Horse Slaughter>Letter!!

[DixieGirl]

I think all of us sould send a letter to each of our state's senators and tell them how much we are horse lovers and it should be againist the law to do that! What do ya'll think??

[musiccraze777]

Well, that sounds like a good idea...but we'd need to make sure our letters are very well-written and persuasive because they wouldn't take us seriously otherwise (you know heads)...not to mention, grammatically correct. And no curse words or blaming them. Lol. Don't want them to get defensive.

True, it is already banned, but I see that it might not always be...

[BigStarLover]

im not soo sure about that

[DarkChylde]

Wonderful Idea!!!
Like musiccraze said, needs to be right and no cussing (dagnabit) or blaming, good point.
Even better, if you could get together at your stable or in riding classes or meetings, first ask whomever is in charge if it is ok to campaign for it, ehn have at least 12 people make up a petition. We also have the border to tighten, and I am awaiting info on how that is going.
That is what created the buzz in the days of Wild Horse Annie....

KUDOS for the idea!!

[musiccraze777]

And if you want to, you should not try to force ppl who disagree to join it.

But I keep thinking about Jill's favorite pony and his undeserved slaughter...so I am all for it. (Jill's sn on here is Jilllovesgus, and she had a topic titled "Horse slaughter...somewhat mature" or something like that...about her favorite pony and how it appears he was sent to slaughter).

But yeah, Dark, great suggestions!

[BigStarLover]

so basicaly JR was sold to people that sent him to a Slaughter house?

[musiccraze777]

Most likely...just because he wasn't useful to the owner anymore. And I guess the only person who would buy him was the slaughterhouse. But she LOVED him, so it wasn't fair.

I just read her thingy. But it's not fair for a wonderful horse to end up there. If horses (and humans, sorry) had really bad behavior probs and were the only ones who wound up there and it was HUMANE, it would be alright in my book, but you never know when a GOOD horse with a GREEDY owner will wind up there.

[BigStarLover]

So she didnt know she was sending him into a slaughterhouse.. and she ACCIDENTLY did ?


and even if the horse isnt well trained and wont get better, they still shoudnt send it to a slaughterhouse, they should just put it down.

[musiccraze777]

It wasn't HER pony! It was her stable owner's. He didn't belong to her. She wishes she had bought him.

But yeah, I agree with that, but nobody wants to hear that usually. They usually want to slaughter them.

You're so right! Put them down, no slaughter!

Personally, I'd release a horse that abhors humans in some wilderness reserve for horses...but that's how I am. Wouldn't kill it just cause it hates humans.

[BigStarLover]

oh the stable person sold her to a SLAUGHTERHOUSE. im sorry confusing situation lol

[DixieGirl]

I told you this was a great idea. If we have all these people sending their letters maybe they'll do something about it. But like musiccraze said it needs to be really well written! Are you guys in or out?

[musiccraze777]

I'm in...but id do what dark says.

[DixieGirl]

Yeah. Just think we could change something! Then once we have written our letters we can post them on here and see what everybody thinks!

[crazy4horses]

Sounds good...

[DixieGirl]

Thanks!! :)

[DarkChylde]

I'm in!!
(between this and Darfur I have my senator on speed dial... When I call I bet the aides roll their eyes and go 'oh, it HER'...)

[DixieGirl]

Thats good though!! They know you are angist it!!

[BigStarLover]

im not so sure about this idea

[DixieGirl]

Why!!??? This is a great idea!!!

[crazy4horses]

I know!! I dont know if I'll be able to write a really nice long one though... I have A LOT of school work and PonyCLub work to do...

[DixieGirl]

You could just use the letter that you sent already and just print it again! :)

[crazy4horses]

Thats a GREAT idea!! Thanks!!! ( If I can find it...) :o

[DixieGirl]

No problem!!

[crazy4horses]

I hope you dosen't rember the letter I sent him...

[DixieGirl]

I don't think he will. He gets so so many letters he won't!!

[DarkChylde]

If any of ya'll want some good info, this is part of a conversation with some friends of mine over the issue, and don't worry, I have full permission to post this, tho I removed names and links for privacy.

