Saturday, January 31, 2009

Bible's Lessons Help In Taming Horses

Bible's Lessons Help In Taming Horses
by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Grant Golliher is a special kind of horse whisperer: he subdues wild horses with gentleness and a dash of spirituality.
And true to form, he's made for Hollywood: about 6 feet tall and trim, with rough, leathery hands, silver hair and piercing blue eyes. He wears buttery tan chaps and a white 10-gallon hat.
As Golliher enters a round pen at a county fair in Jackson, Wyo., a chestnut horse bolts away, bucking and screaming. The cowboy pays no heed; instead he hoses down the pen so the horse won't kick up dust.
'Show 'Em Who's Boss'
He tells the four dozen spectators sitting on bleachers that he's been breaking horses since he was a kid.
"And we did things the old way, I call it," he says. "Make 'em do it, show 'em who's boss. If they give you any grief, whack 'em with a two-by-four. Get their attention."
Over the years, he ruined a bunch of talented horses that way, he says. One horse strangled himself with his rope trying to get away.
But a quarter century ago, Golliher met Ray Hunt, one of the original horse whisperers, who tamed horses by building trust not fear.
Golliher mounts Freckles, a gray horse he calls his "buddy," and begins to chase around the chestnut.
"Now, what I'm going to do is go ahead and drive these horses around a little bit," he says, as the horse lets loose a bucking spree. "This horse is troubled. He's a 5-year-old. He's been ridden quite a bit, but lately he's been bucking off his rider — his owner."
If Golliher can't cure his bucking, he says, the horse could end up at the slaughterhouse.
The cowboy shakes a white plastic bag attached to a long crop — he calls it his "flag" — and touches it to the horse's flank. The chestnut snorts, his eyes bulge. But — and this is key — the horse is not tied up. He knows he can run away.
And that's the secret of horse whispering, Golliher says: giving a horse the chance to make the right choices.
"If the horse won't come to you, you don't capture him, you don't rope him and choke him down," he explains. "You let him know he's free, let him know he still has the freedom to choose whether to come to you or not, see. And that's the relationship with God."
Odd talk for a cowboy perhaps. But Golliher applies spiritual principles to his horse training — and horse whispering principles to life.
Discipline And Love
In the round pen, the chestnut has stopped running but is dancing around, clattering against the fence in an attempt to avert the flag. Golliher persists.
"I'm going to keep pressing the issue until we get some change here," Golliher says.
Golliher follows the chestnut around the pen, tapping the plastic flag on his haunches and forcing the horse to face his fear. The horse finally stops.
"There," he says, removing the flag and stroking the horse's neck with his hand. Golliher then walks toward the audience, and the horse follows.
Golliher says this is tough love.
"Love is great," he says. "But love without discipline is abuse. Discipline goes along with love. I love you enough when you make a mistake, I'll bring it up. We're going to try to deal with it."
Golliher sees this as a metaphor for how God works with people.
"Hebrews, Chapter 12 says God disciplines those he loves," he says later. "And when we go the wrong way, he has his way through life circumstances, we run into trouble. God steps in and starts waving his flag," he says. "So to me, this is just the Bible opening up through God's creation — which is a horse."
In the corral, Golliher has a decision to make. It would be a good time to end the session with the chestnut. But he opts to press a little further. With one swift move, Golliher mounts the horse and reaches for his flag.
"Now, if he was to buck, I just need to stay on," he says. "If I can."
A Horse Is A Mirror
The horse dances around, his hooves in constant motion. But he doesn't buck. Soon the horse settles into a calm walk. Golliher reaches down and rubs his chest.
"See him lick his lips?" he asks. "That's a good sign. That means he feels good about what just happened. Horses really love you when you help them get through their fear."
The crowd murmurs with amazement. Afterwards, people rush up to seek his advice.
Golliher says what astounds him most is not the changes in the horses, but in the people who watch and practice horse whispering. Some abused women have told him they see themselves in the skittish horses. Some men begin to use gentleness rather than fear in their relationships.
Horse whispering, Golliher says, gives people insight into themselves.
"The horse is just a mirror," he says. "He's just trying to tell us, 'Let me show you how to live.'"

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Abandoned Horse Reward Fund Announced!

