When slaughter is banned;

[MSP]

[QUOTE=Beck;1876582]
Sonesta: Thank you for your post. You said it well.

An observation pertaining to an earlier post: at the auctions in my area, when the meat buyers are not bidding/buying, the prices go down. Way down. So I do not expect that prices will go up if/when slaughter is banned.

And decent horses (the ones that have no obvious physical or mental problems) generally have a reserve on them that is too high for meat price. For that very reason. And most of them go home unsold. At the moment, again in my area, people do not want to pay over $600 for the type of riding horse one can reasonably expect to find at these auctions. Generally, if a horse comes to one of these auctions, it is because it was not saleable by word of mouth. In which case one has to wonder why it did not sell. A very very small number come to auction because their owners know of no other way to sell a horse.

My greatest fear in the event that slaughter is banned outright is that the owners who want to save on the euthanasia and/or make a buck or two will simply let the animals rot out in a field behind the barn since doing that will cost them nothing. It does happen and too often. For some animals the best to hope for may be that the owner has a buddy with a .22 and is willing to use it.[/QUOTE]

People do that now: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/9295/AL/US/

A Tuscaloosa County man faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly shooting his horse and then beating it to death with a hammer.

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department said Danny Glover, 52, was arrested on July 12 on the misdemeanor charge. He was released on a $1,000 bond.

Glover allegedly wanted to put down the horse because it had a broken pelvis. Glover’s girlfriend said he was just trying to euthanize the animal and did not know it was going to go so badly.

He is accused of shooting the horse several times on July 1. But the horse got away and caused property damage to a neighbor’s residence before Glover recaptured it. The horse died a short time later and was buried on Glover’s land.

---

You see this horse really can’t legally be transported to slaughter or to a sale and he didn’t want to have a vet euthanize him so he did it himself. :no:

Here in MS we are in a drought and hay shortage and I see many skinny horses around. So, being in the market for a pony I though I would call the local rescue and see if they had any ponies. They have nothing, no horses and no ponies. So what’s going on? Times are hard and we have an empty rescue and backyard ponies are selling for $800 bucks! There is no rhyme or reason so it and there is no way of predicting what it will be like with a slaughter Ban. In 16 days we will see the affect of one plant closing; I don’t think the horse market or abuse rate will even skip a beat!

[SuperSTB]

[QUOTE=Beck;1876582]
Sonesta: Thank you for your post. You said it well.

An observation pertaining to an earlier post: at the auctions in my area, when the meat buyers are not bidding/buying, the prices go down. Way down. So I do not expect that prices will go up if/when slaughter is banned.

And decent horses (the ones that have no obvious physical or mental problems) generally have a reserve on them that is too high for meat price. For that very reason. And most of them go home unsold. At the moment, again in my area, people do not want to pay over $600 for the type of riding horse one can reasonably expect to find at these auctions. Generally, if a horse comes to one of these auctions, it is because it was not saleable by word of mouth. In which case one has to wonder why it did not sell. A very very small number come to auction because their owners know of no other way to sell a horse.

My greatest fear in the event that slaughter is banned outright is that the owners who want to save on the euthanasia and/or make a buck or two will simply let the animals rot out in a field behind the barn since doing that will cost them nothing. It does happen and too often. For some animals the best to hope for may be that the owner has a buddy with a .22 and is willing to use it.[/QUOTE]

Thats a really sound argument.

I just want to offer an alternative side to that. I’ve been to auctions in the east coast- some with kill buyers present. Unfortunetly they do not buy all the ‘unwanted’ horses. They will skip over horses that are too thin, too unhealthy. They will not take a horse if there is a strong risk it can’t make the trip. I often wonder what happens to these poor guys. There are times when no kill buyers are present and horses no sale- even with starting bids of $50 (obviously they have apparent issues). Also there are times when the horses don’t even hit the auction floor- a kill buyer will buy a ‘lot’.

[Lora]

[QUOTE=county;1876371]
but you see by telling people you don’t condone a business you are ramming it down their throat. Horse slaughter is a legal business today if your telling anyone there wrong to partake in that business then your ramming it down their throat IMO. The rest of yiour post is nothing but opinion many are differant and certainly have the right to think that way as much as you do without being told their wrong as much as you do.

Make it illegal then you have the right to tell someone they should not sell to slaughter. Until then theres no more right then if I tell you to bad.[/QUOTE]

Let me get this straight - if someone doesn’t agree with YOUR opinion, them they are ramming it down your throat!!!

