Texas Horse Slaughter is Finally Coming to An End

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federal Court of Appeals Affirms Ruling Declaring Horse Slaughter Illegal in Texas

Two of the Nation's Three Horse Slaughter Plants Must Now Close

WASHINGTON (March 6, 2007)—Today, The Humane Society of the United States hailed a decision yesterday by the entire United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to affirm an earlier panel decision upholding a Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption.

Without comment or dissent, the 19 judges of the full court rejected a petition by three foreign-owned slaughter plants seeking full court review of a three-judge panel’s January 19, 2006 decision upholding the Texas horse slaughter law. The slaughter plants had claimed the Texas law at issue was unconstitutional, an argument that was quickly brushed aside by the Court in its January opinion and again by its decision denying rehearing yesterday.

“This is the end of the line for the horse slaughter industry in Texas ," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO for The HSUS. "The kill floors should be still and quiet in Texas if the owners of these foreign-owned plants obey the law.”

“Only one slaughterhouse continues to operate in the United States , and it is time for Congress to step in and halt this grisly business once and for all,” Pacelle added.

The HSUS has been actively campaigning to ban the slaughter of American horses for export for human consumption.
Facts
· The criminal code of Texas has long prohibited the sale or possession of horse meat, but the law has never been enforced.
· According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.
· Opponents of the slaughter ban argue the practice constitutes a humane way to kill old animals, but investigations by The HSUS show cruelty and abuse throughout the process. USDA statistics show that more than 92 percent of horses slaughtered in the U.S. are not old and infirm but in good condition.
· Legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 503.
· The measure received tremendous bipartisan support in the 109th Congress, winning a vote of 263 to 146 in the House. It stalled in the Senate in late 2006, however, and was not brought up for a vote before Congress adjourned, even though a similar effort had been overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in 2005.
· Nearly 70 percent of Americans are strongly against the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas.

Timeline
· In 2002, responding to citizen and local government concerns about the two foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the state – Dallas Crown in Kaufman and Beltex in Fort Worth – then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn issued a written opinion that the 1949 Texas law applies and may be enforced.
· In response, the Tarrant County District Attorney attempted to enforce the law, but last year a federal district court in Texas ruled that the law was repealed by another statute and preempted by federal law.
· The District Attorney appealed that decision last year, and the HSUS filed an amicus brief in the case in March 2006.
· In January 2007, the court of appeals upheld the law, flatly rejecting the slaughterhouses' arguments that the ban on the sale of horsemeat does not protect horses from theft and abuse, and that regulating horse slaughter can achieve those same purposes, noting instead that "it is a matter of commonsense that…alternatives… do not preserve horses as well as completely prohibiting the sale and transfer of horsemeat for human consumption. "

- 30 -

Media contacts:
Polly Shannon, pshannon@hsus. org, 703-283-5104
Tracey McIntire, tmcintire@hsus. org, 301-548-7793

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.HumaneSociety.org.


The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St., NW
Washington, DC 20037
www.hsus.org
Promoting the Protection of All Animals

Barbaro's Legacy Burns Brightly As A Beacon of Hope

Barbaro lost his battle for life, but his legacy goes on and burns brightly. He showed the world what hope is and brought to the mainstream media many horse related issues that would otherwise have gone largely unnoticed.

Most Americans didn't even realize horses were being slaughtered in America and sold for overseas human consumption. We didn't realize the horror of the death for these horses. 100,000 horses died brutally in the three foreign owned slaughter houses in 2006. As stewards of companion animals, it is unconscionable to me that we allow horses to be vivisected - literally cut apart - while many of them are still alive and feeling sensation.

If we did imagine slaughter existed, we surely wouldn't have thought that over 92% (USDA numbers) of them were young and healthy. Many are pregnant mares with young foals at their sides.

We wouldn't have thought that in America these businesses would operate at a loss yet profit heavily in Europe where the meat is sold. Why would America allow this slight of hand with income taxes on the part of these Belgian owned slaughterhouses?

We certainly wouldn't believe America would allow the exportation of meat that is toxic to other countries, would we? Well, we do. Horses are medicated regularly with drugs clearly listed "not for use in food source animals." These horses still have the medications in their systems when butchered and shipped to Europe. Most zoos won't even feed this meat to their animals knowing that it is indeed toxic.

Unless we owned horses, we didn't know what Laminitis was, or who the Jacksons are, or about the New Bolton Center and Dr. Dean Richardson.

We didn't know that more than 30,000 horses are stolen each year, and many of them end up at the slaughterhouse.

We didn't know there would be an option for racing surfaces - such as the new Tapeta tracks - that offer safer racing for our Thoroughbreds.

We wouldn't have know that the American Quarter Horse Association is pro-slaughter and yet more Quarter horses go to slaughter than any other breed. We wouldn't have expected this to be acceptable from the very people bringing life to Quarter Horses.

We didn't know about all the many and varied rescues working diligently to rescue horses from slaughter and abuse.

