Guest Editorial by Lisa LeBlanc ~ member, Advisory Board Wild Horse Freedom Federation
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana
By the end of the First World War, more than 827,000 horses and mules had served in the military. The British Army alone saw 415,179 animals die in the conflict. After the Armistice was signed, these soldier equines weren’t honored for their service and retired to pasture with the appreciation of grateful nations. They were, instead, sent to slaughter.
Most of the meat was delivered to hungry European civilians, but with the exception of some European immigrants, there was no market for horse meat in the United States. So in 1921, naturalized citizen Phillip Chappel, with experience in both the meat and horse industries, decided to enter horse meat into another market – that of dog food. Eventually, local pet owners became so enthusiastic, Chappel decided to go national, launching Ken-L-Ration, the first commercial canned dog food.
This was a transitional period in American history; there were plenty of horses that no longer had jobs and so weren’t economically practical to keep, particularly in light of the advent of the compression engine. And, after a time, when the local supplies of horses were exhausted, Chappel turned his attentions to Mustangs.
Despite private efforts to extinguish wild horse populations by ranchers and farmers, in 1910 an estimated 200,000 wild horses ran the ranges. By 1925, with the addition of domestic horses set free because of economics and the Machine, there were an estimated 1 million mustangs. Chappel, ever resourceful, encouraged the capture and transport of these reviled animals so vigorously, it became apparent – even that supply would soon become exhausted. So he turned his attentions from horse harvesting to horse growing. Gaining control of more than a million acres of Wyoming and Montana and purchasing mustangs for $3 a head, he incorporated the larger-boned Percherons, Belgians and Shires into the herds to breed a ‘meatier‘ animal.
By 1933, nearly 30 million pounds of horse had been processed and sold as canned dog food.
The brutality of the transport of wild horses by railroad didn’t cock too many eyebrows as it wasn’t widely publicized but for those who knew, it did give rise to the first of the wild equine advocates – Charles Marion Russell, preeminent cowboy artist and painter, and Frank Litts – Gangster. Charles Russell’s protests fell largely on deaf ears; Frank Litts also made several attempts, most notably by sending an unanswered letter to First Lady Mrs. Grace Coolidge. He had also sent an anonymous letter to a newspaper editor:
Dear Dr. Gunderson,
I saw in the Star that you liked old Dobbin. Have you seen what happens to the horses that are shipped to Chappels? Ten train cars full of horses roll into Rockford every day. Some have been knocked down and the rest of the horses are trampling them. Blood runs out of their necks and heads. There’s nothing in the rail cars for them to eat or drink. They’re so crazy with hunger they chew the tails off one another. There must be enough people in this town to stop this. Please don’t think I’m a crank, only a lover of horses.
Signed,
A Friend
Frank Litts had decided to take the fight directly to Chappel. He fired the processing plant, not once but four times, and was caught in the act of trying to dynamite the plant. Frank Litts had caused Chappel a good deal of grief, but he was eventually tried, declared insane – string-pulling by Chappel – and institutionalized. And escaped. He was captured permanently and died in prison in 1938 of tuberculosis, his only apparent regret was in not getting to Chappel’s Rockford, Illinois plant one last time.
With other corporate beef processors feeling the economic pinch of the time, they, too, decided to branch out into the horse meat/dog food industry, driving Ken-L-Ration to the brink of bankruptcy. In 1942, the company was purchased by the Quaker Oats Company. According to those company records, six car loads of government inspected horse meat were shipped to the Eastern United States each week and sold to “immigrants and their children to whom this protein was a familiar item of diet.”
Quaker Oats managed to make money from the sale of horse meat all the way through the Second World War.
But according to studies in modern economics and papers published by members of the Equine Welfare Alliance, what was supportable in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s is no longer feasible. Horse slaughter has been vigorously advocated as the sole solution to the ’problem of the unwanted horse in America.’ Reports of the thousands of animals shipped to Canada and Mexico during the moratorium on horse slaughter in America might bear that out to some small extent but there are too few ’unwanted’ domestic horses to sustain a single slaughterhouse profitably over the long term, let alone a network. So what comes next, when ‘unwanted‘ horse stocks are exhausted to a trickle? Historically, two sources: Domestic horses, ranch-raised as food, and wild horses, now made more accessible through the ten’s of thousands in captivity, and ten’s of thousands more to come.