For Immediate Release

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE ESTABLISHES ABANDONED HORSE REWARD FUND

Washington, DC (January 29, 2009) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today the establishment of the “Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund.” Under the program, individuals providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who abandons a horse in violation of state law will be rewarded with up to $1,000 by AWI. “We’ve heard time and time again from those defending horse slaughter that the fight to end this cruel practice has led to an increase in abandoned horses. The truth is that the number of American horses going to slaughter now is the same or higher as before the domestic plants closed under state law. In fact, killer buyers seem to be buying more horses than when the plants were open,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs.

Under the program, individuals with evidence should first contact their local police department, provide as many details as possible about the horse abandonment situation and let the department know about the Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund. In such cases, eligibility for rewards and specific reward amounts will be determined by AWI. For complete terms and conditions of this reward fund, please go to www.awionline.org.

“If horses are being neglected or abandoned and the law is being violated, individuals need to be held accountable. Caring for a horse or any animal is a lifelong responsibility and not something you toss aside when inconvenient. We hope our reward fund will assist in bringing criminals to justice,” said Chris Heyde.

The Animal Welfare Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to pass a federal law to end horse slaughter. While the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption, and more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for that purpose. In Canada, horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia. Congress is currently considering the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), which will protect American horses from this brutal trade.

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For further information contact:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142
Liz Ross, 202-497-6780

For over 58 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

Talk Radio-Live Feed Feb 7th at 3PM (PST) with John Holland!

LIVE FEED ON SATURDAY FEB. 7TH 3PM (PST)With John Holland (Senior Analyst for AAHS) and Paula Bacon and Laura Allen!
Saving America's Horses on WFL Endangered Stream Live, Talk Radio for the Protection of AnimalsThe Hidden Cruelty of Horse Slaughter and the Fight for Federal Support to Make it Stop.Host Katia Louise interviews an expert panel of guests on the continuing sordid practice of horse slaughter as currently sustained by the United States. Horses suffer unimaginable cruel treatment in the process of their transport out of the US to Mexico and Canada where they experience barbaric slaughter. Listeners will learn the truth about one of America's darkest secrets and how to take action to stop this cruel and rapidly growing business of exports through the support of current, yet disregarded bills lingering in Congress for the past 8 years. Guests include Paula Bacon representing Americans Against Horse Slaughter and as former mayor of Kaufman TX, she helped to shut down the Dallas Crown, a US horse slaughter plant now operating in Mexico, among the worst malign abusers of cruelty in this brutal practice. Also joining us is the renown author on the issue of horse slaughter, John Holland; senior analyst for Americans Against Horse Slaughter. Holland has authored and coauthored studies on the relationship of horse slaughter to the rate of abuse and neglect in horses and has written dozens of articles on the subject of horse slaughter and its politics. Plus we have Animal Law Attorney, Laura Allen of the Animal Law Coalition who's been fiercely active in the support of getting legislature passed for the Prevention of the Equine Cruelty. These panelists are fighting to abolish horse slaughter and the export of horses for slaughter with support more stringent enforcement of laws to prevent abuse and neglect.Call-in number: (646) 727- 2170. Calls will be accepted live during the show. The chat room at the show's WFL Endangered Stream Live Blog Talk Radio page will be open throughout the broadcast for simultaneous discussion and to help answer questions. Registered listeners may connect and talk straight from their computer from anywhere in the world. (learn more) Listen live on Saturday, Feb 7th at 3pm (PST) at WFL Endangered Stream Live Blog Talk Radio.Listen anytime on demand. Links:http://wflendangeredstreamlive.org/showlineup.htmlhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/wflendangeredstreamlive/2009/02/07/Saving-Americas-Horses

