JP and I have composed letters to the USEA…I have sent mine, to Brian Sabo and Jo Whitehouse at USEA and to David O’Connor at USEF. Later today I’ll dig out some other important people who could be helpful-AQHA, etc.
If you guys want to read my letter let me know. I think it is pretty good, I don’t know if it will have any impact but it makes me feel better to have at least started trying to delve into the issue.
Stay calm and carry on…
OH LOOK! That’s funny, there’s JP’s letter right there. I wonder why it didn’t show up when I typed my last post…Hmmm.
I think I’ll write to Barak too. He signed the bill, he should be reminded of what actually happens inside those buildings. I voted for the man in '08, I intend to do that again next Fall, he better pay attention when I send him a letter. 
Pol, would you be willing to post your letter here as well?
Thanks…
And thanks to you, too, JP. I may want to cut abd paste from both of your letters (once I’ve seen Pol’s) if I have your permission to do that.
[QUOTE=RiverBendPol;6008410]
JP and I have composed letters to the USEA…I have sent mine, to Brian Sabo and Jo Whitehouse at USEA and to David O’Connor at USEF. Later today I’ll dig out some other important people who could be helpful-AQHA, etc.
If you guys want to read my letter let me know. I think it is pretty good, I don’t know if it will have any impact but it makes me feel better to have at least started trying to delve into the issue.
Stay calm and carry on…[/QUOTE]
I love the letter idea. Brian Sabo comes up to my barn once a month to teach, so I’ve been riding with him for over a year. My mare is a feedlot rescue, and he knows her whole story. He also thinks she is a very talented horse with the ability to excel at the upper levels. I have a lesson with him on 12/14. I’ll ask him if he got the letters and what his thoughts are.
I’m not sure I’d bother contacting the AQHA since they are pro slaughter.
Don’t know if this helps:
I once put together a booklet in a binder with statts, etc.
Called my Congressman. Made a sit down appointment with him. Attended appointment. Calmy stated facts in a friendly meeting.
He told me I was the first person to do that. Many had called him, but no one had sat down with him. Where I live, I was really surprised. Very horsey area.
Anyway, he is somewhat of an advocate in that he always votes for the horses now.
JP AWESOME letter. Very articulate and eloquent.
Sure thing, Annie, here it is. You guys better not be too critical, the letters have GONE, by post and email!
7 December 2011
Brian Sabo
Dear Brian,
As I’m sure you know, our President has re-enacted the bill legalizing horse slaughter in the United States. If this bill can be implemented well, with funding, oversight, wisdom and compassion, I believe it will better serve our Equine population than history has shown.
In the past, our horses facing a slaughter-house death have suffered innumerable indignities, revolting and horrific pain and anguishes at the hands of their killers. Slaughter-for-profit, I believe, is the crux of the horror. Historically, horses going to slaughter have been killed for their meat, the ‘owners’ receiving payment based on the weight of the horses. Some unscrupulous breeders have actually bred horses specifically to deliver and sell to slaughter. When the kill pens and abattoirs in this country closed down, US horses were then shipped, in horrible conditions, for upwards of 24 hours in trucks where the animals were packed in like sardines, unable to move at all, often falling and being trampled by those still on their feet trying to keep their balance. Once they arrived in Canada or Mexico, where unregulated slaughter continues, the US horses were confined to small pens where again, movement, cleanliness, kindness, dignity were non-existent. Then the unmentionable trip through the chute occurred.
This subject has been an ongoing, very civil, very thoughtful discussion on the Chronicle of the Horse Eventing Forums since December 4th. A lot of thought has obviously gone into each post. Although it is a VERY hot topic and people can become VERY opinionated, emotional and outspoken when conversing anonymously, some good ideas have surfaced. A shocking article/study/video/slideshow has also been posted, documenting a 2-day investigation, July 2011, at a Canadian slaughter house. You can see the entire report, video if you’re brave enough, at the link I’ve copied at the bottom of my letter.
A few of the suggestions coming out of our Chronicle discussions are as follows (and include asking the USEA for help)
~Horses be licensed with local authorities, as dogs are currently
~Horses be micro-chipped
~Sizable fees be enacted for horse shipment across national borders, fees refunded upon
return to US soil
~Small, local abattoirs be set up and inspected regularly
~Better background research on and education for slaughter workers
~Euthanasia service fees paid by horse owner. Owners never to be paid for the horse
~Education, at local and national level-this is where you come in-
~Euthanasia funds set up through horse groups such as USEA, USEF, AQHA, etc.
*If each of the 13,000 members paid only an additional $5 on their membership dues, that would create a $6500 fund per annum or roughly 163 veterinary-performed humane euthanasia. Members who find themselves in dire straits could petition the USEA for help in euthanizing their horse.
~A separate flyer would be added to members’ renewal packets, explaining the reason for the increase in fees, a sure way of getting the word out to each and every member
I just realized the convention is going on right now so am going to email this letter to you as well as sending a hard copy by mail.
I very much appreciate your hearing me out, Brian. I am going to cc this letter to Jo and David. I look forward to your thoughts and remarks.
