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Horse rescue operations stretched to limit

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By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 - 12:52:53 am CDT

Kathy Anderson remembers the call she got from a Nebraska woman who needed to reduce the number of horses on her ranch.

She couldn’t break even by taking them to auction because of the depressed horse market.

Vets charge for euthanizing the animals, and horse rescue operations are full.

Story Photo
Kristy Heidorn bought Sammy, a yearling colt, for $50 at a slaughter auction at the end of April. Sammy is awaiting umbilical hernia surgery, although Heidorn says it may not be needed in another two months. (Robert Becker)

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Getting rid of horses no easy task

“What am I supposed to do? Shoot them and leave them with the dead cattle?” the frustrated woman asked Anderson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln associate professor of animal science.

The rising cost of feeding horses — coupled with the closing of the last horse slaughter operations in the United States — have led to an increase in the number of unwanted horses nationally and in Nebraska.

“It’s the perfect storm,” said Tom Lenz, a Kansas City-area veterinarian and chairman of the national Unwanted Horse Coalition.

There are stories of horses being released in state parks, left to wander highways or tied to trees and abandoned.

That hasn’t happened yet in Nebraska.

But there is evidence of the growing number of unwanted horses in this region.

More owners are trying to donate horses to UNL, which uses them in teaching, Anderson said.

“We’ve gotten a few calls from people who can’t afford to feed them anymore and are hoping to donate,” she said.

The most colorful regional story comes from Lenz about a friend of his who took cattle to a sale barn, stayed for a while — and found three abandoned horses in his trailer.

And there appears to be an increase in neglect cases in Nebraska, although there are no statistics to back up the anecdotal tales.

“In the past year, we have had more horses come through our doors than any year I can remember,” said Kristi Biodrowski, lead cruelty investigator for the Nebraska Humane Society.

But the society doesn’t accept unwanted horses as it does dogs and cats, Biodrowski said.

Lancaster County hasn’t seen abuse or neglect cases in several years, but Jeff Wild of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture noticed more calls than normal last winter about horse abuse and neglect across the state.

Those cases are turned over to local sheriffs, he said.

Nebraska’s horse rescue operations are seeing an increase in calls as well.

“I’ve been inundated. I’ve probably turned away 80 since the first of the year,” said Lin Beaune, who operates EPONA horse rescue and sanctuary north of Kearney.

The problem in Nebraska is primarily backyard breeders who no longer can make money on horses because of rising costs, she and other rescue operators said.

“I had a call today from a man who wanted to get rid of three or four horses because he can’t afford them,” she said. “It’s terrible. It’s a crisis.”

Opinions differ on the effect of closing U.S. slaughterhouses, the result of pressure from animal rights advocates.

One side blames closing the slaughterhouses for pushing down prices of horses and hopes to undo the ban on slaughtering in the United States.

The other believes the economy is to blame and hopes to expand the ban.

Many equine vets, breeders and others blame at least part of the increase in unwanted horses on the loss of the slaughterhouses, the last of which closed in 2007.

“It’s one of the dumbest things they did,” said State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes.

Horses still are bought at auction for slaughter in Canada and Mexico, but the price for low-end animals has dropped.

There’s no bottom to the market, said Mike Black, veterinarian with the Nebraska Equine Veterinary Clinic in Omaha.

“You can buy a horse for $10 at a horse auction,” he said.

So some breeders are trying to get rid of extra horses, and others have gone out of business.

But animal rights groups say overbreeding and rising food and fuel costs are the real culprits.

“It has nothing to do with the slaughter plants,” said Val Hinderlider, who operates Break Heart Ranch, a Nebraska rescue service. “I think that is propaganda. It’s the economy laying waste to our horses right now. The economy and the overbreeding.”

Nancy Perry, vice president of government affairs for the Humane Society of the United States, said nearly as many horses are going to slaughter, but now they’re going to Mexico and Canada.

And the number of horses bound for slaughter always has been low. About 950,000 die each year in the United States. That’s about 10 percent of the population. About 100,000 go to slaughter, Perry said.