**********************************************************

> > Please consider what will happen to all the unwanted horses if
> this
> > bill is passed. Where are 90,000 horses going to go every year?
>
> There is no proven link between the increase/decrease of slaughter
> and the % of horses abandoned or neglected. For example in
> California in '98 they banned sale/transport of horses for
> slaughter, but abandonment/neglect did not change appreciably.
>
> Keep in mind there are 90,000 horses killed this year because there
> s the demand for 90,000 horse carcasses worth of meat, not because
> 90,000 horses are useless. The # of horses slaughtered is
> controlled only by meat demand, and it has nothing to do with
horses
> in need. If we ignore the issue and next year Europe cuts their
> meat orders in half, do you really think Cavel and Beltex will
offer
> free kill/disposal of the other half of that 90,000? They're not
in
> the business to help an animal population problem; they're in the
> business to provide meat cheap to buyers.
>
> The people who do neglect do so because a few people just do not
> care. There will always be a few who don't care and do the wrong
> thing, but by making it easy to dump the "evidence" (walking
> skeleton) at a meat sale with no reprecussions, we're enabling them
> to discard horses.
>
> > There
> > is no plan for increased funding of rescue organizations to cope
> with
> > this excess of horses.>
>
> The federal government does not fund the average horse rescue org
> anyway. Horse rescues raise their own funds through public appeals
> for funds, adoption/sales fees, related events, etc. Nonprofits
> might even see an increase in the donations, who knows? Having
this
> up for a vote sure does bring awareness. I still meet people who
> are surprised to hear horse slaughter for human consumption happens
> in the US.
> >
> > I'm not by any means advocating slaughter as a first alternative
> if
> > you can no longer care for a horse, but personally, I would
rather
> > see these horses have a quick end rather than slowly starving to
> > death in horrible condiditions.
>
> The problem is that these horses aren't being killed the day
they're
> sold to the meat broker. Imagine a laminitic mare who hurts just
to
> stand up. Without slaughter she must be put down in her home town,
> probably on her own farm. With slaughter she is trucked to a meat
> auction. She's bought and put on a truck and hauled cross country
> to a feedlot to wait for the killbuyer to get a full order of
horses
> before he ships to TX or IL. Killbuyers in my region have to send
> their horses on 1,000 mile trips in tractor trailers (several days
> on an overcrowded truck). Poor laminitic mare can't even lay
down.
> If she arrives at the processing area down in the trailer, they'll
> hit her or use a cattle prod on her to get her back up. Then she's
> got to stand for a few days since they don't run the kill-line
every
> day, so laminic mare is stuck waiting for days with strange horses
> picking on her & only the barest of hay and water to eat.
>
> "Meat" horses are NOT required to be given vet care, pain
> management, supplements, protection from really agressive horses,
> etc. In theory they're not supposed to be shipping horses who
can't
> stand on all 4 legs or who are blind, but somehow they're run
> through the meat sale near me anyway. A good friend of mine paid
> $35 for a totally blind, starved appaloosa at a meat horse sale.
> Time and time again the industry is caught not caring what shape
the
> horses are in. They're in it for the money and to sell a product.
>
> >
> > In my opinion, a better alternative may be to educate the horse
> world
> > as a whole, and push towards buying a young horse rather than
> > breeding. This would help control the overall population and in
> the
> > long run reduce the number of unwanted horses.>
>
> We tried that. It didn't work. ;-)
>
> One thing most rescue groups do in addition to rehoming horses is
> education: minimum standards of care, edcuation about the
> population/breeding issue, answering questions at Horse expo
booths,
> and so on.
>
> We try our best to encourage responsible breeding & ownership, but
> as long as a person can get that quick $200 or $400 for their
> breeder culls or extras, they will not change.
>
> > Like I've stated, this is all my personal opinion so please don't
> > slam me for it, but while "Ban Slaughter" sounds like a very good
> > idea there are some serious consequences for unwanted horses if
> this
> > bill is passed.
>
> I see things improving for horses:
>
> No longer can people choose not to get vet care for horses under
the
> excuse they'll eventually be sold for "meat".
>
> No longer can someone work an animal to starvation and still get
> rewarded (paid) for this horrible act. People will be forced to
> take care of their animals if they expect to get money from them.
>
> Same goes for breeder who breed huge numbers of horses knowing the
> extras at the end of the year will go for meat prices. It'll make
> breeders more accountable for the vast numbers they breed, and
it'll
> take away any reward for cranking out foals horses by the dozens or
> 100's each year.
>
> No longer will stolen horses vanish quickly and easily. In 1998 in
> CA when that horse slaughter ban passed, horse theft dropped
> signficiantly.
>
> The extra horses will be given to rescues instead of the rescues
> being forced to pay their "bail" out of the kill pens. There are
so
> many good, sound, nice horses who are simply unlucky and ended up
> heading for meat. My own riding horse cost $275 from a meat sale,
> and he's a wondeful guy! His pics and story:
> [deleted}
>
> I know not everyone will agree with me, but I'm hoping those who
are
> still on the fence will consider my point of view. I encourage
> people to check my numbers; I think you'll come to the same
> conclusions.
>
> I am on the board of directors of a nonprofit equine rescue. I
> personally have been to killpens & meat auctions. I see neglect
> firsthand. However, I don't think my area will be drowning in
> horses when slaughter is banned. I don't think good people will
> starve their horses just because they don't feel like donating or
> euthananizing the horse.
>

**********************************************************

Some good info for the Anti Slaughter side....
Bright Blessings, everyone!! :cool:

[DixieGirl]

That is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

[Barrelbabe_23]

Im in!!!Cassie why isnt it a great idea????