If not for Barbaro, Tim Wooley and Alex Brown of http://www.timwoolleyracing.com we would never have known so many things we know now. We wouldn't have known how to do battle with the greedy, conscienceless pro-slaughter advocates and how to carry this battle to the Senate and the House of Representatives. Many of us now contact our Senators and Reps daily, asking them to end this horror for America's horses...asking for humanity for our horses instead of barbarism.

Interesting that Barbaro and barbarism are closely spelled, isn't it, yet at opposite ends of the moral spectrum?

For this, we are thankful for Barbaro. His legacy will not be forgotten. His fans will champion his cause. He has become bigger than life.

We thought he was born to be a great champion. Instead, he came to change the world.

It's Time to Renew Our Efforts to End Horse Slaughter in America

The Senate and Congress return to work on or about January 4^th, and it becomes time to renew our battle to end the slaughter of America’s horses for overseas human consumption. Back in September, a bill was overwhelmingly passed to end this atrocity. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate, but they sent themselves home early for the Holiday break and never even discussed it. Senate Majority Leader Frist (now retired) refused to place it on the calendar for a vote (one can certainly speculate the lobbyists for “Big Beef” among others had a major financial hand in that decision) and consequently the bill died. It will now have to be re-introduced in the Senate and the House, and in the meanwhile, at least 2000 horses a week will be brutally slaughtered in the three Belgium owned slaughter houses here on US soil.

The slaughter houses are well aware that they are drawing their last breaths and therefore they are killing horses in record numbers. They are importing them from Mexico and Canada, as well as looking for the “meatiest” horses here in America. According to the USDA, over 100,000 horses were killed in 2006, here in America, and shipped to France, Belgium, Japan and other countries to become a delicacy. Pardon moi, but has France been a very good friend to the US of late?

This practice of horse slaughter is wrong on so many levels. Let’s talk about the economics of it first. These three slaughter houses are foreign (Belgium) owned, so they pay no taxes to our government.

Many will argue that it is the old, sick and disabled horses that end up at the slaughter house. This is simply not so. The buyers – who supply the slaughter houses – are paid by the pound. They want the heaviest, healthiest, youngest horses they can get. They go to auctions and purchase horses posing as friendly souls looking for good horses. After all, it’s a rare owner who is willing to sell the family pet to someone who admits they are buying it purely for the meat. Many of the horses are pregnant mares with foals at their sides. The foals are viewed as “veal” and looked as a bonus. It’s against the law to slaughter horses younger than six months of age, but this industry is so completely not policed that law breaking goes on every day.

The actual act of slaughter is so terrifying and horrific for the horse that watching videos of it will scar you for life. I’ve watched a few, and they are burned into my brain. It’s not quick and humane. It’s torturous and often the horses aren’t even dead when they are strung up and “bled out.” Humane euthanasia can’t be used on animals destined to become a food source. The barbiturates used to carry out a “humane” death taint the meat.

Which leads me to another compelling aspect of this awful story. Our horses, just like our other companion animals, are regularly wormed, vaccinated and medicated with drugs clearly listed “not for animals to be used for human consumption!” Therefore, the meat that the USDA is allowing to be exported from this country is literally loaded with toxins. And in many cases, the drugs have been determined to be cancer causing to humans.

It has also been argued that these horses are simply unwanted. I have to dispute that. All you have to do is Google “horse rescue” and you’ll see there are hundreds of ranches and farms who want to take and place horses needing new homes. Somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 horses are stolen each year. Many of them end up at the slaughter house. When California banned slaughter several years ago, the number of stolen horses dropped drastically.

So, if you own horses keep a really close eye on them. Lock them up at night if you can. Don’t sell or give away your horse without a contract stipulating strict guidelines. Do your research before you sell them. Don’t let your loved pet’s life end in this heart breaking manner.

And please, as the new legislature convenes over the next few days, call, email and fax your Senator’s and Representatives and urge them to listen to the will of the American people. We don’t eat horses in America and we shouldn’t supply them to countries that do.

Please help end this absolute atrocity.

Barbaro In the News, Gretchen Jackson, and Next Steps to End Horse Slaughter

It's been an exciting 48 hours! First and foremost, we've learned that Barbaro is moving forward in his recovery and will probably soon leave the hospital. Poor guy has been hospitalized for over seven months. While NBC staff will certainly miss him, I am sure we are all glad that he will go out into the world to continue his recovery.

