Horse Slaughter Essay

If you’ve ever owned an animal, you know that being around them can be extremely therapeutic. After a stressful day at work or school, it is always nice to come home to your pet and feel comforted by them. Many dog owners even claim that their dogs can feel their pain. However, if you speak to anyone who has been spent their life around horses, they’ll tell you that the connection between horse and rider is unlike any other. Norwegian researcher Anita Maurstad explains in a recent article, that over time horse and rider can become so attuned to each other that they develop a state of co-being. Maurstad also found, through research, that horses appear to learn to relate to humans in ways that provide them with a good quality of life. A recent study from Washington State university has concluded that kids who work with horses have significantly lower stress levels. In addition to these, there have been numerous other studies that show that working with horses decreases blood pressure, reduced feelings of anger, tension, and anxiety. Riding horses also allows you to gain feelings of self esteem, empowerment, patience, and trust. Because of the overwhelming positive effects that horses seem to have, horses are no longer being used just for recreational or agricultural

In the US today cattle are part of everyday culture. With more than 93 million cattle in the dairy and beef industry, and tens of thousands in the rodeo business, cattle are definitely a huge part. Lately, there has been many concerns with the bovine friends along with multiple misconceptions. Rodeos may look tough on animals, and todays society is not educated well enough on the beef and dairy industry. People don’t realize that these animals are happy, healthy, and very well cared for.

Recently, the Texas Humane Legislation Network has been leading the attack on the multimillion dollar companies, citing a law from 1949 that "prohibits possession, sale or shipment of horse meat [intended] for human consumption" (St. Petersburg Times, 9/4/02).  Both companies have filed lawsuits in retaliation. They state that the slaughter of horses eases financial strain, feeds other nations, and is accomplished in a humane manner.

An ongoing ethical debate in America is whether horse slaughter should be legalized in the United States. This debate grabs the emotions of many individuals and arises many questions. Horses are normally considered companions that are used for labor and events. Isn’t it inhumane to kill a companion? Aren’t there enough homes for our furry companions? In all reality horses are expensive animals and aren’t always used for their breeding purposes. Humane societies/rescues barely have enough room for neglected small animals, bringing in larger mammals is not plausible. Saving every animal will cause an overpopulation problem and increase the rate of neglect. Horses are being neglected, starved, abused, and even shipped across the country, banning slaughter houses is the truly the inhumane route. Slaughtering isn’t an easy alternative, but allowing them to suffer isn’t any better.

Horses have never been raised for human consumption in the United States. However, for decades now, horses have been bought, stolen, or acquired under false pretenses and then sent to the slaughter house all throughout the world- including here on US soil. According to the Humane Society of America, over 100,000 horses are sent to slaughter each year. Horse meat sales rapidly declined for many years, but it has become popular again in overseas countries like France, Belgium, Italy, and Japan. Naturally, as the demand for the horse meat increased, so did the demand for horses to be slaughtered. Horse meat is considered a “clean meat” and a tasty alternative to beef and other traditional meats because of the multiple contamination scares. Those who consume horse flesh (typically in Europe and Asia) are willing to pay extremely high prices for horse meat. Butchers and

The population of horses is increasing by the thousands and nobody is doing anything about it. By gathering up the horses and putting them in holding pins/ranches becomes more and more of a financial problem and emotional problem. Fertilizing the females, relocating them over the country, or even selling some to the public will overtime reduce the population greatly. If we continue ignoring the fact sooner or later there will be no vegetation for livestock to feed on, causing meat prices to skyrocket or

There is a stereotypical image of horses found in a slaughter hold: they are either skinny, sick, or old. So why should the U.S. prevent the practice? According to the USDA, most of the horses found in a slaughterhouse are in perfect health and are formally owned by people as pets. Many owner’s explanations as to why they decided to send their horse or horses to slaughter is simply because they cannot afford to take care of them anymore, they no longer have a use (lameness) and convenience. Although horses often can be pricey to own, there are other options to getting rid of them as opposed to shipping them off to a slaughter plant. For example, selling them to another person who will give them a home, or even donating them to a horse rescue

When many people approach a horse, they instantly feel cautious of their surroundings. These people tense up and become terrified because of the horse’s size, how they look, or just because they have heard of people being injured from horses. Many people are intimidated by how big some horses can be and they do not want to be around them. Horses are only thought to be a dangerous animal, but they have helped humans in many ways. For instance, they have helped with farm work that humans couldn’t have done by themselves, and they were a mode of human transportation for many years. The things horses have done for humans have helped in many ways, but horses have many other purposes that can help people out. Although many people agree