[crazy4horses]

I know, why don't you think this is a good idea?

[DixieGirl]

I think this is a great idea!

[Barrelbabe_23]

I thinks its a great idea my friedns Cassie doesnt and I was just wondering why!!

[DixieGirl]

I know!! It's a wonderful idea! Okay we should all start on our letters!

[Barrelbabe_23]

I would but I dont know extcally what to put in it....

[DixieGirl]

just put how bad horse slaughter is and what they do and stuff like that! ;)

[cursivenight]

You should include why you believe horse slaughter is a bad thing, and what they can do to fix it - just saying STOP IT may not work - but by all means say that!!!

I'd be very polite, don't really point fingers, just explain why it hurts horses to go through with it.

[crazy4horses]

What I did was go on Google and type in "horslaughter" and you should get a lot of results! :)

[DarkChylde]

I always research both sides of an issue (before I ever 'choose' a side), it makes you know the issue better and know what some of the issues raised (which are usually good ones.) Be sure to read the stuff written by the opposition as well, helps you know your subject.
I have found for this kind of thing I sit down and outline it (I know, sounds like school, SORRY :o ). You would have your introduction, then introduce yourself, your work with horses (so they can tell you know about horses as well) and the side you take on the 'issue of horse slaughter for human consumption. I know it seems sill, but make sure the fhc(for human consumption) part gets mentioned, as that is truly the point of the bill. Then you can start by listing your reasons for having a problem with its legality.
For instance:

Intro
My contact (senator, or congressman so-and-so)
My name
My issue (horse slaughter fhc)
Point one- inhumane treatment
Point two- rewards overbreeding
Point three-exaservates(means 'makes worse') horse theft
Point four - not bred as food animals
Point five- Americans aren't eating them
(and any other point you can come up with)
Closing
Salutation (Sincerely or whatever)

For each 'point' you should be able to write a paragraph or two. I would end with something like ' the only way to deal with an overpopulation problem is to step up to the issue and not allow slaughter to be the horrible end to it, why should we continue to let horses suffer for the sins of the humans...' kind of thing.

Hope this helps! Sorry about the letter writing lesson.
Bright blessings, all! :cool:

[cursivenight]

Here's a letter I wrote -- Please remember I'm in Canada, so the situation is tons different.

Dear _______,

My name is Samantha, and I am a 15 year old female from Alberta, Canada. I am writing to address a few very controversial issues, and all I ask is that you hear me out, and pay heed to my solutions and explanations. I want to raise the issue of the treatment of animals, namely horses, at the time they are purchased for slaughter and afterward.

I have done a lot of research, and I understand selling horse meat is a profitable business. I also know the methods of transport, ‘killing’, and holding of the animals is a disgrace. I’ve seen pictures, videos, and written accounts on horses being injured, kept in inhumane conditions, and more. This must stop.

It isn’t exactly fair to ask you to completely stop slaughtering horses, or any animal, though I, at least, wish it was. All that I ask of you is to make it humane.

Double-decker transport trucks were built and designed for short necked animals – cows, sheep, and pigs mainly. They are not meant for horses. Even if the animals are small, they must keep their head impossibly low, and are crowded together with other animals they do not know. Violent stallions can be placed in with mares and foals. Horses from every background, temperament, and age are forced together. Some horses will fight, and this instinct is increased by the fear of the enclosed space, and whatever methods were used to load the horses. Horses by nature belong to a herd, and that herd has positions. These positions must be established, and two extremely dominant horses can fight to the death. Besides the fact of squeezing as many horses possible into the trailer, the ceiling is so low the horses repeatedly bang their heads, causing much damage. If a horse goes down, it could possibly be trampled to death by the other nervous horses. Younger or smaller equines may be pinned or knocked down by bigger animals. The horses are also not given any rest from the constant movement and noise, nor are they given food or water. They stay in the cramped, painful ‘prison’ for sometimes long periods of times. If there are injured, sick, or dead horses they must endure the scents and sights for that time.

