This comprehensive body of work produced by equine advocate Linda Horn arose as a result of commentary by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who stated that Congress should come up with a better solution for unwanted horses. Instead of slaughtering non-food animals for human consumption, he said that there needs to be a “a third way” to deal with horse problems instead of killing. When Congress lifted the ban on horse slaughter for human consumption, five pending applications were filed. The USDA preferred that the ban be renewed instead.
Of course, Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, appealed to Vilsack calling on the USDA to deny permit applications for horse slaughter facilities, citing concerns with the cost and safety of the practice. His letter highlighted the negative economic impact that horse slaughter could have on the meat industry, after the EU discovered that horsemeat had made its way into the beef supply. In the month following media reports of horsemeat laced products, sales of burgers and other meat products collapsed by as much as 40 percent.
“Horses are not raised as food animals and are routinely given substances that are banned by the FDA from administration to animals destined for human consumption. At a time when USDA’s budget is diminished by budget cuts and sequestration…every dollar spent at horse slaughter plants would divert necessary resources away from beef, chicken, and pork inspections – meat actually consumed by Americans. While I work to restore this ban, I strongly urge you to exercise all available options to prevent the resumption of this industry.”
Now that Congress’ latest 2014 budget bill has blocked the resumption of horse slaughter in the U.S. by cutting funding for inspections of the process, Linda’s documentation of alternatives to slaughter, emphasis on humane euthanasia, and alternatives for post-mortem disposal options in the United States is more important than ever.
The vast majority of pro-slaughter promoters will never accept that this is the decline and fall of horse slaughter. Slaughterhouse Sue is still flagellating her troops into believing that they have lots of options moving forward. But Linda has shown that anti-slaughter resources do exist, and groups and organizations in other states could be mobilized out of necessity. Inventiveness and ingenuity are stimulated by difficulty, as we are reminded by the well-known proverb “necessity is the mother of invention,” often ascribed to Greek philosopher Plato.
Compiled by Linda Horn – PDF version available here
USDA Secretary Vilsack’s “Third Way” can address the current horse situation better than slaughter. The vast majority of horses who end up at the borders come from somewhere else. To be successful, the situation must be addressed at the source. Several states already have solutions in place. When all states set up their own programs there will be positive, long-lasting progress nationwide.
I hope Members of Congress, state and local legislators will endorse and promote this document. We intend to fund it privately, with no contributions from government budgets.
Here are a few examples of existing programs. There are many, many more.
STATE PROGRAMS – A GOOD EXAMPLE
New Mexico Equine Protection Fund.
If every state set up something like this – with each handling its own excess population – it would go a long way toward solving the dilemma.
http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/
Information about other state programs is available online.
CRISIS INTERVENTION
American Humane Association – Red Star Program – Disaster Relief
Help for the Leachman Horses. They helped with several other rescues involving horses
American Humane Association Second Chance Fund
http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/programs/shelter-services/second-chance-fund/
HAY BANKS
Grants and Other Support
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/nutrition/hay/horse_hay_bank_resources_061410/
ASPCA “Hay It Forward”
http://www.aspca.org/get-involved/horses/aspca-hay-it-forward-project
UHC Partners with ACTHA to Help Unwanted Horses
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31295/uhc-partners-with-actha-to-help-unwanted-horses
Stamp Out Starvation of Horses – Georgia
http://www.sosofhorses.com/SOS_Of_Horses/Welcome.html
Equine Safety Net – Kentucky Horse Council
http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/safety-net/
Oregon Hay Bank
Sound Equine Options – NW Oregon & SW Washington State
http://www.soundequineoptions.org/programs/temporary-feed-assistance
BITS – Back In The Saddle Project – California – Butte, Glen & Yuba Counties
http://backinthesaddleproject.com/haybank.html
HAY PRODUCTION
The USDA could provide subsidies to grow horse hay and establish a National Hay Registry that publishes hay available in each state.