The national society is eager to stop exporting, she said.

Most owners who take a horse to an auction wouldn’t tolerate abuse, Perry said. But sending a horse to auction is convenient. And owners don’t have to think about the possibility of what will happen to the horse, she said.

Perry and rescue operation owners said death at a Mexican slaughterhouse is worse than at the former U.S. operations.

Hinderlider said there’s no food or water on the trip to Mexico, and the killing is particularly inhumane.

“I’d shoot my horses before I’d let them go to a death like that,” she said.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.


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Horse poor wrote on July 22, 2008 8:14 am:
" While we love out horses like family, they are a luxury item. If you are not willing to make financial sacrifices to feed and care for the horses properly, then you shouldn’t have acquired them. I probably spend more on my horses than most people spend on other types of luxury hobbies. Last week I paid $165 to have the 5 horses feet trimmed (no shoes involved); hay prices are up as well. Two are retired and do nothing but stand around, look pretty and cost money – but they earned a retirement, not a trip to the Mexican slaughterhouse! "

 connie wrote on July 22, 2008 8:16 am:
" Hang on to those horses. I predict a day, not too far off, when there'll be corrals rather than parking lots near work and business. A trained saddle horse will be worth some money! "

 Overbreeding is the problem wrote on July 22, 2008 8:20 am:
" This is time for our legislature to start preventing overbreeding. I see owners with WAy too many horse who do nothing but eat! They dont do anything to separate stallions from mares. Its those individuals who are causing this and ruining horses the same as dogs and cats. If we would give an incentive to vets to geld early it would prevent some of this. "

 MH wrote on July 22, 2008 8:22 am:
" I dont understand why people would want to take horses to slaughter. I train and show horses and yes you can buy a horse for $10 but think of it this way if more people would start using horses to go to the store or to work we wouldent use gas any more. why dont we just go back to the good ol days it would help the economy and enviorment, why spend 500,000,000 on figuring out smart cars. whats wrong with using horses and buggys. People need to use their horses not just let them sit. "

 Beth wrote on July 22, 2008 9:09 am:
" This article confirms what I've been saying for a long time.........there was a private little back yard industry of breeding for slaughter. Now that the profit margin was squeezed when the US slaughter houses for HUMAN CONSUMPTION have closed, the price of horses dropped. Maybe the frustrated women should go out an get a job now. "

 MH wrote on July 22, 2008 9:11 am:
" I agree with Connie with if you think about it even with hay up horses are still cheaper then cars and trucks to keep running I pay more in gas for my truck then I do for my horse in a month and he is very well feed I have a feeling when more people relize that the price of horses with go up and if farmers use horses to mow and bale hay will go down. the big problem is gas prices. "

 Missy Martin wrote on July 22, 2008 9:19 am:
" I agree that the slaughterhouse closings have nothing to do with the influx of unwanted horses. The kill buyers still buy and ship them to Canada and Mexico. The problem is with our economy. Hay and feed prices have gone up drastically. People that used to show frequently can no longer afford the gas to get places. This will get worse before it gets better unless our economy levels off. Gas has increased by 2 dollars in the last year, I don't know anyone that has received that much in a raise. Just do the math! "

 Unbelievable wrote on July 22, 2008 9:19 am:
" I continue to find it unbelievable that someone like Dennis Hughes, a state veterinarian, remains in the dark ages about slaughter being a "humane" way to dispose of unwanted horses. How hypocritical to profess to heal animals, yet support sending them on a double decker cattle trailer for 3-4 days w/out food or water, where many suffer and die before ever being unloaded where they face a horrific and slow death at the hands of humans. When I know kill buyers who no longer are willing to transport horses to slaughter due to the extreme conditions, I know the conditions MUST be bad. There is no excuse for anyone to justify this as a "necessary evil". When will owner responsibilty and prompt legal intervention & prosecution in cases of abuse, neglect, and starvation finally be seen as a critical piece of this slaughter puzzle? WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! "

