The Truth About Horse Slaughter

Until recently, the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption overseas was a subject that most people knew little about - in fact, the average American was probably not even aware that it was occurring in the United States. There are three slaughter plants (all of which are foreign owned) in the U.S. Two of them, Dallas Crown Inc. (in Kaufman) and Beltex Corp. (in Fort Worth) are in Texas. The third plant Cavel International Inc. is located in Dekalb, IL.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), roughly 90,000 horses are slaughtered for human consumption, and eventual shipment overseas to Europe and Asia, in the United States every year. The HSUS also goes on to say that thousands more equines are shipped to Canadian slaughter houses to be slaughtered there. These figures are staggering. Consider also that horse meat is not consumed in the United States; it is instead shipped overseas to foreign markets. According to the HSUS, the largest markets for horse meat are France, Belgium, Holland, Japan, and Italy. Why are we, as Americans, allowing our horses - which are a vital part of our heritage - to be shipped to foreign countries as meat?

The HSUS also states that the majority of horses bound for the slaughter houses were sold at livestock auctions, are in good health and sales for only a few hundred dollars. No breed of horse is safe from the risk of ending up in a slaughter house. According to the HSUS some of the most commonly slaughtered horses include unsuccessful racehorses, ill or lame horses, surplus riding school and camp horses, mares whose foals are not good enough, and PMU (Pregnant Mare Urine) foals.

When they are shipped to slaughter houses, the horses must face numerous inhumane conditions. They are usually shipped in double-decker cattle and pig trailers that do not allow the horses adequate room, usually there are too many animals crammed into the same trailer, and many are trampled, severely injured, or killed in transit. The animals are forced to go for long hours without food, water or rest. All of this occurs prior to arriving at the slaughter house.

Upon arrival, the horses are lined up and forced into the "kill chute" where they await their own doom. The horses are shot in the head with a device called a 'captive bolt gun' which shoots a metal rod into the horse's brain - causing unconsciousness; however, horses are sometimes incorrectly stunned and are still conscious, and at this point terrified and in severe pain. They are then hoisted by their hind legs and hung upside down to have their throats slit. If the animal was not correctly stunned, they are still conscious and very alive while this happens. How can this be humane treatment of an animal that depends on us for its very survival? How can we allow this to continue?

Some might say that horse slaughter is okay because it prevents unwanted, lame, or ill horses from starving or neglect, but in reality it is simply a way for people to dispose of them - however inhumanely! These horses could be donated to equine rescues - there are several of these organizations in the United States, several of which are in Texas - where these animals would be rehabilitated and adopted out to a new home, never having to face the horrors of a slaughter house. These animals could be euthanized by a vet for a small fee and would have a much more humane death than they would be given at a slaughter house. Others might mention the threat to the economy closing the slaughter houses would cause, but to who's economy? These plants are foreign owned, therefore most of the profits (if not all of them) go to foreign countries.

Americans are beginning to wise up, however. Some states, including California, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia have laws to prevent some of the cruelties forced upon horses in their states; however, there is inadequate enforcement of these laws. The HSUS is trying to pass laws to govern and eventually end the slaughter of horses in the United States.

There are ways that we as Americans can help protect our horses from this horrible fate. By supporting organizations working toward the ban of horse slaughter, contacting our congressmen and state representatives, and helping equine (horse) rescues by either becoming dedicated members or offering donations, we can help get laws passed to protect these majestic creatures that have given so much to America. After all that horses have given to America, don't they at least deserve that much?