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Absolutly Horrid

18K views 163 replies 47 participants last post by  Erin_And_Jasper 
#1 ·
#76 ·
I have been reading slaughter threads for a while now. I have changed my opinions many times. A while ago, I thought it was necessary and humane. Now, I have changed my mind while researching on it.
Horses are treated inhumanely. Do you think that cramming hundreds of horses in a trailer and traveling hundreds of miles away to an unknown place is humane? Do you think that having the horses be in a building hearing other horses screams and blood is humane? They are frightened waiting for their death. How can some people say a horse is useless? No horses are useless. Horses that are beyond help (injured severely) should be euthanized peacefully and not put through the terror.

I disagree with slaughter of all animals, not just horses. All you people that say slaughter is good.. hmm well have you ever been through what the animals have? Maybe if you were in that position, you wouldnt think the same..

Slaughter may be humane with the captive bolt, BUT everything that happens before death is what is not humane.
 
#78 ·
I have been reading slaughter threads for a while now. I have changed my opinions many times. A while ago, I thought it was necessary and humane. Now, I have changed my mind while researching on it.
Horses are treated inhumanely. Do you think that cramming hundreds of horses in a trailer and traveling hundreds of miles away to an unknown place is humane? Do you think that having the horses be in a building hearing other horses screams and blood is humane? They are frightened waiting for their death. How can some people say a horse is useless? No horses are useless. Horses that are beyond help (injured severely) should be euthanized peacefully and not put through the terror.
Do you think that cramming them into a trailer and driving hundreds of miles to be killed even more inhumanly in Mexico is better?
I disagree with slaughter of all animals, not just horses. All you people that say slaughter is good.. hmm well have you ever been through what the animals have? Maybe if you were in that position, you wouldnt think the same..
If i were in that position, I wouldn't be here :wink:

Slaughter may be humane with the captive bolt, BUT everything that happens before death is what is not humane.
Think of all the things that happen to us before death.
........
 
#77 ·
Consider this: What would REALLY be happening behind the backs of the government and animal protection societies if they stayed closed? Animals would not be put down humanely, they would be starved, hung, butchered brutally, slowly, etcetera, plus being shipped all the way to Mexico where they stay packed 20 to a stock trailer in 130 degree weather, where half of them die just from the trip TO Mexico! Now, as bad as it is for them to be slaughtered, they won't be subjected to the horridness of that journey to Mexico, and/or what any owner might think up in terms of killing their horses.
 
#79 · (Edited)
Consider this: What would REALLY be happening behind the backs of the government and animal protection societies if they stayed closed? Animals would not be put down humanely, they would be starved, hung, butchered brutally, slowly, etcetera, plus being shipped all the way to Mexico where they stay packed 20 to a stock trailer in 130 degree weather, where half of them die just from the trip TO Mexico! Now, as bad as it is for them to be slaughtered, they won't be subjected to the horridness of that journey to Mexico, and/or what any owner might think up in terms of killing their horses.
I understand that you have made some good points, all which are true. I agree. But I still do disagree with slaughter. Is it even possible to agree with it!? :S

Do you think that cramming them into a trailer and driving hundreds of miles to be killed even more inhumanly in Mexico is better?
I don't see where I stated that it is better. I disagree with any slaughter. It may be necessary and a tiny bit more humane to do it here, but it is still horrible, and when I talk, I talk to all the people who "agree with it" and think it is "humane".

If i were in that position, I wouldn't be here :wink:
I know you wouldn't. I am talking about those people who think slaughter is humane. It will never happen (hopefully), but just put yourself in that position and think about it. Just because you aren't in that position doesnt mean you shouldnt care!
Maybe you arent starving and thirsty like some children and africa.. but does that mean you can't help them or just ignore what is going on? You can ignore it and just think " well I am not starving and thirsty, so who cares ".. I hate that attitude. >_< You know what I am talking about, so stop being immature.

