General Discussion

Re: Horse Slaughter

akhal-teke — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:32:17 GMT

barrelracer19:
horses are overpopulated and it needs to happen.

Funny, I can think of another race that's overpopulated too. You offer an interesting solution .

Re: Horse Slaughter

akhal-teke — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:32:13 GMT

barrelracer19:
horses are overpopulated and it needs to happen.

Funny, I can think of another race that's overpopulated too. You offer an interesting solution .

Re: Horse Slaughter

barrelracer19 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:18:35 GMT

i didnt read everything but i am for slaughter. it needs to happen. i too would NEVER eat a horse however horses are overpopulated and it needs to happen. although it could happen more humanley it still needs to happen. also we need to make sure we keep slaughter in the US. If we dont allow it in the us then the horses will be shipped to mexico and will be slaughtered way more brutaly then they would be here.

Re: Horse Slaughter

Cotoncandie — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:02:28 GMT

Dallas115:
If we end up with no slaughter in the states at all then guess what... horses will be left in feilds to starve!

There is no more slaughtering of horses in the state (for human consumption at least)

Re: Horse Slaughter

Dallas115 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:39:06 GMT

We need horse slaughter! If we end up with no slaughter in the states at all then guess what... horses will be left in feilds to starve! If you still want horse slaughter then your just sick! Now that will happen if there is no horse slaughter in the states because if the person can't transport them to slaughter in canada or mexico or they cant transport them to auctions and they dont have the money for a vet to come over and put them down then they're left in their stalls their feilds or whatever! Tha is worse than slaughter! so I want to make sure that there is horse slaughter here in the states! I just want it to be done humanly!!!!!! Yes I hate how its being done right now but that can and if i have any say in it it will change. if you agree with me pls contact me. But if you still want it pls tell me why!

Re: Horse Slaughter

thatwindow — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:52:07 GMT

I will start the thread. It will be called "Save the Horse"it will be under General Discussion. Everyone can post there any ideas they might have. Lets really do this! I'm excited to make a difference.

Re: Horse Slaughter

povertybyhorse — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:41:59 GMT

I'm ready

Re: Horse Slaughter

NH Woman Farrier — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:09:11 GMT

Very good idea.

I have so far, with the help of much google searching, contacted my state representative, and also the secretary of the USDA. I will hopefully hear from them with out too much delay, but I do intend to contact them everyday.

I wonder if I opened a new topic containing a draft of my ideas, if you all would be willing to give me feedback on what to improve on and any other ideas that come to your mind regarding these ideas.

I really appreciate everyone's efforts I hope we all will be able to make a difference.

Re: Horse Slaughter

povertybyhorse — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:50:20 GMT

I have no idea how to transfer posts, but I think we need to do just that starting with NH horse woman's post on this page that got this topic rolling. We need to start a new thread that concentrates on solutions and how to get this moving with ideas on how to gain the power needed to make things happen, and move it away from the slaughter controversy so that like-minded people know where to voice their ideas. And something like this will take serious amounts of power-building.

Any techies out there to open that new grassroots thread?

Re: Horse Slaughter

vettech4horses — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:19:24 GMT

I am so excited, this is what I have been looking for. A group of sensible educated people with the motivation to do something. I want to make a difference in the treatment that any livestock creature receives, but none so much as the horse. I went into the program with the thoughts of going into AI., but am now looking forward to a career working for the USDA. This is where the search should start. The USDA is responsible for the care of what are considered "livestock" creatures, and unfortunately our beloved horses fall into this group according to the govt. Getting this changed would be a huge movement towards stopping slaughter. More people may stand up and say something if they were aware of what is really going on, and if these animals were viewed as companion animals instead of livestock their medical records would be more stringient, the breeding would possibly be more controlled.

Re: Horse Slaughter

thatwindow — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:47:57 GMT

Finally, a discussion with some substance. Ideas and action is what makes the difference. I donate monthly to a rescue, but regulation is what's needed. I hate big government as much as the next. But there are some issues that just plain need it. People can't seem to control themselves, so government is what you get.

I live in California. Last year a bill when up to have dog owners pay a fee to have a litter of puppies. Hopefully to curb the over breeding of dogs. Somehow it got shut down. I can't remember what it was that stopped it but it was something about hurting income for people who make their living by breeding dogs. That is ridiculous. How many people do you know that breed dogs for a living? Not many, I'm sure.