I think you just like to argue??

What exactly is your opinion of the horse slaughter issue and the issue of passing a law to make it illegal

[county]

I like to argue? seems to be thats exactly what your doing Lora. And no they don’t have to agree with my opinion but when they tell me I’m wrong and there right then yes IMO thats ramming it down my throat.

My opinion of slaughter. I’ve stated it many many times I’m pro slaughter. Passing a law to make it legal. Fine but address the conerns and issues that will come up if said lasw is passed and address them beforehand not after the fact.

[Lora]

[QUOTE=county;1876775]
I like to argue? seems to be thats exactly what your doing Lora. And no they don’t have to agree with my opinion but when they tell me I’m wrong and there right then yes IMO thats ramming it down my throat.

My opinion of slaughter. I’ve stated it many many times I’m pro slaughter. Passing a law to make it legal. Fine but address the conerns and issues that will come up if said lasw is passed and address them beforehand not after the fact.[/QUOTE]

No, I don’t like to argue but I am entitled to my opinion and so is everyone else but just because we don’t all agree doesn’t mean one person is right and the other wrong. Two pages ago, you accused me trying to run my opinion down peoples throats (you used different wording) and now here you are doing it again to someone else who doesn’t agree with you!

Why are you pro slaughter? Did I read somewhere you worked in a slaughter house?

[county]

I agree yoiur entitled to your opinion as all of us are and I’ve stated it many times. I accused you of nothing other then excatly what I said. You can choose to make my words something other then what they are if you want but that hardly means I said anything else.

Why am I pro slaughter. To me its not a why question its why not.

And yes I’ve worked in slaughter houses. Many people do which is a good thing for anyone that likes to eat meat. do

[JumpingPaints]

@county;1876461

Actually I was thinking the babble came from you. But then thats always the style of the anti crowd make personal attacks when yourt not bright enough to hold a discussion.

County, seriously, be honest here… SuperSTB’s contributions here have been IMO intelligent, rationale and backed up by evidence.

@county

BTW show me where the majority have said there against slaughter I don’t seem to remember a vote taken natioin wide. Have seen some polls taken by both sides and both say something differant.

Actually I looked into this earlier and the professional audited polls by reputable sources have said the majority (around 70%)of Americans do not approve of horse slaughter. Here are a few:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35173

National public opinion survey
Aug 30, 2006: 69% of Americans are against killing horses for human consumption. The poll was conducted among 800 likely voters Aug. 9-13 by Public Opinion Strategies, and has a margin error of plus or minus 3.46%.

http://equineprotectionnetwork.com/slaughter/polls.htm

Virginia Survey Show Voters Oppose Horse Slaughter
Conducted by McLaughlin & Associates of Alexandria, VA
(74%) of likely voters in Virginia are opposed to “slaughtering horses for human consumption” and believe “horses are an important part of Virginia’s history” and need to be protected from abuse.
81% of agricultural households in the state agreed that how horses are transported and treated in “slaughterhouses are cruel and inhumane”
76% of Virginia horse owners agreed with those statements.

Horse Slaughter Poll conducted by The Horse Magazine (8/3/03-8/11/03)
Question: Do you think horse slaughter should be outlawed in the United States?
Results:
Yes (2,025) 76.27%
Not sure (72) 2.71%
No (558) 21.02%
Total Votes: (2,655) 100%

Survey Shows Texans Strongly Oppose Horse Slaughter May 2003
sponsored by:Blue Horse Charities and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C.
Summary of Findings: An overwhelming majority (89%) of Texas voters are unaware that horses are being slaughtered in the state for human consumption.
A substantial majority of voters (72%) are opposed to the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
A greater majority of voters (77%) are opposed to changing state law to permit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
In addition, the opposition to a change in law was intense, with 62% of voters stating that they were strongly opposed .
By an 8-1 margin, Texas voters associate the value of horses with Texas state culture, heritage and economy rather than the horses value as a simple livestock commodity like cattle.
QUESTION: Please tell which one of the following statements comes closest to your view:
11%- Horses, like cattle, are an important livestock commodity and should be treated as such, including slaughter for human consumption.
81%- Horses are an important part of Texas culture, heritage and economy and add tremendous value as companions and recreational animals. They should be afforded a more humane end of life than slaughter for food.