Think of all the things that happen to us before death.
Umm.. can you clue me in? Do we watch other humans be slaughtered and skinned alive? We hang out with our families, have fun with friends, live life to the fullest. Maybe a boyfriend dumped you.. Seriously most people do not undergo anything like what millions of horses go through.

I dont really understand any of your opinions, they show that you don't really care what happens to anyone else, because if its not happening to you, then screw it apparently :/
 
#80 ·
I dont really understand any of your opinions, they show that you don't really care what happens to anyone else, because if its not happening to you, then screw it apparently :/
Well, first off, stop putting words in our mouths. We said nothing about "not caring" because I think we all actually do care. If we didn't care, we wouldn't be having this argument. Everyone here cares about horses which is why we are on this thing called the Horse forum. Funny how that works, isn't it?
We're also not saying that we "like" horse slaughter, however, we do agree on the fact that it is an unfortunate necessity. And please don't say that we don't care about Africa and starvation. My best friend and her mother do not have much money and have gone through more suffering at the hands of her father than you can probably ever imagine. And they still sponser 3 kids in Africa when they can hardly afford to put food on their own table. So the next time you go around self righteously accusing people of things, please think twice.
 
#81 ·
Well, first off, stop putting words in our mouths. We said nothing about "not caring" because I think we all actually do care. If we didn't care, we wouldn't be having this argument. Everyone here cares about horses which is why we are on this thing called the Horse forum. Funny how that works, isn't it?
We're also not saying that we "like" horse slaughter, however, we do agree on the fact that it is an unfortunate necessity. And please don't say that we don't care about Africa and starvation. My best friend and her mother do not have much money and have gone through more suffering at the hands of her father than you can probably ever imagine. And they still sponser 3 kids in Africa when they can hardly afford to put food on their own table. So the next time you go around self righteously accusing people of things, please think twice.
Oh noo nono no! I was talking to thunderhooves only! Everything I posted was a response to what she posted. So sorry for the confusion!

Also, I was just stating my opinion, I wasnt meaning it towards any horseforum members when i was talking about people who agree with it. I was just talking about everyone outside of hf too :)
 
#82 ·
Well, yes of course you are allowed to have your own opinion. What I was saying though, is that we are just stating facts and also our own opinions. Life is not perfect. And bad things happen to good people (and animals).

And, I'm sorry for getting so defensive. I thought you were speaking to everyone in your post. I misunderstood.
 
#84 ·
Well, yes of course you are allowed to have your own opinion. What I was saying though, is that we are just stating facts and also our own opinions. Life is not perfect. And bad things happen to good people (and animals).

And, I'm sorry for getting so defensive. I thought you were speaking to everyone in your post. I misunderstood.
Yeah very true :) Thats alright, I understand why you thought I was speaking to everyone, as the way I worded it sounded like that.

We NEVER(at least I) said slaughter was humane. it's just necessary.
I know you didn't. It is necessary at the time. Actually, I think what everyone should be focussing on, instead of trying to shut down slaughter.. is to reduce the amount of horses being bred, horses being abused etc. etc.

By ranting all the time about slaughter, it isn't going to stop abuse and neglect. I respect everyones opinions on here and I am so sorry if I offended anyone in a previous post!
 
#85 ·
Yeah very true :) I think what everyone should be focussing on, instead of trying to shut down slaughter.. is to reduce the amount of horses being bred, horses being abused etc. etc.
I'm afraid that as long as there are backyards and morons, there will be backyard breeders. Society always has to go in a clean up the mess made by those types.
 
#86 ·
Or instead of trying to reduce the number of horses being bred(not gonna happen), they should make the slaughter houses NICE. Accommodating to the horses room needs, making it calm and peaceful, maybe taking some quality foals from the pen and selling them to make some extra $$, and being gentle when they take their last breaths.
 
