Add Bo Derek to the challenge list.  How come none of these tv  pundits asked her how many off the track thorobreds she has adopted?

AND why is it better to feed horsement to dogs than to people?

TO ALL THE DO-GOODERS:  you are missing the forest for the trees!  If you feel compelled to be a do gooder, then do it yourself;  don't ask others to support YOUR charitable impulses.

 you write the truth thank you

Okay I just couldn't let this one go by...... You want the government to license horse breeders?  Doesn't the government stick their nose in enough of our personal business as it is now?  Are you going to demand licensing for dog owners/breeders ? How about cat breeders?  Lets just give the government more reason to increase our taxes and invite them into our homes to regulate our personal freedoms.  I do not agree what backyard breeders do .........that doesn't mean we all need to be regulated. !! Usually the folks who want more government regulation are the ones who scream the loudest when it suddenly effects them. 

"Government that governs least governs best"

Everyone has made valuable contributions with their thoughts and opinions.  I really perked up when I read about backyard breeders and the problems they create.  No matter where we go, we are going to be exposed to "used car salesmen" in some venue.  I really have to control my emotions when I see puppy breeders in action and it's just as bad when I see a local horse owner with falling down fencing, a junkyard for a backyard, a leaking barn and horses in less than a healthy condition or environment.  But they are driving a new dually and a new LQ trailer when they leave the farm.  I've seen these people in action first hand, with my own eyes abusing horses!  Once again, there's a local farm that I'm not welcome at anymore due to a young horse bleeding from abusive treatment while the owner was training to load on a trailer. 

On the other hand, I know of several reputable, local, horse people that breed and show. I own a horse from one of the farms that I'm speaking of and these people run a first class horse facility. They do it on a budget, they do selective breeding, vets and farriers are out regularly, they don't care for AI type breeding and turn out a really good product. You don't just buy one of their horses, you qualify for adoption! I'm not kidding.

No matter where we go in life, we are going to be exposed to something that doesn't set well with us. The majority of the time it's cultural, political or religious that gets somebodies panties all wadded up. I hate the thought of slaughtering horses, but we do it with pigs, chickens and cows everyday. Jews can't stand the thought of us slaughtering pigs to eat them.  People in India can't stand the thought of us slaughtering cows to eat them since they are a sacred animal. We can't stand the thought of slaughtering horses because we love them so much. Try to explain that to the poeple in France!

Bottom line, IMHO we need to do what we can to be good stewards while we are on this planet. Everything we have is a gift from God in one way or another. If we are all good stewards of what we are blessed with, we are doing the right thing.

Happy trails.

You must be kidding. You want the GOVERNMENT to determine who is an appropriate breeder and pass legislation to this effect? Good God! You are begging for a corrupt, monopoly of overpriced, substandard horses that would put this sport out of the reach of anyone who might actually be in it for the love instead of the money.

The market will put those "backyard" breeders out of business as it ought to. You want the government to decide?? I am sick at the thought of those corrupt, greedy, idiot senators, reps and lazy ass beaurocrats (sp?) getting anywhere near the breeding business. Given what a bang up job they've done with rescues one can only imagine what they'll do to the rest of us.

deranger,

I couldn't Agree more, nicely put.

                                  ,Ardly

Last night I had a dream that I lived in a country that consider's "horsemeat" a delicacy.  I owned a trusted steed that gave me great pleasure over the years.  One day my horse got injured.  I called the vet out and he tells me that my friend has to be put down.  I said to the vet, as I wipe my tears, "Oh,okay, I'll call the butcher!

Just think, in countries that eat horsemeat, you can "Have your horse and eat it too"!

No fuss, muss or mess.  Just the local butcher's fee..........

(Don't forget, I'm for slaughter)

OK, I should have my Butt kicked for putting the government in charge... IN FACT...I Will KICK IT MYSELF NOW!!! What was I thinkin?? But, I do wish we could be more thoughtful when breeding animals (or ourselves)...

I don't only have egg on my face, but maybe a little pooh too.

This sounds like a cuntry song !!!

Pass the steak sauce

Don't breed em, eat um.

In my high school horse science class I teach, I posed this topic to the students.  I divided them into groups to discuss the pros and cons of the situation.  Before I started, I made them vote as to the ones that supported horse slaughter.  Only one raised their hand out of 20.  The rest were strongly against this.  Granted, we have been in the process of breaking colts since school started and they see the horses as their pets.  However, we also raise cattle on the property.  I then asked how many would have a problem eating one of our cows.  Everyone was able to say that they could eat one of our cows tonight for supper.  They had a hard time seeing that horses are also used in other countries for consumption.  I then asked the ones opposed to come up with solutions, and they had the similar response that we just send them to people to feed and let them live out their life.  Then, when I asked how many would be willing to take some home, no one was ready to accept the responsibility.  Whether we want to realize it or not, this is a big problem that we face.  So many people are not informed about this program.  They just see it as killing an American icon.  If we are going to get effective legislation passed for horse population control, we must find a way to teach the public the many different aspects that are involved.  I would venture to say that most of the parents of the students I polled would have voted the same way.  It is going to take some grass root initiative to help this problem.  If not, we will face this for years to come.