Overview of New York Statewide Public Opinion Survey Report on Horse Slaughter 1999
Sponsored by Equine Advocates, Conducted by Decision Research Washington D. C./California. Most voters are unfamiliar with horses being slaughtered for food perceiving it as illegal.
64% illegal
10% legal
26% don’t know
Voters do not consider horses livestock animals.
Recreational & Sporting Animal 57%
Companion Animal 34%
Livestock Animal 6%
Don’t Know 3%
Then asked if Companion vs Livestock.
Companion 85%
Livestock 12%
Don’t Know 4%
Position on Horse Slaughter
Oppose - Cruel & Inhumane & should be Outlawed 57%
Oppose - but Government shouldn’t Intervene 24%
Support - don’t mind Export of Horses for Food 10%
Don’t Care - 6%
Don’t Know - 2%
Top Reasons to Ban
Horse slaughter is cruel and inhumane 73%
Horses should be humanely put to sleep 67%
Dogs & cats are protected so should horses 59%

Overview of California Statewide Public Opinion Survey Report on Horse Slaughter 1997
Sponsored by the California Equine Council, Conducted by Decision Research Washington D. C./California. 600 complete interviews with a random sample of likely November l998 voters in California. In a scientifically selected sample of this size, normal statistical error would be plus or minus 4%.
THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT FOR CITIZEN BALLOT MEASURES.When asked what they think results in better laws and policy, 66% said laws made through citizen ballot initiatives, while 23% said state laws passed by the state’s elected officials. About 11% are unsure. About 51% of the voters say a very convincing argument for the “Save the American Horse” measure is that the special interests in the legislature have failed to stop the slaughter, so voters have to take direct action. An additional 27% say it is somewhat convincing.
FAMILIARITY WITH HORSE SLAUGHTER ISSUES. Most Californians have not heard about horses being bred in America and slaughtered for food in other countries. Three out of five respondents had not heard or read anything about American horses being bred for slaughter, but fully 40% had heard or read something about it.
VOTERS BELIEVE THAT SELLING HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IS ILLEGAL…OR IT SHOULD BE. Fully 69% agree, and 27% disagree that even though there may be a market overseas for horsemeat, it should not be allowed to be exported from the United States.
FEW VOTERS WOULD EAT HORSEMEAT. Only 11% agree they would eat horsemeat if it were legal and available in California. About 87% would not, and 2% are unsure.
HORSES ARE NOT CONSIDERED FOOD ANIMALS. Only 3% of the voters say that horses are a food animal to be used for meat like pigs, cattle and sheep, with an additional 23% saying they are farm animals. However, 38% say horses are recreation and sporting animals, and 31% say they are companion animals. About 6% are unsure.
INITIALLY VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR PROHIBITING THE SLAUGHTER OF HORSES FOR CONSUMPTION. Nearly 70% would favor a “Save the American Horse” measure to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. About 26% are opposed and 4% are unsure. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SURVEY, SUPPORT FOR THE PROHIBITION IS UNCHANGED. With 70% indicating they would favor prohibition, and 26% saying they would vote “no,” with 4% undecided on the issue.

TOP TEN REASONS TO SUPPORT PROHIBITING HORSE SLAUGHTER
(In order of importance to voters):
Horses are cruelly slaughtered.
Horses should be afforded the same protection against slaughter as dogs and cats.
Legislature has failed, so voters must take action directly.
Horses can be slaughtered without the knowledge of the previous owners.
Horse meat sold as gourmet item, not to feed hungry people.
Horses should be humanely put to sleep, not bludgeoned.
Don’t eat horses here, shouldn’t send overseas to be eaten.
Horses are used for recreation not food.
Horses not bred for food, no need to regulate them.
Horses are part of our heritage and culture.

Letter from the syndicated news magazine “Hard Copy”
November 22, 1995

Dear

The following is the information you requested detailing the audience response to the story we did on the horse slaughter industry.

The audience response was overwhelming. Between calls made in response to the poll we ran and general calls made to our New York and Los Angeles offices, it was clear that our viewing audience was outraged by this story.

Thr response came from all over the United States. As the following numbers indicate, their message was clear. Stop slaughtering our horses for human consumption in other countries.

The poll which followed the story asked the question “Should horse slaughter be banned?”