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Supporters

AMERCIAN HORSE SLAUGHTER PREVENTION ACT SUPPORTERS
National Horse Industry OrganizationsAfter the Finish Line™The American Holsteiner Horse Association, Inc.The American Sulphur Horse AssociationAmerican Indian Horse RegistryBlue Horse CharitiesChurchill Downs IncorporatedEaton & ThorneEaton Sales, Inc.Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc.Hambletonian Society, Inc.Horse Industry PartnersHughs ManagementKeeneland Association Inc.Magna Entertainment Corp.National Show Horse RegistryNational Steeplechase Association, Inc.National Thoroughbred Racing AssociationNew Jersey Racing CommissionNew Jersey Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders AssociationNew York Racing AssociationNew York State Thoroughbred Racing and Development Fund CorporationNew York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.Ocala Breeder's Sales Company (OBS)Palomino Horse Association, Int.Racetrack Chaplaincy of AmericaThoroughbred Racing Protective BureauThoroughbred Retirement FoundationUnited States Eventing AssociationHorse Industry LeadersJosephine Abercrombie – Owner, Pin Oak StudJoe L. Allbritton – Owner, Lazy Lane Farms, Inc.Peggy Augustus – Owner, Keswick FarmNiall and Stephanie Brennan – Niall Brennan StablesNadia Sanan Briggs – Padua StablesMaggie O. Bryant – Locust Hill FarmW. Cothran "Cot" Campbell – Dogwood StablesNorman Casse – Chairman of the Ocala Breeder's Sales Company (OBS)Nick and Jaqui de Meric – Nick de Meric BloodstockRichard L. Duchossois – Chairman, Arlington ParkTracy & Carol Farmer – Owners, Shadowlawn FarmJohn Fort – Peachtree Racing StableJohn Gaines – the late founder of the Breeder's Cup World Thoroughbred ChampionshipGainesway FarmGaWaNi Pony BoyRandy Hartley – Hartley/De Renzo ThoroughbredsCharles E. Hayward – President and CEO, New York Racing Association, Inc.John Hettinger – Owner, Akindale Farm, Principal stockholder Fasig-Tipton Co, Inc.,Chairman Emeritus Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation,Trustee NY Racing AssociationTom Meeker – Churchill DownsReiley McDonald – Partner, Eaton SalesHerb and Ellen Moelis – Candyland FarmNick Nicholson – President and Chief Executive Officer, Keeneland AssociationMadeline Paulson Pickens – Owner- BreederGeorge Stout – National Cutting Horse Association Members Hall of FameFrank Stronach – CEO, Magna EntertainmentDan and Jocelyn Sumerel – Sumerel Training and TherapyBecky Thomas – Sequel BloodstockD.G. Van Clief, Jr. – NTRA Commissioner, CEO & Breeders' Cup PresidentWalnut Hall LimitedDonna WardMarylou Whitney and John Hendrickson – owners of BIRDSTONE, 2004 Belmont Stakes winnerRussell Williams – VP, Hanover Shoe FarmKentucky Derby Winning OwnersRoy and Gretchen Jackson (BARBARO – 2006)Jerry and Ann Moss (GIACOMO – 2005)Patricia Chapman (SMARTY JONES - 2004)Sackatoga Stable,Jack Knowlton, Managing Partner (FUNNY CIDE - 2003)John and Debby Oxley (MONARCHOS - 2001)Beverly Lewis (CHARISMATIC-1999, SILVER CHARM - 1997)Mike Pegram (REAL QUIET - 1998)William T. Young, Jr, Overbrook Farm LLC (GRINDSTONE - 1996)Joseph and Eileen Cornacchia (GO FOR GIN - 1994, STRIKE THE GOLD - 1991)Bill Condren (GO FOR GIN - 1994, STRIKE THE GOLD - 1991)Mrs. Paul Mellon (SEA HERO - 1993)Arthur and Staci Hancock (SUNDAY SILENCE - 1989, GATO DEL SOL - 1982)Howard Keck, Jr. (FERDINAND - 1986)Dell Hancock (SWALE - 1984)Bert and Diana Firestone (GENUINE RISK - 1980)Penny Chenery (SECRETARIAT - 1973, RIVA RIDGE - 1972)Thoroughbred Trainers and JockeysJerry Bailey – Hall of Fame JockeyW.A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr – Hall of Fame TrainerNeil Drysdale - Hall of Fame TrainerJulie Krone – Hall of Fame JockeyChris McCarron - Hall of Fame JockeyRichard Mandella - Hall of Fame TrainerGary Stevens - Hall of Fame JockeyNick Zito – Two-time Kentucky Derby Winning and Hall of Fame TrainerHorse Industry PressHorse Connection MagazineLiving Legends MagazineNatural Horse MagazineThe United States Harness Writers AssociationCorporate LeadersLes Alexander - Owner, Houston RocketsGary Bisantz - Founder, Cobra Golf ClubsAlex Campbell - Chairman, Shakertown & Triangle FoundationJess S. Jackson and Barbara R. Banke – Kendall-Jackson Wine EstatesSummerfield Johnston - Retired Chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola EnterprisesRobert McNair - Owner, The Houston TexansPaul Oreffice - former Chairman Dow