Horse slaughter is the way by which irresponsible people get rid of their unwanted horses quickly and for a profit. Every year, well over 120,000 equines from the United States are slaughtered for human consumption to satisfy the taste for horsemeat in Europe and Japan where it is considered a delicacy. Currently, these equines are being transported across the Canadian and Mexican borders where they are slaughtered and their meat is then exported overseas selling for between $15 and $25 per pound. While there are no horse slaughterhouses operating in the US now, that could easily change due to a movement by the small, but powerful special interest groups that have successfully blocked passage of federal legislation banning horse slaughter for nearly a decade.

Slaughtering horses in the United States for human consumption started in the early 1970's. Americans do not eat horsemeat – we consider horses to be favored animals, just like dogs and cats. The idea of eating horsemeat goes against our very culture. It was foreign interests that first built equine slaughterhouses in the United States and by the 1990's, there were at least sixteen of them operating all across the country. At that time, most Americans were not aware that this industry even existed. It was a secretive business that operated through "killer buyers" (middlemen for the slaughterhouses) and other "insiders," including horse dealers and a group of "meat men" who paid cash for Thoroughbreds who became injured or were just not fast enough to compete any more. Over the years, the industry grew largely as a result of indiscriminate and over-breeding by some people who began to use slaughter as a convenient way to get rid of their unwanted horses quickly, rather than take responsibility for them by either taking the time to place them or by paying a licensed veterinarian put them down humanely. Over 140,000 Quarter Horses are born every year, often "puppy mill style" with the ones that are "not just right" in terms of color and/or conformation being scrapped conveniently for slaughter.

Slaughter is a horrifying end for horses. The ordeal begins at the slaughter auctions where the chaotic environment causes excessive stress for the animals, some of whom are already injured. Young and healthy horses are sent to slaughter regularly; it is pure propaganda by the opposition that only sick and aged equines go to slaughter. Nothing could be further from the truth. At these sales, horses are transported under extremely cruel and inhumane conditions, sometimes traveling thousands of miles in overcrowded carriers with little to no food, water or rest. Some arrive at the slaughterhouses severely injured from being kicked or trampled by other frantic horses. Some cannot walk after the trip and have to be dragged to their deaths. Others arrive dead. Once at the slaughterhouse, traumatized and terrified horses are forced into the death chute leading them to the "knock box" where they are supposed to be rendered unconscious. However, the methods used to kill and slaughter the horses are indescribably horrific and many are still conscious as their throats are being slit.

As the practice of horse slaughter was exposed to the public, protests began and the slaughterhouses started shutting down. In 1998, Californians made history by passing Proposition 6, the first successful state initiative to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. California, the state with the largest equine population, as well as the nation's biggest agri-business state, said "No" to horse slaughter. The Save the Horses campaign, executed brilliantly by Cathleen Doyle and the California Equine Council, changed history…And a national movement began.

By 2006, there were only three horse slaughterhouses remaining in the US, all foreign-owned and operated. That year, H.R. 503, the House version of The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed easily, but was blocked in the Senate by Larry Craig (R-ID) and other lawmakers representing pro-horse-slaughter special interests. The bill died and has not reached the floor of either House since.

The two Texas facilities shut down after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 1949 Texas law prohibiting the sale of horsemeat. In 2007, the State of Illinois enacted a ban on horse slaughter, shutting the slaughterhouse there, the last one operating in the US.

Today, the slaughter continues with horses being transported to Canada and Mexico for an even more brutal death. You can view the stabbings of horses at Mexican slaughterhouses on YouTube under "Horse Slaughter in Mexico."

One of the largest feedlots for horses in the country is located in Shelby, Montana where tens of thousands of horses await their fates before bring shipped over the Canadian border for slaughter. The situation will only get worse if federal legislation banning the practice is not passed quickly. There is a current drive by eleven state legislatures to support horse slaughter and/or build horse slaughterhouses in their states. In addition, horsemeat lobbyist and former US Congressman, Charles Stenholm (D-TX) is encouraging some American Indian tribes to build equine slaughterhouses on their reservations (Read Cathleen Doyle's commentary about Stenholm promoting horse slaughter on Indian reservations.)

The number of horses being slaughtered for meat had decreased every year until 2000, when the numbers began to climb again. They really escalated after 2004 when former US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) surreptitiously attached an amendment to a 3,000-page spending bill which privatized America's Wild Horse and Burro herds. There were no hearings or even a warning that this was being done. As a result, Wild Horses and Burros can now be sold for commercial purposes, including slaughter. On February 9, 2009, US Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV) introduced federal legislation, H.R. 1018, the ROAM ACT to reinstate their protection. Read more about the bill.

Our government should respect the will of the vast majority of Americans who want to see horse slaughter banned. H.R. 503 and S.727 are the latest House and Senate versions of The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, federal legislation introduced during the current 111th Congress that would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption here in the US and prohibit the transport of equines from the US to Canada, Mexico or any other country for the purpose of slaughter. Since 1999, special interests have been successful in blocking federal legislation to ban horse slaughter. Those pro-slaughter groups include: the American Farm Bureau and its subsidiaries, the National Cattlemen's Association and its subsidiaries, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the New York State Horse Council and many other subsidiaries of the American Horse Council ( The AHC claims to be "neutral" on the horse slaughter issue, but many of its subsidiaries are very publicly and actively pro-slaughter)

We, at Equine Advocates, hope that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503 and S.727) passes swiftly during the current 111th Congress. It seems that the climate may now be right, particularly with the new make-up of the Congress and the fact that both the President and Vice President support anti-horse slaughter legislation. However, unless a federal horse slaughter ban is signed into law very soon, there is a real danger that horses will again be slaughtered in the United States.

We strongly believe that horse slaughter promotes the inhumane treatment of horses, horse theft and other illegal activities and the violation of the cruelty laws. We feel that now is the time for every American who is opposed to horse slaughter to become pro-active, as this may be a unique period to finally get this legislation through.

Additional information:

• How to take action
• Cathleen Doyle's commentary on Charles Stenholm and American Indians starting a horse slaughter business