In the early years of the 20th century, by this account, there was little demand for horse meat for human consumption in America with the exception of European immigrants of the time. By the mid-century, there was still only a small market for horse meat for human consumption, and again, it was mostly European immigrants. This is not a condemnation of immigrants, only to illustrate that, despite historical references posed by pro-slaughter activists, American horses were not slaughtered to feed a nation starved by wars and poor economy, but largely to feed it’s dogs. And to the immense profit for a very few.
The current crusade for horse slaughter, under the lofty guise of horse welfare, betterment of the American economy and salvation of American horse culture is, to say the least, offensive. Unlike Chappel and his ilk, whose brutal enterprises, while repugnant, they were also brutally honest: They did it for the money.
And the current crusade – backed by some elected officials and appointees – also scornfully ignores that an overwhelming majority of Americans find the notion of the resurgence of horse slaughter likewise repugnant. So scornful that the wording in Appropriations documents was, yet again, stolen in the back door through the larceny of the ’rider’, in avoidance of the Public and opposing legislators.
With the current disregard for humane treatment of animals already raised for food and, in fact, legislation drafted that assures documentation of abuse in slaughter factories will become a prosecutable offense, we seem to be witnessing the de-evolution of ethics and compassion, to not only portray them as character flaws but to depict them as criminal behaviors.
A quote by Geoff Young, publisher of ‘Horse Connection’ magazine, in an interview conducted and published by the Long Rider’s Guild Academic Foundation, sums it up quite well:
“It is money that causes a horse to breakdown from running too many races. It is money that compels a rider to dope a sore horse in order to get him in the competition ring. It is money that drives the whip in an endurance race with a purse. And, it is money that forces horses into trucks bound for the borders that house abattoirs. Money and greed are the biggest threats to the well-being of the horse.”
Then. And now.
(This article contains quotes and excerpts from the article, “Savin’ All My Love For You” by CuChullaine O’Reilly, one of the founding members of the Long Rider’s Guild and Academic Foundation.
The article in it’s entirety can be accessed here:
http://www.lrgaf.org/slaughter/savin.htm
The Long Rider’s Guild is a foundation comprised of academics and adventurers whose purposes, among many, are to document and encourage contemporary Human/Horse culture and to preserve and relate it’s ancient heritage.
Membership is contingent on several qualifications; first, a continuous, documented ride of at least 1000 miles. The second, and perhaps most important – a Rider’s willingness to put “ the horse’s welfare above thier own.”)
Related articles
- Trucker tells chilling account of driving horses to slaughter (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Congress Considering Ending Horse Slaughter Once And For All (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Horseback Mag Banned from Horse Slaughter Summit (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Italian Horse Group Exposes Dangers of Imported U.S. Horse Meat (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- America’s Youth Appeal to Obama to End Horse Slaughter (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Texas Mayor Paula Bacon Kicks Some Horse Slaughter Tail (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Covert Equine Terrorist Attack Backfires on Horse Slaughter Cult (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- From the Mouths of Babes the Horses are Saved (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Revival of Horse Slaughter to Cost Taxpayers (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- US Horse Slaughter Trade Cruel, Deceptive (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse Slaughter, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Killing, the final solution to societies unwanted. To profit by it is even more grotesque.
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the Mustangs are are wanted by society, Its the BLM who doesnt want them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I read the entire article on the Long Riders’ Guild. Amazing…what an interesting story, although absolutely horrifying for the horses. HOW can we be so backward as a nation, even today?
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Hey RT,
I know you have a list of links on the page that would probably get someone to this sooner or later, but what about adding a new box, since so many people come to this page — posting a modern listing of kill buyers, so at least here, they can’t hide?
I saw an ad in my local paper last week for one, like, “We buy horses, sound or unsound….” He is a notorious kill buyer from Youngstown, OH, Ron Andio. I name him here for everyone to see. I called him on the phone this weekend, and will continue to take action about what he does.
Can you create a “Dishonor Roll” of kill buyers on the sidebar? Or at least a box of that title with links to updated sites which name them?
Thanks, Rob
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Great idea! Let’s call them out at every opportunity. Animal Angels have names also.
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Heres a Name of a Kill buyer in Ohio LEROY BAKER probably the worst inhumane Monster known to man…………………………………………….Has been Fined by the USDA for his Cruelties to horses $64,000.00 has not been paid to date……………………………..
