopes of |
| Some anti-slaughter activists like to claim horse "kill | | | | "cleaning up" at the ghetto tracks, these "Kentucky" |
| buyers" are outbidding nice families in search of a pet. | | | | bred horses still are without value unless the winnings |
| Really? If a "nice family" is only willing to spend $100, | | | | come in early and frequently. |
| maybe a $150 on a horse, will they be willing to spent | | | | The main purpose today's "modern" Thoroughbred is |
| another $150 on vaccines once the vet comes out? | | | | to honor the owner with the distinction of owning a |
| What about hoof care every six weeks? Hay, grain, | | | | racehorse. |
| shavings? Proper fencing? Does the nice family have | | | | Luckily, there is a good chance a Kentucky bred |
| money set aside for emergency transport and | | | | Thoroughbred horse could posses some very nice |
| thousands of dollars worth of colic surgery? Kill buyers, | | | | athletic attributes that could result in a nice hunter |
| yes, may be out bidding families (occasionally), but this | | | | jumper, dressage, or eventing home. Still, the original |
| does not mean the family has means to care for the | | | | breeders, owners, and trainers of racehorses are |
| long term health of the horse. | | | | generally unconcerned with where the horses end up. |
| To minimize horse slaughter and unwanted horses, we | | | | The racing industry wipes their hands clean of losers |
| need a better plan. | | | | without regard for the welfare of the horses. |
| Currently, there are no horse slaughterhouses | | | | Slaughter, new career, loving home - who cares! |
| operating in the United States. Despite anti-slaughter | | | | Whatever gets them off the training and boarding bill, |
| group efforts, American horse slaughterhouses have | | | | its fine by the racehorse owner. |
| been successfully shut down, but now horses are just | | | | As an American horse community, we need to start |
| sent over the border to Mexico and Canada where | | | | looking at a way to fund "unwanted" horses that are |
| the treatment and killing of animals is even less | | | | considered "garbage" with either euthanasia, or when |
| humane than under American standards. | | | | applicable, retraining programs. Or more importantly, |
| In many ways, the U.S. slaughter ban has already hurt | | | | let's limit racehorse breeding to owners and trainers |
| horse welfare. | | | | who only commit their funds to providing for a horse |
| For reference, American slaughterhouses used | | | | throughout the duration of its life, regardless of its |
| retractable pneumatic bolts to render horses | | | | winnings. If the racing community had to fork over |
| unconscious (in theory) before slitting their throats. | | | | money for the lifetime care of its horses, the |
| However, in Mexico, it's common practice to stab | | | | unwanted horse population would dry up. |
| horses in the back repeatedly until their spinal cord is | | | | The horse industry needs a plan, a good plan, to help |
| severed. | | | | lower unwanted horse numbers. Stopping horse |
| In many ways, the U.S. horse slaughter ban has | | | | slaughter is only going to be beneficial once we stop |
| already hurt horse welfare. Now, anti-slaughter groups | | | | having too many horses. In order to stop horse |
| are attempting to ban horses exported for slaughter | | | | slaughter, the Humane Society of the United States |
| altogether. Despite the fact this new law could be | | | | should do one of two things: |
| easily circumvented by horse "kill dealers" simply | | | | 1.) Provide the shelters and means necessary to |
| labeling horses transported across the border as "for | | | | retrain or humanely euthanize unwanted, unadaptable |
| riding" instead of "for slaughter", we need to first think | | | | horses |
| about minimizing the unwanted horse population before | | | | 2.) Take giant steps forward to limit the breeding of all |
| tackling the issue of horse slaughter. | | | | horses, not just racing Thoroughbreds |
| Lets look at some facts: | | | | In addition, the HSUS should go after the racing |
| - According to the USDA, 45,000 horses went to | | | | community for some money to start covering the |
| slaughter in Mexico in 2007, and another 26,000 went | | | | humane destruction or lifetime care of the horses it |
| to Canada (total, 71,000+). | | | | produces. Now that the Kentucky Derby is underway, |
| - According to the Jockey Club, 56,000 Thoroughbred | | | | why don't some of these trainers, owners, breeders, |
| mares were bred in 2007. | | | | and jockeys making BIG money in horse racing |
| - According to the Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred | | | | industry give some money back, to the horses |
| race horses averaged 25 starts per life in 1950; by | | | | themselves? |
| 1994, the average Thoroughbred ran just 14 races. | | | | If the racing community had to fork over money for |
| What does this mean? More Thoroughbreds running | | | | the lifetime care of its horses, the unwanted horse |
| less races equals more waste. Due to over breeding | | | | population would dry up. |
| of the Thoroughbred, not only does the Thoroughbred | | | | Let's stop breeding low quality Thoroughbreds, shut |
| Times conclude Thoroughbred races horses are less | | | | down the seedy racetracks, and start a rehab and |
| sound than 60 years ago , but also, they are less used. | | | | retraining humane society that can help with these |
| Moreover, why have we not had a Triple Crown | | | | unwanted horses either through re-homing (realistically), |
| winner in Thoroughbred horse racing since Affirmed in | | | | or humane euthanasia. |
| 1978? Could it be that the only requirements for | | | | And frankly, lets stop breeding low quality horses of |
| breeding a Thoroughbred horse are a papered mare | | | | any kind. The Thoroughbred racing industry is not |
| and money for a stud fee? | | | | solely to blame for horse slaughter or unwanted |
| I imagine, even in 1978, horse breeding and racing | | | | horses altogether. However, Thoroughbred horse |
| wasn't an incredibly easy or cheap "hobby". Then, not | | | | racing is the highest grossing and highest profile entity |
| every backyard horse owner could afford a.) a | | | | of the horse world. For naysayers of horse slaughter, |
| papered Thoroughbred mare, or b.) a 500 mile haul to | | | | Thoroughbred racing is an easy target because of its |
| the stallion. Today, cheap, seedy racetracks are | | | | money, power, and fan base, but there is no better |
| numerous and vastly outnumber the celebrity packed | | | | time than to call out an institution on it's dirty little |
| racing events profiled on T.V. It is perceived as "easy" | | | | secrets than when shone national media spotlight (rest |
| now for anyone to think they can breed the next | | | | assured, if Premarin horses ended up with global |
| Kentucky Derby winner. For $250, someone can pick | | | | coverage on the Oxygen network, we'd be all over |
| up a lame and unproven (and possibly even unraced) | | | | that too). |
| Thoroughbred mare and breed her to an equally lame | | | | |