Barbaro could be heading to a Kentucky Farm: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/16279482.htm

Mrs. Jackson, co-owner of Barbaro has become an honorary member of the RACE Fund. This is particularly exciting for me, as RACE is based here in Harrisburg, PA, where I live and work. Mrs. Jackson speaks so eloquently, passionately, and with few words says so much:

Gretchen Jackson, Owner of Barbaro Endorses, R.A.C.E Fund, Becomes Honorary Board Member Gretchen Jackson, the owner of this year's Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has become an Honorary Board Member of the R.A.C.E Fund. A non profit funding organization to help with racehorse retirement. Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- The owner of Barbaro, Gretchen Jackson, has become an Honorary Board Member of the R.A.C.E Fund, a 501 c 3 non profit organization that has been established as a funding source geared specifically to help Thoroughbred racehorses retire when they can no longer race. Major funding is expected to come from a small percentage of the gross purse money. Mrs. Jackson stated, "The overall purse structure at Pennsylvania Thoroughbred racetracks will substantially increase in the very near future with the passing of the slot legislation and the horses deserve a portion of the revenue for their well being. Racehorses are the lifeblood of this industry and we must provide for their care and safety during their entire lives and not just when they are racing." Jackson also commented, "I believe the R.A.C.E Fund has the potential to provide the substantial perpetual funding that is needed to help racehorses, especially those that are in danger of going to slaughter and to also provide positive alternatives for racehorse retirement in the future." For more information about the R.A.C.E Fund, please visit their website at www.racefund.org

AND, Barbaro has had a race named in his honor:

Barbaro's Name Replaces Triple Crown Legend on Pimlico Race

By Mason Levinson

Dec. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Barbaro will replace the name of the first Triple Crown winner for a race on the undercard of the Preakness Stakes, where the Kentucky Derby champion shattered his right hind leg last May.

The Barbaro Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, will debut at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course on May 19, replacing the Sir Barton Stakes, the Maryland Jockey Club said in a news release.

Sir Barton was the first horse to complete thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1919.

``Barbaro has become the most popular racehorse in the country because of his courageous battle to overcome such a severe injury,'' club president Lou Raffetto said in a statement. ``This change will allow the next generation of race fans to reflect upon this magnificent and beloved champion during Preakness day at Pimlico.''

Barbaro, who was given a 50-50 chance of surviving the ankle fracture that ended his racing career, has been cleared to leave the suburban Philadelphia animal hospital where he has recovered for the past seven months.

Following the injury, the doctors inserted a plate and screws in Barbaro's right hind leg to fuse the bones and covered the injury with a cast from the colt's hoof to hock during the first of many operations.

As the colt was recovering, he developed an inflammation known as laminitis in the left hind leg in July, which forced the removal of 80 percent of his hoof wall.

The Sir Barton Stakes debuted at Pimlico in 1993.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: December 20, 2006 14:03 EST

****

Barbaro was Examined by a Podiatrist:

Barbaro examined by podiatrist
December 20, 2006

KENNETT SQUARE, PA-- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was examined yesterday by Dr. Scott Morrison, head of the equine podiatry service at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. “Barbaro is stable and comfortable although we remain concerned about the long term management of his left hind foot,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. According to Barbaro’s medical team, Dr. Morrison did some minor work on Barbaro’s left hind foot, and made recommendations concerning the management of that foot. “There is no timetable at this moment concerning Barbaro’s discharge from the hospital,” said Dr. Richardson. “His comfort on both hind limbs is good and his overall condition is excellent.”

Also, an except from an email to the CampaigningforBarbaro Ambassadors from the Humane Society:

"right now, there is
something that activists could be doing to really help
educate folks about horse slaughter. I would
encourage them to write letters to the editors of
local papers in their areas. Letters to the editor
(LTEs) are the most read section of any newspaper and legislative offices watch the LTE sections to see how folks are reacting to issues back home. By getting LTEs on horse slaughter published, we can (1) educate our community about why this inhumane practice should end; (2) why they should care about it and (3) what they can do [contact their Rep/Sen]. Plus the legislative office of the area will take notice that the issue has even made it to the local LTE page.

The new session of Congress begins January 3, so folks
don’t have a lot of time to be idle. Once the new
session starts, that is when you want to be calling,
emailing, and faxing letters. Do NOT mail letters to
Capitol Hill – since the anthrax scare, all the mail
is re-routed to New Jersey and irradiated for cooties
and then returned to Congress (6 weeks later!). so
for folks demanding to write letters, please encourage
them to fax them to their legislator.

Those are just a few ideas that come to mind. You are
so right that we must not lose our momentum and we
have to keep this issue in the forefronts of our
leaders’ minds as they return in January."

***

So PLEASE, PLEASE, write those letters to the editor. Send them to your local paper and do a search on the internet for online papers. I've submitted them all over the place this past week and hope some get published. The bottom line is that we've got to work together to make this a front page issue and no longer America's Dirty Little Secret.

Finally, if you have a few dollars to spare, I have one of my favorite rescues I would ask you to help out in this the season of giving:

www.tbfriends.com

Read owner Joe's blogs. They'll make you smile...they'll make you cry...

Paypal him at tbfriends@aol.com.

Thank you, and Seasons Greetings!

Over 1300 Wild Horses In Wyoming Slated for Capture and in all Likelihood, Slaughter

Good Sunday morning, one week before Christmas Eve. I awoke to find out that the Bureau of Land Management is once again mis-managing America's wild herd. These horses will be captured, and some will be killed or horribly injured in the process. Because they are wild, most will end up in the slaughter houses in TX or IL, or perhaps be transported to Mexico or Canada to their slaughterhouses.

