Monday, September 7, 2009
THE CLOUD FOUNDATION ; FOLLOW CLOUD AND FAMILY
THE CLOUD FOUNDATION
Visit Our Blog -often- for Current Updates on Massive Roundup
Thursday, 03 September 2009 12:11
Planned removals – all the Forest Service horses – which is wiping out an entire subpopulation.
Floyd, Fettucini, Half Moon, Gabrielle (December filly), Cassidy and Stiles, Halcion and her brand new foal, Summer
Older horses: Electra, (Cloud’s sister), Conquistador, Grumpy (Smokey’s mom), Eclipse, Quelle Colore
And from Cloud’s family which seems heavily targeted: Arrow, Image (Cloud’s grandson), Rain, Cascade, Cloud Dancer.
Thursday, 03 September 2009 13:46
WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPING OR TRYING TO LIMIT THIS ROUND UP! KEEP CALLING
KEEP IT UP- KEEP CALLING, FAXING AND E-MAILING.
These are our wild horses living on our public lands!
HALT THE PRYORS ROUNDUP and all others across the west.
Please keep e-mailing & faxing President Obama, Vice President Biden & First Lady Michelle Obama. Please call the Montana Senators: Baucus 202-224-2651 & Tester 202-224-2644, and your State Senators - tell them to stop this unnecessary roundup. Please tell friends, family & media. We're trying to spread the word far & wide until this is stopped.
Help us keep you updated-- join Cloud on Facebook and Twitter now!
Monday, August 31, 2009
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE CLOUD AND OUR WILD HERDS !!
Let's call Representative Nick Rahall too. Ask him to call President Obama and put a stop to the round up of Cloud's Herd. We have to call tomorrow Monday 8/31 the roundup is scheduled to start on Tuesday 9/1.
Washington Office
2307 Rayburn HOB
Washington,DC 20515
(202) 225-3452
Maybe we will get lucky and he will be in one of the district offices tomorrow.
Beckley Office
301 Prince St.,
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 252-5000
Bluefield Office
601 Federal St., Room 1005
Bluefield, WV 24701
(304) 325-6222
Huntington Office
845 Fifth Ave.
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 522-6425
Logan Office
220 Dingess St.
Logan, WV 25601
(304) 752-4934
http://www.rahall.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=9§iontree=9
USE ZIP: 25570
Please send this to your email list, post on message boards and blogs, etc.
Friends,
ONE thing everyone needs to remember is these people that are answering the phones work for each and every one of us.
If you are treated rudely please speak up, politely and tell them so. A lot of these people don't even know they work for you.
If they try to pass you on to a different number tell them you want to leave a message for the person you are calling not the number to the BLM.
We must INSIST on leaving our name and number for the public leader that we call. Do not hang up without that person taking your information. If they refuse tell them thank you and call back. If the same person answers tell them you want to speak to someone that has time to take your information.
They work for us and anyone in DC that answers your call with rudeness is unacceptable.
Be professional but SPEAK UP!!!
Make sure the person you speak with knows that TUESDAY September 1st is the day the BLM will go into the Pryor Mountains with HELICOPTERS and will terrorize the small WILD AMERICAN HERD of less than 200 horses.
I would add ~ CALL VP BIDEN at the numbers for President Obama. Leave a message for both President Obama and VP Biden.
1.Call /write/fax President Obama as often as you can—this herd is a national treasure and should not be wiped out by a government agency. Please flood the phone lines with calls! Phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000 Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail Obama
2. Ask Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to stop this round up
Call: 202-208-3100
Write:
3. BLM Director Bob Abbey, tell him to halt this round up-- he must reconsider his agency's actions
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
E-mail Obama
2. Ask Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to stop this round up
Call: 202-208-3100
Write:
3. BLM Director Bob Abbey, tell him to halt this round up-- he must reconsider his agency's actions
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
Thank you everyone : ) Lucille
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
AGRA MASTER USES PORK IN HORSE FEED
My sister has learned that AGRA MASTER FORMULA produced for FARM AND FLEET for Horses,Cattle ,Goats is produced with PORK and BONE MEAL. We were told that the PORK product used is BLOOD !!