#90 ·
though completely humane, this still presents a HUGE problem of how to dispose of the bodies. Dumps are no longer taking carcasses in most cases, zoos must do expensive testing and won't accept horsemeat unless it was dispatched with a gun, and horses euthanized with chemicals must be buried very deep, requiring a costly backhoe job. Thank GOD slaughterhouses are slowly being reopened.
 
#88 ·
The surplus is not just from backyard breeding. In fact, one could make a pretty good argument that a large part of the overpopulation is the "mass production" approach taken by certain areas of the horse industry where breeding huge foal crops in the hopes that just a few of that year's babies might actually turn out to be "the one" and the rest, well who cares where they end up.........
 
#89 ·
Okay, OP, maybe you never stated it was any better, but the fact of the matter is, you stated that opening up that one slaughterhouse is BAD. And I told you that horses traveling to Mexico was even worse, which is what would have happened even more if that slaughterhouse had stayed closed.

I hate that we have put the world's horses into such torture that we are sending them off to be killed when there's too many of them. I hate it. But a quick end is better than a slow, painful suffering. We don't want horses to be starved, do we?
 
#91 ·
It is a whole lot better than seeing someone starve a horse.I rescued one that had no food or water for almost 8 days, had gotten loose, ran the streets of a town, was chased by cars, 4 wheelers and came here a basket case. After a month she still shakes when you touch her. But, she is getting a good coat and gaining weight. Not everyone would take a basket case like her. Hopefully she will pull out of it.
 
#94 ·
I have seen many starved horses. I have never been to a horse slaughterhouse, but I will be taking a trip to the net one to open up in the US . I have, however seen many cows slaughtered, and if horse slaughter is anything like that, well I think horses would rather starve to death.
 
#96 ·
Humane slaughter of unwanted horses is essential to the business and is a fact of life.
As long as there are people backyard breeding these AppyxShirexTBxpaint things because "foalz r sew cyoote!", we will need a manner of disposing of them after they have undoubtedly also been taught to rear and nip because "OMG cyoote foally!!".
Restrict the breeding of horses to a reasonable level and you will negate the need for slaughter. As a result, owning horses may become unattainable to some people.

Everything is action-reaction.
As soon as slaughter was banned in the states, there was a huge influx of horses being shipped for even longer periods of time to Canada and Mexico in even poorer conditions and far more horses standing in barren fields starving to death. Personally I would rather see horses humanely shipped for shorter periods of time to slaughterhouses than loaded onto cattle trailers for 20 hours to get to one in Canada/Mexico.
 
#98 ·
Everyone is acting like it is just a simple method of humane euthanasia...... Its not. The horses must endure up to 24 hours in a cattle trailer. Some of the horses fall over in there and are trampled on and killed. They arrive at the slaughterhouse and listen to the other horses scream in terror as they are taken into the kill box. They smell the blood and death. They are then take into the kill box. Only 60% of horses get stunned on the first try when a stun gun (" The most Humane Method") is used on them. Oftentimes they are shot again and again because they are unrestrained and ALL feel severe pain and agony during this proccess
 
#97 · (Edited)
As long as no one is bashing horse heads in as a means of slaughter or something equally unneccessary and painful, I can agree with it. The US regulates the crap out of everything else, so why not just do the right thing and regulate this too?

Also, think of all of the hungry children you're feeding. Overseas, lots of people eat horse meat.

Also, in response to vegan chick; have you ever woken up REALLY hungry, to the point where it hurts? Imagine that, combined with not being able to move because you're muscles have wasted away and your arm is just too heavy to reach for that cup of water on the table next to you, so your mouth is dry and you can't speak or swallow, and it hurts to almost breath because your diaphram isn't working right anymore and even the weight of your own body seems to be too much for you to handle. You have NO idea what its like to be starving, and certainly you have no idea of the mechanics of how painful it is for your body to break down while you can still feel it. If you think animals will feel the pain of being shot in the head, I suggest you choose your words more carefully, and perhaps maybe take a six month sabbatical from eating, just to get an idea.
 
