Posts Tagged ‘Horse News’

PREVIEW: The Stampede to Oblivion

Posted: October 8, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
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Chief Investigative Reporter George Knapp and Chief Photojournalist Matt Adams - Channel 8 CBS, Las Vegas

This Saturday the I-Team will air a primetime special detailing the long history of mismanagement in the BLM’s wild horse and burro program.

Half of the country’s wild horses are in Nevada and the BLM is gathering them off of public land in record numbers with increasingly thin justifications behind the roundups.

Critics allege the BLM has repeatedly engineered or otherwise contributed to the conditions on public ranges, which are later used to justify the removal of horses. Fences have cut the horses off from water and forage all over the west, which BLM then uses as a reason to round them up.

Overall, BLM has gathered a quarter of a million horses off the public range, but what’s happening now is different from previous years, both in scale and long-term intent, and it is happening with virtually no oversight.

“They are saying, ‘Okay, we will do what we want.’ They just totally caved in. What the public doesn’t already realize is that these greatly reduced herd management areas are already a very serious reduction. But now they’re just going for broke. They are saying, ‘Hell, get rid of them,’” said Craig Downer.

“We have taken the number of horses off the range by over 50-percent in 20 years. For these people to say the horses are out of control, the numbers are out of control, there isn’t anything out there that’s realized a 50-percent decrease in the last two decades. Certainly not the number of cattle out there,” said Jerry Reynoldson.

By almost any measure, there has been a dramatic shift. The pace of the government roundups has jumped over the last several years, averaging more than 9,000 head per year. As of early 2009, there are more than 33,000 horses in places like Ridgecrest, California or Fallon, Nevada — more horses than exist on the open range.

Once they get to government corrals, they’re no longer wild horses. Essentially they become wards of the state — welfare horses living off the public dole and for the rest of their lives, they will be warehoused at either government pens or private ranches.

Chief Investigative Reporter George Knapp will explore how the wild horse program got in such bad shape and what can be done to turn it around, including a plan by billionaire philanthropist Madeleine Pickens that would create an eco-tourism destination featuring the horses.

Stampede to Oblivion airs Saturday night at 9 p.m. on Channel 8.

(Program should be posted to web for viewing, post broadcast.  We will keep you informed – R.T.)


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Local Oregon horse therapy program helps disabled with stability

Posted: August 20, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News
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by Erica Heartquist

SCAPPOOSE, ore. — When people with disabilities ride a horse, experts tell us, the bond that’s formed can lead to positive strides in many other areas of their lives.

Horse Therapy builds sability

Horse Therapy builds stability

The new program T.R.O.T. or “Therapeutic Riding of Tomorrow” has begun in Scappoose. It’s a therapeutic horseback riding program and 26-year-old Kassi Sande is the brainchild behind it.

“There’s something about being able to control, manage, manipulate and make friends with a thousand pound animal,” said Sande.

Sande grew up around horses and said she quickly saw the benefits of riding, especially for people with disabilities.

“Most people don’t look forward to therapy, but they certainly do here,” she said.

By incorporating the principals of hippotherapy, which helps people with movement dysfunction, Sande teaches her special needs’ students how to ride horses while they work on overall coordination.

One of her students, Felicity Matson, 4, rides horses every week for therapy. Her father, Eric Matson said each week, Felicity can’t wait to be lifted onto the horse.

“It’s just a matter of getting her interested in some therapy that actually doesn’t feel like therapy,” he said.

Felicity has a neurological disorder called Sensory Processing Disorder, which slows her reaction time and daily functions.

In the four months that Felicity has been going to T.R.O.T. for horse riding therapy, her father said he’s noticed a significant change in her confidence level, strength and coordination.

“It’s a huge benefit. If we didn’t have it, I don’t know what we would do,” said Matson.

T.R.O.T. is just getting started at the stables in Scappoose.

Sande said she is working towards acquiring non-profit status.

“I love my job. Everyday you feel really good about what you’ve done. It doesn’t just help people ride horses – it helps people in their life,” said Sande.

If you’d like more information about the program, head to:

http://www.therapeuticridingoftomorrow.org/

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Founder of Habitat for Horses speaks out on EU ban of US horse meat

Posted: August 6, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Horse Rescue, Horse Slaughter, The Force of the Horse, Wild Horses/Mustangs
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Europeans focus on food safety issue: no more poisoned American Horse Meat

August 6, 2009 — Hitchcock, Texas — For decades, the gourmet diners of Europe and Japan have eaten American horse meat poisoned by chemical contamination.  The horse flesh exporting by unscrupulous producers and horse slaughter plants will come to an end in April of 2010.   The new rules enacted by the European Union will mandate chemical free horse meat entering those countries.

Jerry Finch, President and Founder of Habitat for Horses

Jerry Finch, President and Founder of Habitat for Horses

American horses are routinely given powerful chemicals prohibited for human consumption such as wormers, Phenylbutazone (Bute), and a host of other deadly medications which are life giving to a horse but cause serious medical issues when ingested by humans.  Like DDT, banned for similar reasons, some of these compounds such as Bute remain in a horse’s body long after administered. Studies indicate medical issues such as birth defects, anemia, and cancer are brought on when these dangerous chemicals are consumed by humans.

