Thousands of thoroughbreds go to slaughter every year and handsome "Harry" (above) could have been one of them. He was rescued by Equine Advocates in 1998. "Harry was still a stallion and very thin when we got him," said Equine Advocates' president, Susan Wagner. "After we had him gelded, we just turned him out so that he could wind down and learn to relax until the drugs were completely out of his system. He has since been adopted by a family in Pennsylvania." Ironically, the sire of Harry's dam was Exceller, one of the greatest race horses of all time who was butchered for human consumption at a Swedish slaughterhouse.

A NEW TRANS-ATLANTIC BONE

On January 31, 2000, the BBC reported on a new controversy regarding Europeans' concern about hormones and other dangerous drugs contained in U.S. meats, including horse meat. The following is Equine Advocates' response to that report:

We, at Equine Advocates, have long been aware of the dangerous drugs administered to race and show horses, not to mention just regular worming medications for all horses which are extremely toxic to humans. It is clearly written on every worming medication label, that it should NOT be used in horses slaughtered for human consumption...but we all know that the majority of the horses that are sent to slaughter in and from this country have been wormed because horses are not food animals in the United States. Most are pets, companions and sporting/performance animals who are all wormed regularly. We also know that the origin of most slaughter-bound horses from this country are unknown when they get to the slaughterhouse, but that, in fact, large numbers of them are former race horses, who have had numerous drugs and medications administered to them over long periods of time.

Equine Advocates is opposed to the slaughter of horses under any condition for reasons clearly stated in this pamphlet, on our web site and in all our published literature. While we understand the Europeans' concern regarding the safety of the meat, they must be made aware that any ban on horse meat should be directed at ALL OF NORTH AMERICA and NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES. Thousands of U.S.-bred horses are transported live to Canada annually for slaughter. This has been going on for years. In addition, while Canada does slaughter thousands of its own horses every year as a result of the PMU (pregnant mares' urine) industry (who may not receive as many drugs as pet horses and sporting equine), that country does have its own racing and show horse industries, in addition to thousands of pleasure horses, all of whom receive drugs and medications which are toxic to humans. Those horses are also being slaughtered in Canada. (NOTE: Very few U.S.-bred horses are being transported live to Mexico for slaughter anymore mainly because of Europeans' fear of "...trichinosis and unsanitary conditions at Mexican plants..." )

It is only a matter of time before horse slaughter becomes illegal in the Unied States, and the horse meat industry in this country knows it. The latest news is that Cavel International, the equine slaughter plant in DeKalb, Illinois, is planning to relocate to Canada. As horse slaughter becomes more unpopular in the United States, and more U.S. equine slaughter plants close their doors to possibly relocate, the Europeans need to realize that if more American horses are transported live to Canada for slaughter, they will be still be importing and consuming much of the same horse meat from the very same horses with the same toxic drugs and medications in their systems. Horse slaughter for human consmption has already been outlawed in California. That legislation also includes language that prohibits any California horse from being shipped out of the state for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. Hopefully, in time, federal legislation will be passed so that NO U.S.-bred horses will ever be allowed to be slaughtered again for any reason or transported live to any other country for the purpose of slaughter. Horse slaughter will probably be outlawed in several additional states before a federal bill is finally introduced. Until the day comes, where no U.S.-bred horse can be transported live over U.S. borders for the purpose of slaughter, THE EUROPEANS MUST BROADEN THEIR BAN TO INCLUDE HORSES FROM ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

This thin, aged horse was tied and "waiting" to be led into the sales ring at a slaughter auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania.

[NEXT: California Says No!]

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