Horse Slaughter

Horse slaughter is act of cruelty has been going on for years, and so many people never understood why and how it has been hidden. Horses have never been raised for human consumption in the United States, so why are American Horses being killed to gratify the appetites in other countries (America’s Horses Are Ending Up in Europe’s Restaurant)?

There is no discrimination shown to what kinds of horses are being sent to their untimely death. Innocent horses of all breeds and ages are being killed. Riding school horses, camp horses, and race horses are all types of horses that get sent over the border to be slaughtered. Even the wild mustangs that were once protected by the United States government are being round up and sent to slaughter.

The transportation and equipment involved in slaughtering horses is extremely cruel. The horses are bought by “killer buyers” and transported in cattle trailers with low ceilings where they cannot even hold their head up high enough for balance. They are crammed in theses trailers and many fall due to being unbalanced and get trampled to death. These trips can average over 24 hours where the horses are left without food or water. The Humane Society of the United States released a video of a trailer in route to Mexico broken down on the highway for 6 hours in 102 degree heat. Not at any point were theses horses let out of the trailer for shade or given water to rehydrate themselves. They were left to sit until the truck was fixed and ready to proceed on with the journey.

When arriving at the slaughter house, the horses are herded and beaten into kill boxes where they are left conscious after the use of a stun bolt that is used for cattle. These stun bolts are effective in killing cattle but they are not designed for horses. Because of this, the horses are still alive when slaughtered, afraid and knowing what is going on the whole time. A horse can smell death and their natural instinct is flight. In order for horse meat to be exported for human consumption, the horses must be alive when “bled out”. This is the process in which the horse is hung by one hind leg and having its throat slit after being stunned. This means that the horses are still alive when leaving the “kill box” and know what is going on the whole time. Horses are very smart animals and they smell the blood and death right away. They almost always try to escape before being herded inhumanely into the “kill boxes” (US Slaughter Plants are finally CLOSED, but slaughter remains an issue!).

These animals have played such an important role in our history. The horse provided transportation around the frontier and into war. They provided companionship and relief to the tired farmer. Even though we no longer use the horse for the same jobs as they once performed, they are none the less an animal to be praised not slaughtered. It is so sad how we as a society have become so money hungry that we will torture any living thing for a dollar. It is time for the unfathomable act of murder to be stopped at once. I have recently become aware of this terrible crime that is taking place and I am completely appalled. I am asking for people to stand up against this cruel act and sign the petition to pass the law to end the slaughter of horses.