I can just hear all the horse people complaining about how it will hurt their income and make horses unaffordable. Like someone here said earlier, the fee would be so insignificant compared to the cost of keeping a horse, that to complain about it would be ridiculous. I'm all for it...tell me where to sign!

Re: Horse Slaughter

Solaris — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:19:36 GMT

I think it is a good idea. I actually think that we should have an inspection system like Europe where a horse would be permanently marked if he were judged unsuitable to breed or ride. Yes, they even have brands for horses who have been injured or have a condition that makes them unridable. Wouldn't the horse dealers hate that??? The problem, or at least the harder part than just making a rule is ENFORCEMENT. You have to have some serious manpower in place to enforce this stuff and we know how little enforcement (at least in all areas I've ever lived) even animal control is able to pull off. So if something like this were set up (and I'm all for it, heck I don't even think PEOPLE should breed, but that's another story), it would need to include adequate funding in support of oversight and enforcement.

Re: Horse Slaughter

NH Woman Farrier — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:33:47 GMT

I'm speechless for the support. I assumed that people would totally and completely be against the idea. It makes great sense to me and why not as you said we already have to register our dogs, so why not horses? The idea being that every Joe/Jane will be forced to recognize the high costs of caring for and owning a horse.

I am not sure where to start, I know that the idea must be made public, if only for the simple reason to hear all of the pros and cons and formulate an answer for every question, or predicament and to every attempt one might make to get around the fees. I am not sure at what point it can be brought before our congress people. What sort of details, or paperwork they might need. I will definitely look into it more. And soon.

Another need is to boost the humane societies and grant them some power. In NH as long as there is food and water and shelter on the property then there is nothing that the HS can do. The food and water is not required to be in with the horse, there are no regulations on farrier care either. I know in Vermont the horses aren't even required to be vaccinated against anything including rabies or tetanus. In an ideal situation an elite group of people would be assigned to check into neglected/abused horses. And go over all documentation of registration. I'm not sure about vets around the country, but our vets around here seem so preoccupied with their ulterior motives that they will actually turn a blind eye toward horses in bad homes. (Not every clinic mind you) However having one clinic is bad enough. So I believe cooperation with vets is crucial.

I will definitely look into this idea a lot more but feedback is important!!!

Thanks again for your support, lets see what we can do!

Re: Horse Slaughter

povertybyhorse — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:56:14 GMT

I heartily agree with the whole tax/fee idea! Dogs are licensed in many areas (and should be more heavily regulated also, but that's another fight), livestock are regulated by the government as feed animals and a huge part of the cost of that burger you eat is goverment oversight... what's the problem? Even with the people who would try to avoid the taxes, enough would fall in that the numbers would go down, and there would be a law with teeth that could remove unlicensed horses from bad situations. I would also suggest thatthose in racing and those who make $$ from showing, etc, pay a hefty portion of the "gate" and gambling proceeds. It would only take a few horse generations to get the population under control.

Horses aren't disposable machines, they are a responsibility that should be taken seriously. They eat a ton of food (figure of speech - probably more than a ton), they require expensive attention to their health, training and grooming needs, they need to be with other horses (so unless they're in a board situation you need at least two), and you need a plan for humane treatment when they have to be euthanized due to illness, injury, or, hopefully, old age. If you're not up for that responsibility and that expense, you shouldn't own a horse. Sorta like kids, ya know? (although that too is a whole 'nother, bigger issue)

I have no problem with paying what is actually a very small portion of their upkeep to ensure that companion and working animals are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

So... where do we start?

Re: Horse Slaughter

vettech4horses — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Wonderful Ideas!!! There should be a tax or a breeding fee, although breeding to a reputable stud is pricey anyway. This would make a dent in the "backyard breeders" who think that the foal is cute so let's make one. If there was a fee and a penalty for breeding without one the market would be in better condition. There would definetely be less horses going to slaughter, and perhaps some of the breeding fees could go towards rescue organizations. I have worked for a fellow who would buy from auctions to put the horses on a hack line to work them from sunup to sundown till they were broken down, then turn around and sell them at auction, just to turn around and purchase more to wear down. He would have been unable to do this with a fee, or a tax on a yearly basis. This fella went through horses like disposible diapers, it was disgusting. While working for him I saw probably a good 700-900 horses come through in a year. I know now that the majority of those horses went to slaughter, although I was blissfully unaware at the time.