Ok, I'm going to start something evil here, I can feel it... But, well, I wanna enter the photo contest so I gotta get some posts in! LOL!

I'm interested in hearing other people's opinions on horse slaughter. At one time, not too long ago, I was avidly against it. However, after reading "Horse & Rider" a few issues ago (I think it was December's issue maybe??) I changed my views.

• I AM opposed to wild horse round-ups. I agree with population control, but certainly us technologically advandced, superior thinking human beings are capable of finding a means of controlling wild horse herds without the trauma caused by certain round-up methods.
  
  
• I AM NOT opposed to horse slaughter, nor am I opposed to what happens to horse carcasses. Maybe it sounds harsh, perhaps because it's not part of OUR culture to eat horse meat. But there are cultures where it is acceptable and even considered a delicacy. I would never eat it... just as I would never personally eat a deer. That's my choice. However, we have literally thousands of unwanted horses being slaughtered. Do we have an excuse or right to be wasteful with nutritional meat? These animals will be killed one way or another, why not make their deaths purposeful?
  
  
• Again, I AM NOT opposed to horse slaughter. I would rather see a horse being put to death quickly, than to watch it starve to death because of a neglectful owner. We humans have created this overpopulation of domesticated equines. It should be our responsibility to make sure they don't suffer needlessly because of our ignorant ways.
  
  
• I AM oppose to the closure of slaughter houses. We need more, not less. The fewer slaughter houses there are, the longer distances many horses must travel to their deaths. We all know these truckloads of slaughter-bound horses are packed tight with no water and no hay, and many horses won't even survive the trip... which means they die suffering from starvation or thirst or experience the pain of being trampled. This could be eliminated if there were more slaughter houses.

I'm looking forward to reading other opinions!
Amy

I truly see your point there is a time to put some horses down, if they can't be saved and a good home found why should they suffer due to the neglect of incompetent owners. Fine the owners but they won't pay it since they can't even take care of an animal.

I am against horse slaughter practices to the degree there is a demand for there meat. It is just like anything else you have to stop the demand or the product will always get to it destination. I am not saying quit trying. I am saying stop the owners who neglect the horses that mostly make up the slaughter houses..

I don't think the majority of the horses in there are horses that are stolen. That would be way to many to steal. And would drive the cost of the meat up to a price that the countries,purchasers would just quit buying and find another form of meat.

My too cents if any one sees where i am coming from .. and yes this is an opinion topic not one to get out of hand.

As i always say "Respect and be Respected"

I am currently torn on this issue, I have, always previously thought that slaughter was wrong, however recently I have been hearing alot from people, who are avid horse lovers that think that the slaughter houses are necessisary, and not as inhumane as everyone has been saying. I am interested in hearing more opinions from both sides of this topic.

Well, hey, if we're going to slaughter horses in this country because horsemeat is eaten overseas and we have to have someplace to get rid of unwanted animals, then by all means, we should be slaughtering our cats and dogs for the very same reason. There's an overabundance of dogs and cats in this country, and since people eat them overseas too lets send them some cat meat and dog meat along with the horse meat.

I hear that some cultures are cannabalistic too...but maybe the arguement ends there...

Look, here's the deal. It's enough for me to be opposed for one major reason. Horses that are stolen in this country often end up in a slaughter house. It's happened, and even if it happens just once, that's too many times. Check out netposse.com and ask them if stolen horses end up at slaughterhouses. There's a reason why they tell you to check there first if your horse is stolen.

Slaughterhouses are operated by foreign companies in this country. We see no benefit except as a place to dump unwanted horses for which people refuse to take responsibility for.

Additionally, horses (and dogs and cats) are not raised as food animals. That means we use products on them that are not intended for animals meant for slaughter. Read your labels on fly and other sprays.

I'm a riding instructor, and one of the best ponies I ever had in my program was one rescued from the slaughterhouse truck. I have no idea how he wound up going to the slaughterhouse, but, over the past 8 years of using him in lessons, he has been consistently sound and has become the pony/horse of choice for jump lessons. He's a packer. How does a well broke, young, sound, sweet pony end up at a slaughterhouse?

Also, if you read the house and senate reports, you'll note that witnesses to slaughterhouse conduct note that horses are treated cruelly, more so than cows. That's because there's a concern for how the meat is and is treated when it's to be eaten here. Since horse meat is shipped overseas, there's no concern for the condition it's in.

My feeling is that if you have taken on the responsibility of a horse, it is your responsibility to have him humanely destroyed and disposed of. If you can't afford to do that, you shouldn't have a horse or horses. That's why people in this country should be licenses to own animals.

Oh...and if you want MORE slaughterhouses in this country, you better hope you never have a horse stolen. The only thing a stolen horse owner has on his side is time to contact all the slaughterhouses and hope that they haven't already slaughtered the horse or are looking at horses coming in with an eye to potential stolen horses.

Anybody remember what happened to the Kentucky Derby Winner Ferdinand? He was sold to Japan to establish a breeding program for Thoroughbreds. When his breeding potency ended, guess what they did with him?

http://www.netposse.com/slaughter/liz.htm

Read this, then comment on whether you support horse slaughter.

An investigative report where a news team uses its own horse to see where she eventually ends up when she's supposedly going to a rescue.

http://www.newsnet5.com/News/1466142/detail.html

Stolen Horse International (netposse.com) estimates that between 40,000 to 55,000 horses are stolen in the U.S. each year. They also estimate that approximately 60% of horses that are sent to slaughter are stolen.

Stolen and rescued from the killer

http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissin...ureCO11-03.htm

Stolen pony killed at slaughter

http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissin...ronNY11-04.htm

I could not agree with you more KC on every single thing you said!!! So we have shelters for dogs and cats right? If they can't be adopted within a certain amount of time, they are put down, not slaughtered. Why can't horses have the same type of treatment? You also cannot compare a cow slaughter house with a horse slaughter house. Horses are a bit more aware of what is going to happen to them and do put up a fight and many do not die right away, but I will not go into that graphic detail. One more thing on the dog issue. Did you know in China they believe the more painful death of a dog, the better the meat is for you. Many of those dogs that end up across the country are racing greyhounds as well. Its terrible the way they die, but thats another topic. Anyways, if they would outlaw AI that would cut down on some of the over breeding. Instead of saying that we need more horse slaughter houses in this country, try saying we need more horse rescues in the country!