Horse Slaughter: The Truth
82horse slaughter facts - horse rescue
As a lifelong horse lover, I’m sickened and disgusted by horse slaughter. American horses are not raised as meat animals. They’re companion animals and serve humans in a variety of ways. Just think about how man’s association with the horse has benefitted humans. They’ve plowed our fields, carried us on long journeys, transported our goods, and provided recreation. To me, killing an equine for horse meat is the same as killing a canine for dog meat. I’m not alone here. Four out of five Americans oppose horse slaughter, yet it continues in North America. More than 100,000 American horses are slaughtered every year for horse meat. If you’re pro horse slaughter, don’t bother reading the rest of this article. If you’re undecided, the following horse slaughter facts might help you make an educated decision. If you oppose horse slaughter, this article will provide you with ways to help end horse slaughter of American equines.
Horse slaughter in the U.S.
Up until 2007, horse slaughter in the United States was legal, and there were three horse slaughter houses. Two were in Texas, and one was in Illinois. All three kill plants were owned by citizens of Belgium, and almost all the meat went to Belgium, France, and Japan. Horse meat in these countries is considered a delicacy, and it’s as expensive as veal.
Pressure and outrage from U.S. citizens forced American horse slaughterhouses to close. Residents living near the kill houses were especially vocal. They would often find mutilated foals in ditches, and the smell coming from the plants was terrible.
Why horse slaughter is cruel
I’m a meat eater. I enjoy beef, chicken, pork, and fish. I don’t eat veal because of the way veal animals are treated. I have three major problems with killing horses for horse meat. One is the way in which they’re killed. Some kill plants use a captive bolt gun, which is the same way most cows and pigs are killed in slaughterhouses. The blow is supposed to render the animal completely unconscious. The problem here is that a horse’s brain isn’t positioned the way a cow’s or pig’s brain is, so it’s difficult to render a horse unconscious. Many horses have to endure being hoisted up by a chain attached to a hind leg and having their throats cut, while being completely aware of what’s happening.
In many horse slaughterhouses in Mexico, the horses are hacked into with a knife first. The idea is to saw through the spinal cord in order to make the animals immobile. In some Canadian slaughterhouses, the horses intended for slaughter are shot with a rifle, which in my opinion, is much more humane than the other methods mentioned. In most kill houses, foals under the age of six months and still nursing are left to starve to death once its dam has been killed.
The second problem I have with horse slaughter is the suffering the animals have to endure just to get to the slaughterhouse. They’re usually crammed onto big trailers, and they might have to go days without any food or any water. Mares have been known to give birth on these crowded trailers. Can you imagine the horror of that? Because there are no kill plants in the U.S., horses meant for slaughter might have to travel hundreds of miles – maybe more – in these horrendous conditions.
Thirdly, I oppose horse slaughter because horses are companion animals – not meat animals. I feel the same way about killing a horse for horse meat as I’d feel about killing a dog or cat for meat. I’ve owned many horses, and I can tell you that they form close bonds with their owners. A well trained and properly handled horse or pony is gentle, affectionate, loyal, and trustworthy. I’ve had numerous horses that would follow me around like a dog would.
How American horses end up as horse meat
Buyers for the horse meat industry travel across the United States purchasing horses for slaughter. Most kill buyers concentrate on horse auctions that are located near the borders of Canada and Mexico. A horse owner can unknowingly sell his horse to a kill buyer. He might think his beloved horse is going to a good home, when in fact, he’s turned it over to be tortured and killed.
Unwanted horses are a huge problem now. With the depressed economy and rising grain prices, some owners simply can’t afford to keep their horses. Horse rescues are at capacity all across the U.S., so many owners don’t have the option of turning their equines over to a rescue. These days, it’s difficult to give away a horse, too. Many desperate owners are turning to euthanasia, which is a much more humane option than selling a horse to a kill buyer or allowing the horse to starve to death. Unfortunately, euthanasia and disposing of the carcass isn’t usually cheap, so some horse owners can’t afford it. About the only option left is to kill the horse yourself, with a high-powered rifle. The target should be in the forehead, at the exact center of the square formed between the ears and eyes. If you think this sounds cruel, watch videos of horses being slaughtered in kill plants. You’ll see that a quick shot to the brain is a much more humane way to die, and the animals don’t have to endure shipping atrocities, rough handling, and going without food or water for extended periods of time.
Pro horse slaughter groups
I’m amazed and appalled at the groups that are pro horse slaughter. They include the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and numerous agricultural associations and organizations.
I sort of understand the Cattlemen’s Association’s stand, but I don’t understand how the AQHA and veterinarian groups could be pro horse slaughter. On second thought, I do understand the thinking behind their position. It’s all about money. They’re far more concerned with the horse industry as a whole than they are with the welfare of the individual animals.