Horses (Equus caballus) also known as equines have played in important role in various human interactions for hundreds of years. First, horses served as a means of various warfare, and then a role of transportation for humans. Today, horses are generally used for recreation and business which make up the equine industry. In the United States, there are about nine million horses, four million used in recreational activities, along with about five million people involved in various horse activities. Moreover, the equine industry has an impact of over one hundred million dollars on the United State’s Gross Domestic Product in jobs and spending. Florida is one of the leading states in the United States’s equine industry and has the third most populous

Killing horses is inhumane, horse are killed brutally for their meat, and this can also lead to issues to religions and ethical sides to it. A lot of slaughter houses in operation causes a lot of suffering to innocent horses, this is why when the horsemeat scandal had arisen, and so many people had been angry and frustrated. Another con was that horsemeat in the system posed severe health risks to those who consumed it. Experts have stated that ‘blood is so hard to neutralize and to dispose of in a non-toxic manner’ this means that slaughterhouses are also a risk to the environment as well as people’s health, as without ‘proper supervision’, the farmers also have a high chance of contracting the same infection as well as those who eat it.

Due to the failure of the federal management of wild horses, it is resulting in ecological and economic mayhem for Utah. They are looking to repeal the 1971 statue that protects these wild horses. The option to gather mares and inject them with a vaccine causing them to be infertile for a year or two is now being rethought since they will be returning the mares to the location. Thoughts of euthanizing healthy horses are still under debated since it is seen as inhumane. The next solution that was brought up was using these horses for meat. This was immediately seen as unfit due to Utah Department of Agriculture is not allowed to sign off on horse meat.

In this article, Bob Barker is explained on a more personal level demonstrating his dedication and association with animal rights and his personal foundation, D J & T Foundation. He clarifies his love for animals since he was a child walking home looking for dogs and cats with his mother; Mr. Barker says his transformation into an animal rights activist was gradual and he soon learned the horrible conditions animals were enduring. He and his late wife changed a part of their lifestyle by both becoming vegetarians because of the growing concern for the animals; however, his regimen of no meat, fowl, fish, or dairy products did not prevent surgery to relieve a blockage on his left carotid artery. While in bed recovering, Bob creates a bill that

In “The Case for Animal Rights,” Tom Regan emphasizes his philosophy on animal and human equality. After reading further into his work, he illustrates a societal system that belittles animals and their significance to our own existence. Regan conceptualizes that animals won’t have real rights unless we change our beliefs. We need to acknowledge a problem. After identifying the issue, we must recognize that there is a need for change in society. In addition, he also reiterates the importance of the populace changing the way they view animals. The way society views animals will create a snowball effect that will influence politicians to also believe in animal rights.

Injuries are nearly always unexpected and can rack up thousands of dollars in veterinary bills. Horses seem to “poke holes” in themselves and can get lacerated by barbed wire often in Florida. I luckily have not had any problems with my own horse, Levi. My last horse, Ringo, ended up costing me a fortune in veterinary bills. He colliced a few times and the bills from when he had to be euthanized were very pricy as well. What separates the good owners from the bad is the willingness to tend to their horse’s injuries. So many people just sell the horse if it is hurt bad enough that it needs time off from riding. Good owners take responsibility, provide the care that their horse needs, and stick around even when their horse is incapable of

Whether you ride English or Western saddle we can all agree that the horse contains a special place in our hearts. “The one thing you need to know about horses, says Jim Stitt, is they love to work and perform.” (Fong, Petty. It Was Urban Vs Cowboys in Fight for Animal Rights.) The horse has been used all throughout history from the Spanish Conquistadors to the Englishman during the American Revolution. Now horses can be found on race tracks, rodeos, shows, large and small farms, and slaughter homes. Even though some horse owners claim abuse is nothing more than discipline, and horse meat is high in protein, low in fat, and helps slaughter homes gain bigger profits and investment from overseas companies, horse abuse and slaughter should not be taken lightly because it is inhumane to abuse a horse to the brink of death and claim it is “discipline,” most slaughter homes are in insalubrious conditions and environments, and most horse abuse is done inside slaughter homes.