Horse Rescues - Out of the Slaughter Pens

[Prairie Fleur]

It's just a sickening practice. I would still hate it but it would help so much if they died swiftly and painlessly. kudos and many thanks to all who have rescued in the past. What's so heartbreaking is that a new truckload of horses comes in every couple days and rescue organizations and individuals only have a couple days to raise the money and get them out. For every horse that gets out there's many more that never had a chance.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

What do you think the main problem is? Do you think people are breeding irresponsibly/too much or is it something else?

 

[Prairie Fleur]

I think there's a whole lot of uninformed people out there that don't realize what effects their actions are having. I don't have a problem with breeding if they want the foal themselves or they have a carefully managed breeding program and they take lifetime responsibility for the animals born on their farm. Unfortunately, Many people feel like they're responsible for the animals as long as they own it and have it on their property and if they sell it and someone else sells it to a kill buyer, well, it wasn't their fault. The sad thing is, I know there's people out there who would give an arm to own a horse, figuratively speaking, and give it a fantastic home and never let it go to an auction or kill buyer but they can't afford it. I just rescued Rantles (the name he was given at the kill pens; I plan to change it) and I've dreamed of this for years and years. I didn't know about the kill pens until recently but it's become a passion to help as many as I can whether they stay with me or I find them good homes after micro chipping them. There are so many quality well trained horses that go thru those pens that I can't help but be convinced that many people have no idea what actually happened to their horse after they sold it. Selfishness is always part of the equation too. They aren't willing to keep the animal until they find a good home privately or give it to rescue and they want to recoup some of their money and the auction is the place to do that, they think.. Sadly most of them sell for a song to a kill buyer.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

This is Rantles. Edited to add another pic. He's not home yet, but I'll post more pics as soon as I get them. He's moon blind in one eye and has cancer in the other. I'm hoping we can take care of the cancer and save at least that much of his vision.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

What do you think is the problem and the best way to help?

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Here's some pics of Rantles shortly after arriving at a friends ranch for quarantine. Poor boy has been starved and need a substantial amount of vet work, tubal deworming so he doesn't get impacted and possibly his teeth floated.

 

[enola]

The economy is one of the main reasons horses have become so disposable. Horses are not cheap to own and care for. When someone has to make the decision to buy food for the family or feed for the horse, the horse will lose everytime.

In an earlier thread someone asked what horse meat is used for. In Europe, horse meat is a delicacy. Horses are actually raised for the meat market in the European nations.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

I wouldn't like it but I could live with horses being used for meat if their deaths were swift and humane and they lived peaceful healthy lives. What kills me about the Mexican slaughter yards is how brutal they are and the sickening way they kill the horses.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

In my own personal opinion a bullet would be far more humane than subjecting any animal, much less a beloved horse to the terrors of shipping to Mexico and the brutal death they die. Many rescue organizations and individuals would be delighted to take in the horses before they ever go to public auction. Unfortunately many people don't understand what actually happens at most of the auctions and where their horses go.
I agree that the U.S. Needs to have their own slaughter yards where it's done humanely but again, like you say, that's highly unlikely to happen.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Why is a slaughter house even needed? As you said a bullet would be much easier and less stressful on the animal. A skilled person could probably even dispatch a horse in the same way as is often done with cattle, goats, sheep, etc. just with a knife. It could be done right in the barn or field where the animal lived, no need to transport anywhere. Actually- is there any reason people don't have a vet euthanize them? Personally I'd prefer one of the other two options since I don't think it's good to use unnecessary medications (especially since the horse has a high chance of being consumed by other animals) but why is that? Is the amount of medication needed to put a horse down too expensive to afford or something?

If farms went back to using horses instead of tractors a lot of these nice horses would have homes. I saw on the news there is a garbage disposal service that uses a truck carried by draft horses. So we need to give the horses jobs too.