Chemical Co, Inc.T. Boone Pickens – Founder and CEO, BPCapitalLeonard Rigio - Founder and CEO, Barnes & NobleSatish Sanan – Chairman and CEO, Zavata, Inc.Richard Santulli - Chairman, Net JetsBarry Schwartz - Co-Founder, Calvin Klein Inc.Nina DiSesa - Chairman, McCann Erickson New YorkJ.V. Shields - Chairman and CEO, Shields & Co., Wall Street, NYCGeorge Steinbrenner - Owner, New York YankeesGeorge Strawbridge - Private InvestorStuart Subotnick - General Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Metro MediaDaniel V. Tully - Ex CEO Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & SmithWilliam Ziff - Ziff Brothers Investments, New York CityCelebrity SupportersShane Barbi-WahlSia BarbiBarbara BossonBruce BoxleitnerJeff BridgesChristie BrinkleyRita CoolidgeJohn CorbettAlex CordCatherine Crier, Court TVJames CromwellTony and Jill CurtisEllen DeGeneresRon Delsener - Ron Delsener PresentsBo DerekClint EastwoodMike EppsWill EstesShelley FabaresMorgan FairchildMike FarrellMorgan FreemanKinky FriedmanMelissa GilbertWhoopi GoldbergJane Goodall, PhD.Merv GriffinArlo GuthrieMerle HaggardJack Hanna, Director Emeritus, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus, OhioDaryl HannahTess HarperTippi HedrenMariel HemingwayLaura Hillenbrand - author of SeabiscuitGeorge JonesAshley JuddToby KeithEddie Kilroy, Program Director, "Hank's Place" XM 13Carole KingKris KristoffersonChief Arvol Looking Horse - 19th generation keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle and holds the responsibility of spiritual leader among the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota PeopleGeorge LopezMrs. Roger (Mary) MillerSteve MillerMary Tyler MooreSir Paul McCartneyAli McGrawJesse & Joy McReynolds of Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys - Entertainer, Member of the Grand Ole Opry,Bluegrass Music legendConnie Nelson - Outlaw ManagementWillie NelsonOlivia Newton-JohnAlexandra PaulThe late Richard and Jennifer Lee PryorKeith RichardsKid RockTheresa RussellWilliam ShatnerPaul SorvinoMira SorvinoBernie TaupinBilly Bob ThorntonRob ThomasMarisol ThomasShania TwainKen WahlDwight YoakamNational Humane GroupsAmerican Horse Defense FundAmerican Humane AssociationAmerican Sanctuary AssociationThe American Standardbred Adoption Program, Inc.American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsAnimal Legal Defense FundAnimal Protection InstituteAssociation of Veterinarians for Animal RightsDoris Day Animal LeagueEpiscopal Network for Animal WelfareEquine AdvocatesThe Fund for AnimalsHabitat for HorsesHooved Animal Humane SocietyThe Humane Society of the United StatesThe Progressive Animal Welfare SocietyThe National Humane Education SocietySociety for Animal Protective LegislationUnited Equine FoundationUnited States Equine Sanctuary & RescueWild Horse and Burro Freedom AllianceWorld Society for the Protection of AnimalsArizonaArizona Racing CommissionConquistador Equine Rescue Program (In Defense of Animals)Equine Voices Rescue & SanctuaryHacienda de los Milagros, Inc.Humane Education Club - Barry Goldwater High School (Phoenix)In Defense of Animals At Arizona State University (Student Organization)Keepers of the WildSuperstition Horse RanchWildhorse Ranch RescueCaliforniaCalifornia Equine Retirement FoundationCalifornia Thoroughbred RescueCooper Racing (Carol Cooper) - Qtr Horse Breeding, Training and LayupsEast Bay Animal AdvocatesGEVAThe Piedra FoundationThoroughbred FriendsTranquility FarmColoradoColorado Horse Protection LeagueColorado Horse RescueLove Can't Wait Pony RescueLucky Three Ranch, Inc.Political Voice for AnimalsProject EquusConnecticutThe Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (H.O.R.S.E.) of Connecticut, Inc.Tara Farm RescueDelawareThe State of DelawareSouth Delaware Retirement FacilitySummerwinds Rescue Tri-State Equine RescueWhimsical Horse RescueFloridaAloha Equestrian CenterAziizi Foundation, IncRetirement Home for HorsesGeorgiaBig Sky Farm - Quarter Horse boarding and breeding facilityGeorgia Equine Rescue LeagueHorse Rescue, Relief and Retirement Fund, Inc .Magic Hollow FarmsSTARS (Sound Trail And Rail Society, Inc.)IdahoHorse Haven RescueFor the Love of Horses Rescue and SanctuaryIllinoisArlington Park RacecourseBalmoral Park RacetrackBlackberry Station Feed StoreBlock Thoroughbred FarmCANTER IllinoisCentral Illinois Humane SocietyCrosswinds Equine Rescue, IncChicago Barn to WireDrexler Horse