Total calls logged: 50, 154
Yes it should be banned: 46,441 calls
No it should not be banned: 3,713 calla

1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019-6783
(212) 664-7600
FAX: (212)654-4732

WISH-TV (Indiana) 2001
Three part series on Horse Slaughter
Results of Interactive Poll
Q: Do you think Indiana should enact legislation banning horse slaughter auctions?
Yes - 91%

WKBW (New YorK) 2001
Two-Part Series on Horse Slaughter
Results of Interactive Poll
Q: Do you oppose horse slaughter?
Yes - 86%

WBTV (North Carolina) 2001
Two-Part Series on Horse Slaughter
Results of WBTV’s Poll on Horse Slaughter:
78% didn’t know horses were being killed and eaten
21% did know
2% not sure
On the question concerning if it should be legal for horses to be killed:
76% no
17% yes
6% unsure

[SGray]

@Sonesta;1875962

…And, those who have their vet “dispose” of the body…Do you realize that in most states those carcasses are taken out into large fields, covered in lime and left to rot? Or thrown into an open pit, covered in lime and when the pit is full of carcasses, covered over with some dirt? I see no real difference (certainly not to the horse!) between being rendered for meat or being left to rot in an open field. But I certainly don’t think we will have enough of these “disposal” fields for the number of horses sure to need disposal after this bill passes.

they can be composted

see http://www.uark.edu/depts/agripub/Publications/researchseries/522-44.pdf#search=""large%20animal%20disposal""

[Bopper]

I have read bits and pieces of this thread and as of yet I have not seen any good answer to the basic question - What will happen to the unwanted horses if slaughter is banned?

I am not only talking about the aged, lame, unridable but also the ones that are just not bought at auctions. First a disclaimer - I have only been to stockyards in Louisiana and sometimes Louisiana is different from other parts of the country. I go to the stockyard several times a year for horse sales and regular sales and I have seen horses that are in good physical shape go to slaughter buyers LOTS of times because no one else bid on them. The owners just want the horses gone. They do not care where they go just that they go. For example Jo Smith just sold his Dad’s property where his 6 horses lived for the past few years and he wants them gone now to any bidder but no one at that sale was looking for what he had to sell. Without a kill buyer what would happen. Our local rescue operations can not handle the number of horses that go through the sale but do not sell except to the slaughter buyers now. I would say about 30% have no bidders except the slaughter buyers and at least half of these or more have no obvious physical problems. The percentage is higher at none horse sales more like 90%. There are not enough buyers of of horses out there to take up the hundreds of horses that go through stockyards every week. Is it possible that auction barns could become dumping places for unwanted horses? Or will people just let them “go feral” and turn the loose to get rid of them?

[MSP]

[QUOTE=Bopper;1876898]
I have read bits and pieces of this thread and as of yet I have not seen any good answer to the basic question - What will happen to the unwanted horses if slaughter is banned?

I am not only talking about the aged, lame, unridable but also the ones that are just not bought at auctions. First a disclaimer - I have only been to stockyards in Louisiana and sometimes Louisiana is different from other parts of the country. I go to the stockyard several times a year for horse sales and regular sales and I have seen horses that are in good physical shape go to slaughter buyers LOTS of times because no one else bid on them. The owners just want the horses gone. They do not care where they go just that they go. For example Jo Smith just sold his Dad’s property where his 6 horses lived for the past few years and he wants them gone now to any bidder but no one at that sale was looking for what he had to sell. Without a kill buyer what would happen. Our local rescue operations can not handle the number of horses that go through the sale but do not sell except to the slaughter buyers now. I would say about 30% have no bidders except the slaughter buyers and at least half of these or more have no obvious physical problems. The percentage is higher at none horse sales more like 90%. There are not enough buyers of of horses out there to take up the hundreds of horses that go through stockyards every week. Is it possible that auction barns could become dumping places for unwanted horses? Or will people just let them “go feral” and turn the loose to get rid of them?[/QUOTE]

It’s not the rescues job to take a horse because a person doesn’t want to run a classified and take a month or two to sell a horse. What would you do if you brought a car or other merchandise to an auction and it didn’t sell? You would bring it back home with you and continue to try and sell it.

Horses with injuries! They really shouldn’t be at the sale if the injuries are very bad and if minor then owner Joe will need to be a responsible horse owner and heal his horse before he markets it. Just like he might have to fix a problem with his car before he sells it.

Why is it that we can’t give horses the same respect we give things like cars?

[county]

Jumping Paints I’m being very honest beleive me. When people start with the personal attacks I do the same I assume their to stupid to actually know anything.