The ban was quietly announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in late July. It quickly exploded across the Internet as news of it made its way to anti-slaughter websites and finally to mainstream equine media worldwide. With the new ban in place, the slaughter of horses exposed to these drugs will stop and the production of commercially available horse meat will grind to a halt.

“We have known of the dangers of chemicals in American horsemeat for years, but our warnings have often fallen on deaf ears,” said Jerry Finch, founder of Habitat for Horses, the nation’s largest all breed equine rescue organization.

“Thankfully, agencies in the European Union responsible for health safety realized that there is virtually no testing for dangerous chemicals in American horses being sold for food,” he said. “Foreign governments will inadvertently bring the slaughter of American horses to a halt while the American government, with their failure to pass legislation, has simply ignored the health of the European people.”

Finch says that the same EU rules will halt the export of American horses slaughtered in Mexico for European consumption.

Habitat for Horses (HfH) is a not-for-profit equine protection agency committed to the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused horses. The largest organization of its kind in North America, HfH operates a rehabilitation ranch in Hitchcock, Texas, as well as a growing network of foster homes throughout the United States.

Contact: Valerie Kennedy, Director of Public Relations, Habitat for Horses, Inc, 312-371-4933

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Opinion: Unwanted Horses set Free – Where’s the Proof?

Posted: July 23, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse Slaughter, The Force of the Horse
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Alright, it has finally happened, I have reached the tipping point.  Day after day the American public is bombarded with main stream media stories about all of the “unwanted” horses that are set free and running all over the US.  To take the stories for their word there should be a horse on every street corner in America begging for a bale of hay or a cup of grain but have you seen one?  I know that I haven’t.

Equine author R.T. Fitch speaks out against "pro" slaughter fabrications

Equine author R.T. Fitch speaks out against "pro" slaughter fabrications


As a voting citizen, of this great land, I am shocked and appalled by the volume of mistruths and simple bald faced lies that are fed to the general public…I feel like an idiot as I thought that such a practice was both illegal and unethical and could never, ever happen here, but it does.

The tale of the unwanted and abandoned horse is a lie, in fact, a documented falsehood in the great state of Texas.  Every other day a green or inexperienced reporter is pressured by the pro-slaughter machine to print, or report, on a trumped up story about how several horses “were just let loose” because there are no bloody slaughter plants open to kill them.  What a crock.  Abandoning an animal in the state of Texas is a crime, where is/was law enforcement?  Was the Sheriff called?  Was an investigation conducted?  Are there criminal charges pending?  Answer: No!!  No, because there were never any abandoned horses to begin with and what the “pro” people don’t want the public to know is that even without slaughter plants operating in the U.S., more healthy, young American horses were butchered for human consumption last year than when the plants were open in the U.S…they are now sent to Mexico and Canada to be brutalized.

When is this trail of lies, deceit and blood money going to end?  Why are so many people interested in whipping out all of our wild horses and killing our gentle companions for pennies on the dollar?  When are we going to stand up and say “Enough is enough”?

I have reached that precipice, that edge where I sincerely can not stand it any longer.  I don’t know about you, but I am raising my hand and screaming “Enough is enough, I can’t take it anymore!”   From now on the perpetrators of the lies will be publicly dogged for the truth, required to supply proof, nothing will be taken as fact until proper documentation has been rendered.  It’s time to hold the media accountable and by doing so we may be able to drive the liars and the deceivers back under the slimy rocks that they have crawled out from under.  I am putting the enemy on notice and warning them that they have no idea of what or whom they are dealing with.

Let the battle begin…it’s to the death and the bright light of the truth will always make the vermin scurry for cover.

The Force of the Horse will not be denied.

R.T. Fitch
Author – “Straight from the Horse’s Heart“
The Force of the Horse®, LLC
1-800-974-FOTH
www.rtfitch.com
www.habitatforhorses.org

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Update:Horses on the Hill – A unified cry to end horse slaughter

Posted: July 15, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse Slaughter
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by R.T. Fitch

WASHINGTON D.C. (SFHH) – My wife, Terry, and I joined fellow horse lovers from around the U.S. in Washington D.C. to participate in the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute’s (AWI) “Horses on the Hill” day, July 14th. Many areas of the United States where represented at the initial kick-off breakfast hosted by the organizations and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La).  Senator Landrieu is one of four co-authors (along with Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.)) of  S-727/H.R. 503, The Equine Cruelty Prevention Act of 2009.

Equine author R.T. Fitch, your reporter, who will never wear that belt buckle into a Federal building, again.

Equine author R.T. Fitch, your reporter, who will never wear that belt buckle into a Federal building, again.

In the morning meeting, conducted in the Russell Senate Office Building, Senator Landrieu expressed her love of horses along with her disappointment at the undermining of the closure of the U.S. slaughter houses by killer buyers transporting healthy, young American horses across our borders to a gruesome fate in Mexico and Canada.  We could not agree more.  Determination amongst the horse rescuers attending was obvious as they introduced themselves, their affiliated equine rescues and expressed their thanks for the Senator’s efforts.  (We were pleased to represent Habitat for Horses.)  When queried as to a “Plan B” should the bill not pass Senator Landrieu replied with the definitive comment, “There is no ‘Plan B’ as the bill ‘will’ pass.”