Help end the slaughter of American horses!
There are several things you can do to help stop our horses from turning into horse meat. If you’ve been thinking about getting a horse, consider horse adoption. You can find all types of rescue horses for adoption, including many different horse breeds. Many of the horses for adoption are gentle and well trained. Some are older animals that might be perfect for a child or novice. Use the internet to find a horse rescue near you.
If you can’t adopt a horse, you can sponsor one, no matter where you live. Look online for a horse rescue that’s in need of funds (which covers every horse rescue), and agree to send a monthly donation that will help cover grain, hay, and medical expenses. If you don’t want to commit to monthly donations, you can always make a one-time contribution to a horse rescue.
An easy way to help is to contact your senators and your representative and let them know how you feel about American horses being transported for horse slaughter. Ask your politicians to support H.R.2966 and S.1176, both of which have bi-partisan support. I did this in 2010, before the mid-term elections. My representative was a Democrat that I had voted for previously. He basically told me that horses were just animals, and people had the right to do what they wanted to with their own animals. I didn’t vote for him in 2010, and I encouraged others not to vote for him. Thankfully, he lost his bid for re-election. If you’ll go to the Humane Society of the United States, contacting your senators and representative is super easy! The site can also help those outside the U.S. give their opinion, via a link.
Horse slaughter video:
Read more about horses and horse breeds:
- Best Horse Breeds for Kids
Helpful tips for choosing a horse or pony for a child. Several horse breeds are discussed. Videos included! - Horse Stalls: Building Tips
Information about building horse stalls, with size requirements for different horse breeds. - Great Toys for Horses and Ponies - Watch the Video!!
Great ideas for horse toys, along with why horse toys are important. Watch the video of a horse playing with a horse toy! - Horse Supplies: Make Your Own First-Aid Kit for Horses
How to make your own first-aid kit for horses - what horse supplies to include and why you need them. - The Ugly Truth About Unwanted Horses
This article discusses the problem of unwanted horses, along with possible options.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (7)
- Funny
- Awesome
- Beautiful (1)
- Interesting (4)
CommentsLoading...
Knowledge, thanks for reading!
I couldn't watch your videos. How sad. Great hub.
Moon, they were tough for me to watch, too. Thanks for reading and for caring about horse slaughter.
Great hub! Thanks for sharing and for caring about the animals. I love horses too, though I never owned one.
Dora, thanks so much for reading about horse slaughter. Your comment is appreciated!
I really didn't know that the USA killed horses for meat. I'm really shocked. I couldn't bring myself to watch the videos - I'm sure you understand why. Do you happen to know if this happens in Britain?
Thanks for highlighting such an important and disgusting issue.
Keep it up!
Helengi, horse slughter in the US was stopped in 2007, but American horses are still shipped to Mexico and Canada for butchering. Evidently, it's still legal in the UK. I found this online petition your can sign to put a stop to it:
Ms. habee, as I write this, my quarter horse filly is trying to get my attention through the living room window (the electric fence is down...again...and she and her mom and the gelding are in the yard...again). I knew the slaughterhouses had been shut down, but had no idea how widespread this atrocity is. I may not have agreed with you completely on the deer hunting thing, but totally support every Hub of yours I've read since. Keep up the good work, and thank you for being an advocate of our equine equals.
Thanks, Hillbilly! Give your horses a hug from me!
I couldn't watch those videos. I love horses and can't understand that people would want to eat them. However, they will not change their minds but the result is that they get killed in Mexico or such countries who no calms about them how thye do it. That is the only danger in forbidding it. Here, in Europe, they export them all the way to Italy cramped into loffies and without food or water because the Italians demand them to be killed in their country. Nobody does a thing about it to stop it.
HH, I was hoping you'd stop by to read this, as I know you're a fellow horse lover. I can't imagine eating horse meat. To me, it would be like eating a dog or cat.
I knew I'd get upset when I read this, habee. I didn't watch the videos, I just couldn't. I don't know what the solution is for all the horses that people can no longer afford to keep. I'd hope they could be adopted by someone who can take care of them. Horses were a vital part of my childhood, and my children's childhood. We always had a friend in our horse.
So did we, Mary. I honestly believe that a quick bullet to the brain is more humane than allowing a horse to starve to death, or than subjecting it to the horrors that most kill houses are.
Hello. I am completely against horse slaughter. I couldnt imagine a horse being killed like that. Ive also dont a LOT of research on it too and horses are sometimes improperly shocked and crushed to death.
Kayley, if you're in the US, please contact your congressman and senators and tell them how you feel about horse slaughter. Maybe if enough horse lovers make their voices heard, we can put a stop to sending our beautiful animals to Mexico and Canada to be brutalized.