If you buy this AGRA MASTER formula please take NOTICE !! PLEASE PASS THIS ON...FACEBOOK...TRITTER....... BLOGS FURTHER Source: www.farmandfleet.com Designed to be fed to maintenance horses, sheep, goats, beef cattle (weaned on pasture and feedlot animals, including show cattle) and dairy cattle, Textured grain mix for palatability, One product for multiple species, Balanced energy, vitamins, and minerals Please check the LABEL ! |
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I AM ON FACEBOOK STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF AMERICA'S HORSES
PLEASE JOIN ME ON FACEBOOK !! YOU WILL FIND THE LATEST ON OUR WAR TO SAVE AMERICA'S HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER !!
PLEASE JOIN US !! WE NEED TO BE THEIR VOICE AND WE NEED TO BE LOUD TO BE HEARD ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING ON !!
JUST FOR ONE DAY !! TODAY !! SHOUT OUT LOUD ! CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES . 202 2224 3121 ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR H.R.503 AND S.727 TO PROTECT HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER !!
PLEASE JOIN US !! WE NEED TO BE THEIR VOICE AND WE NEED TO BE LOUD TO BE HEARD ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING ON !!
JUST FOR ONE DAY !! TODAY !! SHOUT OUT LOUD ! CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES . 202 2224 3121 ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR H.R.503 AND S.727 TO PROTECT HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER !!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sturgis Group leads National Push to Legalize Horse Slaughter
Comment at the link:
http://www.kotatv. com/global/ story.asp? s=10531630
Sturgis group leads national push to legalize horse slaughter
By Matt Hunter
It was earlier this year when local thoroughbred breeder Dale Simanton
was called to a neighbor's farm to look at a horse the owner believed to
have colic, a potentially fatal disease.
"I went down to look at the horse and told him this horse isn't sick,
he's starving to death," Simanton says.
Simanton says the animal was one of several on the property that were
unfed and malnourished. One had already starved to death and another
bled to death because it was too weak to stand up and escape from dogs
that chewed its hind-end. Simanton later went back to the property with
the Butte County Sheriff and agreed to purchase the remaining horses.
Simanton believes the owner did not have the financial wherewithal to
properly care for the horses. Three of them were purchased at auction
for a combined $10.00 after failing to generate bids individually.
The story mirrors that of the farm in New Underwood where authorities
found several dead and starving horses in December.
"It's not a pretty situation and it's been created by people who don't
care about a horse," Simanton says.
Horse abuse and neglect is a growing problem locally and nationwide.
Three cases were reported in Pennington County in 2008, up from none the
year before.
While the issue has been made worse by the recession, many feel Congress
created the problem in 2006 when it banned horse slaughter in the U.S.,
leading to a spike in the horse population.
"No market works without some kind of floor, some kind of bottom in the
market," American Horse League CEO Chase Adams says. "When we got rid
of the horse processing option here in the United States, we lost the
bottom in the market. That in-turn rippled across the market and now
we've got more abuse and neglect than ever before. We see this as a
humane alternative to basically restore our market."
Two months ago, the American Horse League was formed in Sturgis with the primary goal of legalizing horse slaughter within the United States.
It's estimated nearly 100,000 horses are shipped across the Mexican and
Canadian borders to be slaughtered each year. That's led to talk on
Capitol Hill of making it illegal to transfer horses across the border.
While groups like PETA and the American Humane Society believe slaughter
is inhumane, American Horse League members believe the current system,
which leads to more starving horses, is worse.
"The fact of the matter is that we are the animal welfare folks, we are
the ones that don't want to see any animal suffer, any abuse, any
neglect," Adams says. "We want to make sure that we've got the options
in place both here in the state and across the country to ensure that
happens."
"It's not whether or not these horses live or die but how they live and
how they die," Simanton says. "Starving to death or having dogs eat you
up is no way I'd want to die."
On Sunday Simanton brought one of the rescued horses to the St. Onge
Livestock Auction. A rollover auction was held, where bidders
continuously bid on the horse without obtaining ownership. The $2,500
raised will benefit the American Horse League, however, Simanton and
Adams say the real goal is to raise awareness.
"If we had our slaughter houses here, at least the USDA could keep an
eye on them and make sure things are done humanely," Simanton says.
"This is not an inhumane business, but it is a business."
Alternatives to slaughter are euthanasia or sending a horse to a rescue
farm, however, vet and burial fees are expensive and most American
rescue farms are full to capacity and struggling financially.