Many attendees traveled great distances to have their opinions heard and at the close- out meeting, conducted at the offices of AWI, there appeared to be a feeling of hope as most lobbying attendees were welcomed at the offices of their elected representatives.  It was apparent to all attending that their representatives were receptive to the facts and truths presented and many indicated that they would investigate the possibility of co-sponsoring Senator Landrieu’s bill.  Several Senatorial and Congressional aides commented on the outpouring of support that came in from the phone lines and were happy to receive clarity on the issue after the recent flood of misinformation that has plagued the media over the past several months.  All present were appalled, yet not surprised, by the spread of rumor and innuendo by dubious so called horse “friendly” groups and PACs.  Concise facts and honest answers were welcomed by all offices that were visited.

Pro Slaughter Group Issues Tainted Survey Results

Posted: July 10, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse Slaughter
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, (EWA) – The Unwanted Horse Coalition, a subsidiary of the American Horse Council continues to present a false facade of neutrality on the explosive issue of horse slaughter in America, all the while doing everything in its considerable power to bring back an industry shunned by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

For the sake of the horses, the truth needs to be heard!

For the sake of the horses, the truth needs to be heard!

The Washington D.C. based lobbying group has the support of pro slaughter breeders, ranchers, and others with an economic interest in disposing of horses for profit – no matter the cruelty involved.

The latest AHC/UHC tactic was Thursday’s issuance of the results from an obviously slanted “national survey”. As an example, the survey reported that 86-88% of participants perceived that abuse was a big problem in the past year while only 22-28% thought it had been a big problem three years ago. This bracketing conveniently omitted the nearly two year period in which the domestic slaughter plants were closed before the economy collapsed.

The survey results reflected that among the participants the closing of the domestic slaughter plants was considered second to the economy as the most significant contributor to the neglect problem. Clearly this perception cannot be valid given that 134,000 horses were exported for slaughter in 2008; the second highest slaughter count since 1995.

The survey results were held until the senate committee hearing giving anti slaughter advocates no opportunity to respond. The release of this survey in conjunction with the requested GAO study was intended as a stalling technique to delay legislation that has overwhelming congressional support. This is yet another attempt in a long string of such tactics to prevent legislation from going to the senate floor for a vote.

In addition to leading questions, the targeted participants were largely members of pro slaughter organizations. Equine welfare organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States, Animal Welfare Institute, the Equine Welfare Alliance and numerous anti slaughter organizations were not invited to participate.

A major supporter of the American Horse Council and Unwanted Horse Coalition is the American Quarter Horse Association that actively lobbies for horse slaughter. Horses registered to the Amarillo based breed association account for approximately half of all horses going to slaughter as breeders are encouraged by its leadership to breed with no regard to the resulting excess horses. Many of the horses going to slaughter are culls which breeders were unable to sell. Remarkably, only 30% of these “stakeholders” thought this was contributing to the over population and neglect.

The study will almost certainly impact wild horse legislation, HR 1018, as well as anti horse slaughter legislation. With the upcoming GAO study and current BLM budget deficits, Congress must immediately issue a moratorium on wild Mustang round-ups until the GAO study is completed.

EWA welcomes a GAO study and believes that it will undoubtedly put aside perceptions and propaganda as reflected in the UHC survey and focus on solid statistical evidence. EWA plans to make available to the GAO its considerable statistical research on the subject of abuse and neglect, including the 2008 study done in conjunction with Animal Law Coalition.

Americans should be outraged that Congress allows needed legislation to languish and continually be blocked and stalled by special interest groups that perpetuate the over breeding of horses.

Vicki Tobin

630.961.9292

vicki@equinewelfarealliance.org

John Holland

540.268.5693

john@equinewelfarealliance.org

www.equinewelfarealliance.org

SFHH Update: Horses on the Hill

Posted: July 10, 2009 by R.T. Fitch in Horse Slaughter
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As promised, we will keep you updated on our trip to D.C. to participate in “Horses on the Hill”.

The big day is rapidly approaching and having your voice of support heard on Capitol Hill is more important than ever.  Horse slaughter advocates have been ratcheting up their misinformation campaign so we must make sure our elected officials hear the facts from the majority of Americans who support an end to horse slaughter.

If you aren’t able to attend in person, but would like to participate in effort, The Humane Society of the United States has helped arrange for a national call in day so everyone can join Horses on the Hill.  The call in flyer is iserted, below.  Be sure to share this flyer and call in information with everyone.

Date:                     July 14, 2009

Time:                    10am – 5pm

Number:              Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your two US Senators and US Representative’s offices (to find them visit http://www.compassionindex.org).  Your 30-second phone calls urging your legislators to “please support H.R. 503 and S. 727 to protect horses from slaughter” are critical.

Horse_Flier_National Call in Day_7-08-09

http://www.horsesonthehill.org/

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