Comments on: SLAUGHTER GOES UNDERGROUND

By: Marjorie Caruso

Marjorie Caruso — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:19:15 +0000

All breeders and owners should be required to pay a fee towards each horse’s retirement.

The zero tolerance at racetracks is a wonderful thing and I hope that more tracks will adopt this policy.

HR 6598 will end the nightmare that is horse slaughter, for all horses.

By: Beverly Strauss

Beverly Strauss — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:06:02 +0000

We are already seeing firsthand the consequences of the zero-slaughter policy at tracks- Shippers that previously would take TBs to auction and would often approach horse rescues about horses they had now no longer will do that, because the owners/trainers who sold the horse to the shippers are afraid of repercussions. We saw this starting at Suffolk last year when they initially banned the main shipper from entering the grounds, and we see it now with the MidAtlantic shippers. These shippers are still getting horses, though, but delivering them directly to killbuyers, who are then refusing to sell TBs off their lots. While the zero-slaughter policy is a step in the right direction, there has to be some sort of support or viable alternative offered- both the racetracks AND the owners and trainers must work together towards a real solution. Add the breeders and heck, the entire racing industry to that mix and maybe, just maybe, we can eventually ensure a future for all TBs, whether it is a second career, a pasture home for life, or humane euthanasia……..

By: Beverly Strauss

Beverly Strauss — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:05:04 +0000

We are already seeing firsthand the consequences of the zero-slaughter policy at tracks- Shippers that previously would take TBs to auction and would often approach horse rescues about horses they had now no longer will do that, because the owners/trainers who sold the horse to the shippers are afraid of repercussions. We saw this starting at Suffolk last year when they initially banned the main shipper from entering the grounds, and we see it now with the MidAtlantic shippers. These shippers are still getting horses, though, but delivering them directly to killbuyers, and killbuyers are refusing to sell TBs off their lots. While the zero-slaughter policy is a step in the right direction, there has to be some sort of support or viable alternative offered- both the racetracks AND the owners and trainers must work together towards a real solution. Add the breeders and heck, the entire racing industry to that mix and maybe, just maybe, we can eventually ensure a future for all TBs, whether it is a second career, a pasture home for life, or humane euthanasia……..

By: Lilly

Lilly — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:10:35 +0000

While it is not the race tracks who are responsible for the horses on the backside, some of them are trying very hard to help set up options for the horses to find new homes.

In the meantime, owners and trainers are ultimately in charge of what happens to these horses when they are no longer able to perform.

Suggesting that a no-slaughter policy is failing the horses, is absurd.

If the rescues that are mentioned by Alex Brown would work with the owners and trainers of the horses, rather than the kill buyers and feedlots, these horses would have a much better chance of never ending up in the pipeline.

Lilly

By: Judy

Judy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:51:56 +0000

I don’t doubt for a minute what Anne Russek says about not being able to bid against the killerbuyers at Sugarcreek, but what I don’t understand is how these dumps are able to get an auction permit. If the public can’t bid, then this is a private sale, not an auction. I also don’t understand how these hellholes can get liablity insurance, because witnesses at some of these low-end auctions say that the atmosphere is so hellish that you’re literally risking life and limb while trying to look at a horse. It will be a cold day in hell before I’d turn any animal of mine over to one of those meatgrinder auctions.

By: Anna Bryant

Anna Bryant — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:04:41 +0000

It is heartbreaking that any animal slips through the cracks. But if we back down now, the millions who have already been slaughtered will have perished for nothing.
Slaughter of horses will never end if it waits for precautions and preparations to be in place- the time is now.
As long as anyone can earn a buck doing it, and it’s legal, it will continue.
I agree, it’s the responsibility of breeders and owners to see to the well-being of their horses.

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:34:59 +0000

Trainers have been going “underground” to avoid detection for a long time now - sad but true. If the trend toward zero tolerance toward sending horses to slaughter continues, and it should, then the industry as a whole needs to step up to the plate for the horses it breeds and build in the safety net for the horses it breeds via a multifaceted funding plan. Until then, making excuses for the owners and trainers who dump their horses at auctions or with kill buyers, is ridiculous We all know that the last owners of these horses are the ones least likely to provide them with the protection and the retirement they deserve and desperately need - or even a dignified and peaceful euthanasia. And saying that the kill buyers and dealers are honest, decent business men, middlemen cleaning up the mess that the industry makes, as a good friend of Alex’s who frequents one of the auctions, runs a rescue, and has a business relationship with one of the trainers/dealers from a low level east coast track giving her an inside line on the “good” horses has said (I am still digesting that statement coming from a rescue) only validates these bottom feeders and their often deceptive methods of acquiring horses.