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Dear Rob, excellent , expose these heartless pieces of human garbage……..who feed on the Slaughter of the innocent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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As tears stream down my face for deaths by slaughter of the horses leaves a bitter grotesque feeling, it prompts me to say that a society that lets this happen to the horses is truly lost !!!! I wish I could understand the greed and whatever else it takes to Condemn the Allies that have given throughout history their all to us, Good will never understand evil…. They will continue to trust us and look to us for care because their nature is to do so….. My faith in mankind to respect and admire the horse is blacken by their inability to respect and honor the animal that is America………..The horse was given beauty , poise trust courage, mystical magic, power , stamina, and love but he forgot to give them one important thing and that is FIGHT, that is why he empowered, us with it , to use for them, he wanted to create a caretaker who would see and find what true innocent beauty is, and to show to us True meaning of love and respect and honor , he also equipped the horses with a healing power ,not just physical but also mental which can amaze you , just ask the mother or mothers of children who came to this world without the ability to show any emotion, in one session the horse gave to the mother and mothers of these children hope , by inducing a smile on the child’s face when they were put upon their backs…. So many awesome attributes I could go on all day knowing these things what kind of a person would ever harm them???????/ I will not ever stop fighting for what so truly belongs to them………………………..
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Public knowledge will be the downfall of this predatory, deceit and cruelty filled business. The fact alone that our government turns a blind eye while we ship toxic meat abroad, should be enough. But as a whole the public is still clueless. Many I have approached don’t want to hear about it, it’s too horrible they say. So put your head in the sand, ignore, deny and pretend a Nation, who is suppose to set the standards for food safety, animal cruelty restrictions and humaneness exists, while you ignore what is at the end of your nose. This attitude infuriates me and is why animal cruelty runs rampant, as well as child abuse in our Nation. The sticking your head in the sand, must stop! Our Nation is allowing horrendous cruelty at the hands of a small interest group, poisoning innocent people across this globe, while lining the pockets of politicians, all in the name of a buck. All for a business that the meat is so toxic, we won’t even allow our dogs to eat here. Where is the sanity? Why is not the whole dang blasted country in an uproar? Weary of stupidity, blindness, ignorance and GREED.
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I would like to see the Burns Amendment repealed. Is this issue part of HR 2966 & S 1176?
It is an end run around not allowing mustangs to go slaughter.
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Sorry… Hit the reply button instead of adding my name: Margo Nielsen
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A very important side issue, but of course if Hr2966 and S 1176 pass it would be impotent.
But I would like to see the repeal of that next congress along with the reinsertion of the ban for funding of horse meat inspectors, if we can’t get the bills out of committee.
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Thank you Ms. LeBlanc.
Your editorial is very well written and resourced.
To the SFTHH readers, please take time to go to Horseback today and read about a letter sent to Secretary Vilsack, Dept of Ag regarding the shame that is our food system.
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No to horse slaughter in the USA No to opening horse slaughter plants in the USA. We so need to get SB1176 and HR2966 to STOP THE WAR ON HORSES. Please everyone get involved and save our horses from going to hell> They deserve a life to live:) We can do it, so LET’S get it done!!! We are the voices for the horses that don’t have one!!!
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I asked the same question last night. What has happened in this country to make us so bloodthirsty??? Part of it is money. Part of it is if the horse hurts someone off he goes. If he isn’t fast enough off he goes. But when is enough enough?
I have another question. If you call the vet out to have him put the horse down you have issues with toxic chemicals. My question is this: if you shoot the horse (properly) is he still just as toxic? Can he buried on your farm or landfill?
There is nothing wrong with HUMANE EUTHANASIA but the animal ABSOLUTELY must not suffer. To be Kosher the animal must be dead in a couple of secs.
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BOTTOM LINE:—-THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONTROL ON BREEDING!! ESPECIAALY THE RACING INDUSTRY. SO MANY BRED AND ONLY A VERY FEW MAKE IT TO THE RACES.
IT’S JUST HORRIFIC.
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Dear Bonnie , Start with AQHA, thats were the over Breeding is running ramp-id …….These people have no restraints on the the over breeding of horses………………………
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So true..and add Paint Horse Association.. then the PMU industry which seems to be kicikng up again.