As far as polls go a few years back we elected a gov. here that all the polls said would end up 3nd.
The one they said we would elect ended up last. Polls really don’t mean anything from what I’ve seen actual people do.

[county]

MSP what about the horses that have been for sale for a year? I know some here that have been listerd as give aways for months as long as they don’t go to kill and never had a call. Ban slaughter and theres going to be many more. You can say the owner should just kill them but that doesn’t mean its going to happen. You can say the problem will just take care of itself but that means nothing also.

[cardicorgi]

Bopper, I think that’s a valid question. It is something I’ve given a lot of thought to, as I am against horse-slaughter for human consumption. I don’t know that I can wholesale answer it, but I do believe that change starts from within an individual or group of individuals…

For me, the answer lies in rising up, personally, and taking responsibility for the stewardship of these animals, who give an awful lot to us. First, by taking personal responsibility for the horse I do have - he’s an OTTB and will live his life with me, forever, whether he becomes unsound down the line, or not. Second, by getting involved with rescue/rehoming - whether it’s actual hands-on work, or sending donations of money or meds/feed/etc. I personally feel I have an obligation to do this - I get so much out of my horse (riding/therapy/enjoyment) that I want to give back to horses less fortunate and spoiled rotten.

I hope eventually more people will feel as I do - and help sponsor the unwanted horses, or adopt one. And at minimum, take responsibility for the stewardship of their own horse/s…

[county]

Oh BTW we have cars here no one wannts also. We sell them for scrap.

I thought no ones supposed to get off topic or talk about anything but horses?

[JumpingPaints]

[QUOTE=Bopper;1876898]
I have read bits and pieces of this thread and as of yet I have not seen any good answer to the basic question - What will happen to the unwanted horses if slaughter is banned?

I am not only talking about the aged, lame, unridable but also the ones that are just not bought at auctions. First a disclaimer - I have only been to stockyards in Louisiana and sometimes Louisiana is different from other parts of the country. I go to the stockyard several times a year for horse sales and regular sales and I have seen horses that are in good physical shape go to slaughter buyers LOTS of times because no one else bid on them. The owners just want the horses gone. They do not care where they go just that they go. For example Jo Smith just sold his Dad’s property where his 6 horses lived for the past few years and he wants them gone now to any bidder but no one at that sale was looking for what he had to sell. Without a kill buyer what would happen. Our local rescue operations can not handle the number of horses that go through the sale but do not sell except to the slaughter buyers now. I would say about 30% have no bidders except the slaughter buyers and at least half of these or more have no obvious physical problems. The percentage is higher at none horse sales more like 90%. There are not enough buyers of of horses out there to take up the hundreds of horses that go through stockyards every week. Is it possible that auction barns could become dumping places for unwanted horses? Or will people just let them “go feral” and turn the loose to get rid of them?[/QUOTE]

I too have a question - how many times has this been asked and answered on every thread on the topic? If there are so many unwanted horses, why are some being stolen and sent to slaughter?

The reality is that horse slaughter is driven by one thing and one thing only: the European demand for horsemeat. Horses that would have gone to slaughter will go to auction (where most of them are bought now) and will either sell for less to those who would have bid against the meat buyers, or not sell. If they do not sell, their owners take them back home and care for them until they are sold (putting money in the pockets of Americans who service the horse industry). Only some of the horses currently going to slaughter will need to be absorbed into the rescue community. Many will be sold, adopted, kept longer, donated to a zoo or local foxhunt, or humanely euthanized. In addition to the thousands of rescue and retirement organizations, there are many individuals available to adopt horses that would otherwise go to rescues.

The 2005 population of horses in the US is approximately 9.2 million horses (from the American Horse council’s census). The 66,000 slaughtered horses represents 0.7% of the total population. It looks like we’ll hit about 120,000 horses this year (2005), which is 1.3% of the total population. In 1990 over 315,000 horses were slaughtered in the US. The number of horses slaughtered has steadily dropped in the last 14 years while the number of foals being born has increased (with some major fluctuation of the number slaughtered). Drops in the number of horses slaughtered have been almost 80,000 a year at times. During those years we did not see a huge influx of “surplus” horses or a large drop in the price of horses. The number of horses slaughtered every year follows the demand for their meat, not the overall horse population. This illustrates the lack of a need for the slaughter industry to regulate horse population.