The effort to legalize slaughterhouses is supported by the South Dakota
Legislature. In 2008 lawmakers overwhelmingly supported a resolution
supporting the legalization of slaughterhouses in America.
http://www.kotatv. com/global/ story.asp? s=10531630
Sturgis group leads national push to legalize horse slaughter
By Matt Hunter
It was earlier this year when local thoroughbred breeder Dale Simanton
was called to a neighbor's farm to look at a horse the owner believed to
have colic, a potentially fatal disease.
"I went down to look at the horse and told him this horse isn't sick,
he's starving to death," Simanton says.
Simanton says the animal was one of several on the property that were
unfed and malnourished. One had already starved to death and another
bled to death because it was too weak to stand up and escape from dogs
that chewed its hind-end. Simanton later went back to the property with
the Butte County Sheriff and agreed to purchase the remaining horses.
Simanton believes the owner did not have the financial wherewithal to
properly care for the horses. Three of them were purchased at auction
for a combined $10.00 after failing to generate bids individually.
The story mirrors that of the farm in New Underwood where authorities
found several dead and starving horses in December.
"It's not a pretty situation and it's been created by people who don't
care about a horse," Simanton says.
Horse abuse and neglect is a growing problem locally and nationwide.
Three cases were reported in Pennington County in 2008, up from none the
year before.
While the issue has been made worse by the recession, many feel Congress
created the problem in 2006 when it banned horse slaughter in the U.S.,
leading to a spike in the horse population.
"No market works without some kind of floor, some kind of bottom in the
market," American Horse League CEO Chase Adams says. "When we got rid
of the horse processing option here in the United States, we lost the
bottom in the market. That in-turn rippled across the market and now
we've got more abuse and neglect than ever before. We see this as a
humane alternative to basically restore our market."
Two months ago, the American Horse League was formed in Sturgis with the primary goal of legalizing horse slaughter within the United States.
It's estimated nearly 100,000 horses are shipped across the Mexican and
Canadian borders to be slaughtered each year. That's led to talk on
Capitol Hill of making it illegal to transfer horses across the border.
While groups like PETA and the American Humane Society believe slaughter
is inhumane, American Horse League members believe the current system,
which leads to more starving horses, is worse.
"The fact of the matter is that we are the animal welfare folks, we are
the ones that don't want to see any animal suffer, any abuse, any
neglect," Adams says. "We want to make sure that we've got the options
in place both here in the state and across the country to ensure that
happens."
"It's not whether or not these horses live or die but how they live and
how they die," Simanton says. "Starving to death or having dogs eat you
up is no way I'd want to die."
On Sunday Simanton brought one of the rescued horses to the St. Onge
Livestock Auction. A rollover auction was held, where bidders
continuously bid on the horse without obtaining ownership. The $2,500
raised will benefit the American Horse League, however, Simanton and
Adams say the real goal is to raise awareness.
"If we had our slaughter houses here, at least the USDA could keep an
eye on them and make sure things are done humanely," Simanton says.
"This is not an inhumane business, but it is a business."
Alternatives to slaughter are euthanasia or sending a horse to a rescue
farm, however, vet and burial fees are expensive and most American
rescue farms are full to capacity and struggling financially.
The effort to legalize slaughterhouses is supported by the South Dakota
Legislature. In 2008 lawmakers overwhelmingly supported a resolution
supporting the legalization of slaughterhouses in America.
Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses
Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses
From Cloud Foundation:
PRESS RELEASE
June 11, 2009- for immediate release
Documents Reveal BLM Secret Plan to Destroy Wild Horses
Documents obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) via the
Freedom of Information Act by a Phoenix-based non-profit, The
Conquistador Program, reveal shocking and detailed plans to destroy healthy wild horses in government holding facilities as well as those still remaining in the wild on public lands.
BLM employees as well as a USDA veterinarian held weekly
"Implementation Team" meetings beginning in July of 2008 in
which they discussed and developed strategies aimed at ridding BLM of
thousands of mustangs. In October they completed a 68 page document
entitled "Alternative Management Options". Tactics included in
this document are reminiscent of those used to wipe out Native American
tribes in the 1800s.
