Why do we slaughter horses

In the year , approximately 36, American horses were trucked over our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. Until this practice is banned and Congress passes a law against slaughter here in the U. Horse slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia. Horses bound for slaughter who may include pregnant mares, foals and horses who are injured or blind are commonly and legally shipped for more than 24 hours at a time in crowded trucks without food, water or rest.

The methods do not uniformly offer provide quick, painless deaths for all and there are documented instances in which horses have been observed conscious during dismemberment. As flight animals, horses commonly respond to a noisy environment where they see, smell and sense danger by flinging their heads in the kill box, creating obvious potential for multiple injuries during stunning.

The last three U. In , these facilities killed more than , horses for human consumption, shipping the meat overseas. Slaughterhouses have proved to be environmentally damaging as well as economically draining to the communities that have housed them.

Without such inspection, horse slaughter plants cannot legally operate. But this provision only applies to the given fiscal year, and must be renewed annually for the prohibition to stay in effect. The provision, in fact, was allowed to lapse in November for the upcoming fiscal year Court battles prevented the companies from following through, however, before the appropriations provision was renewed in November for fiscal year It has been renewed every year since.

While this stopgap, year-to-year appropriations language blocks the slaughter of horses in the United States, it does not prevent the slaughter of American horses elsewhere. Each year, tens of thousands of American horses are shipped to Mexico and Canada , where they are killed under barbaric conditions so their meat can continue to satisfy the palates of diners in countries such as Italy, France, Belgium, and Japan. They are not all unwanted—often, their guardians can no longer afford to keep them, and bring the horses to auction hoping to find them a good home.

Many times, horses are crammed in trailers designed for shorter animals and travel in uncomfortable positions over very long distances. Loading and unloading is extremely stressful and dangerous for horses as they are moved along the relatively steep ramps.

Canadian animal transport standards are among the worst in the industrialized world. Current regulations allow horses to be transported for up to 36 hours without food, water or rest. There have been many reported cases of animal welfare violations in Canadian horse slaughterhouses including failure to provide food and water, illegal unloading of animals, animals left for extended periods in kill pens and sick or injured animals denied veterinary care.

Americans overwhelmingly support an end to horse slaughter for human consumption recent polls from Kentucky, Texas and Utah respectively show that 82, 72 and 69 percent of those questioned oppose the practice.

A recent national poll found that almost 70 percent of Americans support a federal ban. In California, a ballot initiative Prop. Frequently Asked Questions Is banning horse slaughter a states rights issue? Shouldn't the federal government not get involved? Is it true that slaughter is a last resort for infirm, dangerous or no longer serviceable horses? Will horse abuse and neglect cases rise significantly following a ban on slaughter?

If there is a ban on horse slaughter, will horse rescue and retirement groups have the resources to take care of unwanted horses? Should the government have to pay for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners? If slaughter is not an option, what will we do with sick, old and unwanted horses? If there is a ban on horse slaughter in the United States, will there be an increase in the export of horses for foreign slaughter?