We all know that the people who SHOULD take responsibility for these horses are their owners. That’s not likely to happen. We need to make it easy for them to do the right thing. But criticizing the efforts of those making steps in a positive direction without providing positive solutions, especially on the eve of important legislation being introduced, is an unfortunate move.

Those of us dedicated to helping at risk Thoroughbreds at the end of their racing and breeding careers hate the idea of even one going to slaughter whether they go through an auction ring or under the radar screen. But the zero tolerance policy is a big step in the right direction and I applaud Sufflok for being bold enough to take that first step. The infrastructure will be there to keep the horses safe. If we all stay on top of the industry I think we can strongly encourage them to do the right thing for the horses they breed. If we continue to push the powers that be in DC to pass the slaughter ban, we won’t have to debate this any longer.

By: Mary Z

Mary Z — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:41:53 +0000

Curb the over breeding! Don’t let stallions start their breeding careers until they’ve been proven they are solid, strong, fast and durable. Say, maybe 5yrs old? Mares too for that matter. Then severly limit the # of mares covered per year.

Microchipping foals is a must now in our techno world. Don’t tell me the Jockey Club is that far behind the times. Then more jobs could be provided for scanners at all necessary areas.

Shut down the problem at the source! How these rescue operations do what they do is beyond me. How they raise the funds and do the daily chores is beyond me. Many more rescue operations could survive if there were constant funding programs with supervision–more job creating ideas.

With this continued “awareness” of slaughter that articles such as these are providing, a shift in the process will occur eventually. Hopefully, each foal will be treated throughout its life with respect and dignity. Not just a by product when “we’re done with you.”

The general public doesn’t know all this is going on. If one doesn’t read horse blogs everyday, how are they supposed to know? How come none of the NTRA new safety policies never use the word “slaughter” in their discussions.?

Set up a crematorium/euthanization program where these horses may be put down with kindness and compassion.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for the article!

By: Barb AZ

Barb AZ — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:50:03 +0000

Thank you this article, and for having the courage to write it. We have to be realistic about this issue. I wondered how in the world race tracks would even keep track of such a thing, especially with the slaughter business being so disreputable. Contacts drawn up in advance to be sure the horse does not go to slaughter are usually ignored.

We certainly need to get the anti slaughter legislation passed.

We also need to go after the breeders, and not JUST thoroughbred, but ALL registries.

That is where the problem starts. Spewing out thousands and thousands of foals every year, not knowing if these horses will have homes, is truly irresponsible.

By: anne russek

anne russek — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:34:33 +0000

It is not too often that a blog offers back to back conflicting opinions . Gail and Alex have stated theirposition, and it does appear that Gail has presented a stronger argument. How could Alex posssibly know that all thoroughbreds have now gone underground. I recently read on the Alex Brown Forum a post by one of the rescue groups Alex refers to in his opinion piece who said that the reason the number of horses was down at New Holland was because the Canadian slaughterhouse Bouvry was closed for one week.
Alex also states that the zero tolerance policy means that the rescues can no longer find the horses at the auctions. Why would these rescues wait for the auction? As Gail suggested, now is the time to let the racetracks know what services your rescue can offer the trainers at the tracks. Not to mention, bidding at the auctions is not as easy as Alex would make it seem. You have no information about the horses, many have been given obscene amounts of bute to mask severe unsoundness issues, plus the horses have been exposed to strangles and other contagious diseases. To accuse the racteracks of making matters worse is conjecture.
I have been to the Sugarcreek Auction in Ohio. It is virtually impossible to bid against the kill buyers. The horses spend less than one minute in the auction ring, the atmosphere is chaotic and abusive. No horseman would or should ever want their horse to experience Sugarcreek.
On a final note, I called a known dealer today who has been mentioned many times on the Ale xBrown forum as being a key player in shipping horses from Charlestown to New Holland and Don Nickersons feedlot in New York.. He told me that he was adhering to the Charlestown ruling and had not sent any thoroughbreds to Nickersons. He said he would like to talk to those people who are accusing him of “undergrounding” racehorses.
We all agree that more can be done, and that money needs to come from the tracks to assist the various rescue efforts. IIt is time for everyone in racing to work together to end the slaughter of all horses.