I've vacationed many times in Wyoming. It is a beautiful wilderness. For now, I cannot return.

I maintain that the wild horses are part of our heritage as American's. I can't stand by and watch this happen silently. So here, one week before Christmas, I offer up this sad news.

***

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is relying on a brand new population estimating method to justify the removal of 1,349 horses from the Adobe Town-Salt Wells Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in Wyoming. After horses were rounded up from the area just last year, only 861 were estimated as remaining on the range. Using their new estimating method, BLM later increased their population estimate by about 800% for the Salt Wells HMA alone! This stunning discrepancy is of great concern as it brings into question the ‘standard’ population calculations that BLM has been using for decades to manage our wild herds, and opens the door to equally drastic population adjustments for other herds.

The amount of forage allocated to private livestock on the public lands in question is more than ten times the amount of forage allocated to wild horses, even though by law HMAs are to be ‘devoted principally’ to wild horses. The absolute minimum estimated cost of the round-up and annual containment of the captured horses is over $4 million.

Please protest this gross waste of tax-dollars and mismanagement of our natural resources:

- Mail your comments before December 21 to BLM, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901-3447. Do not let BLM’s refusal to accept email comments discourage you from speaking out. If you do not have time for a letter, a simple postcard registering your objection will do. Make sure to include your name and signature, and this reference number: WY-040-EA07-37.

- Please also alert Wyoming to the fact that continued mismanagement of its wild horse herds will hurt tourism in the state. Contact the Office of Wyoming Travel and Tourism, I-25 at College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82002 - phone: 800.225.5996 - fax: 307.777.2877 – contact via web form

- Our Wyoming supporters should also contact their US Representative and two US Senators to protest such disregard for their state’s heritage (locate your federal legislators at www.congress.org).

On behalf of the horses, thank you for your support.

The AWHPC Team
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
www.wildhorsepreservation.org

The 109th Senate Failed America's Horses Miserably

The 109th senate adjourned Saturday morning around 4:45 AM and quietly swept out of town. They left behind many unsigned appropriation bills, and important to many of us, the Horse Slaughter Ban Amendment died an agonizing death when the Senate adjourned.

Senator Frist, as the outgoing Senate Majority Leader scheduled the bills to be voted on. Despite a major grass roots effort, Mr. Frist was unwilling to put it on the calendar.

This bill, designed to end the slaughter of America's horses for overseas consumption was passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representative on September the 7th, 2006. The Senate was too, uhhh, "busy" to discuss the bill.

Big Beef and The Cattlemen's Association feared this bill greatly. For some reason, they think we are coming for the cattle next. They also view horses as livestock and private property, with which they may do what they please.

For people who live with and truly love horses, they are companion animals. They form a bond with us, just like our cats and dogs.

To be very clear, I like a juicy steak about once a week. However, Fido, Miss Kitty and Barbaro are not dinner options at our house.

Horse slaughter is an ugly, vicious industry whereby "killer buyers" go to auctions and purchase the meatiest, healthiest looking horses because it's all about price per pound. Over 92% of the horses ending up at the 3 Belgium owned slaughter houses in TX and IL are young, healthy and full of life.

These lovely, noble creatures stand in line waiting to enter the "kill box" and all the while are smelling the blood and fear of the horses that have gone before them. Upon entrance to the kill box, slippery with blood, they see a captive bolt pistol coming at that heads. Being flight animals, and sensing the imminent danger, they struggle to avoid the hammer being swung at their heads. Because of their struggle, they often fall and injure themselves, or receive eye, ear and head injuries. It may take many tries for the bolt to connect properly with their heads and stun their brains. Many are not even unconscious when their throats are slit and they are hung by one back leg to "bleed out."

Humane euthanasia is not an option for animals for human consumption. The strong barbituate that brings a gentle but swift end to our beloved pets would taint the meat. In fact, horses are regularly wormed, vaccinated and given drugs that are clearly labeled "NOT FOR USE IN ANIMALS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION." Yet, we as American's allow these Belgium owned companies to kill our horses and ship the meat off as a delicacy in France, Japan and Belgium. The bottom line - the meat is loaded with toxins.

The slaughterhouses pay no taxes here in the US. I have a copy of a income tax return that shows $12 Million is income, but they only paid $5 - that's $5, not $5 million, in income tax. Once they've got the meat across the pond, they mark it up some 400% and making a killing (no pun intended) there. From a purely economic point of view, these businesses have no business operating on our soil.

And why, you may ask, don't the Belgium companies slaughter their own horses...in Belgium? Why that would be because it's illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption in most European countries.

Damned ironic, isn't it?

Disappointed? Yes I am. But we live to fight another day. Look out 110th...we're coming to educate you...

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

This is a poem I wrote, expressing my sadness for the horses that will continue to die every week, until this bill is passed and our horses are safe.