Thank you calmityj and derringer.

As responsible horse owners and breeders WE have to lead by example.  When we see abuse or abandonment of any animal we need to step forward and address that too.

The Backyard hobby breeders are not the problem, been around the racing business for 34 yr. The racing business is just that a business and the breeders breed for winners. If the horse doesn’t produce there gone, and half the time the horses are racing at 2- 3 yrs. and injuring the legs because there not fully develop. The adoption program is great but you’re never going to find homes for all these horses.

Some of these horses off the track are just down right dangerous and should never go to a backyard home.

I have a neice that purchased one of these "old "race horces and she is selling him as all he wants to do is race! he is no fun to ride.

I told her when she sold him to come and see Me that I had a 5 year old appy filly that loves trails and people.I would enen discount her price to cover her fuel from Arizona to Oregon.Not that I want to get rid of My horse I just love them both and think they would make a great pair.I trust this horse enough that my 6 yo grandson rides her bareback with just a halter and lead rope.I think it's like dogs we don't want to think about eating dogs, but in some countries they eat em!

You people obviously don't understand the difference between Euthanasia and slaughter.  Its about ending slaughter for human consumption.  We don't eat our dogs & cats and we don't raise horses for humans to eat.  Putting horses down because they are old or unusable is a different situation.

90% of the horses that these killer buyers are transporting are good usable animals. Alot of these horses are also stolen. Horses belong in a stable and not on the table. Horsemeat is also not used in any dog food! You can call AAFCO and find that out.  It doesn't sound like too many people are educated or informed on this situation.  We don't raise horses in this country for human consumption and foreign owned slaughter companies operating here in the United do not pay taxes or contribute to our economy.  They get $30.00 a pound in Japan, France & Belgium.  Last year they reported $60million dollar profit from our horses.  Selling our horses out to foreign companies doesn't seem right.

windwalker2, I guess I need to be educated on this topic. Since you are pro-slaughter, maybe you can help? I don't think I could eat horse meat unless the situation was pretty drastic. Meaning, my family would have to be starving for me to shoot a horse, skin it, process the meat, cook it and serve it to my family at meal time. 

What are the advantages of slaughtering horses for the meat since we don't consume horse meat in this  country?

Thanks.

edited only because I hadn't written anything yet.

Anyway, I have mixed emotions on this subject of horse slaughter. I'm not sure it would change anything to make it illegal. Even with it legal there are plenty of people that already neglect and starve horses to death every year. So I'm not sure making horse slaughter illegal will make that happen more than it already does. Responsible people are responsible and the others will do what they do no matter what the laws.

Anyway, stepping aside for a moment, I felt a need to defend my OTTB's  . I agree they are not for everone, and even mine have their moments, which have more to do with the lack of time I have to give them the riding they really need, than anything else about them.

I cringe when I hear someone has bought one for a green rider, because the horse was cheap. Doesn't help their rep, when the wrong people are starting them in new careers. They require more patience than most are willing to give them. Many do have soundness issues, but the vast majority just weren't fast enough. 

That said, my boys. Zen and Guy on the left are OTTB's (BJK's Zentetta(trained to race, never did, clumbsiest coming 4yo I've ever seen) and Freezout, if you are interested in registered names). Both were bought at auctions. Flynn on the right is my old grade gelding (something on the lines of gaited Morgan, Tennessee Walker, or a Missouri Foxtrotter. Mustang? Who knows, just a damn good little horse.) who has done damn near everything including team penning last year at age 29. We drew a second place team.

Anyway, the ponees.

Some Zen cam, see you can trail ride on an OTTB. Since I don't have time to train for real showing, that's pretty much all we do these days.  Which is quite all right with me.

Middlefork State Park in Illinois last fall.

Bridge without guard rails.

This sign cracked me up. Hey! Zen, other way!

Don't forget, you can't tie an OTTB. hehehe

Then of course there's my icon I took at Kankakee State Park last fall.

 Sorry, just have to take care of my OTTB friends. Especially when there are those that think the only thing they are good for after racing is slaughter. So very, very untrue. 

Oh yeah, at the World Equestrian Games Amy Tryon rode Poggio II an OTTB to a Bronze medal in 3 Day eventing.

Sorry, I am a wee bit sensitive to the subject.

 Oh and a picture of Guy at the auction I bought him, just above slaughter price. How could I resist?

Anne01325, I guess I'm still missing something on this thread? Maybe I have to be hit over the head with a 2x4 before I can grasp what seems to be easy to understand for others.

There is a local horse auction that used to be loaded with buyers of horses going to the killers. It's no longer loaded with buyers for killers since the market stepped up and started buying some of the horses that would have gone to the killers. The local Health Dept. along with humane organizations are stepping up to the plate as well. This has had a positive effect on the number of horses going to the killers and the quality of horses going to the auction.

As for the wild mustangs and range horses, I think the BLM is doing a great job with the overwhelming task of taking care of wild horses. I also applaud the prison system for getting involved in helping to rehabilitate inmates and get wild horses ready for adoption.

There is also the concept that nature is in control of part of this problem. Need I say more?

I appreciate your thoughts and comments.