GRANTS
The ASPCA Provided $1.8 Million in Grants to Equine Groups in 2012
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31259/aspca-provided-1-8-million-in-grants-to-equine-groups-in-2012
TRAINING & SHOWCASING RESCUED AND SECOND CAREER HORSES
The Penn National Racetrack Model
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/76860/penn-national-working-for-horse-adoption
UHC Member Addresses Rescue and Adoption: Rags to Riches Rescue Competition
http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/?id=5&s=4&story=110
‘Thoroughbreds for All” Event to be Held April 26
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/thoroughbreds-for-all-event-to-be-held-april-26/
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RESCUES
State legislatures have the ability to create tax checkoffs to help rescues at no cost to taxpayers. It won’t solve the problem, but every little bit helps.
Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance Tax Checkoff Information
http://www.counwantedhorse.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=160
In 2013, the New Mexico legislature passed a check off bill as well.
“THANK YOU to the New Mexico House for passing SB274 on a 62-0 vote! Sen George Munoz’s bill will create a tax check off to help fund licensed horse shelters to help more abused, abandoned, and neglected equines in New Mexico without raising taxes! Having passed the Senate, the bill awaits a signature from Governor Martinez to become law. SO MANY people came forward to support this bill.”
This is the Fact Sheet. The Text of the Bill is available online.
http://apvnm.org/legislation/2013/Horse%20Shelter%20Rescue%20Fund%20Factsheet-1-26-13.pdf
GELDING CLINICS & GELDING VOUCHERS
National Equine Resource Network (NERN)
NERN’s goal is to help set up clinics nation-wide based on their model.
http://www.nationalequine.org/
The Unwanted Horse Coalition
http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/?id=7&s=8
New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher
http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/
Horse Plus Humane Society – California – Monthly Clinics Low-cost clinics
http://www.horsehumane.org/gelding.htm
BITS – Back In The Saddle Project SNIP – California
http://backinthesaddleproject.com/SNIPS.html
FERTILITY CONTROL FOR MARES
PZP – Information from The Science and Conservation Center, ZooMontana
EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE
Sound Equine Options – NW Oregon & SW Washington State
http://www.soundequineoptions.org/
NETWORKING TO RESCUE HORSES
A Home for Every Horse
http://www.equisearch.com/a-home-for-every-horse/
A Home for Every Horse – Participating Rescues
HSUS Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network
CANTER
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31448/canter-transitions-1-000-ex-racehorses-in-2012
There are so many Facebook groups that successfully network to re-home horses in need and help owners in difficulty it would be almost impossible to list them all here.
TRANSPORT FOR RESCUED HORSES
Reasonable transport is one of the biggest challenges to those rescuing horses.
The following Facebook groups and others are helping meet that challenge:
Fleet of Angels
Horse Rescue Transport Network
https://www.facebook.com/HorseRescueTransportNetwork
Rescue Rangers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rescuerangers/?ref=ts&fref=ts
uShip Highways to Help. Rescue horse information is at the bottom.
http://about.uship.com/highway-to-help/
EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY
Articles About the Value of Programs to Individuals and the Community
Grants Fund Research on Equine-Assisted Therapy and Veterans
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29767/grants-fund-research-on-equine-assisted-therapy-and-veterans
Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Healing Therapy or Just Hype?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/equine-assisted-psychotherapy-healing-therapy-or-just-hype/all/1
Horse therapy helps youth deal with life issues
http://www.hpj.com/archives/2009/feb09/feb16/Horsetherapyhelpsyouthdealw.cfm
A few of many Equine-assisted Therapy Programs:
Many of the horses are donated by those who can no longer care for them.
Equine-assisted therapy for military veterans and families – General information and links to programs
http://www.examiner.com/article/equine-assisted-therapy-for-military-veterans-and-families
Mini Horses as Therapists for Children
Equine Psychotherapy Associations
http://www.equine-psychotherapy.com/therapy-associations.html
EGALA
Care for the Troops
http://www.careforthetroops.org/about_equineassistedactivities.php
Equine Assisted Therapy – St. Louis
Equine Partners Unlimited – Ohio
http://www.equine-partners.org/
Back in the Saddle Project
http://backinthesaddleproject.com/index.html
Horse Plus Humane Society – California
http://www.horsehumane.org/programs.htm
Medicine Horse Program – Colorado
http://www.medicinehorse.org/vets.html
RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
HSUS Responsible Horse Breeders Council – 800 breeders had signed on as of January 2013.