The BLM team created scenarios for killing mustangs using barbiturates,
gun shots, or captive bolts. Bodies would be disposed of through
rendering, burial or incineration. They discussed killing 1200-2000 wild
horses per year. The document states that "the general public would
be prohibited from viewing euthanasia." Additionally, the Team felt
that "increased support from public relations and management staff
would also be needed to insulate those doing the actual work from the
public, media and Congressional scrutiny/criticism. "
"Minutes from these meetings as well as the Draft Plan reveal what
amounts to `the final solution' for the American mustang,"
states Ginger Kathrens, filmmaker and Volunteer Executive Director of
The Cloud Foundation. "Despite a huge outcry from the American
public last year regarding BLM plans to kill wild horses in holding, the
agency is still pressing forward with a plan to destroy our American
mustangs both on and off the range."
Division Chief of the Wild Horse and Burro Program Don Glenn told The
Cloud Foundation that "no decision has been made to move forward on
a large scale with this plan, yet."
BLM meeting minutes speak for themselves. "Security at facilities
and at gathers would need to be increased to combat eco-terrorism.
Having the people that are willing to put down healthy horses at gather
sites could be a problem. Having vets putting down healthy horses at
preparation facility[ies] could also be a problem." Meeting minutes
reveal the psychological toll that employees would pay—"have
counseling for employees and contractors that have to euthanize the
healthy horses because it is very stressful."
The report created an option in which wild horses of all ages could be
sold "without limitation". In other words, horses could be sold
directly to killer buyers in unchecked numbers. The Team admitted that
"some wild horses will go to slaughter".
"Once they are gone, they're gone" says Karen Sussman,
President of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs
and Burros. "To lose this incomparable species would be a
travesty."
Team Members formulated ways in which they could circumvent the National
Environmental Policy Act, asking "How many (wild horses) could be
euthanized during a gather (roundup) without having NEPA?" BLM
discussed ways to circumvent the federal carcass disposal law (43 CFR
4730.2). Conversations included how many wild horses could be rendered
at the Reno Rendering plant or "disposed of in pits". The Team
concluded that "there will not be large numbers of horses euthanized
during gathers or in the field. This is due to state environmental
laws."
Recommendations include the creation of gelding herds, and sterilization
of mares to create non-reproductive herds in the wild in place of
natural herds. The team recommended changing the sex ratio from the
normal 50% males and 50% females to 70% males and 30% females. Then the
experimental two-year infertility drug, PZP-22, would be given to all
mares that are returned to the wild. Plans call for rounding up the wild
horses every two years to re-administer the drug.
"Mares on the drug will cycle monthly and, with the altered sex
ratio, the social chaos will be dangerous and on-going," Kathrens
explains. "Any semblance of normal wild horse society will be
completely destroyed."
Kathrens has spent 15 years in the wild documenting mustang behavior for
her PBS television documentaries which chronicle the life story of
Cloud, the now famous pale palomino stallion she has filmed since birth.
"Even Cloud and his little herd in Montana are in serious danger if
BLM implements these options," she continues. "The BLM plans a
massive round up in Cloud's herd beginning August 30, 2009."
The BLM will not guarantee that Cloud and his family will remain free.
The BLM documents referred to above and photos of wild horses are
available from The Cloud Foundation.
The Cloud Foundation, Inc.
107 South 7th St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719-633-3842
719-633-3896 (fax)
info@thecloudfounda tion.org
www.thecloudfoundat ion.org <http://www.thecloud foundation. org/>
Thursday, May 28, 2009
We Can’t Slaughter Our Way to Horse Welfare
May 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For OP ED Page
Contact: Duane Burright
805.208.1012
We can’t slaughter our way to horse welfare by Duane Burright
CHICAGO, (EWA) – By now everyone is familiar with the subject of horses being neglected or starved, along with the claims from those in agricultural circles that slaughter is “necessary” to prevent horse neglect and that it is a way to dispose of unwanted horses. I’ve been hearing that litany from all of the agricultural publications and blogs, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), various state Farm Bureaus and from a group of clueless politicians including Illinois’ Rep. Jim Sacia, Sue Wallis of Wyoming and former Texas congressman and paid slaughter lobbyist, Charles Stenholm.