TransportationEastland Farm and Training CenterFairberry FarmFairmount ParkHawthorne National RacecourseHill ‘N Dale FarmHorsin' Around TVIllinois Thoroughbred Horseman's AssociationIllinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners FoundationIllinois Harness Horseman's AssociationIllinois Horseman's Benevolent Protective AssociationInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 727John Marshall Law School, Animal Law Society, Chicago, ILLazy Maple Equine RescueManhatten AcresMaywood Park RacetrackOak Tree FarmPam Kuhl Horse TransportationRERUN IllinoisShawnee Hills FarmThree Way FarmTop of the Hill FarmTower FarmIndianaAnimal Protection CoalitionCANTOR of IndianaFriends of FerdinandIndiana Horse RescueIowaIowa Racing and Gaming CommissionKentuckyBlairs Equine RescueBluegrass Equine Products, Inc.Brandeis Student Animal Legal Defense FundDreamCatcher Stables, Inc.Holly's Place Animal RescueHome at Last animal sanctuaryHumane Society, A.L.L. of Madison CountyKentucky Animal Relief Fund, Inc.Kentucky Animal Rescue AllianceThe Kentucky Coalition for Animal Protection, Inc.Kentucky Equine Humane CenterLexington Humane SocietyMarion Co. Humane Society, IncWolfrun Wildlife Refuge, Inc.Woodstock Animal FoundationLouisianaThe Coalition of Louisiana Animal AdvocatesMaineBarrel Race in MaineDowneast Border Riders Saddle ClubMarylandAlex Brown RacingThe American Quarter Horse Rescue OrganizationCeltic Rein Equine Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc.Heather Knisley RacingHorsenet Horse RescueUniversity of Maryland Equestrian ClubMassachusettsSuffolk DownsMichiganHorses' HavenC.A.N.T.E.R MichiganMinnesotaMidwest Horse Adoption ProgramMisfit Acres Inc.Save Our Souls Equine RescueMontanaPryor Mountain MustangsWindDancer FoundationNevadaMiracle Horse Rescue, Inc.Shiloh Horse Rescue and SanctuaryWild Horse Preservation LeagueWild Horse Spirit, Ltd.New JerseySave the Animals FoundationStandardbred Retirement FoundationNew MexicoA.N.N.A. - Animals Need No AbuseAnimal Protection of New MexicoIndependence FarmPerfect Harmony Animal Rescue & SanctuaryWalkin "N" Circles Equine Rescue RanchWild Horse Observer's Association (W.H.O.A.)New YorkCarpe Diem Equine Rescue, Inc. (NY, PA, NJ)Double L Stable Equine Rescue & SantuaryEquine Rescue Resource, Inc.H.O.R.S.E. Rescue & SantuarySpring Farm CARESVassar Animal Rescue CoalitionNorth CarolinaJus Linda's StablesNorth Carolina Equine Rescue LeagueStillwater FarmNorth DakotaTremont's Pet Sitting ServiceOhioAngels4horses Adoption-Placement FoundationCanter-OhioLiving Legend ArabiansSound Horse Organization of OhioOklahomaAngel Horse Rescue, Inc.Horse Feathers Equine Rescue Inc.PennsylvaniaAnimal Care and Welfare/SPCAAnother Chance for HorsesBran Manor Equine Rescue & PlacementCANTOR PennsylvaniaCozee Valee FarmEastern University Equestrian TeamLost and Found Horse RescueOohMahNee Farm Animal SanctuaryPennsylvania SPCAR.A.C.E Fund, Inc.Rhode IslandHorse PlaySouth CarolinaHollow Creek Farm Equine RescueNeverending Farms Horse RescuePalmetto Equine Awareness & Rescue League (P.E.A.R.L.®)South DakotaHelping Hands Equine Rehabilitation and RescueTexasAnimal Connection of TexasAnimal Sanctuary of the United States/Wild Animal OrphanageAustin ZooBlack Beauty RanchCity of Flower Mound,TXCommon Ground FoundationThe Crows Nest Miniature Horse FarmLone Star Equine Rescue, Inc.Lone Star ParkMadden InvestigationsOak Cliff BreedersThe Queenie FoundationR-9 RanchSound Horse Organization of TexasTexans for HorsesSPCA of TexasThe Texas Federation of Humane SocietiesTexas Humane Legislation NetworkTexas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery TeamTexas Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders AssociationWild Horse & Burro Refuge & RegistryTennesseeEgyptian Cross ArabiansMisfit RanchUtahSound Horse Organization of UtahVirginiaChes-N-Oak FarmsHelping EquinesThe Laughing Horse SanctuaryParkway Quarter Horse, Inc.Virginia Thoroughbred AssociationWhite Bird Appaloosa Horse Rescue - Stillwater FarmWest VirginiaSantiburi FamrWest Virginia Equestrian Association (WVEA)WisconsinAll God's Creatures Equestrian CenterAnimal Rescue and Farm SanctuaryMidwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc.WyomingWyoming Animal Network Paid for by T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens.©2006 EndHorseSlaughtering.cominfo@EndHorseSlaughtering.com8117 Preston Rd., Suite 206 Dallas, Texas 75225