Approximately 900,000 horses die annually in this country (10 percent of an estimated population of 9 million) and the vast majority are not slaughtered, but euthanized and rendered or buried without any negative environmental impact. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and safely disposing of the animal’s carcass is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200.

[county]

So this has been asked many times. How do you prove that these unwanted horses will be taken back home and cared for? It obviously doesn’t happen with dogs and cats. And why should people who sell livestock get behind a plan that lowrs what they sell now and in the future? Why would anyone that sells any species of livestock think this is going to be a good thing for them?

[LarkspurCO]

I went to a livestock auction yesterday and looked at horses in the holding pens, and I did have the same question - where would they go if not here? Many horses appeared young and healthy, some obvioulsy were unhandled, some were old and/or injured or had obvious issues. Many had no evidence of recent, if ever, hoof care.

As necessity is the mother of invention, I believe you will see a number of things happen if/when slaughter is banned. You will see opportunists buying healthy horses super cheap at auction and reselling them privately. You will see auctions requiring sellers to leave a deposit to deter them from dumping horses.

Since most people are law-abiding, I don’t think you’ll see a huge number of horses starved to death or dumped in open spaces, though probably you will see some and, obviously, this already happens.

You will see rescues turning their efforts to helping abused and neglected horses, rather than scouting auctions and feedlots, as well as educating the public about the responsibility and risk of horse ownership.

When Joe Schmoe’s father dies he’ll have to sell dad’s horses privately, give them away or euthanize them.

Over time, with auction no longer an easy way to unload a horse, you will see people being more careful with their mares and stallions, and fewer unwanted horses overall.

Oh, and you will see fewer Champion Lodges wasting away in kidney failure on some killer buyer’s so-called “feed” lot. (If the trainer had known he would have taken him back!). You will see fewer horses stolen for the easy meat money.

Of course, all of this is speculation, as are the claims made by the pro-slaughter zealots.

[JumpingPaints]

@county;1876967

So this has been asked many times. How do you prove that these unwanted horses will be taken back home and cared for?

county, you have said before you don’t believe in the unwanted horses glut. Which is it? Or do you just want to disagree?

@county

And why should people who sell livestock get behind a plan that lowrs what they sell now and in the future? Why would anyone that sells any species of livestock think this is going to be a good thing for them?

It doesn’t apply to anyone who raises food livestock. Period.

It will likely affect profit for lower quality horse breeders who rely on killer buyers to dump their culls. Which is a good thing, IMO. The broader horse sales market is much more affected by the overall economy. In good times, there is higher demand for horses. Currently the economy is in a tenuous position, so the demand for horses has slowed, which pushes prices down.

[LarkspurCO]

I would like to repeat JumpingPaint’s comment in bright red just to make sure the point is made:

If they do not sell, their owners take them back home and care for them until they are sold (putting money in the pockets of Americans who service the horse industry).

The horse industry including hay/grain farmers, feed companies, feed stores, truckers who transport feed, ag equipment manufacturers and repairmen, truck dealers and repairmen, gas stations, farriers, vets, trainers, tack stores…

[Bopper]

Jumping Paints - I don’t know what auctions you go to but the ones I go to the horses would not be going back to good homes to be cared for until they are sold. I see the ones that arrive without coggins, with hooves that have not been trimmed in months, probably not dewormed in months or years if ever. Once again maybe it is just here but I don’t think some people understand that a lot of these horses are owned by individuals who use them but DO NOT care for them whether it is due to economics or ignorance they still do not get what most horeman would consider adequate care.

I also just thought of another example - what about all of the OTTB that go through the stockyard - before anyone says most of the ones that are sound are sold for riding then you need to go to a stockyard located near a smaller track and watch what you see during the racing season. I have been though check in slips at such a stockyard and talked to people that worked the sales and several sound or horses that could be sound with some care go from the track to the sale weekly only because the owner is tired of paying board and the trainer does not have the time or desire to try to sell it. Maybe the horse is on the small side and not a good mover or maybe it just has popped a splint and is lame but did not show enough speed previously to be worth taking the time to let it heal.

Based on what I have read in this thread some people need go to an auction and talk to the people that are selling horses. This is not an insult to anyone but I just don’t think you realize how some of these people treat their horses. People that fed the horses dog food because it was cheaper than horse feed. People that leave them tied in the sun in the summer with no shade because they did not realize or care that they might get heat stroke. There are LOTS of horse owners like this out there - I see them all the time.