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As you said in your article, “Wild horses, now made more accessible through the ten’s of thousands in captivity.” BLM’s illegal holding pens will make it so easy for them to disperse or dispose of the majority of our Mustang horses whenever they decide to do so. The law clearly states the WH&B are to remain as “free-roaming” animals “in the area where presently found [1971]” and that was NOT Kansas and Oklahoma concentration camps.
Thank you, Lisa. You say it so well.
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GOOD JOB, Lisa! So much for Quaker Oats, which has NOTHING to do with Quakers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company
In August 2001, Quaker was bought out by Pepsico because Pepsi wanted to add Gatorade to its arsenal of beverages and thus break into the isotonic sports beverage market. The merger created the fourth-largest consumer goods company in the world.
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Isn’t that YUM brands? They used to support the Triple Crown.
Wonder if they have a lock on poop meat (and I use the term with question) for KFC, Taco Bell, et al.
WTH is being allowed to go on in this country???????????
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Denise,
What is going on in the meat supply in this country is outragous, and woulld take another whole segment to talk about. Sometime last year Louie posted a video on – meat glue, I emailed that to everyone I know and got the biggest response back ~ of all time. Now, I don’t know a lot of meat growers but a few months back on a forum my huband is on – about tractors, some of the folks on there were talking about cattle, now this is not a quote, but this is how I understood the posts–for a cow to be sold as grass fed, it on has to eat grass 1 month of it’s life, that could be the beginning, the middle, or the end of it’s life, but can be fed GMO,s and fillers all the other days or months it is alive. And several of the men who posted spacifically stated that they grow cows to sell for the consumer and grow cows for themselves differenly, and this is a quote–they would never feed their family cows grown to sell to the consumer–now to me that just about says it all.
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Geri…YEP!!!!!! A big Fat F lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the input.
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. http://www.farmandranchguide.com/news/livestock/nd-anti-horse-slaughter-coalition-formed/article_1b5c2b3e-4ae2-11e1-9591-0019bb2963f4.html
ND Anti Horse Slaughter Coalition formed
The coalition is aggressively debating this issue and trying to keep horse slaughter and sale of horse meat for human consumption out of North Dakota now and in the future.
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Thanks for the history lesson. I knew it was bad, but I never even guessed it was ever THAT bad!! OMG!! Quaker Oats of all companies!? OK, I guess I’ll be buying generic or store brands of oats from now on, just to protest all the disgusting things they did in their past! Is there no end to this misery & suffering? What will “they” do when all the horses are gone? Even pets & companion horses are not safe!
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What a Great History Read On Our Horses R.T. Thank You * A lot of Great Comments shared as well…I pray daily that we can stop this runaway train of abuse & wrong being done to our horses …Soon!!!. Anyone that can’t see this for what it is….truly can’t have a heart or soul 😦 On a side note : I used to eat Quaker Oats Oatmeal…I didn’t know the story about them…till you shared this great article here R.T. >>> But I do now and I say Yuk !!!…NEVER EVER AGAIN WILL I EAT THAT BRAND !!!
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I hate to say this but a lot of the store brands are from the same companies but put into a different box. The same with tuna fish and many other foods. It’s the same tuna only labeled with the store label.
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Michael Finney is our consumer reports guy on local tv. This just came across my fb page and I saw red! Anybody want to help me set this guy straight.
He can be found at abc.com–then go to San Francisco.
01/30/2012
Why that hamburger is costing you more
That thick steak or juicy burger cost more these days. You have probably noticed the increase while shopping, or at a restaurant. Beef prices are up 10% from a year ago and are expected to go up as much as another 10% this year. So what’s driving the price jump? Supply and demand, there are fewer cows. Feed prices went up so ranchers thinned their herds. This is the smallest American herd in more than 50 years. Also pushing up prices are growing exports. There is an international hunger for U.S. beef. Eventually the heard will come back and prices should go down, but not for a while. So get used to the taste of chicken and veggie burgers.
Posted by Michael Finney on 01/30/2012 at 01:25 PM in Personal Finance | Permalink
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Sorry. I don’t see your “red”. As to what I read, he is correct. I don’t see a HCHS issue here save that exports of feedstuffs, forage and bad weather are impacting WESTERN beef products; of which, much is headed to export anyway.