 Kristy Heidorn wrote on July 22, 2008 9:22 am:
" We operate a horse shelter and we purchased Sammy (pictured in article) and his mother at the auction to keep him from going to kill. The only other person bidding was the kill buyer. We never know what horses will have private bidders trying to buy them and which ones will only attract the kill buyer. Since most of the money we spend on the horses comes from our own pockets vs. donations, we have to budget the same as any horse owner does when we help the horses. Sammy's mom is next in line for our training program, and Sammy's medical issues will be taken care of if he needs the hernia surgery. He'll also be castrated ~ we dont need to add to the problem ~ and he'll be trained when he's old enough. Our thought is that a trained horse is more likely to find an adoptive home than an untrained horse, so we do the best we can to get the training for them. I agree with those that posted comments about horses actually helping fix the economy and fuel crisis, too if we just use them more. We feed them, care for them, and have them trained when we have the funds to do so, and horse owners everywhere have to do the same thing. So, why not enjoy the horses and give them a job, too? If you want more information on horses that are available for adoption, or if you want to help out one of the rescues, go to any one of our websites for the rescues and our shelter that were quoted in this article. Kristy Heidorn ~ The Best Little Horse House in Hastings, Inc. "

 LUV HORSES wrote on July 22, 2008 9:33 am:
" I think we need to start a horse humane society. I know a lot of people who would love to have a horse, especially a tame one, like my grandkids and would feed them also but, of course, just one. But how about advertising in newspapers also, like the Journal - for free give aways etc. If a horse was trainable, could be ridden, etc.I would take one right now for free - $10.00 or even more. I know they cost, and would have to rebuild a barn but it would be worth it to see the kids' faces that haven't been able to have one that they have always wanted. Some day, yes, he would have to be put into retirement but hopefully not ever just left to starve. There are alternatives. "

 t wrote on July 22, 2008 9:35 am:
" I agree that people are breeding way too much - the "breeding to breed" mentality is not the way to go. Breeding to replace an older horse, etc would be fine. We have horses for both showing and pleasure and I would love to see the day where people start using horses as a means for transportation to help the economy, etc. Why spend all this money on these little cars that maybe 2 people can fit in, don't go good on highways, etc? There's plenty of horses out there and people in the past did just fine. "

 Be aware of the cost wrote on July 22, 2008 10:16 am:
" Now more than ever, the purchase price of a horse is the cheapest part of horse ownership. They are definitely a luxury item. You must factor in hay, grain if needed, vet care (routine & emergency), farrier services, etc. It is not unreasonable to spend $200 a month for these items. The horses that are selling for $10, may not be the kind of horse your family wants to own. They are often young & untrained, and professional training can run upwards of $500 per month. Please do not think that it is a great time to get into horses, unless you fully understand what you are getting into. In my experience, well-trained horses with a purpose in life are still bringing in the neighborhood of $1000 or more. "

 BUC wrote on July 22, 2008 10:51 am:
" If some of these so called rescues would stop purchasing horses at auction and keep room for REAL rescues (abuse, neglect, abandoment) they might not have to turn so many away ;) "

 Kelly wrote on July 22, 2008 11:01 am:
" There are no "unwanted" horses. There are irresponsible breeders and owners who allow their horses to be sent to auction when the going gets tough. "

 farm mom wrote on July 22, 2008 11:15 am:
" In this society we dispose of our children as easily as our pets-why would horses be any different? The economy is bad but our instant gratification society is equally to blame. It is the same with all animals-everyone wants a dog, a cat or a horse-right now. They don't stop to think that a horse may be a 20+year commitment. I wish I could adopt a horse but I know that right now I don't have the time to take care of it properly or the money. There will come a time when I will have both-and I won't care that I have to pay a premium price to add a member to my family. It's a shame our society is so inhumane to those deemed "dumb animals" "

 sale barn wrote on July 22, 2008 11:44 am:
" I think horse rescues should go to sale barns I have been at sale barns were horses were bought for slaughter the men had 20 horses that had never seen eachother before shoved in a stock trailer the horses could not even move but you could hear them squeeling and trying to kick at each other and to make it worse the men got a flat and took a extra 30 minutes to fix it with all 20 horses still in the trailer. I got my horses that day and I saved him from that fait he is now a winning barrel horse but I can ride him any where he does anything I ask of him and I can put 5yr olds on him and not worry he is a work horse.
also people buy horses just to show now its expensive to show and they want to sell their $40,000 western pleasure horse no one wants that, they have no use for it people need practical horses. I train horses for $20 a ride, I think if other trainers would lower their price and train horses practicaly for WORK the country would not have these usless horses that just sit in stalls until the next time they go in the ring. in the near future pedegree, bloodlines, and perfect comfermation wont matter what will matter is the mind of the horse, the personality, and the training not weather it has 100pts in halter that is why we have over breeding bcause people think pedegree make the horse want a secret it doesent I have riddent enough horses to relize non pedegred horses half the time have more heart and better minds. "

 t wrote on July 22, 2008 12:09 pm:
" We, along with neighbors, friends, rescue groups turned in a family that starved a horse to death and left it in their pasture - halter on - and they had one other horse that was still out in their so called "pasture" - which was nothing but weeds. The Sheriff's office came out numerous times as the one horse left alive kept getting out and was starving. It took over a year and a half to get the other horse out - that was so starved, neglected, beaten. We do not run a horse rescue, but saved this horse and then contacted a rescue - who did com eup and take him about 2 months after we got him and put many "groceries, etc" into him and he will find a good permanent home. I wish the law would actually step in and take care of those situations rather than just keep "warning" those people and never following through. i can commend rescues - they tried their hardest to help me save this animal - which I ended up doing, and then handing it over to the rescue.
Many changes need to be made - breeders, the law to help out abused/neglected horses, etc.
To the rescues out there - thank you! "

 Jen wrote on July 22, 2008 12:12 pm:
" Horses are livestock. Yes they are a luxury item. But they should not be so out of reach as a luxury item that only the upper class can own a good horse. If we hinder breeding by raising registration costs, then we are doing this. I own horses, I care for them and the old ones retire in pasture. But I do look at them as livestock. Mainly because of the cost to support one. I have a great relationship with my animals. I have seen to many poor quality animals (NOT DUMB) that can't be rode or shouldn't. Maybe there are a few that someone wants to adopt as a pet, but many of these have a place in slaughter. "

 KC wrote on July 22, 2008 12:23 pm:
" Did you ever think that maybe the rescues are buying these horses at auction to keep them from going to abusive situations?? "

 Horse OwnerFarmer wrote on July 22, 2008 12:42 pm:
" Maybe if the State of Nebraska would let us bale grass on the road ditches, we would have more hay available for feed. "

 Alpo Plant wrote on July 22, 2008 1:10 pm:
" I love horses too, been around them most of my life. Indeed, large animals ARE a luxury item, especially when you don't use them as beasts of burden. If you don't have high income, don't try to act like you do. In any case, you don't take on a horse of unknown bloodlines and health history, and then whine about not being able to afford the vet bills. In the trailer, drive to the Alpo plant in Crete. "

 eighteen wrote on July 22, 2008 1:26 pm:
" I love horses...they are delicious. Everyone's crying about the shortage of food in the U.S., bring back the slaughter! "

 sale barn wrote on July 22, 2008 1:28 pm:
" KC hit it on the nose like I said they are saving them from slaughter and stupid people that think horses are pets. And about registration and bloodlines I have seen registered good bloodlined horses( show horses) that were a danger to people other horses and themselves so like I said before, bloodlines dont matter registered horses are just like unregistered some are good some arnt. I depends on the people around the horse how it was raised an abused horse is going to take more work rehabilitating and training then a horse that wasent. I have trained/ retrained almost every type of horse, some abuse causes are from pure stupidity iv seen a horse ruined from it some one "cowboy broke" jumped on spures flying and sold the horse as broke after he broke his new owners wrists they called me it took me 3 weeks to get a saddle on this horse calmly but unfourtenitly his new owners sold him before I could finish his training but he was registered. "

 Kristy Heidorn wrote on July 22, 2008 1:34 pm:
" In response to this: BUC wrote on July 22, 2008 10:51 am:
" If some of these so called rescues would stop purchasing horses at auction and keep room for REAL rescues (abuse, neglect, abandoment) they might not have to turn so many away ;) "

I think all of the area horse advocate operations, be it a rescue or a shelter, do a little bit of everything where taking in horses is concerned. (i.e. accepting horses when they are called about neglect issues, purchasing from auction, etc.) If the phone is not ringing at a shelter / rescue operation, but there's space in your barn and finances to care for another horse and there's an upcoming sale, why not go up and watch the sale? And then why not help out a horse if its only other option is to be sold to a kill buyer? One of the differences between the two is how many steps away from death the horse is. I would not say that helping a horse in a bad situation by doing it one way is any better than doing it another way, or any more of a "real rescue" as long as the horse is honestly being helped. I think it is a matter of personal choice. A lot of people do not even know that horse rescue operations and shelters exist. So, when we first got involved in it, if I'd sat around and waited for the phone to ring, the 23 or so horses that we placed in our first year in adoptive homes would not be alive and being well cared for today. I cannot agree with BUC that those 23 horses were "so-called rescues". In those cases, the difference between those horses being on someone's dinner plate in Europe last year vs. being in a nice home was simply 1 cent per pound (they sell the horses by "cents per pound" at the auctions for those of you unfamiliar with the sale barns), and a horse advocate there to pay the price. "

 Jeff wrote on July 22, 2008 4:42 pm:
" The problem IS directly connected to the closing of slaughter houses around the U.S. More animals are now kept in inhumane situations where they are starving. More animals are loaded on trucks and hauled farther (to Canada and Mexico) than before. Closing slaughter houses in the U.S. has worsened the problem. Overbreeding is the root of the problem. But forcing the closure of slaughter houses in the U.S. has made it worse. "

 BUC wrote on July 22, 2008 6:23 pm:
" Kristy, I am sure you do disagree because you buy them at auction. The phones have NOT quit ringing at shelters, so please do not use that as any kind of excuse. EPONA even stated that they have turned away over 80 horses, yet they still purchase at auction too. You are saving NOTHING when you BUY horses at auction. For every horse "saved" another is slaughtered in it's place. All you are doing is contributing to the problem, not fixing it. Don't kid yourself. I also firmly believe shutting down the USA slaughter houses have created a lot more problems than good. The horse huggers should really be proud of themselves...... "

 Neil wrote on July 22, 2008 7:15 pm:
" Humane treatment should be extended to ALL animals, and, indeed, slaughter can be done in a humane way. Those of us who eat choose meat should never judge what goes on the dinner plates of others, nor should we put our personal attachment before the good of these animals, as a whole. A horse, cow, or pig that ends up on a dinner plate is far more humane than having that same animal end up in an abusive situation. Moreover, it is an efficient and respectful use of resources. "

 realistic wrote on July 22, 2008 9:07 pm:
" Overbreeding - That is the biggest problem we have here. Just because you have a mare and a stallion does not mean you have to breed them. That baby is going to cost money after it is born. If you yourself do not have a use for or plan to keep the baby then don't breed them. It is that simple!! Use that money that you would have put into that unwanted baby that you plan on taking to a sale barn if you can't sell it that adds to the slaughter problem, geld that stallion or train that mare to her full potential with that money and time. Use the horses we have.
Slaughter houses- Yes the closing of the slaughter houses has added to the problem. Val's right the horses now have to endure long cramped rides in a trailer with no food or water on their ride to "Hell" where they will be cruely and inhumanely slaughtered. Guess what you have done by closing the slaughter houses here. You have thrown our beloved horses to the wolves and you have nothing to say about it since it is no longer in our states. Those horses sent to that death do not have a voice any longer. And who is sticking their heads in the sand? If you think it is better to not have this option here then you better ask yourself if you really love your equines.
Euthanizing - Alot of vets hate this option and will opt out of doing it so most of the time it is not an option. Think about it. Put yourself in their shoes. They have to watch as we say goodbye to our friends and honestly euthanizing is not always a peaceful out. Equines can have a horendous reation to the shot. Vets do what they do because they have a love for animals and decided to do it professionally. Yes they are trained but if it were you could you get use to it? And the cost of euthanizing can be very expensive. There are zero to less than a few options for disposing of a horse once it has been euthanized and can be more costly. In some cases it could be cheaper to let the horse live.
Rescues- There are not enough of them to handle the demands of the unwanted horses. Rescues should be able to respectfully work together but that is just not how it is. You have rescues that should not have horses because they can't afford then so they rely on donations to support their horses but continue to take them in. If you can't afford them yourself do not take them in!! You are adding to the problem yourself and serve no purpose as a rescue. It is hard to turn them away but do it.
And yes we can also blame the economy but that explains itself. We all know it is horrible.
Getting pets without educating yourself and being willing to take on the commitment of that animal also adds to unwanted pets. Check out everything when you are planning on taking an animal in. "

 charise deMao wrote on July 22, 2008 10:32 pm:
" for those of you who love to use the "too many unwanted horses -now that slaugterhouses in US have shut down" theory-here are a few facts for you.
1.USDA Reports horses were REGULARLY IMPORTED FROM CANADA FOR US SLAUGHTER TO FILL THE DEMAND
IN 2005=7,865 imported
IN 2006=4,022 imported
IN 2007=2,488 imported
out of 6,900,000 horses-less than 1% were slaughtered ea year .
Kills the what are we gonna do w/ all the unwanted horses theory-doesn't it?
2.Documentation shows that when a recession is on that animal abuse/abandoment/neglect goes way up.Not to mention the price of fuel which is making everything costly!Also not to mention bad weather effecting hay crop supply/prices.
3.Horse industry earns $39 billion DIRECTLY and $102 billion INDIRECTLY.SLAUGHTER IS ONLY $30 million -that is LESS THAN 1/10 of 1 percent!
For those of you who think slaughter is humane esp.when you are comparing mexican vs US slaughter(which is like comparing bad to worse).Not a justification for murder!Tell me what part of heading to slaughter (via auction) that you find is humane because you OBVIOUSLY HAVE NEVER WITNESSED THE EXPERIENCE in the US. Is it shoving the horse in a trailer that is too large for it,traveling sometimes 24 hrs w/ no food /water(many times in very hot conditions)?Or is it humane as the horse is banged/bruised/knocked around w/gaping wounds while in a trailer that was made for livestock not horses!Or do you think it humane that b4 the horse is jammed down the chute and into a pen w/ all different types/sizes of confused,angry,frightened horses (that many times fight each other)that the KB's(kill buyers)beat them up because they say getting the horse's adrenaline flowing makes the meat juicier.Or do you maybe think it humane that once the horse has been sold,shoved on another truck w/ all kinds of horses and arrives at the slaughterhouse (after another long trip w/ no food /water)that he gets off the truck only to smell the blood and hear the helpless screams of dying horses.Or maybe you think the most hunmane part of slaughter is when the butcher shoots the bolt gun at the horse but only stuns him(because it is well documented that using the cattle bolt on a horse (w/out strapping the horse so he cannot move)gives the butcher very good odds of only "stunning" the horse.Then at that point-they just draw them up suspended as they dismember the stunned anlmal as it screams helplessly in horror.Now which was your most favorite humane part? I would really like to know?And if that isn't enough for you -type this link into your browser : http://www.hsus.org/horses_equines/
And if you want more viewing of the whole process from the racetrack to the actual slaughtering -please feel free to email me offline at cdemao@parallax.ws
and be sure to include your email address and I will forward you the online video from The HBO REAL SPORTS w/ Bryant Gumble on this event.
Ignorance does not justify slaughter either.This is a moral issue.It is wrong and 80% of Americans polled agree! "

 Horselover wrote on July 23, 2008 8:53 am:
" It's funny that if slaughter is only 1% we have had this huge effect. I don't look at sources such as the HSUS or PETA. Too much is made of these sights and not enough attention is broght to the fact that the accumlate hours of video and chop it down to the worst few seconds. Ask yourself if you would want the same done wiht your parenting on your worst day.

Also, the basis of this argument is our horses pets or livestock. We have thousands and thousands if not millions of cats and dogs put to sleep every year becuase we can not find homes for them. They same will happen with horses. I agree with the person who said it is a respectful use of resources to slaughter the unwanted horses in this country. The other thing I find sickening is the resources (i.e. money) used to save a horses life when there are still starving and unwanted children in this country. I've heard the arguement that save a horse improve the world thru a ripple effect. I would rather think that the aprox. $1000 (and this is low) used to care for an unwanted horse would be better used to help support the children, poor or troubled in this country.

The funny thing is, the anti slaughter people think the pro slaughter folks have their priorities wrong. "

 realistic wrote on July 23, 2008 10:14 am:
" Charise - You are missing the point of this and you can show your blind statistics all day they don't matter, not to me, not to the horses. I guarantee you I know what happens to horses at slaughter houses. It may not have been a perfectly humane way to slaughter here in the states but I can guarantee you the horse went through less suffering then than they now do with their long rides across the boarders into hell where we have no voice for them. I know that in mexico a horse is stabbed numerous times to sever the spine only to paralyze the horse. I highly doubt that those horses are even "stunned" when they are sliced up. If we had a slaughter house here we can give the horses their voices back and regulate what happens in the slaughter house here. Or you can stick your head in your statistcs and remain blind about not having a slaughter house open in the states that we can over see how the horses are treated. I see the "statistics" all the time with the #'s of horses for sale and the overbreeding that's happening. I see the sick and neglected and abandonned or abused horses. I go to the auctions and watch as the kb's buy them up and no one else. I listen to horse owners as they try to figure out anything else to do with their own horses and for some taking them to auction is the only answer. Your right our economy is horrible that just makes a bigger problem for the horse owners who have no options. Their horse is hungry but you have to decide on feeding your family or that horse and that horse is just not selling. I already explained that for some horse owners there are just not other options. I also don't see alot of people busting down the doors of the sale barns to buy the horses going through the auctions but the kb's are there. Why rely on the horse rescues? I already explained there are not enough of them to take in all of your so called statisticly "not" unwantedhorses and some rescues are just adding to the problem. You are so right though I guess. It is so much better to leave those horses in pastures to starve to death or be abused and abandoned or trailored out to some vacant field somewhere and turn them loose so they are no longer that person's problem or ship them over the boarders. Those are so much better options for our horses. We have stopped nothing by taking slaughter out of the states just assured our horses a worse horrible fate. Get out of your statistics open your eyes and deal with the bigger problem that I know exists.
If you don't like slaughter then come up with an affordable and realistic way to lessen the #'s of horses that need an option and way to dispose of these horse that have no other options now. I am open to any ideas that any one has of doing this. "

 Lin wrote on July 30, 2008 7:31 pm:
" " In response to this: BUC wrote on July 22, 2008 10:51 am:
" If some of these so called rescues would stop purchasing horses at auction and keep room for REAL rescues (abuse, neglect, abandoment) they might not have to turn so many away ;) "

Whether we rescue from auction or take in unwanted horses from a private source... it is ALL rescue... Last spring a rescue raised the funds and purchased the horses from a back yard breeder... more was paid that the auction price, however the trade off was no exposure to the sale barn enviroment. We have not gone to an auctio0n since septer 07 due to the huge influx of horses into our rescue... "

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