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31238/responsible-horse-breeders-council-formed
TRULY HUMANE CHEMICAL EUTHANASIA
HSUS Humane Horse Remains Disposal – by State
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/horses/facts/humane_horse_remains_disposal.html
New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher System
http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/
Horse Plus Humane Society – California
http://www.horsehumane.org/eclinic.htm
BITS – Back In The Saddle Project – California
http://backinthesaddleproject.com/euthclinic.html
DISPOSAL SERVICES
HSUS Humane Horse Remains Disposal – by State
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/horses/facts/humane_horse_remains_disposal.html
New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher System
http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/
DISPOSAL – RENDERING
National Renderers Association Members
http://cdn.harmonyapp.com/assets/51004fea30413252d4000482/NRA2012Directory.pdf
DISPOSAL – BIODIGESTION – THE WAY OF THE FUTURE
Biodigestion holds promise for equine disposal. This option should satisfy those who argue the primary way equines can be beneficial to humans after death is as food. The technology is already being used for disposal of diseased livestock, chemically euthanized dogs and cats, and animals killed on roadways. Biodigesters can handle many types of biologic materials, including manure. In addition to a number of other useful by-products, units can be set up to generate electricity from the produced methane. The USDA has issued a number of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants for both research and building plants. Much more information is available online.
USDA Secretary Vilsack’s Column: Energy Efficiency and the Food, Farm and Jobs Bill
http://blogs.usda.gov/tag/anaerobic-digester/#sthash.XNNNl4re.dpuf
USDA Funded Digester Reduces Pollution, Powers 1,500 Michigan Homes
http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/10/12/usda-funded-digester-reduces-pollution-powers-1500-michigan-homes/
Five good reasons to implement a biogas plant on your farm
MORTALITY COMPOSTING
Should I Consider Composting A Horse Carcass?
http://www.alphahorse.com/composting-a-horse-carcass.html
How To Compost A Dead Horse
http://www.alphahorse.com/compost-a-dead-horse.html
Composting A Dead Horse: The Process
http://www.alphahorse.com/composting-a-dead-horse.html
As you can see, there are many alternative to horse slaughter in the U.S. Sadly, it’s doubtful many will be explored or implemented if irresponsible horse owners continue to have the option of discarding their animals at will. Only Congress has the power to protect our food exports and save our horses, and the best way is to bring the SAFE Act to the floor for a vote. Thanks for your time and consideration.
Thanks, Heather! Very well written.
D
There is the proof that there are ways to help the horse, and not have it end up in a slaughter house.It is assumed that mankind has advanced in thought and deed,certainly where the horse is concerned. That there are useful, and creative ways in which to place this creature would have a positive and good impact to all concerned. It would indeed be beneficial for the horse, and create new respect and a new life for such a noble animal!
Heather,
Thanks for your thoughts and re-posting LInda’s collection of important alternatives to horse slaughter. I will be sure to share this post with my local horse owners in central NH and through industry FB friends. Kv2
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I would join a hay co-operative for horses. At the time of harvesting I would be happy to set aside a certain # to be used for rescued horses. A hay bank for horses. As usual an informative article…thanks Heather. And a Shout out to Linda for all her hard work.
Reblogged this on Comedyflyer's Blog and commented:
As always …a very informative article.
Thank You for all this very important article, that shows us all what can be done, to better our Equine Industry… I WILL be sending this to all I can think of, and let’s see if some can come up with an excuse again as to why we need horse slaughter….. LOVE THIS ……. 🙂
Excellent post! As we have been saying all along, there are many alternatives to slaughter. They just don’t pay as well. But no one can say they don’t exist anymore.
As I’m sure you know by now, Slaughterhouse Sue has left this mortal world and taken her place, er, wherever. Must have eaten too many bute-ridden horses.
I assume our horses are still being shipped to Mexico and Canada, but I’ve heard nothing about specific numbers. The EU needs to get it in gear and STOP accepting US horses like they said they would. It’s not like they don’t know there’s a problem after all.
This is an outstanding resource for anyone involved in the horse community! It should be posted in barns everywhere, at racetracks and rescues, at tack shops and feed stores, at Pony Club and 4-H meetings and horse show concession stands, at clinics and expositions. Huge THANK YOU to Linda Horn for her work compiling such an extensive list, and to Heather Clemenceau for sharing it.
I am betting Linda has plans to expand upon it too. 🙂
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