Equine Slaughter
Humane Society of the United States
Official Position
At a press conference in Washington January 21, 503/S. 727) was introduced by House Judiciary Com-
2010, representatives from The Humane Society of the mittee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., Rep.
United States, members of Congress, celebrities, and Dan Burton, R-Ind., Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and
representatives from agriculture and the horse Sen. John Ensign,
industry showed their support of the Preven- R-Nev., to prevent
tion of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727), a
Individuals who own
any horses from
federal bill to prohibit the trafficking in horses
for slaughter for human consumption in the
horses must take
being slaughtered
here in the United
United States and the export of horses for this
responsibility for the
States and to spare
purpose. horses from be-
proper care of their ing transported
The group also called attention to the Bureau
of Land Management’s cruel and unnecessary
horses.
over the border to
foreign slaughter
wild horse roundups, calling on BLM to place plants. The legisla-
a moratorium on these roundups until it has a tion has garnered
plan in place for contraception and release or adoption large, bipartisan co-sponsor lists in both the House
of these horses. and Senate and is poised for action. In 2009, more than
90,000 American horses were exported for slaughter—
Actresses Kelly Carl- the majority shipped in long-distance transport to
son and Wendie Mal- Mexico.
ick, both horse lovers
and supporters of The While there are currently no operational horse slaugh-
HSUS, spoke passion- ter plants in the United States, tens of thousands of
ately about their love of healthy, young American horses are still being trucked
horses and their desire thousands of miles without food, water or rest to plants
for both slaughter and across the border into Mexico and Canada.
roundups to cease.
Quoting Henry David Documentation uncovered by horse welfare advocates
Thoreau, Malick said, demonstrates that the plants in the United States were
“We need the tonic of equally inhumane and riddled with tremendous abuse.
wildness.” There is no humane way to slaughter horses for human
consumption, and Americans are horrified to find out
In addition to Carlson that all kinds of American horses—former show horses,
and Malick, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., lead sponsor race horses, lesson ponies, even wild horses and heav-
of S. 727; Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., co-sponsor of H.R. ily pregnant mares—meet this fate.
503; John Boyd, president of the National Black Farm-
ers Association; Alex Brown, racing industry expert; Individuals who own horses must take responsibility
Keith Windwalker Wainwright, Maryland Coordinator for the proper care of their horses. If they cannot ful-
of the Longest Walk Northern Route 2008; Commis- fill their basic obligation to provide lifetime care, then
sioner Red Deer, Deer Clan representative, Maryland their options include adoption to new families, place-
commission on Indian Affairs; and Ron Kagan, direc- ment in equine sanctuaries or humane euthanasia.
tor of the Detroit Zoological Society, all expressed their “Horse slaughter is cruel, and is by no means humane:
support of The HSUS’ efforts. Horses suffer immensely while being transported in
cramped carriers to foreign slaughterhouses, and, when
Landrieu said, “America’s horses are being beaten and they arrive, meet a grisly death unfit for these loyal and
dragged across the border into Mexico and Canada so noble creatures,” said Wayne Pacelle, The HSUS’ presi-
that they can be inhumanely slaughtered for food. I will dent and CEO.
continue to fight in Congress to end this brutal practice
and ensure that American horses will no longer be sav- Ask your U.S. Representative and Senators and to sup-
agely slaughtered for human consumption.” port The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S.
“America’s horses are symbolic of the great freedoms 727). It will ban the barbaric killing of American horses
this nation offers,” Whitfield said. for human consumption, including the export of horses
across our borders for slaughter.
The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 (H.R.
www.equineconnection.org- the website for global equine stewardship - Equine•Connections
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