Best wishes,
PM
Cc: Jo Whitehouse, USEA
David O’Connor, USEF
In a similar discussion in the Off Course Forum - check out the last couple of pages. In those posts I get into some of the numbers involved with utilizing small, local slaughter plants taking in horses to be put down.
I took the numbers from what the approximate costs are where I live - it would be unwise to read too much into them. I take my livestock there to be processed - though the animals are shot it bears little resemblance to a really large scale operation. The facility is USDA inspected - though not all small plants are as they operate under state exemptions.
Utilizing the meat in the human food chain would not be the main goal. I explain how these plants work now, how the renderer works, etc.
There is no requirement that the only way to slaughter horses is a few gigantic plants in the US. There are thousands of small plants processing a variety of species to meet local and regional need. We need MORE of these plants - if nothing else it would enhance animal welfare as well as serve the small and medium sized farming operation (especially near urban centers where coincidentally - there are a lot of horse owners)
Again - there would be no requirement that the meat enter the human food chain. Just, for a fee, utilize the small plant as a mechanism for disposition of large animal remains - but the plant putting the horse down.
Exactly
[QUOTE=JSwan;6009068]
In a similar discussion in the Off Course Forum - check out the last couple of pages. In those posts I get into some of the numbers involved with utilizing small, local slaughter plants taking in horses to be put down.
I took the numbers from what the approximate costs are where I live - it would be unwise to read too much into them. I take my livestock there to be processed - though the animals are shot it bears little resemblance to a really large scale operation. The facility is USDA inspected - though not all small plants are as they operate under state exemptions.
Utilizing the meat in the human food chain would not be the main goal. I explain how these plants work now, how the renderer works, etc.
There is no requirement that the only way to slaughter horses is a few gigantic plants in the US. There are thousands of small plants processing a variety of species to meet local and regional need. We need MORE of these plants - if nothing else it would enhance animal welfare as well as serve the small and medium sized farming operation (especially near urban centers where coincidentally - there are a lot of horse owners)
Again - there would be no requirement that the meat enter the human food chain. Just, for a fee, utilize the small plant as a mechanism for disposition of large animal remains - but the plant putting the horse down.[/QUOTE]
And who knows? Maybe, just maybe it might help a zoo or sanctuary? Maybe that’s an alternative?
[QUOTE=Brandy76;6009165]
And who knows? Maybe, just maybe it might help a zoo or sanctuary? Maybe that’s an alternative?[/QUOTE]
It’s already being done. Horse slaughter is not illegal, it’s only illegal for human consumption (or has been). Bravo Packing in NJ provides horse meat to zoos and has been documented for abuse to those horses.
Sadly, the USDA does not regulate the plants unless meat is for human consumption. If you really care about how a horse is treated before and while it is being killed, you don’t want to think being slaughtered for zoo food is a “humane” alternative.
I would like to see that microchip contain every veterinary procedure done to the horse. Scan it and get a read out. That would be enormous progress…prescriptions noted: bute, cortisone, etc. A Vet Car Fax for horses.
Nancy
Sometimes taking their lives is necessary though sad. I think brainstorming for a humane solution to horses that must be destroyed is imperitive. I don’t think we need to kill the thousands that are now being killed because if we do then why is there so much breeding?
Like the deer in the forest, a well placed bullet is quick and it’s over, no fear and they get to live normal lives up and until the end. I think that this kind of death is the most humane. I don’t think I would want this for my horses but that’s because I have personal issues, not because I think it’s wrong. I respect the decision for someone to “send them to the hounds” or if treated well up till the end to let them go to zoos or whatever.
If you decide to do this for horses I would consider it honorable. We have one knacker here in Chester County who travels all over. They usually just take bodies but I know they have killed them too. I know this family, they are local farmers who are also horse lovers and they always consider the welfare of the horse even till the end. These are the most decent people. The last time I saw the wife she was at my farm picking up my friend’s horse and she was so compassionate. But how long they will continue no one knows. She said that there wasn’t anyone in the area to take over and they cover a wide area, travel very far to do this. The way they do it is the vet calls them. But believe me, if you get into this job your name will spread like wildfire.
Thank you!
[QUOTE=RiverBendPol;6005512]
Lifesabreeze, no name calling, please. We are trying to remain civil.[/QUOTE]
ah but it seems to have worked I didn’t want to see a good discussion ruined by the aras.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSwan
Oh great. I mention that this thread is rational and civil, and note that it’s because none of you people are posting on it, and suddenly you discover it.
Guess this ones going to go the same way of the other one. Nice. Can’t wait till inflammatory rhetoric starts.
I received a very nice email from Brian Sabo yesterday, in response to my letter of 12/7/11. The long and short of his note is that USEA cannot do anything in the way of fund-raising for non-USEA benefit but if there were another 501c3 established for the benefit of horses/their owners at euth time/etc., the USEA could help educate the membership.
No response from USEF but I presume David’s answer would be similar.
Resurrecting this thread to say THANK GOD the powers that be are finally embracing the idea of contraception over letting wild herds expand beyond sustainable levels and then culling them in reactionary, barbaric fashion.
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/06/06/wild-horse-strategies-ineffective-costly/#.UbCBmp3D_iI