Retired race horses, young and able to live long and productive lives, are also among those sold for slaughter. I think you and your readers would like to know about a successful organization who finds homes for retired race horses, keeping them out of the slaughter house. The organization's story is told through the experiences of one horse close to my heart, El Frio, in this "Wild About Animals" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd
The video will bring tears not of sadness but of joy at the enormous positive energy that can arise and be put to use when people and horses come together to benefit life. Instead of becoming horse meat, El Frio is now a therapy horse who will be giving to others for many, many years to come.
Super hub, Holle.
Thanks, Sherri! I can't wait to watch the video!!
Under the section 'Why horse slaughter is cruel,' the second paragraph states how horses are slaughtered in MEXICO and CANADA. I understend that horse slaughter in not the most desirable choice in the U.S., but because of the shutdown horses are just being shipped to MEXICO and CANADA. You saw how the horses are killed there. At least in the states, all three kill houses were USDA regulated. I work for a horse sale operation in Billings, MT and due to the shut down, horses are literally bringing nothing. We find abandoned, sick horses in our back corrals because people can't keep them or sell them. Some customers have found horses abandoned in their horse trailers when they leave. The fact is horse slaughter is not the problem. The amount of unwanted horses is.
KT, I understand your point. I think most of us who wanted horse slaughter in the US to end didn't have the foresight to see that we were just making things worse for the horses. Like you say, at least kill houses in the US were regulated. I know unwanted horses are a big problem, and I don't know what the best solution might be.
Oh Habee, you got to be kidding me, I cant believe horse slaughtering is something that actually is real. Thats the most horriying thing I have read. I could not watch the video. Voted up!
Thanks, Adrienne. Killing horses for horse meat is brutal in some slaughterhouses. Thanks for caring!
Sherri, I loved the video! We need more groups like Turning for Home!
Habee, have you ever owned a horse? I think you need to do some more digging on this topic, horse slaughter is a necessary evil in the U.S. and there are perfectly sound reasons why American horse associations are behind it.
Shelby, I've owned about 50 horses over the years, and I've also trained horses for others. My quarter horses and Appies were used for pleasure, trail, timed events, reining, halter, and cutting. There's absolutely no reason for a horse to be killed inhumanely. It just boggles my mind to think that any "horseman" would think it was okay to kill a horse by hacking through the back of its neck with a knife - not to mention the horrors of shipping. Have you ever been in a slaughterhouse and witnessed the killing, firsthand? I have.
American horse associations are for horse slaughter for one simple reason - money. It makes the overall value of horses go up.
I'm not sure any horse people out there are for the inhumane slaughter of horses, to be honest. And while money is part of it, it's not the only reason or even the biggest reason people in the horse industry are behind it. Closing the U.S. slaughter houses did not end the slaughter of America's unwanted horses, and it was not the correct "solution." Instead, these unwanted horses were dumped off on highways, left to starve or die of disease, or shipped out of the country to slaughter instead, where the U.S. has absolutely no regulation at all. Not to mention it drove the horse market straight into the ground which only exacerbated the problem of people not being able to afford to keep their horses. In my eyes, I guess I see horse slaughter houses in the U.S. as the lesser of two evils and stricter regulation on all aspects of the process is key. I would have liked to see all sides of the story in this hub.
Shelby, I somewhat agree with you. If you'll read the above comments I made, you'll see where I said that forcing US kill houses to close down probably wasn't a good idea. At least they were regulated better than the Mexican plants.
I know unwanted horses are a huge problem. People are often trying to give me a horse or two. I honestly don't know what the best answer is. I wrote a hub about that, too. Personally, I could never have a horse butchered after it had served me faithfully. It would be like having my dogs killed for meat. I realize, however, that not all horse owners form the close bonds with their horses that I did with mine. If there were a quicker, less painful way to kill equines, though, I don't think so many Americans would be against horse slaughter.
I also wish people were more selective in breeding. We bred horses on a small scale, but we bred only the best mares to our champion stud. We knew we had a market for our foals.
If you read my hub about unwanted horses, you'll see that I cover just about every angle. This hub was meant to be more focused on Mexican kill plants.
I think we are in agreement here on the main issues, and you're right, backyard breeders aren't helping anyone. I didn't catch the direction you were meaning for it to go though. To me, it felt rather biased towards your opinion on the matter, and while you are free to feel any way you please, and to share with your many readers; I felt that you should have included points and facts from both sides in order to be true to your title, which is why I was bothered. So many in the general public are so vastly uninformed about any and all aspects of the horse industry, and it upsets me when these people form opinions based on sensationalized articles and news stories instead of seeking out the facts for themselves. The last thing the horse industry needs is people who have never touched a horse, having a say in making the big decisions about what is best for America's horses and the people who own them, based on one-sided articles that claim to be the whole truth. (This is not meant to single out your hub by any means, I'm referring other articles I've read in the past. Namely one written by an animal rights lawyer that exclaimed something along the lines of, "Obama wants Americans to eat horse meat!") I want the industry to make a successful comeback, and I don't think I'm alone on that one.