And Barbaro Wept…

The night was cold but calm

The night shift worked quietly

Efficiently

And the hospital moved thru the night

And Barbaro slept…

In the early dawn hours

The Sweet Prince awoke

Dismayed

It was clear in his minds eye

And Barbaro no longer slept…

He knew that many new angels

Would soon meet the pastures of Heaven

Violently

And the pain was nearly unbearable

And Barbaro wept…

I woke from my sleep in anguish

Read the email - regret to inform

Adjourned

The words of the people ignored

And Barbaro wept…

I reached out to him with my heart

I held him close

Believe, I coaxed

The battle over, but the war is not lost

Still, Barbaro wept…

He thought about the horses in the feedlots

And the pens

Waiting, waiting

He thought about their fate

And Barbaro wept…

Sweet Bobby thought of the Mustangs

Soon the riders and copters to come

Terrifying

So much beauty lost to the fear

And Barbaro wept…

He thought about the burros,

The Nokota Horses

The Ponies on Assateague

The runners coming up lame

Still, Barbaro wept…

I held his heart so tight and I whispered

We are battle weary

Fatigued

But this war is far from over

Have hope, I urged

You most of all must be strong

Remarkable stallion

For you are our inspiration

We will fight on, for you Sweet Prince

For we do BELIEVE

Miracles

Happen every day

You must be strong, Bobby

Keep us focused

Teach by example

Inspire

You taught us all to believe

I held his heart so tight

Blanketed with love

Faith

Hope for the future

And comforted, Barbaro slept.

And quietly I pulled away

I didn’t want him to feel

My pain

I wanted him to rest…

And then I wept…

Lorri Roush Shaver, 12/9/2006.

"Laughable, if it wasn't so tragic" - Horse Slaughter and Horse Welfare

TThe International Fund 4 Horses : http://www.fund4horses.org/print.php?id=419

Vivian Farrell, re: Horse Welfare Coalition (Jun. 25, 2004)


The Horse Welfare Coalition
An Agribusiness Industry Hoax
June 25, 2004hey call themselves The Horse Welfare Coalition and their website is called ww

They call themselves The Horse Welfare Coalition and their website is called www.commonhorsesense.com. This is one of the worst cases of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" I have ever seen. There is nothing sensible, common or otherwise, about the Horse Welfare Coalition's attack on H.R.857. Their mission does not take the welfare of the horse into consideration in any possible, observable or provable respect.

Horse slaughter exists for one reason and one reason only--to provide meat for export. It has nothing to do with the welfare of the animal, equine population control, elimination of abuse, or any of the other high-minded ideals they are attempting to rely on to support their true motives, to perpetuate the horse slaughter industry.

History has shown time and again that abuse and horse theft increases in the areas where horse slaughter plants are in operation, and decreases when they are shut down. If there are indeed "too many horses," this is the result of callous overbreeding. Horse slaughter only adds to this problem, not minimizes it. A responsible and humane solution should be found by the breeders.

Horse that are old, sick, diseased or lame should be euthanized. The scaremongering tactics the coalition continues to use ad nauseum that there will be old, sick, feeble horses standing around starving is one of their desperate attempt to fool the public into thinking they have Ameirca's horses' best interest at heart. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of horses that go to slaughter are young, fat, fit, healthy horses in order to provide the high quality meat that the plants boast about.

Why are these groups willing to put so much time, money and effort into keeping the horse slaughter industry alive in this country? To me the answer is and has been obvious for some time. Take a long hard look at the membership of this so-called "horse welfare" coalition. Incidentally, the owner and operator of this coalition's website is none other than attorney, John Linebarger, who represents the two horse slaughter plants in Texas, and whose name appears on the court documents filed to keep them open although they are operating illegally according to state law.

It would be laughable if it weren't so damned tragic.

Vivian Farrell
President
The Fund for Horses

w.commonhorsesense.com. This is one of the worst cases of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" I have ever seen. There is nothing sensible, common or otherwise, about the Horse Welfare Coalition's attack on H.R.857. Their mission does not take the welfare of the horse into consideration in any possible, observable or provable respect.

Horse slaughter exists for one reason and one reason only--to provide meat for export. It has nothing to do with the welfare of the animal, equine population control, elimination of abuse, or any of the other high-minded ideals they are attempting to rely on to support their true motives, to perpetuate the horse slaughter industry.

History has shown time and again that abuse and horse theft increases in the areas where horse slaughter plants are in operation, and decreases when they are shut down. If there are indeed "too many horses," this is the result of callous overbreeding. Horse slaughter only adds to this problem, not minimizes it. A responsible and humane solution should be found by the breeders.

Horse that are old, sick, diseased or lame should be euthanized. The scaremongering tactics the coalition continues to use ad nauseum that there will be old, sick, feeble horses standing around starving is one of their desperate attempt to fool the public into thinking they have Ameirca's horses' best interest at heart. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of horses that go to slaughter are young, fat, fit, healthy horses in order to provide the high quality meat that the plants boast about.