I find it odd that they see slaughter as being the solution for horse neglect, but when it comes to neglected or starving cattle, they are stumped. In this USA Today article Starving cattle amid high prices for feed in Neb, Steven Stanec, executive director of the Nebraska Brand Committee, a state agency that helps police the cattle industry stated that “Neglect cases are on the rise, and what’s causing it, I’m not sure. We’re having whole herds of hundreds of cattle being neglected.”
In doing a simple Google search I found other related headlines which show that cattle starving to death is a fairly widespread problem – Officials raid farm with 30 dead, 100 plus starving cows, Starving cows rescued near Paisley on road to recovery and Starving cattle seized in Lake County.
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 34.4 million cattle were slaughtered in 2008, that’s an average of 94,247 cows slaughtered per day. According to Cattle Network, beef production is up over last year.
Now with all of those cattle going to slaughter, one would wonder why cattle neglect is happening. Using the logic that the AQHA, AVMA, NCBA, Farm Bureaus and the other proponents of the horse slaughter industry apply to starving or neglected horses that “slaughtering prevents neglect”, one would think that we wouldn’t have problems with starving or neglected cattle. Yet guys like Steven Stanec aren’t sure why cattle neglect cases are on the rise.
What further weakens the argument that “slaughter is needed to prevent horse neglect” is that while all of these articles have been written about neglected and starving horses, the option of horse slaughter has been available in the United States. Horse owners can take the horses they no longer want to keep to the local livestock auction and the neighborhood friendly kill buyers will happily take the horse off their hands. According to statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 134,059 American horses have been slaughtered at the European owned plants in Canada and Mexico in 2008. American horses still continue to go to slaughter as you read this, so the slaughter pipeline continues to function despite the claims to the contrary.
The reality is that slaughter has nothing to do with animal welfare. Since slaughter apparently doesn’t magically solve the problem of starving and neglected cattle, it is fallacy to think that slaughter will solve the problem of starving and neglected horses. The problem of cattle being neglected is due to the current economic crisis, that same economic crisis is making it difficult for horse owners.
In fact, a study releated in June of 2008 showed there was no correlation between horse slaughter and neglect, but a clear linkage between unemployment and neglect. Prophetically, the study warned in its conclusions that if economic conditions continued to deteriorate an upward trend in neglect could be expected.
The AQHA, AVMA, NCBA, Farm Bureaus and all of their political allies put a lot of time, energy and money into supporting horse slaughter. If these special interest groups were to focus all of those resources on solving the nation’s economic problems rather than supporting a foreign owned industry that doesn’t even pay their taxes, we might be able to get something done.
It is a pity they are so narrow minded.
Duane Burright is a software engineer by trade, aside from horses and their welfare he’s also interested in American musclecars, vintage electric fans, computers and software design. He has been involved in the campaign to make the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA) law since 2003 and is a supporter of a nearby wild horse sanctuary.
Friday, May 22, 2009
TBFRIENDS Remember Joe's Horses
| Friday, May 22nd... Pedigree folks are always writing to request real names of race horses rescued by Tbfriends. I am going to take you back in time. The year is 2008. In 2008 there were 26 horses from race tracks and we had to promise to never reveal their names. 9 girls and 17 boys. In 2008 Tbfriends rescued 55 thoroughbreds with racing tattoos at Northern California feed lots. 18 girls and 37 boys. 32 have been adopted. In 2008 there were 14 horses from race tracks who came with the wrong name. Just a hunch. 