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Support H.R. 503

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BILL TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER REINTRODUCED

Washington, DC (January 15, 2009) – The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), was reintroduced yesterday by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). They first introduced the bill, which will ban horse slaughter, in the summer of 2008. It gained quick bipartisan support and passed out of the Judiciary Committee but did not move further as the legislative clock wound down. Committed to seeing the measure passed into law, Chairman Conyers has given the bill priority in his committee, as signaled by its reintroduction so early on the legislative calendar. With sixty-one original cosponsors, the bill already enjoys strong bipartisan support.

Although the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law banning the practice means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption. In fact, more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for slaughter; In Canada horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia.

“There are naysayers who claim we should reopen the US plants rather than seek to ban all horse slaughter. Clearly, they’ve already forgotten how awful the plants here were,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

Documents recently released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal just how brutal conditions were at the US plants before they were shut down. Hundreds of graphic photographs taken by U.S. Department of Agriculture employees at one plant show live horses with missing legs, with eyeballs hanging out, with skin ripped from the body and the birth of foals at the plant. Other photos show horses dead on arrival, having succumbed to the miseries of transport.

“The suffering of hundreds of thousands of our horses rests solely on the shoulders of those blocking this bill. Were it not for their stalling tactics horse slaughter would have ceased years ago. Meanwhile an American horse is slaughtered every five minutes. We commend Chairman Conyers and Representative Burton for taking the lead once again to end this cruel practice through introduction of H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act,” said Heyde.

For further information contact:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142
Liz Ross, 202-497-6780
For over 58 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Stop Inhumane Horse Transport


https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2009_horse_transport

Doubler decker trailers are designed for short-necked species, such as cattle and hogs, not horses. However, current federal law allows horses to be transported in these trailers to any destination other than slaughter plants. Since these trailers are not meant to carry horses, frequently the top deck of the trailer will collapse, resulting in horrific injuries and even death. Just last year, a double decker trailer carrying 59 young Belgian horses overturned on an Illinois highway, killing 17 horses and injuring dozens of others.Fortunately, Representatives Kirk (R-IL) and Cohen (D-TN) introduced, H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act, to ban the use of double decker trailers for all horse transport. TAKE ACTION. Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative to urge support for H.R. 305 to prohibit double decker trailers for horse transport. You can reach your Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or click here to look up your Representative and the phone number.After making your call, fill in and submit the form on the right to automatically send an email to your U.S. Representative. Remember to personalize the email message by expressing your opinion in your own words; it's much more effective