Enjoy these photos of Rocky and some of his future pasture-mates and “neigh”bors!  Also, won’t you consider sponsoring Rocky?

March 31 & April 1

The 2012 American Equine Summit will be held at Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary, Saturday, March 31 and Sunday. April 1 in Chatham, NY, 30 miles south of Albany.  This invitation-only Summit was organized in response to the surprise amendment Congress passed at the end of 2011 that paved the way for the return of horse slaughter to the United States.  This was a slap in the face for the more than 80% of Americans who are strongly opposed to horse slaughter.  This occurrence orchestrated by a few Congressman beholden to the Agriculture Industry, the Cattlemen and the American Quarter Horse Association was a disgraceful demonstration of how special interests defied the will of the vast majority of the American people on the issue that now has millions crying “foul!”

The Summit has two main objectives:

1. To come up with a strategy to reverse the damage done by Congress and move toward a federal ban on horse slaughter

2. To empower the “80 percenters” who are against horse slaughter and give them the tools to be able to effectively make their voices heard and inspire change

The Summit has attracted a distinguished group of equine experts from all across the country  — California, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Virginia — and the northeast.

Headlining the event is legendary concert promoter and horse lover, Ron Delsener who will deliver the Keynote Address.

Other speakers include:

►     Paula Bacon, former Mayor of Kaufman, Texas, who successfully won the fight to shut down Dallas Crown, the horse slaughterhouse that operated in Kaufman for many years.  Ms. Bacon will discuss the constant environmental violations during the time Dallas Crown was operating and how the Kaufman horse slaughterhouse demoralized the people who lived in that area.   Read Vickery Eckhoff’s article in Forbes about Paula Bacon’s victory.

►    Dr. Caroline Betts, an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California will discuss the flaws and discrepancies in the 2011 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the closing of horse slaughterhouses in the US.  She will also discuss the economics of horse slaughter and the misconceptions being spread about it by those who want to bring horse slaughter back to the US.  Dr. Betts will talk about her personal involvement with horse rescue and her role as the President of the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, the non-profit organization which she founded in 2008.

►     Cathleen Doyle conceived and spearheaded the first state initiative in the nation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption with California’s historic Save the Horses’ “Proposition 6.”  Ms. Doyle will go through the history of the horse slaughter issue, the reasons why a federal ban has not yet passed and what needs to be done in order to make that happen.

►     John Holland is a writer and President of the Equine Welfare Alliance, representing over 200 organizations worldwide.  Mr. Holland will define what a “slaughter horse” is and discuss the misconceptions and untruths being spread by the special interest groups that want the convenience of being able to sell horses to slaughter rather than take responsibility for them.

►     Dr. Kraig J. Kulikowski is a licensed equine veterinarian who operates his practice, Equine Sports Medicine, out of Saratoga Springs, NY and Wellington, FL.  Dr. Kulikowski will discuss humane euthanasia as an alternative for slaughter, as well as the importance of responsible horse guardianship.

►     Katia Louise is an award-winning filmmaker whose most recent documentary, “Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed” will be shown at the Summit.  Ms. Louise will talk about the experiences she had during the making of the film and her work on the horse slaughter issue.

►     Victoria McCullough is an equine protectionist and rescuer who was instrumental in the passage of Florida’s “Equine Protection Act of 2010.”  Ms. McCullough will discuss the urgency of passing a federal ban on horse slaughter and the rescue of 163 horses from an Ohio slaughter auction in 2008.

►     Jo Anne Normile is the founder of both the Saving Baby Equine Charity and CANTER.  She is also the principal of Normile Racehorse Protection Consulting.  Ms. Normile will discuss the plight of the “used up” Thoroughbred.

►     John Sweeney is a former US Congressman who served New York State’s 20th Congressional District from January 1999 through January 2007.  He will discuss his role as the primary sponsor of H.R. 503, the House version of The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and how he led the charge to its successful passage in 2006.  Mr. Sweeney will also go into detail to identify the opponents of the bill, how they managed to block its passage in the Senate, what tactics the opposition used, what we can expect from them today and his advice going forward on passing strong and effective legislation that would completely ban the slaughter of American’s equines for human consumption in the US and their transport to other countries for the purpose of slaughter.

►     Susan Wagner, President and founder of Equine Advocates will host the Summit and discuss what inspired her to hold this event at this particular time.  “It is truly an honor to be able to welcome these amazing guest speakers to Chatham, NY, most of whom will be traveling from far distances just to be a part of the 2012 American Equine Summit,” Ms. Wagner said.  “All have made important contributions in their respective areas of equine protection.  To be able to hold this Summit at our horse sanctuary where most of the equines have been rescued from slaughter is both fitting and appropriate.

Attendance to the Summit is by invitation only.  A detailed report of what transpired will be announced and made available to the press and the public.  For more information, please contact Susan Wagner at info@equineadvocates.org or call (518) 245-1599.

Photo by Jeffrey Anderson

It is with a heavy heart that I write that our beautiful, beloved, Betty passed away on November 13, 2011 from complications due to colic.

If you are in the area, please come to the Opening Reception at Gallery 135 on Saturday, November 12th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Below is the invitation and you can visit Gallery 135′s Website to see some of his work.   Purchases can also be made through their website.

Many thanks and hope to see you there!

Stef-Albert Bothma’s Horses-Riders is a collection of revelatory equestrian paintings and drawings.  While these contemporary interpretations may reference the historical significance of the horse in some instances, they are also testaments to the iconic and poetic stature of horses the world over.  Within these works, one senses he intuitive complexities of horses – their magnificent scale, sensual beauty, dark unpredictability, undeniable power, and surprising capability for tenderness and caprice – that partially explain their allure.  Further, Horses – Riders articulates the mystery inherent not only in this most elegant of animals, but in art itself.

Over 75% of the American people are strongly opposed to horse slaughter.  Since the passage of “Prop 6″ in California thirteen years ago, a federal bill that would ban horse slaughter in the US and prohibit the transport of US horses to other countries for the purpose of slaughter has been continually blocked and/or opposed by the Farm Bureau, the Cattlemen, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Association of Equine Practioner (AAEP), the American Veterinary Medical Association, and most of the horse councils and all of the Big Ag groups.

In addition to having a permanent posting of these links on Equine Advocates website, we will also be posting a printable transcript of the interview.  Please watch for it.  Eyewitness accounts and proof of the horses having their eyes shot out, their mouths wired and other atrocities have been documented over the years, but having an individual testify that he not only committed these cruel acts but was taught how to do them by truckers, haulers and trainers, makes this account extremely important in the fight to pass a federal ban on horse slaughter now.  Equine Advocates was formed because of the horse slaughter issue and remains committed to seeing an end to this unspeakable, disgraceful and un-American practice.  We wish to express our deepest heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Cathleen Doyle who was a true prioneer in the movement to end the slaughter of America’s wild and domestic equines.

Strong federal legislation, which would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, in addition to prohibiting their transport to other countries, including Canada and Mexico for the purpose of slaughter desparately needs to be passed.  Please watch these videos and forward them on.  This is important testimony that everyone needs to see, especially our local, state and federal lawmakers and officials.

These two beautiful healthy Thoroughbreds were on their way to auction when Equine Advocates came to their rescue in 2010.