I'm from Texas and I didn't know that they had those slauter Houses there. That's really sad if they are killing horses that have a good life ahead of them. I also think that when you kill an animal it should be done quickly and not alow the animal to be able to survive from the supposed kill!!!

The problem begins with the many horses that are irresponsibly bred including the PMU debacle. The offspring may go to owners who don't know how, or can't afford to, care for them.
More horses are probably starving or neglected in backyards. Is that a better way to die?
I think horse professionals should speak out against breeding any unexceptional mare that comes along.

How about sterilizing them and releasing them onto protected land where they can become part of the food chain...either killed by top predators or recycled by scavengers?

Why is killing a horse for meat so different than killing a Cow or an Elk or a Bear?

I agree that the kill should be humane, but the issue here seems to be more with just the fact of horse for human consumption.

and our government is letting this happen they are probably making money off of this travisty also what is next selling people to cannibals overseas I wouldn't put it past them

Your kidding, this is what Congress occupies it's time with in the 72 days they will be in Washington? What about Healthcare, Immigration, unsecured Boarders, NSA violations of our freedoms, corruption, Wars? Lets worry about saving America and Americans From Congress. The horsemeat trade will resolve itself – it’s just another smokescreen to divert your attention from real people life and death issues…

The horses that go through these slaughter houses are not any that have "good lives ahead of them" as Vivienne put it. These are horses that are 15+ years old and have backs in the shape of a horse shoe. None of these horses they kill cannot serve any purpose from rodeo to show horses and are just left out to pasture. They are worth more to sell to a slaughterhouse than to spend money buying hay and grain to feed them. I don't see anything wrong with this. Sure, the horses become best friends with their owners from all the hours spent riding and working, but we don't see people complaining when an old dairy cow thats been milking for 10 years is sent to slaughter. This is perfectly fine and I just see it as part of the industry.

Also, this article makes the cap and bolt method sound like an execution. They don't line up the horses and fire away. They are sent thru a series of gates and chutes. The cap and bolt method uses a rifle to fire a bolt into the forehead of the animal to render it unconcious, the beef industry is almost 100% cap and bolt. It is perfectly humane since the horse does not even know what has happened to it.

I too believe that overbreeding is the problem. This is the problem of the AQHA, APHA and other registries that promote overbreeding for profit. Those two organizations as well as the vets that do the breeding work are the true criminals in this debate. Breeding needs to practically come to a halt here.

"Breeding needs to practically come to a halt here." you must be joking. Can you even imagine putting the horse on the endangered species list?

Why are horses so different than pigs, cows, sheep, or any other food stock? I could see if they were slaughtering people, but horses? Please! Let the politicians work on something more worthwhile, like funding alternate fuel research.

Horse slaughter is illegal because it is a violation of the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. The horses are struck more than once with the captive bolt pistol and they lose consciousness for thirty (30) seconds. They regain consciousness when they are hoisted by the left rear leg and they begin to scream as they are being vivisected. Yes, they are awake when they are being butchered.

That the American people cannot find placements for these 'unlucky' horses - many of which are stolen - is a myth. I own and operate a horse welfare organization and I have rescued a Seattle Slew son, a Secretariat grandson, a Secretariat great granddaughter, an Impressive son, and a Dash for Cash daughter and granddaughter. I rehabilitate these horses and they are mine for the duration of their lives. I find qualifed private homes to free lease them to. If something comes up and the lessee can no longer pay for the horse's expenses, I take them back. This has yet to happen, but it is in my lease agreement that I will take the horse back. I can also 'recall' the horse if I want.

There is a solution to this problem, and I agree that breeding should be regulated - especially in the Quarterhorse industry. That is the most overly bred and commonly slaughtered horse in the United States.

I reiterate, it is illegal by virtue of a Federal Law to slaughter a horse.

Horse slaughter is illegal because it is a violation of the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. The horses are struck more than once with the captive bolt pistol and they lose consciousness for thirty (30) seconds. They regain consciousness when they are hoisted by the left rear leg and they begin to scream as they are being vivisected. Yes, they are awake when they are being butchered.

That the American people cannot find placements for these 'unlucky' horses - many of which are stolen - is a myth. I own and operate a horse welfare organization and I have rescued a Seattle Slew son, a Secretariat grandson, a Secretariat great granddaughter, an Impressive son, and a Dash for Cash daughter and granddaughter. I rehabilitate these horses and they are mine for the duration of their lives. I find qualifed private homes to free lease them to. If something comes up and the lessee can no longer pay for the horse's expenses, I take them back. This has yet to happen, but it is in my lease agreement that I will take the horse back. I can also 'recall' the horse if I want.

There is a solution to this problem, and I agree that breeding should be regulated - especially in the Quarterhorse industry. That is the most overly bred and commonly slaughtered horse in the United States.

I reiterate, it is illegal by virtue of a Federal Law to slaughter a horse.

Grant Thompson has posted a number of comments with which I would take issue were I writing a book, but I will confine myself to addressing his comment concerning the quality of the horses being sent to slaughter: "These are horses that are 15+ years old and have backs in the shape of a horse shoe." It is obvious that he has never seen a feedlot of horses awaiting the slaughter truck, for he would have seen all breeds, all ages, all disciplines, and all conditions.

Do some research, Grant.