#99 ·
Poor people can't afford horse meat. Its a delicacy. More poor people could be fed if everone went on a vegetarian diet though. GoVeg.com // Meat and World Hunger
I have gone a week without eating to prove a point, and sure it didn't feel good but it was a heck of alot better than getting shot
The US make regulations, but they are never really followed correctly. Trust me, I have been to a cattle slaughterhouse and they definitely did NOT follow the "strict" regulations that are supposed to be followed.
 
#100 ·
Thank goodness! We need slaughterhouses back. I am ok with it as long as it is done it in a humane manner not like they do in Canada or Mexico especially. They never should have been shut down in the first place. Instead of trying so hard to close them anti slaughter people should have been working on making them humane or more humane.
 
#102 ·
Everyone is acting like it is just a simple method of humane euthanasia...... Its not. The horses must endure up to 24 hours in a cattle trailer. Some of the horses fall over in there and are trampled on and killed. They arrive at the slaughterhouse and listen to the other horses scream in terror as they are taken into the kill box. They smell the blood and death. They are then take into the kill box. Only 60% of horses get stunned on the first try when a stun gun (" The most Humane Method") is used on them. Oftentimes they are shot again and again because they are unrestrained and ALL feel severe pain and agony during this proccess
I don't understand why the US/Canada has such trouble maintaining the regulated standards. We have both knackeries and two slaughterhouses here in Australia, and all process horses. Why do none of the propaganda videos come out of Australia? Does that mean that we do it right and it actually is quite a humane process? We don't have double deckers. There is a vet on site at all plants during daylight hours and if a horse comes off a truck injured, they are put down or euthanized where they lay and only then moved for processing.

Because we have horse slaughter we don't have the glut of unuseable horses that you guys do. At auctions, it really is only the broken, the badly conformed, or the untrained that go to the meat man. Prices for meat horses are generally $500 or higher.

Oh, also contrary to your beliefs, horses other than those perfect little purebreeds are actually worth something and we don't need to go around cutting them up and eating them just because they aren't freaken "pure". They can plow feilds, too. They can jump, too. They can do dressage and cutting and reining and parrelli and barrels..... But you wouldn't know that because you don't give them a chance. You think its nicer for us to just send them to a butcher, shoot them, slaughter them, and send them accross seas. Makes perfect sense!
You need to read posts without your pretty rose colured glasses on. Anebel made no mention of these mutt horses being 'inferior' - Though they generally are. Of course they can still do most things, but thery can't do most things as well as a horse who was purpose bred for that job. Then you get the horses so badly bred that they end up with conformational issues that prevent them from doing normal activities.

Condemning a horse to starvation and neglect because being shot offends your sensibilites is horrific - Even if pain is felt, it is only for a split second. A horse starving to death is in pain, constantly, for days while it's body shuts down one organ at a time. I can't respect anyone who would wish that fate upon anything, personally.
 
#105 ·
This earth sucks and some humans are heartless. Starving horses and slaughtering them is horrific and wrong. I'll leave it at that since you guys want to beleive what you want to believe and won't open your eyes. I have looked long and hard at both sides of the story, and I came upon the conclusion both are wrong, but slaughter is worse. Believe what you want to believe and advocate what you want to advocate. I can't change the whole world, I can't change most minds but I can make a difference. A small difference, but a difference nonetheless. From here on out I will retire myself from making posts on this topic because it is getting out of hand. I just hope you realize over 15% of horses that would have ended up at rescues will be slaughtered if the new slaughterhouses open. They will ruin the chance that thousands of horses have only to brutally kill them. 15% of the horses gone to slaughter would have been saved. Remember that.