When the horses arrive, they are subject to whatever treatment they receive to get off the trailer. The horses that are dead in the trailer are supposed to be put unconscious before being dragged into the slaughter house. I’ve seen videos where the horse was fighting the rope, and obviously very alive and conscious.

All the other horses will go into pens. It depends on the place, but usually these pens are much too small, and/or are in no condition to hold animals. There’s picture evidence of wounds going untreated, minor and major. Fights will probably break out between a few of the horses.

When going into the slaughter house, the horses are jam packed down the chutes, and can hear, smell, and sometimes even see their fellow equines being killed. They know they are being herded to their death, but they cannot stop it. The shocks or gun to the head to not always ‘paralyze’ the horse or kill them. Many times the horses are conscious and alive when they are bled out and dismembered. The other horses may even watch other equines being cut up/open.

If you believe that horses are not smart, or do not have memories, or are no different then cows, you are wrong. Horses have an entirely different mindset. They have memories, at least, and interpret what we do. Horses like some people more than others, and have very varying personalities. Horses are also natural herd animals. To be with the herd is to survive. You protect the herd, and follow it. To see, feel, and hear death of their fellows around them is probably the worst scenario in their minds. They cannot escape, they cannot fight. They are ultimately trapped. Their minds probably go blind with terror.

I understand horse slaughter is an industry, and that it provides considerable income. It sickens me people eat horse, but technically, that is not really fair, so that part of the business, I understand. Slaughter does also rid us of excess, ‘unwanted’, horses. Unfortunately, the horses that are sent to slaughter are sent to get a final dollar off of them, or they have no more use for them, or they are not good enough, or have simply fallen in the wrong hands. Young horses with a whole life ahead of them – cut short. Race horses who are not fast enough, who are not ‘special’ enough are sent by the thousand fold – partly the fault of over breeding or unnecessary breeding. Old horses that are past their prime are sent – so much for gratitude for their services. Performance horses, recreation horses, and of course, the PMU mares and foals are sent to their deaths. I do not believe it is fair to these animals, especially because of the treatment they are given at the hands of the slaughter houses.

If you must kill the horses, and slaughter them for foreign export, at least give them their dignity. Treat them humanely, transport them humanely, and give them the respect those noble animals deserve. Give any animal the respect, and humanity it deserves. If they are to die simply for our wants, or for money, we should at least pay them back that much. They have no say, no voice to speak up against this abuse, or their situation. That is why I am writing this. To give the horses, all the animals, a voice. If they cannot be prevented from being slaughtered, then at least let be done humanely.

Thank-you for reading this through, I appreciate the time you spent. Please take in consideration the welfare for these animals, for even if they are to die, they should be allowed to die with dignity, or at least without towering amounts of fear.

You can contact me by the address on the envelope and by email: horsegal42@hotmail.com

Sincerely,

______________
Samantha

[crazy4horses]

I have to say something about horse slaughter( that you might not like) you promise you WILL NOT get mad at me??

[DixieGirl]

I have to say something about horse slaughter( that you might not like) you promise you WILL NOT get mad at me??

Yeah, we are here to express our oppinions crazy4horses...so what is it?

[crazy4horses]

Okay well.... I HATE horse slaughter but in a way its not that bad. BECUASE they are many many horses in the wild that are starving. So cowboys gather the horses up and take them to actions. Unfortantly salughter people come to buy the horses and kill them. But if no one were to buy the horses the horses would eventaully die... :( So horse salughter in a WAY is not so bad. There has to be way that starved horses have to die. ( If no one buys the horse.)


BUT, I do think the slaughter people dont have to kill the horses so BAD. Do you know what I mean???

[DixieGirl]

Okay well.... I HATE horse slaughter but in a way its not that bad. BECUASE they are many many horses in the wild that are starving. So cowboys gather the horses up and take them to actions. Unfortantly salughter people come to buy the horses and kill them. But if no one were to buy the horses the horses would eventaully die... :( So horse salughter in a WAY is not so bad. There has to be way that starved horses have to die. ( If no one buys the horse.)


BUT, I do think the slaughter people dont have to kill the horses so BAD. Do you know what I mean???

Well I disagree because thats killing an inicient horse!

[alliekk]

No, I didn't really get it C4H. This letter isn't to ban aaalllll slaughter, just for human consumption. I think Dark has tried quite adamantly to stress that point, but there are still some people who haven't understood that fact. And you might want to read up on your facts. Most wild herds are protected. Almost all are on government property where round-ups are prohibited. I don't mean to sound rude, but it does get tiring when people don't quite get the message and she has to say it over...and over... AND OVER... Please remember guys, it's for human consumption ONLY!