Why are these groups willing to put so much time, money and effort into keeping the horse slaughter industry alive in this country? To me the answer is and has been obvious for some time. Take a long hard look at the membership of this so-called "horse welfare" coalition. Incidentally, the owner and operator of this coalition's website is none other than attorney, John Linebarger, who represents the two horse slaughter plants in Texas, and whose name appears on the court documents filed to keep them open although they are operating illegally according to state law.

It would be laughable if it weren't so damned tragic.

Vivian Farrell
President
The Fund for Horses

September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US

This article came out at the end of October, but the headline continues to horrify me. Still, it means the ownership of the three slaughterhouses in America is WELL aware of the battle cry we Fans of Barbaro are raising. Our voices need to continue to be heard...as we are dealing with a Senate that isn't dealing with a whole lot. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND SENATE LEADERSHIP. THANK THEM IF THEY ARE CO-SPONSORS. URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THE BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER IN AMERICA FOR OVERSEAS CONSUMPTION.

September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US

October 29, 2006

September closed out the bloodiest month for horses in the United States since 1995, as 11,166 were sent to slaughter at one of three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the US, a report by the US Humane Society has revealed.

September's record number brings the year's total to nearly 100,000, including horses slaughtered in the United States and those shipped to Mexico, Canada or Japan for slaughter, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures.

The 2006 weekly average of horses sent to slaughter is up to 2,178 � up 235 per week over 2005. During the last week of September alone, 2,225 horses were slaughtered.

The U.S. House of Representatives outlawed the slaughter of horses for human consumption Sept. 7 by a vote of 263-146. The bill, H.R. 503/S. 1915, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, is now in the Senate for a vote.

"The horse slaughter industry is racing to gather up and kill as many horses as possible � trying to squeeze out more profits before the Congress puts an end to their despicable business of butchering healthy American horses," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Americans must call on the Senate to act this year to put an end to the carnage produced by these foreign-owned companies."

Opponents of the legislation claim that slaughter is necessary to deal with the "unwanted" horse problem, saying most of the animals are old and infirm. But, according to the USDA, nine out of ten of horses slaughtered are healthy. Further evidence that no link exists between "unwanted horses" and slaughter is the fact that the industry continues to import horses from Canada for slaughter, including 2,773 horses so far this year and 298 in September alone.

The legislation was introduced by Representatives John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va) and by Senators John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), It has been assigned to the Senate Commerce Committee, led by Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), both cosponsors of the bill. Last year the Senate overwhelmingly approved an amendment to stop horse slaughter by a vote of 69-28.

Other data reported by the USDA:

• During the first nine months of 2006, 23,096 American horses were exported live for slaughter in Mexico, Canada or Japan.
• Exports to Canada and Mexico are up significantly over last year (46.3% and 20.2%, respectively) - with 6,411 live horses sent south and 16,547 transported north to be slaughtered, compared with 5,332 and 11,309 during the first nine months of 2005.
• Two of the deadliest weeks in the last decade occurred during September 2006 - the weeks ending September 2 (2,520) and September 16 (2,463).

In addition to a record-breaking month for horse slaughter, September saw two serious vehicular accidents involving horses en route to slaughter. In Missouri, 41 horses and a mule were being transported to slaughter in Dekalb, Illinois, when the cattle truck in which they were being hauled crashed. Seven horses died when crushed by others and nine others had to be euthanized at the site because of the severity of their injuries.

In Texarkana, Arkansas, several horses were injured when a tire blew on the truck hauling them to slaughter in Fort Worth. The horses appeared to have suffered injuries from the accident or while fighting in the close quarters, according to news accounts.

Related stories:
Big push to congress for horse slaughter ban 7.12.06
Barbaro has helped many other horses 30.11.06
Willie Nelson adopts 11 horses 8.11.06
September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US 29.10.06
Horse slaughter bill stalls in US 24.9.06
Horse slaughter ban makes progress 8.9.06
Willie Nelson joins anti horse-slaughter movement 24.8.06
Bill to end US horse slaughter in trouble 2.8.06
US bill could end horse slaughter trade 28.7.06
Wild horse round-up challenged 18.5.06
Second chance for slaughter horses 7.5.06
Ford lends hand to wild mustangs 8.4.06
Horse slaughter plants find loophole, continue operation 14.2.06

This article reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States.

All content © Horsetalk

A Visit to Save a Horse Stable in Pennsylvania

Good Morning Friends,

Earlier this week I posted a blog about Save a Horse Stable (www.saveahorsestable.net). I've been in communication with Angie, daughter of Darlene, who started this stable over 25 years ago. As you will read, this wonderful home to throw-away horses has fallen on tough financial times. I want to bring it to your attention, and just maybe, you'll be as moved as I am by their compelling story. While my husband and I don't have a lot, I took some of my Christmas money and sent it to them. Will you consider doing the same?

Save A Horse Stable is located in southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm a good four hours (maybe more) away, so I have yet to visit, although Angie has extended a warm and open invitation to anyone who wants to come and see their horses. As she said, she enjoys seeing people enjoying and loving her horses as much as she loves them herself.