11 have been adopted. In 2008 there was a gelding from Santa Anita race track. Made the 7 hour drive to our ranch. Come to find out the gelding was entered in a race that weekend. The wrong horse was brought to us. Race horses who came to us with names in 2008. The following are still property of Tbfriends: Proud Phil Jade Beret Pragmatico Burger Queen - (not a real name) Brother Tim Poteens Rambo Garros unnamed 2 year old in training (now named Snow) unnamed 2 year old in training (now named Park) Top It Off El Prados Boy Fit To March Cero Quadro Sands Of Time Buddys Mandate Set The Course Sea Captain Earnest Storm Lord Red Speed Kaiana Gandi (not spelled correctly) Dragon C Illuminator Heavenly House Poker - (not a real name) unnamed 2 year old in training (now named Kid Rock) Seeking Answers Rivermem Bear Burning Blur Starspell Square Genius Summer In Winter unnamed 2 year old 30 days broke Six Numbers Officer Tony - (not a real name) Zig Zag Zoom Race horses who came to us with names in 2008. All have been adopted: Hasti Serve Freestrikesyourout Turbulent City Hampton Way Devon Intervention Sloppy Joe - (not a real name) Comstock Cat Silent Touch Jack Back Yummy Pie - (not a real name) Sizzling Summer Jazz - (not a real name) Gold Label Custom Design Power Blend Black & White - (not a real name) Middle Town Road Prairie Rose Paradise Cove Warrensgildedtime Sacred Senor Richard Mandella - (not a real name) unnamed 2 year old in training unnamed 2 year old in training unnamed 2 year old in training Fire - (not a real name) Joe Market Copper Star Lit Royale Abe - (not a real name) Seattle Dreaming Del Mar Doris Imsomadatmyself Tara Lago Military Rhythm unnamed 2 year old in training unnamed 2 year old in training American Dragon Cash - (not a real name) unnamed 2 year old in training now named Indy Dare Thee Power Risque Yodeler Driftwood Summer City Ring Of Friendship Deep Violet Tipsy Mandate Takin Candy Nancys Pride N Joy Excessively Mad Sissy Britches Adams Naughty Lady Unusual Jail Elusive Catch Intimate Obsession Fortunate Child Clever Commander Supercarchy unnamed 2 year old in training Crowning Moosa - (spelling must be wrong. Could not find in pedigree search) In 2008 Tbfriends rescued 16 pregnant thoroughbred mares. All were adopted. In 2008 Tbfriends rescued 48 neglected thoroughbreds from other rescue ranches. 22 are still with us. In 2008 horses from Tbfriends were adopted by folks in Alaska. Washington. Oregon. Colorado. Nebraska. Minnesota. Nevada. Arizona. Texas. Idaho. Utah. In 2008 there were 4 horses dropped off in our driveway. In 2008 we accepted 45 horses from private homes. In 2008 we accepted 23 horses from lesson barns, and event barns. In 2008 we found new homes for almost 200 horses from foreclosures. In 2008 Cathy and I ate delicious fried chicken on top of a waffle. A restaurant called Table 260 in Sacramento. I like when readers make requests. Crunching our numbers was fun. Enjoy your here we go with a long weekend Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. Simon & Garfunkel on the oldies station... Joe |
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| Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from a trip to rendering facilities in Mexico or Canada. |
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My cell number is 530-383-2120.
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
Breed group named as "driving force" behind slaughter law
horsetalk.co.nz.
May 22, 2009
The Montana Quarter Horse Association (MQHA) has been named by the Equine Welfare Alliance as a key driver of a law that allows construction of a horse slaughterhouse in the state.
Quarter horse breeding continues apace
The alliance has released an email sent to a mailing list by Montana Quarter Horse Association president Stan Weaver.
Alliance representatives John Holland and Vicki Tobin said, in their view, Weaver appeared to be rejoicing that Montana may be home to a horse-killing plant.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Ed Butcher, has proved controversial on several levels.
Montana Governor Schweitzer returned the bill to the state legislature over concerns it limited citizen's rights through courts to challenge construction of a plant.
However, both houses returned the bill unchanged. Schweitzer's decision not to sign the bill meant it passed automatically into law.
The alliance says the new law has left many Montana legislators and citizens shocked that their state might soon be known as the new "home of horse slaughter".
"Montana has enacted a probably unconstitutional statute that denies due process under the United States Constitution," Holland and Tobin said in a statement.
Horse slaughter, they said, will tarnish the "Big Sky" brand and everything it stands for, from cattle to tourism.
"History has shown that such plants bring nothing but pollution and controversy. Montana law makers failed to ask themselves why Texas and Illinois, and now Saskatchewan Canada, have rid themselves of the industry."
Weaver's email praises members for pushing the legislation while discussing the haste with which it was put together.
Weaver describes how the MQHA and Ed Butcher had come up with the idea for the bill just weeks before it was introduced.
Weaver wrote: "I also would like to thank the Montana Quarter Horse Association and its Board of Directors for letting me represent them in this endeavour. It was at a meeting of these folks on Sunday, February 8th that the whole idea was born. At that meeting it was decided unanimously that we would support the Horse Processing bill, and I agreed to write a letter [to be sent] to our members. The effort and email list just grew from there."