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At least a professional should use the correct HERD. He is truly an idiot, who seems to be making a big deal out of the obvious, but I too miss the horse related part.
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The reason I saw red was because cattle outnumber wild horse 200 to 1. BLM is exterminating the horse to make room for cattle.
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Understood, Margaret.
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http://www.awionline.org/action-ealerts/calls-needed-today-support-ban-hauling-horses-double-deck-trailers
Calls Needed Today in Support of Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers
Date:
Monday, January 30, 2012
House Committee to Consider Bill on Thursday
Dear Humanitarian:
At long last, a ban on the use of trailers with more than one level for hauling horses is on the verge of being considered by Congress… It is also on the verge of being derailed. While language clearly banning ALL hauling of horses by double-deck trailers is included in the Surface Transportation Extension Act, opponents are trying to undermine this modest yet important legislation.
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Its a sick history for the horse. A lovely creature that if respected will give its all or what ever the project is for the day. Its a sad state of affairs that we continue to persecute them over and over again. But the sickiest thing ever is that we have Legislators who are elected to represent US in Washington, DC and once there form their own agendas. Louie- Good job with your coalition, keep the ball rolling and have those in your state read about the two plants in Kaufman, Texas and DeKalb, Illinois. Again, its all about the MONEY! Our Legislators believe it or not are suppose to spend sometime in their district offices. We all need to find out when that is and make some visits. I have contacted all my Legislators in Illinois and have been told they support the ban on horse slaughter and the transportation of our equines to other countries. It is about time that we convict people that lie about where the purchased horses will go. As I said before, the face of the Killer Buyers is changing. It could be anything from a woman with a family, to a preacher, or someone who looks as though they just came from an upscale horse show. I agree, get a list of all the known
“Killer Buyers” and what their trucks look like. They disgust me…and how about the truck driver..he needs to get his ass to his Legislators and make a call to our President relating his story. These statements prove everything that all of have been saying. How many other drivers are out there too? Horse and equine slaughter will never be HUMANE and should be banned totally from our country as well as the shipping to foreign countries. But we still need to continue to write to the losy, inhumane and cruel three who allowed this to happen. I would love to know how much they received for their vote. We have alot at stake here and I know all those who participate on this log will fight to the finish. Its disgusting that we have to fight for a double decker trailer instead of stopping it all together. I hope all these Dregs of society suffer the same fate when the time comes.
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The Secretary of Agriculture banned the use of double decker trailers as of October 7, 2011, per one of the recommendations of the GAO report for administrative rather than congressional action.
The Humane Society of the US has a number to call if someone sees horses traveling on a double decker trailer.
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I have friends who raise beef as I imagine some of you do also, but in this area I think more people are getting involved in different aspects of beef production. In five years, the profit margins have almost doubled for what this market produces which is beef for local and regional food production as well as for sale to middle buyers who transport cows from this area to farms and ranches further West. Every beef/hay farmer I talk with says that things are going very well. We have been fortunate to have rebounded from the drought conditions several years ago. Despite some weather related disasters such as hurricanes and flooding, large parts of the East, Mid-Atlantaic, and South are doing well. A local auction brought record prices per pound last week.
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Yep!
Corporate farming/ranching is killing food safety, quality and humane welfare. However, there are bright lights in the industry going so called “rogue” and making a difference and providing choices to the consumer. Factory farms/ranches are also killing democracy. That is an entirely different subject, but related in so many ways.
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That leaves a big question…why would the House committee be voting on the bill?
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Outstanding article! Informative, factual, relevent. Thank you for your efforts on this piece, Lisa LeBlanc.
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Can you even believe this??????
Contact: Dave Duquette, dave.duquette@united-horsemen.org, 541 571 7588
Second Historic Gathering of the Horse Industry Offers Unparallelled Opportunity to Inform Readers, Listeners, and Watchers About What it Takes to Build a Better Future for the Horse Industry
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SOTH logo
Click here to register for the Summit
United Horsemen to host the 2nd International Summit of the Horse April 2 to April 5, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Click the logo to the left to view full details and register for the event. See below for a previously distributed press release about the Summit
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As a member of the media you won’t find a better opportunity to interact directly with those who know and understand horses the best. Hear from people who make their living with horses, who breed, train, and show horses about what they believe is necessary to deal with dire problems facing the horse industry. Gain an understanding of the issues around protecting the land and managing horses being faced by tribes, states, and private land owners. Learn how we can use horses ethically and responsibly, what is necessary to ensure proper treatment in every circumstance, and why humane horse processing is important to ensure the overall welfare of horses. Find out what the horse people who are raising their families and hope to sustain a vibrant culture and a sustainable livelihood with horses are doing to make sure that all horses are handled humanely.