I found out about this rescue from contacts on the Tim Wooley racing site (www.timwooleyracing.com)where I receive my daily updates on Barbaro's continuing recovery. Many thanks are due to Tim Wooley, who allows Alex Brown to administer his web site and therefore allows all of us to be informed about Barbaro and other horse issues. I encourage you to visit their site as well. And may I tell you, without Alex Brown, the Fans of Barbaro would not be as organized and galvanized in their support of the horse slaughter ban bill currently languishing in the Senate. We owe ALEX everything.

I also want to thank Colleen Nelson, the journalist who wrote the excellent article about Save a Horse in my earlier blog, also confirming that this stable and it's owners are good people taking good care of their horses.

Senika, who visited the Save a Horse Stable very recently posted her comments on the TWR forum and with her kind permission, as well as Angie's, I am reposting her statements here.

Thank you Senika. Thank you Angie. Thank you Darlene. Thank you Colleen. Thank you Tim and Alex.

And thank you Barbaro, who we thought came to be a great racing champion. Little did we know he had much higher aspirations...he came to change the world and make it a better place for all horses.

And now, let me introduce you to Senika and Angie!




From: senika Nov-30 11:48 pm
To: ALL
2875.1

Hi Everyone,

As promised here is my report of my wonderful visit to Save A Horse in Rogersville, Pa. What a great day!

Our visit had a somber note cast upon it when we drove past the Waynesburg Livestock Auction house about 3 miles from Darlene Moore's Save A Horse Stable. Empty horse and livestock trailers as well as semi's that were waiting, attested to the grim reality that was going on inside. Apparently the auction was being held today. I am sad to report there were many horse trailers there, but I fear to unload horses and not to purchase.

As we pulled the truck in, Angie was waiting with her dogs. We got the flat ground tour of the barn and stalls and met 2 old mares in there who had just had their hooves done that very day and were resting. They were still a little sore so they were going to be stall bound for the day. The barn was clean and airy and the stalls were roomy and well equipped with hay cages, feed and water buckets. It was very well kept.

We moved on and Angie drove us to the top of the upper pasture and we parked. The view was wonderful, but where were the horses??? She said, they'll be here and she called and whistled. A few minutes passed and no horses. All of a sudden a small stampede of about 30 horses are rushing towards us. All shapes and sizes and colors. I can't tell you the feeling of standing in that field and having all these gorgeous horses rushing up to us. It was amazing! Angie started introducing us to each one and imparting his or her story. There was old Nick the Appy who was almost completely blind and following the sound of the others hooves. And Nightmare who has such severe seasonal allergies she has to have monthly shots all through the warm months. And the beautiful Arabian mare a lady in Pittsburgh left to starve to death. And Lucky, who is well, just Lucky. We liked him-we think he'll be coming home to Sarver, Pa. with us. We liked them all. Even the homeliest of the bunch, a white mare, was beautful and pitiful in her own way. Angie told me Darlene got her at the auction before the meat man. Those eyes just pleaded for help to safety. Of course they didn't say no. There are so many more stories each one has to tell. And so many of them have had a really rough life before they came there to live. A large portion were saved from killer buyers at the auction. Some were abused and even though they have been there a while they still have some trust issues. But not with Angie. They see Angie and they are OK.

Their horses are well taken care of, hooves in good condition and healthy and fat these horses are. They were enjoying the hay a nice man from about 100 miles away drove in to bring to help out. That's what neighbors are for-even if they are 100 miles away.

But there are a ton of expenses to care for these horses and as we all were made aware of last week, Darlene and Angie have fallen on a little patch of rough road here the last year or so. I can assure anyone who has any doubts at all, that these women are devoted to these horses and have made great personal sacrifices to care for them and to keep them. I felt the emotion of Angie just being with them and stroking them. These horses are her life - she has been raised with a lot of them. They are like family.

These people are hard working people struggling to make it. They don't have fancy houses and fancy cars. They have neat, clean homes and the vehicles they have serve a multitude of purposes. Angie drives a 4 wheel drive truck with a manual transmission that serves as taxi, hay and feed hauler, and 4 wheeler to get her into the upper field where the horses forage. The emergency brake quit working a while ago - it hasn't been fixed. The horses come first.

Angie took us into Waynesburg to meet her mom Darlene, who is the woman who started it all over 25 years ago. While we waited for her we looked around at the great things the feed store sells and the prices. The prices were fantastic-at least 30% lower than the area we live in- for everything, feed, tack, whatever. I couldn't believe the price of a beautiful leather bridle that sells for over 46.00 where I live and was only 22.00 there. So any of you who may want to donate to the feed store to put on Darlene's account, know that they are getting a lot of bang for the buck. We were introduced to some of the people at the feed store and in particular, the one woman who handled my gift certificate, had nothing but the highest praise for both Darlene and Angie. She spoke so highly of Darlene, and these were not coached words, these were words of people who have known her for years and years and know what these people are made of. Words of honesty and admiration for the both of them straight from the heart. Darlene is everything I knew she would be and much younger than I thought. She told me how tough it has been juggling between credit cards when the horses need things. But they do what they have to. Except sometimes the well is running dry and the overhead is more than what's coming in. Like now.

