Happy Lunar New Year! On February 17th, we transition to the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, which represents good fortune, perseverance, and freedom.
Freedom is the quality that stands out the most to us because, sadly, so many horses in the United States don’t have their freedom. Wild equines are still at risk of losing their land and homes. Many working horses, like carriage horses and PMU mares, still face cruel conditions and death when they’re no longer “useful.” It breaks our hearts to know that 30 years after our organization was founded, we’re still fighting for America’s Equines. But perhaps there’s hope in this year specifically being the Year of the Fire Horse, which symbolizes opportunity and transformation.
Let 2026 be the Year FOR the Horse, and let’s finally make important changes to protect these incredible animals. The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act needs to be amended to fully protect wild and domestic equines from slaughter for human and animal consumption. No more loopholes!
This issue can be corrected with two amendments:
- Remove the word “human” from the bill so it reads solely for “consumption.” That would cover banning the slaughter of horses for both human and animal (pet/zoo food) consumption.
- Add the word “intra,” meaning “within a state.” The bill already prohibits equines being shipped for slaughter to other countries (for “export”) as well as crossing into other states for that purpose (“interstate”). But the prohibition also needs to include slaughter within a state. Adding the word “intra” to the bill would accomplish that goal.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
• Check to see if any of your Representatives have become cosponsors of this bill. Ask your Representative if he or she would support adding the two simple amendments outlined here.
• Contact Congressman Vern Buchanan and ask him to amend the SAFE Act so it would completely ban the slaughter of horses for consumption of any kind.
• Spread the word in all the ways available to you. Time is of the essence!