Due to security you will need to make your plans early — all credential requests need to be received no later than March 15, 2012. These precautions are necessary because of animal rights activists who fraudulently portrayed themselves as legitimate journalists in order to avoid conference registration fees and disrupt the first Summit of the Horse. Once again, our security team will ensure that those who have gathered to work on positive solutions for the horse industry are respected–any and all attempts to interfere with the free exchange of ideas and information will be removed.
All legitimate journalists are welcome to attend, and we hope that you do!
Our Media Coordinator, Mindy Patterson, will be happy to work with you to arrange interviews, or whatever else you need. Her contact information is on the Media Credential Form linked below.
Media Credential Form
___________________________________________________________
SOTH logo
Click here to register for the Summit
United Horsemen to host the 2nd International Summit of the Horse April 2 to April 5, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
This second historic gathering of the horse industry featuring scientists, experts, and stakeholders is focused on “Building a Better Future for Horses and Horse People.”
The Summit will open on Monday evening, April 2nd, with a reception, performance, and dance featuring Wylie and the Wild West at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The Opening Reception will include a fundraising auction facilitated by TotalHorseMarketing.com who will also be providing live webcasts of the entire Summit proceedings for interested people unable to attend in person.
Click here to buy tickets for the Opening Night activities only
The bulk of the Summit will be held at Embassy Suites at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. Trent Loos, well known radio personality and advocate for production animal agriculture will once again serve as the Master of Ceremonies and moderator for the entire Summit.
On Tuesday morning, April 3rd, the proceedings will be kicked off with a keynote address from former U.S. Congressman from Texas, Charlie Stenholm, “Politics of Land and Horses,” taking a fresh look at the significant changes that have occurred since he provided the same perspective at the first Summit of the Horse that was held in Las Vegas in early January of 2011. Stenholm will focus on the political landscape as we move forward. Following Stenholm’s address will be The Horsemen’s Forum featuring a number of horse industry leaders from diverse disciplines all speaking about what is necessary, from their perspective, to build a better future for the horse world.
Tuesday afternoon, April 3rd, will be a block of time devoted to a look at “What is Necessary to Responsibly Manage Wild Horses on Tribal, State, and Private Lands,” addressing the problems associated with horse management that is not the responsibility of the federal Bureau of Land Management. Jason Smith, Chairman of the National Tribal Horse Coalition will be among the voices speaking to this issue. The afternoon will also include a panel that includes the perspective of ranchers and range managers dealing with the chronic and excessive inability to maintain appropriate management levels on federal horse management areas. Chuck Sylvester will be talking about problems on the Granite Mountain Allottment in Wyoming, Dave Robertson from Colorado, and John Falen, rancher and current Chairman of the Public Lands Council will round out the panel which will also include Callie Hendrickson from the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts.
Dave Duquette and Temple Grandin
Dave Duquette, United Horsemen President and Dr. Temple Grandin
The keynote address on Wednesday morning, April 4th, will feature renowned scientist, Dr. Temple Grandin of Colorado State University speaking about “Humane Horse Handling.” Dr. Grandin’s participation is once again being generously sponsored by Rhodes River Ranch. The rest of the morning will be dedicated to the introduction, explanation, and demonstration of a suite of technology solutions that are being implemented throughout the re-emerging horse processing industry to ensure continuing high standards of humane handling of horses at every stage, as well as food safety and quality with scientifically valid testing, inspection, and third party monitoring and audit systems.
Wednesday afternoon, April 4th, will be dedicated to strategies and tools to effectively communicate with and inform policy makers and the public, as well as how horse owners can protect themselves from animal activist attacks. The afternoon begins with an address from Kevin Murphy, Food Chain Communications, talking about the “Moral-Ethical Implications of the Horse Processing Debate – How it Will Be Framed to the Public – How You Can Respond.” Also included in the afternoon will be Mindy Patterson, president and co-founder of The Cavalry Group speaking to “Defending Your Private Property Rights and Going on the Offensive Against the Animal Rights Movement.”
