Just curious if anyone is feeling the effects of the ceasing of horse slaughter in the USA.  With Congress having passed the bill to discontinue the necessary USDA inspections till October, I was wondering if anyone has noticed the dropping in prices yet?  I haven't been to any sales yet this year, but I have already heard grumbling from some local breeders about the market going very very soft thanks to congress. 

Any thoughts on this?  Maybe it is too early to tell yet. 

We have about 12 solid mares of our own, that we breed each year to our stud(1994 Congress winner Reining) This year I only bred one of them He stands for $500 and I can't get that from babies on the ground. I'd say that is a soft market. But you know when you think about it, It is really our own fault when prices were up in late 90's early 2000-2001 we over bred everything. So I guess we'll pay for a few years with low price horses.

 Come to Florida, everyone thinks their 23 wear old mare is made of gold.

Looking at the papers here you would think the equestrian lost their minds. 

It's a sign that the man upstairs wants me to buy more show horses....the dropping prices make me happy

I bought hay this year for $30/round (nicer than my usual squares) in South Eastern OK (just above Durant) and they guy had more than he could sell.  The funny thing about hay is...you just need to know where to look!

Hay prices are decent up here in Michigan.  I get good grass/alfalfa/timothy mix for $3 a bale for a good 50 pound bale, or I can pay $40 for a the same mix in a huge round bale.    I find it is easier to buy it by the ton rather than by the bale.

I hope Congress gets the message of what they are doing to horse prices and peoples livlihoods.  Granted the thought of horse processing is not a pleasant thought, but obviously it is a necessary evil!  

HWBar, I don't see it taking care of itself for at least ten to twenty years.  We are flooded, not with just young babies, but middle to older horses as well.  Meat buyers did inflate the prices.   I don't think alot of it was over breeding.  First 75% of the PMU farms in Canada shut down or reduced their production, thrusting thousands of horses into the market, then with Congress having passed the bill to end USDA inspections, the excess market has been closed off.  You will definitely see lots of horses suffering because there is no where for them to go.  The economy is already staggering due to unemployment (NAFTA) and now, we have thrust thousands more into unemployment, plus inundated the market with lots of horses to care for that were not planned on being cared for.  Rescues are inundated, and can barely keep their heads above water as it is. 

I agree, Government should NOT have meddled in this, it has caused a domino effect in several financial arenas. 

If those folks in Congress who voted to pass this bill are so concerned about the horses welfare they need to open up their check books and head on down to the local auction to pick up the loose ends!!!!

The PMU mares are not to blame - slaughter is still open in Canada.

My question is what ever happend to having a horse PTS? I don't disagree with horse slaughter - I think for cull animals it is a necessary evil - otherwise healthy animals that are either unsuitable, dangerous or just overstock - that I'm ok with. But i get upset hearing about the half deads, cripples and very old horses being forced to make that trip because the owner is too greedy to just have the horse PTS. If they don't want to pay for a vet - a bullet is a much more humane option than a slaughter trip.

Hopefully with the "pay me $400 for my injured/crippled horse" option not available to most people that they will start doing the right them and have those horses humanely distroyed.