Horse Slaughter
Jordan Tobiassen
Mrs. Walker
English 4/ Period 5
11 February 2013
Nearly one hundred thousand horses are sent to slaughterhouses each year. The slaughtering of a horse is a very misunderstood and diluted practice that many people still confuse with euthanizing. But should this method of horse destruction still be a legal practice? While slaughtering is an option for putting injured or malnourished horses out of their misery, it is an inhumane practice for both the horses and human beings and there are more appealing options to take into consideration that would help us completely ban slaughtering.
The misconception with equine slaughtering is rooted deep in what really happens. Picture over 50 horses packed into a closed off truck, some with injuries, some unable to withhold their own weight due to malnourishment. The racehorse from the track that finished at the back of the pack last week or the foal who just didn’t live up to his breeder’s expectations. The old school mare who spent years caring for the younger children first learning to ride and the Budweiser pony who pulled one too many carts trying to please his owner. The collection of horses all piled together in a confined and crowded double-decker cattle truck. They are offered no food or water, sleep is nearly impossible to obtain, and fear runs through all the animals veins.
A simple fact that is often not acknowledged is that the majority of horses sent to slaughter have not been raised for such practices. The large majority have them have been in constant contact with humans whether from pleasure riding, rodeo, horse races, heavy duty draft, ranch work or the variety of other disciplines. They are used to being cared for by humans; fed, exercised, and cleaned and have created a trust with them. While there are still a notable few places where the horses are bred specifically to be sent to slaughter, the majority of them just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and their future becomes
Mrs. Walker
English 4/ Period 5
11 February 2013
Nearly one hundred thousand horses are sent to slaughterhouses each year. The slaughtering of a horse is a very misunderstood and diluted practice that many people still confuse with euthanizing. But should this method of horse destruction still be a legal practice? While slaughtering is an option for putting injured or malnourished horses out of their misery, it is an inhumane practice for both the horses and human beings and there are more appealing options to take into consideration that would help us completely ban slaughtering.
The misconception with equine slaughtering is rooted deep in what really happens. Picture over 50 horses packed into a closed off truck, some with injuries, some unable to withhold their own weight due to malnourishment. The racehorse from the track that finished at the back of the pack last week or the foal who just didn’t live up to his breeder’s expectations. The old school mare who spent years caring for the younger children first learning to ride and the Budweiser pony who pulled one too many carts trying to please his owner. The collection of horses all piled together in a confined and crowded double-decker cattle truck. They are offered no food or water, sleep is nearly impossible to obtain, and fear runs through all the animals veins.
A simple fact that is often not acknowledged is that the majority of horses sent to slaughter have not been raised for such practices. The large majority have them have been in constant contact with humans whether from pleasure riding, rodeo, horse races, heavy duty draft, ranch work or the variety of other disciplines. They are used to being cared for by humans; fed, exercised, and cleaned and have created a trust with them. While there are still a notable few places where the horses are bred specifically to be sent to slaughter, the majority of them just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and their future becomes
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