The 2nd International Summit of the Horse will conclude by noon on Thursday, April 5th. The morning will include addresses from Dr. Mykel Taylor, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University on her research, “The Impacts of Policy and Macroeconomic Conditions on Horse Markets,” which has evolved out of her initial work, some of which was incorporated into the GAO Report on “HORSE WELFARE: Action Needed to Address the Unintended Consequences of Domestic Slaughter Cessation.” The GAO Report was an eighteen month nation-wide study of the direct consequences of U.S. horse plant being closed that clearly documented the steep decline in horse welfare, and the severe negative economic impacts to the overall horse industry that resulted. Also speaking on Thursday morning will be Olivier Kemseke, General Manager and International Sales and Production, Chevideco, a multi-national third generation family business that is a leader in the European horse meat industry. Kemseke will be providing an overview and a worldwide economic outlook for the horse harvesting industry. Summit attendees will hear from other horse and agriculture industry leaders Thursday morning, and wrap up with a recap and the trail forward message based on the proceedings of the Summit by Steve Kopperud. Kopperud is the coordinator of the Farm Animal Welfare Coalition, and is the head of the new Washington, D.C. office for the International Equine Business Association.
A preliminary agenda and registration details are available at http://SummitoftheHorse.org.
Contact Dave Duquette, President of United Horsemen, to get information or discuss event sponsorship or vendor opportunities. United Horsemen is a nationwide grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to the well being of horses and horse people. United Horsemen advocates for the humane processing of otherwise unwanted or unusable horses, and the responsible management of wild horses on tribal, state, private, and federal lands.
-END-
SOTH lo res flyer
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Well, dealing with Dave Dquette is like asking to “paint me stupid”. BUT, Horseback is intending on attending and if they let them report….it is something.
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ACTION ALERT….Comments due today. Be certain to add your own comments (one sentence will be enough) to the petition so that your name will be counted:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6931/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9276
Urge BLM to Cancel All Plans to Remove Idaho Mustangs from the Range
Comments are due by January 31, 2012.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise, Idaho District Office is targeting nearly 100 wild horses for permanent removal from their high desert homes in the Hardtrigger and Black Mountain Herd Management Areas (HMAs).
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I’ve been thinking about this blog post…”No steps forward…” theme. I’m not sure that is the case.
The advocates are certainly standing their ground and making life or business as usual difficult for the killers and the government authorities/agencies that allow this meat lie and suffering to continue.
They are mobilizing with lies, propaganda, etc….so we must have their attention. We are getting the info out there. Those are good things, but not enough for our suffering equines.
However, it’s a start. It is just not going fast enough for all of us…or our equine partners.
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Great article Lisa!
But–I believe that there are great steps forward in our struggle to stop horse slaughter. Being old enough to remember Ken-L-Ration–it was just a “given” that old horses ended up in a dog food can or the glue factory. There was no internet and no one knew about the truck loads of horses taken to an brutal death. I would venture a guess that my pony ended up at an auction and was sent to his demise after we grew older and left home. Remember this was the same time period that most people’s dog were tied to doghouses, they didn’t live indoors, and not many people who owned horses called in a veterinarian. But now we know—and we let others know just what is involved with the dirty business of horse slaughter.
I just rescued a pretty little Arab-Quarter Horse mare from New Holland–the kill buyer there was Brian Moore. There is nothing wrong with this mare–the owners who happen to live in the same county as I do apparently sent her to New Holland complete with her 1/2 bred papers and they were the original breeders (Quarter Horses) I might add–sad
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Great article Lisa!
But–I believe that there are great steps forward in our struggle to stop horse slaughter. Being old enough to remember Ken-L-Ration–it was just a “given” that old horses ended up in a dog food can or the glue factory. Our society has changed. In the past there was no internet and no one knew (with the exception of the farming community) about the truck loads of horses taken to an brutal death. I would venture a guess that my pony ended up at an auction and was sent to his demise after we grew older and left home. Remember this was the same time period that most people’s dogs were tied to doghouses, they didn’t live indoors, and not many people who owned horses called in a veterinarian. But now we know—and we let others know just what is involved with the dirty business of horse slaughter.