Mr.Thopmson could not be more off base on his comments. If you had bothered to watch or read some of the testimony from yesterday's hearing you would have heard straight form the slaughter house rep that the majority of horses that are used for human consumption are young viable horses. I was involved in the rescue of a 6 month old filly from a slaughter truck, 14 other 6 month old babies didn't make it off that trailer and were sent to slaughter. Another rescue I was close to saved 7 pregnant mares all under the age of seven from being bought for slaughter. More of the mares would have been saved but the killbuyers outbid the rescues. That is the ONLY reason they all didn't find homes.
I volunteer ata rescue who buys horses off of feedlots, broker lots, and from kill auctions many of these horses are adopted before they even make through the front gates of the rescue. My opinion and beliefs are made of first hand accounts and my own studies and research. I don't have to quote anyone for my information, can you say the same?
This is a point that was not made yesterday . Many people who want to buy a horse at auction are outbid by killbuyers. These horses are not unwanted and everyday another rescue or private citizen with honorable intententions open their doors to these horses. We as a Equine Community will make it work.
One last comment, the ProSlaughter propoganda machine is so full of half truths and straight out lies it actually scares me. Repeatedly during yesterday's hearing I was raised to my feet to hear our gov't reps repeating these fallacies!
And as far as this being a distraction form real issues. This is a real issue that many Taxpaying American citizens have worked extremely hard for. We have lost people along the way like Mary Nash and we continue in her honor. I am offended that people would scoff at our efforts. Horses helped build this country, you should be thankful.

Well, we could either slaughter them or sell them to a glue factory, the choice is yours. I find it hard to believe your statement that the horses are unconcious for only 30 seconds and awake when being killed. Have you ever seen how fast an animal is processed? Its only a matter of seconds between the horse becoming unconcious and the jugular vein being cut open, not anywhere close to the one half of a minute. Its very fast and painless for the animal. If it wasn't, this would have been brought up a long time ago. The horses slaughtered do not look anywhere close to the ones in the picture, they are old and brokedown.

To the folks that equate horses with other livestock, think of how this country was founded - not on the back of a pig. How did automobiles and trains come about - not from observing or riding cows, elk or bear. Horse slaughter is not like shooting a game animal, our slaughter houses were not built with horses in mind. They travel packed like sardines in transport trailers built for cattle, and are abused and frightened when they arrive. Let's face it, the slaughter house workers are not animal advocates. The death chute is also made for cattle and not horses, they don't fit well, they can see their comrades hanging. Yes, if we walked up and shot them between the eyes, that would be kinder, but we don't. Horses are magnificent creatures with deep emotions, and intelligence. They serve us well without complaining and this is the end they deserve? Congress is spending time on this because this country was founded on the backs of these animals, and there is a lot of crime and abuse that goes with the slaughter of them. There are millions of horse owners in this country and there are very powerful people involved in the industry who are fighting to end inhumane slaughter practices. Let's face it, congress probably does not spend a whole lot of time on this one. But I my book, it is an issue that needs attention.

It is interesting to me how so many of you *think* you know all about slaughter, YOU ARE WRONG!
There are plenty of young & healthy horses that get the *captive bolt*! That came right from the mouth of the owner of a slaughter plant.
I suggest those of you who just *think* you know all about slaughter go educate yourself before you leave mesages like you have!
It is not the American way to eat horses! Why should we allow other countries to eat our horses?
What will be next, are you going to start allowing them to eat your children??

Actually I have seen how horses are slaughtered and it is not quick. They are repeatedly hit with the captive bolt. Horses by nature are flight animals and fight the entire process. They rear up and fall down in the blood slick kill pen. The horses next in line can see, smell and hear the entire process. They know it is coming. The captive bolt gun was designed for short neck animals, horse have long necks if you hadn't noticed. Matter of fact if you bothered to research the entire process you will find that Horse slaughter is based on the fundamentals of other species. It does not take in account equine behavior or physiology. There are videos out there that are raw footage of the enitre process from them coming off the trucks all the way to the dismantling of their bodies.
Second this is not a recent issue. Mary Nash started this fight over 20 years ago. After her death from cancer many people continued her fight and many more joined. You keep making blanket statements with no real education or research behind them. You are spewing what you have read. I live rescue, I have seen the horses that were saved from slaughter, I have groomed them and fed them. I have found homes for them. Yes some are injured or older, but the MAJORITY are healthy, young viable animals. My friend just bought a young 5 year old healthy thoroughbred from a kill pen last week. This week on a rescue website there are several young and or healthy horses that are up for adoption or sale. Everyone of them could have ended up in the hands of a kill buyer. The rescue I mentioned before saves mostly young horses under the age of 8 months. Should I keep going? I seriously think you need to eduacate yourself some before you continue with your ignorant posts.

Mr. Thompson, my source regarding the 30 seconds of unconsiousness comes from Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM and former Chief USDA Inspector. He has seen this process and he knows. Are you able to refute a Chief USDA Inspector who worked at the slaughterhouses? I think not. The horses regain consciousness after 30 seconds and they start screaming. Many slaughterhouse workers are injured from the flailing of front legs. The vivisection process does not go as rapidly as you mistakenly believe. These horses are very much awake and they are aware that they are being vivisected. That is illegal according to a Federal statute.