A Horse, Of Course (on the call for legislative ban on horse
slaughter)
By Don Blazer
Horses and emotions are intertwined. Even the most stoic can’t look at a horse and not feel emotional goodness deep inside.
There are times, however, when you need to eliminate the emotion and replace it with logic—call it the purest, truest love.
The call for a legislative ban on horse slaughter in the US is a call issued by
emotion — not love and not logic.
The thinking behind H.R. 503 and S. 1915 is flawed in the worst possible way….it’s government pure and simply, trying to appease shortsighted, emotionally charged non-thinking. The bills don’t provide a solution to the problem of unwanted horses, nor do they recognize there is a demand for horsemeat; they are a quick government response to a vocal few.
Those favoring a ban are no doubt well intentioned. The problem is those good intentions will pave the way to increased suffering for an increasing number of horses.
I’m not pro-slaughter for horses. But I’m also not short sighted in this matter and my reasoning isn’t based in emotion. I’m just pointing out the bills only do one
thing — create an atmosphere for more abuse, more suffering, cheating and deceit.
What is the concern the bills are supposed to address?
As written:
1. The slaughter of horses for human consumption and other purposes. As written, there is absolutely no chance these bills will alleviate that concern. The bills do not prohibit the deportation of horses to foreign countries…Canada and Mexico. Close the slaughterhouses in the US and the horses will be shipped where they will be slaughtered for human consumption and other purposes. There is a demand for horsemeat in European countries and Japan, and that demand will be met…it’s call free enterprise. So all the bill is going to do is have the horses shipped farther.
2. Not really part of the bills, but always thrown out emotionally are the abuse and mistreatment of horses being transported to slaughter. The bills banning the slaughter of horses don’t address abuse during transport.
3. The method of “killing” the horse is term by slaughter ban advocates as “abusive and cruel.” The bills do nothing to change the processing methods. (Both leading US veterinary associations have confirmed the penetrating captive bolt is the most humane method.)
Advocating a ban on horse slaughter in the US as proposed is short sighted and emotional non-thinking. Try thinking long term and with some logic.
First recognize that nearly 100,000 horses go to slaughter in the US every year. What are you going to do with them if they don’t go to slaughter? This is a long-term problem that will only be solved by education and long-term thinking. You’ve got to stop indiscriminate breeding, force those who break horses down to have a system of care for such horses, and encourage the euthanizing of horses living in discomfort, pain or abandonment.
Second, end transportation abuse by establishing stiff fines and then let every local, county and state law enforcement agency benefit from the fines…..they’ll be pulling over horse transport trucks every five miles. All municipalities want increased funding.
Instead of expending effort trying to get ineffective bills passed, (HR 503 has gone to the house floor with a strong Agricultural Subcommittee recommendation against its passage) why aren’t horsemen working to address the actual problem—unwanted and uncared-for horses? Could it be there’s no easy emotional high in the day-to-day work of real problem solving?
Visit A Horse, Of Course at www.donblazer.com