Angie has put a Paypal link on their website and the funds will go directly in for them to use at the feedstore. Donations of feed hay from anyone local will be greatly appreciated. It takes a lot of hay to feed these guys and it is in short supply right now. If I had even one half of one percent doubt about these ladies last week, which I did not ,by the way, it certainly would have been dispelled today. But as I said, I was with them all along. Sometimes you can just tell when someone has a pure heart-you don't need a tax exemption to prove anything. At least not to me. I consider myself helping a friend and neighbor in need. I hope you can consider it that way too.

There are some photos I posted of our visit and the horses. I hope they came out because I am no whiz at that. Enjoy. I am re-posting their website and the address of the feed store again for anyone able or willing to help. The feed store can only do regular mail in checks or money order donations-they are not set up to do credit cards over the phone.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped. I know they appreciate it more than you can know. I will be in touch with them on a regular basis now that I will be getting 2 horses from them.

Warmest regards,

Senika

http://saveahorsestable.net/default.aspx

Waynesburg Milling Co OFC
387 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
(724) 627-6137

Attention: Janice Blair-Martin, office manager

Barbaro Has Helped Many Other Horses

Barbaro has helped many other horses

November 30, 2006
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0611/070.shtml

Over the past six months the name Barbaro has come to mean more than just one horse recovering from raceday injuries. But his misfortune has spun off into several positive moves within the equine and racing industries.

One is the highlighting if the need for more knowledge about the killer disease laminitis; the need for improved racing surfaces to make it safer for gallopers; and the horse slaughter issue. As Barbaro's co-owner Roy Jackson said: "We have an obligation. We are their keepers." And there's the Barbaro Fund, which was established to improve services and equipment at the New Bolton Centre, where Barbaro is recovering. As well as that Pennsylvania's governor gave $US13.5 million to the New Bolton Centre.

Barbaro continues to improve following the removal of his right hind leg cast on November 6, according to his medical team.

"Barbaro is steadily gaining strength on his right hind limb now that it is out of the cast," said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery.

"He is only wearing a very light cotton bandage on that leg and both walks and stands well on it."

Barbaro's lower right hind leg had been in a cast since surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital following his accident at the Preakness on May 20.

"Radiographs of his fractured lower limb were taken yesterday and look excellent," said Dr. Richardson.

Barbaro's left hind foot, which had laminitis, continues to improve.

"The left hind foot is improving gradually and has a long way to go although his comfort on that foot remains surprisingly good," said Dr. Richardson.

"Barbaro's attitude and appetite remain excellent, and he still takes short walks outside to graze each day if the weather permits."

He is the grateful recipient of cut grass from his owner Gretchen Jackson, who visits often, says Alex Brown, of Tim Woolley racing. The site's online updates on Barbaro ontinue to be hugely popular, and its readers call themselves "Friends of Barbaro" - FOBs. Associated Content wrote that: "This band of fervent animal lovers has become a force to reckon with as far as mobilizing the public and elected officials regarding animal-friendly issues such as recent anti-horse slaughter legislation. And the horrific and highly-publicized injuries of Barbaro and dozens of other thoroughbreds recently have led track owners to consider using new, improved materials such as Polytrack."

And on the racing blog, Pulling Hair and Betting Horses, Barbaro is being touted as a Sportsman of the Year candidate:

"The point is that Barbaro had a much larger affect on our sport than his races indicate. It was in his injury and recovery that the nation has gone wild about Barbaro: He receives more fan mail than a lot of other sports 'heroes', in his name the UPenn Vet School has raised thousands of dollars, his owners have been championed wherever they go.

"And finally, his lasting effect is that any track that switches to a synthetic surface could also be known as 'a track that Barbaro built.' I don't think it's any coincidence that we're seeing more tracks switch to a synthetic surface. True, California was already in the works, but a surface switch is now being championed by anyone attached to racing, or hoping to be attached to racing. In fact, let me rephrase, I don't think it's any coincidence that track surface switches are becoming front page news. It's no surprise that these discussions are front page news (in racing media) because people care."





Jockey Edgar Prado and Dr Dean Richardson with Barbaro. Prado made his fourth visit to see Barbaro last week, as reported by Alex Brown of Tim Woolley racing. "It's six months since the Preakness, six months of recovery, and Barbaro had a special visitor this morning ... Edgar Prado. Edgar noted Barbaro had put on a little weight (since his last visit), had a bright eye, and was actually trying to bite him a little! Edgar then waited around to meet with Mrs. Jackson, who visited Barbaro with cut grass. Barbaro was more tranquil during that visit (according to Edgar). I actually drove over to New Bolton to meet Edgar. He was with his wife Lillian and son Luis. He was very relaxed and happy to see Barbaro."