There are two New Year’s Resolutions I’d like to see others in the horse world make for this year:
Stop breeding so many horses. Breed only every two or three years. Not every horse, every year.
This resolution includes all those “quality breeders” who only breed “suitable” stock. Even these folks have bred too many horses that they cannot sell. Not only are grade horses going to slaughter, starved to death, or abandoned on public lands, but the these quality horses from show horses to race horses are suffering the same fate when their owners tire of them, can’t afford to take care of them, or they are no longer stars or winners in the owner’s discipline of choice. No horses should have to suffer these fates--neither grade horses nor fancy horses. They all feel the pain of hunger, neglect, and abuse. I hate to think of what fate Sonny (Sonny's Progress) would have endured had he not been rescued. He may not have won any of his races, but he is shaping up to be a fine pleasure mount with a very kind disposition.
If the horse world will not adhere to the 1st resolution, then we need to build more slaughterhouses in the United States.
They could be built so that no horses would be hauled more than 3 hours to reach the slaughterhouse. Any lame, injured horse, or recumbent horse would be euthanized humanely on the spot and not be transported at all. The slaughter itself would be whatever is quickest so there is no suffering for the horse. The Humane Association could have folks observe processes at all times. This fate would be more humane for the horses than starvation, abuse, and abandonment. Sometimes true love is tough. Marla.
http://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/racehorse-with-champion-bloodlines-sold-to-slaughter-for-50-us/
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 06:18 | 
Written by Marla Smith | 