I just rescued a pretty little Arab-Quarter Horse mare from New Holland–the kill buyer there was Brian Moore. There is nothing wrong with this mare–the owners who happen to live in the same county as I do apparently sent her to New Holland complete with her 1/2 bred papers and they were the original breeders (Quarter Horses) I might add–sad
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Let me say first that I have absolute faith in and admiration for the people I work with.
There is an assumption associated with evolution – that the thing evolving will become better as it progresses.
With regard to horses (and pretty much everything else), you’d think at this juncture, we would have advanced past the point where violent exploitation of an animal under human ‘purview’ would no longer be an issue.
There was no ‘information highway’, other than the media, prior to the 1980’s. Any concern for the way horses were handled, either corporate or government, was repressed by those who benefitted most by keeping a nosy and concerned Public ‘uninformed’. Now that we’re aware – determined AND connected – great influence is being excercised to keep the Public quiet. First by ridicule and character assassination, then by ignoring the majority. And finally, by threats of criminalization.
So far, we’ve avoided being diagnosed with ‘mass insanity’.
This isn’t evolvement. It’s either stagnation or regression. Whenever the Public strives to move forward, there always seems to be something in the background working against it.That was the point I was hoping to make.
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Heres the Latest from Sue Wallrus
International Equine Business Association Repudiates ASPCA Misleading and Fallacious Poll Regarding Horses
On February 1, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) issued a press release claiming “80% of Americans oppose the slaughter of horses.” It did not release the text of the actual survey questions, but based on the group’s press release, it is obvious those questions were chock full of misleading, misrepresentations designed for solely one purpose — to tug on the heart strings of animal loving Americans and to convince them horses are being horribly mistreated, and most importantly , that Americans with any heart need to send lots and lots of dollars to refill ASPCA’s ever-empty coffers so it can continue to pay six-figure salaries and finance all of those heart-rending TV advertisements.
Here’s the TRUTH!
Horses are multi-purpose animals which have been used for work, pleasure, sport and food since the dawn of time. They are processed under the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter law which applies to all livestock. It reads, in part “that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods.” Furthermore, the law specifically requires “that in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.”
There are ZERO citations for violations of this law even though federal government meat inspectors are required to be present in all plants whenever any animals of any species are being processed. The United States has one of the highest humane processing standards in the world, and utilizes a system professionally regulated by government officials, resulting in the finest and safest food supply on the globe.
The fact is horses are not special or unique; when they are processed in modern, regulated, facilities they do not suffer, and they provide much-needed protein for a hungry worldwide market.
Most of the world and many Americans enjoy equine meat for its nutritional density, rich, sweet flavor, and its affordability. Europe is facing massive economic problems and in every country where U.S. horse meat is prized and welcomed, horse meat costs 40% less than beef. Families struggling to feed their children on ever-diminishing budgets seek out this meat because it has twice the protein, half the fat, it is high in iron and super high in Omega-3 fatty acids, all at nearly half the price.
In North America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the French speaking areas of Canada are all large horse meat consuming areas. It is a sure bet the ASPCA didn’t target those populations with its slanted, pre-determined outcome questions. We’re pretty sure ASPCA didn’t survey the Mongolian populations in Seattle or Washington, D.C., or the Tongan populations in Salt Lake City. It likely didn’t call any of the ethnic communities, nor were they calling the horse people who breed, train, show, and work on horseback every day, folks who are nearly unanimous in their support of humane horse processing here in the U.S. where our government has jurisdiction, and horse people can monitor and ensure it is done correctly.
Polling results are all about how one asks the question. Think about the different response if the ASPCA poll had asked: “If horses are not wanted for any other purpose, and you knew they would be handled with minimum stress and the absence of pain under federal laws and supervision which apply to all livestock used for food – and there is a global demand for the meat – do you think it is ethical and responsible to use these animals for food?”
If they answered that question with some of the pat propaganda that has been so liberally thrown around by ASPCA, the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other fundraising groups, how do you think they will respond to the follow-up question: “Who do you think should pay for the care and upkeep of the roughly 200,000 horses that will cost a minimum of several thousand dollars each, every year, for their entire 30-plus-year life span?”
-END-
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May I suggest that equine vets who support horse slaughter have their names published in the state that they practice in?
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Dear Lynn, Posted would be great aList of Vets who support Horse Slaughter, for all to see !!!!!!
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Reblogged this on Pass the SAFE Act!.
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