Rant over :)
 
#111 ·
This earth sucks and some humans are heartless. Starving horses and slaughtering them is horrific and wrong. I'll leave it at that since you guys want to beleive what you want to believe and won't open your eyes. I have looked long and hard at both sides of the story, and I came upon the conclusion both are wrong, but slaughter is worse. Believe what you want to believe and advocate what you want to advocate. I can't change the whole world, I can't change most minds but I can make a difference. A small difference, but a difference nonetheless. From here on out I will retire myself from making posts on this topic because it is getting out of hand. I just hope you realize over 15% of horses that would have ended up at rescues will be slaughtered if the new slaughterhouses open. They will ruin the chance that thousands of horses have only to brutally kill them. 15% of the horses gone to slaughter would have been saved. Remember that.
Well obviously the horses that are being mistreated and abused and starved...most people that own those types of horses aren't going to send them to a rescue, if they show the rescue people what conditions they made them live in, it will make them look bad. Believe what you want. You can say you are veganchick firm believer in all that stuff, well then you would know slaughter houses are much better. Unless you are going to go out and save every horse out their(which is impossible) then don't act like your opinion is more dominant or better than everyone else. If you "love" horses so much and your a vegan you would know what is best. Slaughter I will admit is sad but not as sad as some conditions some horses out there are living in, but go ahead and live in your fantasy world and think that every horse can be saved when it is virtually impossible to achieve that goal. Believe me I would save every horse if I could but i can't and neither can anyone else. But by all means,...keep living in your perfect world where everyone that believes horse slaughter is necessary is wrong.

Bravo to you for standing up in what you believe in, but don't put down everyone that doesn't have the same opinion.

So there you go I did rant over that because that is what you asked for:)
 
#106 ·
I just hope you realize over 15% of horses that would have ended up at rescues will be slaughtered if the new slaughterhouses open.
Why? What proof do you have to back up this statistic?

Yep, the world sucks, it isn't fair. There isn't one of us i'm sure that doesn't wish slaughter wasn't needed and starvation, abuse and neglect didn't exist. However, we have to make do with what we have.

I'll leave it at that since you guys want to beleive what you want to believe and won't open your eyes. I have looked long and hard at both sides of the story, and I came upon the conclusion both are wrong, but slaughter is worse.
Why do you think our eyes are closed simply because we see it differently than you?

And this is a fact - Physically, starving puts a horse through more pain for much, much longer than being shot. You simply can't argue with it - It is clear as day. And knowing that, again, anyone who would condemn a horse to such a fate because shooting isn't pretty, rates pretty low in my books. We have to do what is best for the horses - Not what is best for our peace of mind.
 
#108 ·
Yep, the world sucks, it isn't fair. There isn't one of us i'm sure that doesn't wish slaughter wasn't needed and starvation, abuse and neglect didn't exist. However, we have to make do with what we have.

We have to do what is best for the horses - Not what is best for our peace of mind.
In a perfect world we wouldn't have to kill plants or other animals to survive. Plants do live as well you know.

Totally agree with you on the bolded part.
 
#109 ·
I usually try to avoid slaughter posts because most of them have a bunch of bullsh*ters who believe that swatting a fly is equivalent to killing a human.


I've been to three different slaughterhouses, horse slaughterhouses mind you. I used to be one of those people who was anti-slaughter because "all de pretie ponehhs r bein miztreatd" or whatever. I've been to two in the US, and one in Mexico. With that being said, we screwed up. Big time. The way the horses were treated in the plants in Mexico were nowhere near comparable to the way the horses we treated in the USA. I would much rather legalize plants in the US and put up with the stupid activists who are ignorant about everything that goes on because crap organizations like PETA have filled their heads with nothing but biased nothings than to have thousands of horses shipped to Mexico where they are actually being abused.

I wrote a really long essay somewhere about the way slaughter horses actually work (which are nothing like the way PETA or HSUS portrays them). I should find it sometime.
 
#110 ·
it is sad that we slaughter horse but its better they be sent to slaughter houses than is someones backyard getting no attention and starving, that is way worse than them getting slaughtered and even though its sad, im sure they would rather have their lives end than suffer and it is not fair to have horse go starving thats just wrong, sllaughter houses are needed.
 