Shelby, like you said, US kill houses are the lesser of two evils. I don't condone killing companion animals for food, but as long as it's going to be legal, it's certainly better done under strict regulations. I know that some people are forced to give up their horses because they can no longer afford to feed them. When they can't find someone to take the unwanted horses, I believe the animals should be humanely euthanized. Of course, not everyone can afford to do this. It looks there could some way that knackers would pay for the lethal injection in exchange for the horse's body. Then the owner wouldn't have to worry about disposing of the carcass, either, as it could be used by the knacker for rendering. Just a thought...
The equine associations want slaughter so it will drive up the market price of those they breed. In this economy you can't give a good horse away. Unfortunately back yard breeders are a great contributer to the issue (no different from dogs and cats - think of the millions euthanized every year). Slaughter is necessary due to the ignorance and greed of those who continue to breed in excess.
Not trying to turn you vegan, but cmost hickens and pigs destined for human consumpion are treated pretty horribly - sometimes worth than veal calves (which are a by product of the dairy industry). Just sayin...
Great article!!
Ruthanne, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I agree that we should treat all livestock better.
Very educational and insightful. I am neutral when it comes to eating animals, I believe food is food, but I consider myself a vegetarian/vegan just out of preference. Although I find it immoral and wrong to be 'inhuman' towards any animals especially towards horses, I feel that they're more majestic then most animals. Just thinking about horses being slaughter makes me want to cry but I do feel that they are a food source but I disagree with certain tactics and ways that they are treated and put to death prior to being eaten. Wonderful article.
Flickr, I really appreciate your feedback and thought on horse slaughter and horse meat. It's a highly charged issue, for sure.
I really hate this and i'm only 13.
Hi, Blake. It's never too young to be concerned with animal welfare. Good for you!
I too not only love horses, but have rescued, competed and taught them.
I am a meat eater, but agree completley that horses are companion or work animals, not for meat.
For me the kindest way to euthanise them is lethal injection. I have held horses that have been shot , not an experience i would recommend anyone to go through.
Clairemy, kudos to you for your stand against animal cruelty. I agree about the shooting, but I still think it's more humane than some slaughterhouses.
I dont know about there, but in England they do have stress free slaughter houses for farm animals. I actually went to one and watched the whole process...............wasn't sick, didn't faint, and it was stress free for the animals and even the workers there.
But horses are a different matter.
That's great to hear! I found a local slaughterhouse that uses the humane kill method. They don't kill horses, though.
I remember when the ban first went into affect, I was so happy. But after the last five years, the horse market has bottomed out. You can go to a horse sale today and buy a nice, young horse for $5!! People can't afford to own them. Most times they can't even give them away for free! I have see horses starving in pastures, left to die. I have also seen where people who can afford to keep them turn them loose! And don't get me wrong, I deeply love horses, I have nine of my own. Three that were given to me my people who couldn't care for them.
I am for the slaughter of horses. Many don't know, but just because horses aren't being slaughtered in the US doesn't mean that they're not being slaughtered. They are packed into double decker trailers and force to ride for hours maybe even days with their head hung low until they get to Canada or Mexico. And if they are still alive by the time they get there, they suffer a curel and inhumane death in a forgein slaughter houses. I would much rather have slaughtering houses in the US where at least the USDA can moniter them. Horses are going to be slaughtered either way, whether its slowly and they suffer or they are sent to the slaughter house. Banning it in the US isn't going to stop it.
tk, unfortunately, I sort of have to agree with you. I wrote a more recent article discussing the same points you brought up. You can find the link to that article in one of the above comments. I hate killing equines for horse meat, but if it's going to be done, I think it should be done in US plants where there are at least some regulations in place.
Thanks for the input!
I have a horse that was brought up to an auction. One of the slaughter people wanted my my horse chuckles they said he is use less and at least he can serve a purpose in the us if he is meat. I disagreed and kept bidding him up I finally bought my first horse chuckles there! This horse I got knows how to do tricks like bow stick his lip up shake give kisses and how to play dead he also knows how to ride western and English he can ride bitless or with a bit! So what I say is this horse is not useless and I would do anything to keep him away from that bitch! So what I say is stop slaughter houses
Lexi, that's awesome! I'm glad another equine was saved from horse slaughter. Now Chuckles is living a useful, happy life instead of being served as horse meat. Congrats on getting your first horse!
knowledgeispowerr 7 months ago
Very beautiful,, I just like to read again and again....