EDITED TO ADD: This did sound kind of bitchy, don't take it personally, I'm not going to reword it because that's how I feel. No offense guys

[crazy4horses]

I know. But there isn't enough land for ALL the horses... would you rather the horses starve to death then be killed and placed in heaven?

[alliekk]

There was plenty until we came along, and there are federal lands where horses are protected

[DixieGirl]

Yeah. I think I would let the horses live out their life in the wild and die naturally of age.

[DarkChylde]

There was plenty until we came along, and there are federal lands where horses are protected

Not anymore I am afraid, the protection was 'changed' shortly after the Bush Administration took over. That is another reason the bill was pushed, to try to protect them, since the efforts to reestablished have been stalled.

[crazy4horses]

Well, we all have our own opinions!!

[cursivenight]

Instead of unfairly "punishing" these horses - who are NOT at fault for being brought into this world, should we NOT be trying to educate everyone who even thinks of being involved with horses?

People need to STOP over breeding, and breeding stupidly. That's what causes a lot of problems - people want mares so when they get bored or two old or useless, they can breed them. THINK PEOPLE. If the horse is USELESS from an injury -- maybe you shouldn't breed it! Of course it all depends on the scenario, but honestly.

[musiccraze777]

Okay well.... I HATE horse slaughter but in a way its not that bad. BECUASE they are many many horses in the wild that are starving. So cowboys gather the horses up and take them to actions. Unfortantly salughter people come to buy the horses and kill them. But if no one were to buy the horses the horses would eventaully die... :( So horse salughter in a WAY is not so bad. There has to be way that starved horses have to die. ( If no one buys the horse.)


BUT, I do think the slaughter people dont have to kill the horses so BAD. Do you know what I mean???

Well, I believe we should leave the wild things ALONE instead of trying to domesticate everything. I was thinking, god, people sometimes are so bad about letting wild be wild that what if some genius starts trying to make it where porcepines have no quills? (lol, okay, that was a subplot idea for a future novel, representing how humans just can't stand to leave animals be sometimes).

They will die anyway, true, but starvation is much better way to die than being bonked on the head, no?

Just my opinion. Also, here's another thing...if a horse goes without food long enough, he/she won't eat even if given food. So I don't think a horse would mind dying of starvation because their body adapts to not eating. They aren't thirsting food and will probably die quietly that way. But to be tortured is just...cruel. Especially for a wild creature.

[DarkChylde]

Well, the wild horses are at least free, and everything has it's time, animals accept this fact and do not waste time with self-pity. he fact is, horse slaughter has helped make the initial problem (the problem that horse slaughter has so effeciently solved for us for so long) is overpopulation of horses, and this is mainly due to the racing industry, the PMU thing, and unscrupulous breeders who know they can at least get good money from the meat man for a healthy, perfectly fine animal so they are rewarded for making the problem in the first place. Not to mention the disasterous effect on horse theft, making that a VERY profitable sideline for many heartless crooks out there.
Plus, it is my personal belief that when and only when we stop allowing slaughter to 'deal' with the problem for us is when we will HAVE to step up to the bat and hold the racing industry and others responsible and make some BADLY needed changes.
I personally think a legal campaign could be raised, and the PMU industry should be held accountable, and they should legally held to fund reserves (not the same thing as 'wild', it actually has benefits to the wild things), as well as the racing industry (made to help fund the reserves), and breeders who sent a certain percentage to slaughter will all have to foot the bill. Then it would do me so much good to see fat cat Cavel pay for the reserves as well (they could afford them by themselves)- we all know the money and room is out there, it is a matter of getting it for the horses.
Plus, I am not opposed to horses that meet a certain criteria (bad off, very old, ect) to be HUMANELY slaughtered, and the meat used to feed the masses of dogs and cats that Americans have as pets, especially after this last poisoning thing with the dog and cat food. But then your big dog/cat food companies would have to give up their monster profits from supporting China's sweatshops, and that is not going to happen, more's the pity.
Horses will be starved and neglected, it went on long before the bill was set up and will go on long after, it is the fault of us humans that horses are starved and neglected, not the fault of legislation that hasn't even passed yet. We have turned a blind eye to slaughter as it was a means to an end - it allowed horses to pay the terrible and horrible price for our mismanagement. This should not be allowed any long. If we figured out the wheel, andhow to walk on the moon, I am sure we can find a solution to this cunundrum...
Btw, I am researching info that I recently found out that said that a legal protection had been put in place in the 1940s, that the slaughter houses found a 'way around.' Will let you know more when I find out (or check it out for yourself!)
Bright blessings to all! :cool: