Willie Nelson Against US Horse Slaughter
Posted by Bill on Aug 25 2006 at 12:08 pm | Tagged as: Horse News
“It’s time for the cowboys to stand up for the horses”, country music legend Willie Nelson is reported to have said. There is a bill in Congress right now to ban the practice of slaughtering horses here in the U.S. as well as selling horses for slaughter elsewhere. The bill is being called The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, HR 503 for the House of Representatives and S 1915 for the Senate. Willie Nelson is lending his star-support through the Society for Animal Protective Legislation to encourage US citizens to get involved by calling their representatives.
So here’s the question I have for you today. Even though it’s not part of American culture to slaughter horses for food, should we outlaw it? I’ve been doing some reading on the subject today and there seems to be two issues here. The first is using horses as food, for human consumption or otherwise. Second is how well horses are treated prior to slaughter. People seem to either detest the practice of slaughtering and eating horses or are okay with it as long as the horses are treated well until they are slaughtered.
Personally, I’m against horse slaughter for food, medicine, whatever. Unless I’m terribly desperate, I’m not planning on killing anything I’ve given a name to. But I also recognize that this is the exact reason I can’t raise cattle for food. I’m too soft. Don’t get me wrong, I love eating beef and just about any other kind of meat I’ve tasted, but I couldn’t bring myself to raise an animal for slaughter or to sell an animal I knew was going to slaughter. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I just don’t have the heart for it.
Some argue that horses shouldn’t be given preferential protection by law over cows, goats, etc. After all many keep cows, goats and other meat animals as pets (we do). So either protect everything or nothing at all, they say.
It’s for this reason, I’m not sure whether or not to support this bill. I can see reasons for and against it. What are your thoughts?
Article source: Willie Nelson Reveals America’s Dirty Little Secret
I think the problem with this issue is that wild horses are being rounded up to be slaughtered. It’s sad that people will send their domestic horses to the slaughterhouse (and wrong to me), but that’s their business. The wild horses are government property, and as such, they belong to all of us. A lot of people feel that they are a symbol of American freedom while others feel that they’re just a nuisance. In a case like this, who gets to choose right and wrong?
I object to horse slaughter, but I’m well aware that my reasons are more emotional than practical. I eat pork, beef and other meats so logically there’s no reason why horses should be different, but … they just are. I’ll wear leather but not fur–again, an emotional difference rather than a logical one. I also have trouble with the Premarin foals, who are produced just as a means to an end (like milk calves)–there’s something awful about bringing an animal into the world as an unwanted byproduct.
One thing which does concern me is that horses are not normally raised as part of the food chain. Pigs, chickens, cows and other animals which are raised for slaughter are subject to all sorts of regulations regarding the sort of drugs, feed, supplements etc. they receive, as they don’t want the wrong things winding up in the food chain. Horses aren’t regulated this way; they wind up in the kill pen filled with heaven knows what. Many of the horses going to slaughter are going there as a ‘last resort’ after an illness or unsoundness, as the owners decide to get a few dollars for them–what sort of drugs etc. did they get in an effort to cure that founder, or what have you?
First, I just stumbled on your blog and love the way you write. You are sooo funny sometimes. I can just see in my mind what is happening from your descriptions. I want to share it with my granddaughters who are just learning to ride and begging to move to the country. They need to know how much work it is. REality check.
Secondly, I strongly support S1915 and am working with a grassroots group of people trying to get it out of committee and up for a vote. If you do support it, please call or email your senator (Frist) as he controls the calendar on what will come up for a vote this year (frist.senate.gov) Here are a FEW reasons I support it:
* Horse slaughter houses are foreign owned doing about $62 million dollars in business and paying approximately $1200 in taxes. (IRS form available at marynash.org showing $5 paid on $4 million profit for 1 plant.) The profit goes to Belgium, the “food” is sent to France, Belgium and Japan. They have repeatedly been cited for air and water pollution and by OSHA. No indication they have ever paid their fines. Why are these plants allowed to operate here thumbing their noses at the local populace who don’t want them. American plants do not slaughter horses. They do rend horses who have died or been euthanized. Big difference.
* Local/state ordinances in Texas were passed to shut down the two remaining horse slaughter houses there. There has been a Texas law on the books since 1949 banning horse slaughter. But the little town of Kaufmann, TX has spent over $55,000 in legal fees trying to shut down the plant there. That’s a huge amount for a little town of 6000 people. The sh’s have arrogantly stated they’ll bankrupt the town before they’ll ever close their doors. When the plants appealed the TX ordinance, a Texas federal judge ruled that it involved interstate commerce and only federal legislation could close them.
* The Ensign-Byrd Amendment shut off federal funding for USDA inspections at horse slaughter houses. The intent was to shut down the 3 remaining plants in the U.S. (2 in TX and 1 in IL). In what I regard as an end run around Congress, the USDA said the plants could pay them for the inspections themselves. Should the will of Congress be thwarted by the USDA or any other agency?
* Horses are not cloven hoofed animals bred for food. They are work or leisure or companion or therapy animals. We don’t send Spot or Puff to slaughter houses eventho’ they, too, may be food in some cultures. Americans humanely euthanize them when necessary. Horses deserve no less.
* It is illegal and inhumane to transport animals in trucks not designed for their hauling as is so often done in the dead of night and on back roads (doubledeckers designed for hogs).
* Polls show that 70-90% of Americans are against horse slaughter.
* This bill would NOT affect property rights. You can still put a bullet in your horse’s head if you want. Or you can euthanize it and send it to a rendering plant.
* The 90,000 or so horses currently slaughtered would be absorbed back into the general horse population. There are about 10,000 hauled in from Canada/Mexico, 40,000 stolen that would no longer have any value as a slaughter horse, and 50,000 others that could be relocated to new owners (what the original responsible owner should have done)or rescue farms. These are NOT old, broken down horses. A lot of them are PMU mares with foals, pregnant mares, thoroughbreds who didn’t make it at the track, quarterhorses, KY Derby winners (Ferdinand, Exceller). It is America’s “dirty little secret.”
*Killer buyers circulate thruout the country trying to pick up horses on the cheap (horse auctions or individuals) to sell to slaughter houses. They sell there for about 55-60 cents a pound so they are not looking for frail old horses. So as a new horse owner–never sell your horse cheap to someone. Be certain you know where it’s going. One lady whose horse was stolen found it at the slaughter plant and the plant wouldn’t give it back. A U.S. congressman from Texas had 3 of his TN walkers stolen. Sorry don’t recall his name at the moment. He found them too late. The thief was apprehended. He was brokenhearted (the congressman, not the thief). Don’t know how the thief felt–probably just sorry to get caught. We called one slaughter house and was told they didn’t own a scanner so a microchip doesn’t prevent the slaughter. Guess it wouldn’t if they can stand face to face with a woman and not give her her horse back. Sorry to be so serious on your blog but it’s a serious issue.
Hope it bites those senators that won’t support this bill in their rump roast.
Hi, everyone.
Thanks!!!
If we all work together then maybe we can help get this bill passed. Me and some friends are asking people to send an email to their senators asking them to push this bill through and vote to end horse slaughtering.
Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ and type in your zip code. Send an email to both of your US senators and tell them to stop horse slaughtering. The vote is coming before the Senate in early October so please do it NOW!
And here is a blog that we set up so you can read more information about it:
http://www.horsesarefriendsnotfood.com
Firstly I love my horse more than anything! He has newer clothes(blankets) than me and he sure sees a doctor more often! Anything I can do for him gets done before MY stuff gets done. This may be the ideal way for a horse to live, but not all horses live this way. Some horses are chronicly lame, some have training issues that are not overcomable. These horses in an ideal world would be retired to live out their lives in peace. But this is not an ideal world! All the horse rescues I know are full and the above mentioned horses are not adoptable. Will YOU take them in? ALL of them? Is it not better for these horses to endure an admittedly poor process that ends in a quick and reletivly painless death (ever see a lion eating a zebra while it’s still alive and kicking?) or to slowly starve to death in a dirt field? I eat meat so what is the difference between eating a cow, pig, chicken or a horse?
I understand how most people think that horses should not have more rights than other animals, but can you imagine what this world would be like if horses had never existed? There would be no cars because the car was invented so people with busier lives would be able to not have to consume time by caring for a living breathing thing. And no one would have transported goods as easily. Life would be harder than it is now if horses never were, or any equine for that matter. I believe that the least we can do in return for their ancestors’ labors is to do our best in a group effort is to ensure the best lives we can give them. A good portion of people say it is better than starving by the hands of a cruel owner, but it is not. They are driven for as much as 78 hours and only get water once. Many smaller horses are trampled to death on trailers too small (made for PIGS). At least when being ill-cared for or starved by their owners they can be rescued by a call to the ASPCA, but as soon as they step on the trailer on the horrendous ride to the slaughterhouse where they will be killed by a nail gun their fate is sealed. So to anyone who is reading this I want you to think about what horses have done for this world FOR US and then decide if slaughtering them is right.
This is such a controversial and emotional subject. I can kind of see both sides of it, but like Doe my emotional side definitely has the upper hand. There is no question that there is a problem with overpopulation of horses, and apparently horse slaughter is kind of filling a need that exists to help keep the population in check - much as the “pound” does with stray dogs and cats.
However, just as we have an emotional connection with dogs and cats, horses hold a special place in our society, and even in our cultural psyche. It just plain seems wrong to me to eat a horse. There are certain things I just have a mental block about eating, even if other cultures think it’s OK. I also kind of feel like ponygurloofer does - we have a responsibility to protect these animals because of what they have done (and continue to do) for us.
Then again, what will happen to the horses that would have gone to slaughter? Seriously, what will happen to them? Will they lead horrible lives, mistreated and neglected? That would be just as wrong.
One thing I do know - if horse slaughter were to continue, it would have to be way more regulated than it is now. No animal - pig, cow, chicken or horse - should suffer needlessly, even on its way to slaughter.
Well , it doesn’t appear that anyone can win this multi-opinioned battle , i agree with the person above me. treating them better on thier way to thier death place such as stopping for breaks (turning them out in a corral along the way) , giving them water , and having trailers made for horses. also when they get there they should be killed more humanly. no one would be completely happy with this because in the end they would still be dead. but atleast they will die with dignoty. oh and they should have scanners to see if a horse is stolen. do they know how many broken hearted litte girls have cried because thier horses have been ripped away from them? but i do think that this would be a happy medium. and who knows if this were to happen , and it will eventully, they would decide that it wasen’t worth the troble to do all that and slaughter would go down.the worst that could happen is horse prices would be low , so breeding farms would stop breeding ,then because of that the horse population would even out. then the prices would go up and everything would even out.
Hello Mr. Willie: I met you in person years ago in the Honeysuckly Rose Days and Waylon and Willie Days!!:)I am a small black haired native Apache Lady, I live in rural Utah now, and am a Lady Rancher who has from the age of 12 to present 52 yrs. old volunteered time, money, and own and work with, train, reprocess when possible wild Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros at my own expense-I am an avid horse lover and rescurer -My paartner and love is one of the best most experienced horseman and ranchers I have ever met yet we realize that these are wild animals capable of injuring and possible killing something or someone plus their self, if not handled carefully.Yet I have learned that there is a need for our slaughter plants for my beloved little brothers and sister horses. As you know fifty mares in one year produce fifty foals yet at the hand of mother nature which sometimes seems cruel to us is the facts and reality of life. When there is not enough land because of development needs of our human population much of our wild lands are no longer there, our wild horses a doomed to lack of good grasslands and water which is a horrible way to die with out water and food. I have first hand carried aborted foals from mare mothers that are so thin they have little strength for their own exsistance and no mikl for a new baby.Yes they do feel the lost and do cry for their baby, I have had mares die beside their dead little ones. It is our time to become responsible in our management of lands a slaughter, so our strong have a better life of freedom and survival. Nothing is more beautiful then to be floating down the Green or Colorado River or Ride in the Book Cliffs and see Beautiful free horses. I have a Five yr. old Spanish Barb Buckskin Stallion, from Flat Rock area. I raised from a 3 to 6 mo. old foal, who my now 6yr. old. grand-daughter leads and handles. I have a beautiful Wild Grullio Older Mare with a new colt,foal yet you need to watch her and be alert, out of my Buckskin Dun AQHA Foundation Registred, Four yr. old Stallion. It is time for all Americans to step up and work on a real solution that works. Thank You for your time and listening - If you have any Ideas we a preparing for a wild horse round-up and would appreciate positive options and solutions!! Thank You sincerely
Hello, person above me, Blue? YOU DID NOT TELL ANYTHING ABOUT SLAUGHTER! You only told about yourself and your horses!
By the way, I DO NOT support horse slaughter! It is very cruel how they are transported and held until they await their cruel death. People think they are killed quickly by the nail gun, but the nail gun operator doesn’t care if he hits the horse’s head! He just aims in the general direction of the head and then shoots! Usually the horse is hit in the neck or shoulder. Then it is forced into a chamber where it is chained up by a hind leg and its throat is cut. It usually takes several painful minutes to “bleed out.” Then its appendages, including its head, are cut off and it is skinned. Google some pictures, I’m sure you’ll change your mind about slaughter once you see some pictures if you REALLY love horses. Because I think that if you love horses, you will not want them to be subjected to that kind of pain and cruelty.
I am in great fear that the slaughter houses this year will be booming! LACK OF HAY, and the high prices in the Midwest and southern states, that coupled with greed and some people storing up hay to get $ 12 to $15 per bale will put some horses at a serious risk for starvation and finally the Killers!. I have 18 horses and I budget their hay and grain above my own grocery bill. They eat first! Has any one ever considered the fact that the human race owes a great debt to the horse and mule? They have cleared our land, planted our fields, and carried us into battle and to church on Sunday since the dawn of time. Now that we have machines to do what was once their job, we, the human race have forgotten just how important they once were to our survival. For a man without a horse had nothing. The animal now frightened, hungry, thirsty, which learned to trust us, is tortured, beaten, knifed in the spine, or shot with a nail gun several times before his spirit is finally set free by death. Oh…how my heart, my spirit cries. These animals have feelings, emotions and personalities. Until this stops, in the US in Mexico in Canada across the world we should all be ashamed! Remember this 100 years ago, they hung men for eating horse. Now they are paid.
Well You got what most of you wanted and now you are propably moving on to save the horsefly or dung beatle. Do you realize what you really have accomplished? You have not saved the horses from slaughter you have made it so that now they have to travel even farther to be slaughtered. You have made it so that old, blind, crippled, starved, abused or otherwise unmerchantable horses can no longer be sold at a local auction in hope of finding a loving home. And for the the reference horses are not hauled in double decker hog trailers, that is a rumor so before you think you know how the world works get your facts straight keith. And also you cannot just go shoot a crippled horses on your property unless you want animal rights activist bringing up a five thousand dollar law suit against you.
As a large cattle rancher who is having ALL READY the problem with horses just being dumped on my land. I would like each and every one of your addresses so I know who to send these horses feed bills to.
You guys say oh just take them to a horse rescue, I have seen and heard of many rescues put out of bussiness because they abuse horses. At $4.00 a gallon for fuel people would rather just turn them loose. Hay prices are soaring along with grain and fuel prices, you try to figure out what passing a bill like this, this close to winter is going to do. Horses will be starved, abused and neglected, auctions will not allow unmerchantable horses on the yards so basically you have not helped fix a problem you just caused more. This is the real world people not disney, The horse meat that went out of this country every year helped our budget, paid so that our goverment can keep everyone living the high life, we exported, not imported. We were producing a product that another country wanted. If more people would pull their heads out of their @$$ they would realize that there are allot of horses in this world that is just another horse, they are not all nice and kind. Some will be glad to kill you and keep on going. WAKE UP!!!!!!
i strongly oppose horse slaughter.
both here in the united states,and allowing them to be transported to mexico or canada.
you can say wake up and that we are just making this issue even worse for the horses,well then you are an un-educated idiot.
do some research,if we stopped the transpotation out of the U.S to people transpoting horses for slaughter,and closed down the plants here,we would save multiple horses.
and yes,rescues have a hard time,but they are PREPARED for that,it’s their job.
not that everyone that works there gets paid,but they know what they are getting into the minute they take it on.
they are just caring people who want to help.
and if you are one of those that say “how are horses above eating and cows and pigs aren’t” well cows,pigs,and chickens were made for eating,horses were made for work and companionship.
if you think it’s right for them to be eaten,simply because they are injured and are going to be euthenized…
what the hell is wrong with you?
would you like me to eat your son/daughter/mother/father/ect because they were in a coma they couldn’t come out of?
or they had some kind of handicap?
NO,you wouldn’t.
let them go with their honor.
have a heart people.
so you can make snarky comments about how there are starving children in other countrys and whatnot,let them eat eachother.
that’s what you are basically saying is right when you support horse slaughter.
I am only 11 years old ,but i have a stronger heart for horses than anyone on this god made earth!Horses are my best friends and I will not accept anyone that EATS horses AS my friend, Im sorry but thats just the way i am !!! I am a western rider and i have 2 horses, my mare,Rimbo and my gelding,Leo .I am in rodeo 6 times a month , at lightning p ranch in rasaka Georgia doing events Barrels,pole bending, and team roping. I don’t no much about all that government stuff but i no that eating horses isn’t ment to be!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Chloe litton
this is an amazing site i hate the fact that anyone would eat a horse or even kill one i have 24 horses and so far none of them will ever be sent to slaughter!!!!
I hate that their are people out there who kill horses. I have two of my own but i have always had a passion for them so if there is anything i can do to help please email me at ashleygmmn@yahoo.com Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi i dont understand why a person would ever kill a horse to eat it or even just because they dont want the horse anymore. I lease a horse from spruce meadow farm and my instroucters have taught me to love and care for the horse and i would NEVER give a horse of any kind to the slaughter house. I HATE THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, but LOVE HORSE AND PONIES.
i hate slaughterhouses, thanks to Spruce Meadow farm i get to know and love horses all day and every day. I love horses.
slaughter houses can kiss me butt!!!!!
hey its chloe again… i wrote here about 2 years ago. uhmm, is it me, or has horse slaughter gotten even worse?
i’m just about ready to call the presedint!…i know it not possible, but i sure do feel like it!
horses are some of the most amazing animals on the earth.
truely.
and anybody who enjoys doing this sort of in-humain thing to such a magnificent creature, honestly has problems.
-im talkin MENTAL ISSUES. so if ur wth me on this one…write letters to the government, and help pass the law to
stop
horse
slaughter!!!