#116 ·
I totally 100% agree with veganchick's posts.
You guys are saying that its better than starving to death.. you think that all of the horses that are sent to slaughter are otherwise going to starve to death? Some of them maybe, but I have heard in the news of peoples horse being stolen for slaughter, and many times really good horses are sent to slaughter, because the owner sent them there, and they otherwise could've been bought by someone and taken care of.

I don't think slaughter is more humane. Horses don't starve here in canada and usa anyways, we have spca and humane societies, if they see starving animals, they rescue them.

You say its good for the horses best interests? uhmm.. you think killing them if good? If only you could just say that for people.
There are many starving people in the world, why is it any different?

I just don't understand all these horse lovers on here, can be so close minded about it. Think of your horse going through days of in a crammed trailer with other horses screaming, being trapped in a space, hearing the other horses dying and screeching, smelll of blood etc. Broken bones and everything.

I would NEVER want that to happen to my horse. I wouldn't let anything bad ever happen to my horse.

I realize that something must be done.. But I think euthanizing a horse would be so much kinder. Or if they made slaughter a million times more humane. Not take as many horses, and do it kindly.. let their last moments be relaxing and happy. They should have people who are kind and gentle working at the slaughter facilities, and larger pens.

My honest opinion, and it will not change to what your opinion is. I just KNOW that it isn't right for us to decide the horses fate.
 
#118 · (Edited)
I totally 100% agree with veganchick's posts.
You guys are saying that its better than starving to death.. you think that all of the horses that are sent to slaughter are otherwise going to starve to death? Some of them maybe, but I have heard in the news of peoples horse being stolen for slaughter, and many times really good horses are sent to slaughter, because the owner sent them there, and they otherwise could've been bought by someone and taken care of.


I don't think slaughter is more humane. Horses don't starve here in canada and usa anyways, we have spca and humane societies, if they see starving animals, they rescue them.
the humane societys put down horses when they are to filled up to.
You say its good for the horses best interests? uhmm.. you think killing them if good? If only you could just say that for people.
There are many starving people in the world, why is it any different?


I just don't understand all these horse lovers on here, can be so close minded about it. Think of your horse going through days of in a crammed trailer with other horses screaming, being trapped in a space, hearing the other horses dying and screeching, smelll of blood etc. Broken bones and everything.

I would NEVER want that to happen to my horse. I wouldn't let anything bad ever happen to my horse.

I realize that something must be done.. But I think euthanizing a horse would be so much kinder. Or if they made slaughter a million times more humane. Not take as many horses, and do it kindly.. let their last moments be relaxing and happy. They should have people who are kind and gentle working at the slaughter facilities, and larger pens.

My honest opinion, and it will not change to what your opinion is. I just KNOW that it isn't right for us to decide the horses fate.
:) I just thought i would show you our way of thinking, just because they go to slaughterhouses, doesnt mean theyre life is raindbows and butterflys

*fact is, when theyre places overflow, they have to put horses down. lets face it.*
*Picture horses standing in a pasture with mud up to their knees, havent eaten for days, halters that are rubbing theyre faces raw, theyre heads drooped low. Thats what so many horses go through everyday because they cant go to slaughterhouses. Now, we ALL want slaughterhouses to be more humane, that would be fantastic!! but banning them means even more will die alone in some muddy pasture, or be beaten to death or soemthing bad.
* look at the middle of your post where you say you wouldnt ever let anything happen to your horse... your deciding his fate right there.*
 
#117 ·
Horses don't starve here in canada and usa anyways, we have spca and humane societies, if they see starving animals, they rescue them.
*snort*

Open your eyes and smell the dead horses. Have you ever read Fugly? Horses starve everywhere there are people. It's the sad truth.

I just KNOW that it isn't right for us to decide the horses fate.
If you truly thought this then you would be against euthanasia and be one of the extremists who think horses should be let free to fend for themselves - Or in other words survive as long as they can before injury, illness, infection, or a predator claims them.
 
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