"This magnificent breed," said Holland and Tobin, "touted as the most versatile of all horses, is being sent to slaughter in record numbers. In fact, half of all horses sent to slaughter each year are American Quarter Horses.
"Weaver is apparently so enamored at the prospect of a slaughter plant to butcher Montana's Quarter Horses that he ponders writing a book that will contain all the emails and letters in support of horse killing."
The pair accused the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) of continuing to promote indiscriminate breeding.
"Last year, when other businesses were reducing production, AQHA management and its member breeders continued their mad quest to grow revenues by registering 140,000 new foals, an increase of 5000 more horses over 2007," they said.
In his speech before the 2008 annual convention, Bill Brewer, the AQHA�s then executive vice-president said, "Our challenge becomes looking at ways to introduce an equine economic stimulus package that will boost registration numbers."
Weaver�s ranch alone produces and registers 100 horses a year "and helps fill the AQHA treasury with registration fees", the alliance says.
It argues that vested interests promote stories that the United States is being flooded with tens of thousands of abandoned horses.
It was picked up by the Montana media and repeated without question, they said, even though county officials reported a total of only 14 abandoned horses in 2008. Yet little or nothing was reported on the breeding encouraged by the AQHA.
"According to Weaver, the next major AQHA effort will be to try to defeat the federal legislation that will end the slaughter of American horses; HR 503, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009.
The pair said they expected more of the "elaborate disinformation campaign" from pro-slaughter lobbyists.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
PROGRESS ON WILD HORSE PLAN
madeleinepickens.
Progress Made on Wild Horse Plan
Video: I-Team: Progress Made on Wild Horse Plan
The Bureau of Land Management’s perpetually- troubled wild horse program has struck a deal with the bureau’s most vocal critics. This fall, wild
horse advocates working with the BLM will stage a nationwide wild horse
adoption event to help relieve overcrowding inside government corrals,
where more than 33,000 mustangs are warehoused.
Years of accelerated roundups on the ranges and an adoption program that
has fallen far short of its goals have combined into a perfect storm of
bad news for wild horses. So many horses are packed into government
corrals that pressure is building on the BLM to take radical action.
The bureau says it can’t afford to feed more than 30,000 mustangs in
captivity, so it has floated an idea that might otherwise be unthinkable
— a final solution for the horse problem — mass euthanizations.
BLM’s national office knows what a PR nightmare it would create if it
ever started shooting or poisoning mustangs in captivity, so the bureau
has taken the bold step of partnering with the same wild horse advocates
who have been its harshest critics. BLM and leading animal welfare
groups have agreed to host a first-of-its kind event — a national wild
horse adoption day, the brainchild of longtime horse advocate Jerry
Reynoldson.
“This plan will entail approximately 60 adoptions across the country at
existing sites, satellite adoptions,” he said.
The target date is a two week window around September 26, 2009. The goal
is to find homes for 1,000 wild horses in one swoop, which is more than
half of the number BLM adopts out in an entire year.
The BLM officials in the northern Nevada state office have displayed
such hostility to wild horse groups that the national office decided to
essentially bypass them as part of the adoption, though there will be a
small adoption event locally.
After fighting the Nevada office for so long, Reynoldson is glad to be
on the same page with the national BLM. “I think they recognize that
something needed to be done to augment the adoption program in general
and help move these horses out. If you look at these specific project we
are doing, are budget is around $300,000. For 1,000 horses, for them to
keep them for a year is $1.8 million,” he said.
But it’s not just a one-time event. Its backers hope the adoption day
will serve as a permanent model for how to incorporate private marketing
expertise into a government program. “These horses, they are standing
there, head to butt, end to end, in countless different places with an
uncertain future, and it’s been that way for many years now. Some of
them have been there for two to three years,” he said.
BLM is also considering an even bolder plan for eliminating the backlog
— a proposal by philanthropist Madeleine Pickens to create a 1,000,000
acre sanctuary in northern Nevada.
BLM has said it doesn’t have the statutory authority to transfer public
grazing land over to the sanctuary. Reynoldson, a point man for Pickens
plan, says that even though BLM has expressed doubts about the plan in
public, it’s been supportive in private.
“Finally, when someone spoke from the BLM, the response was, ‘No, we
have nothing else Mrs. Pickens. You are the only game in town and we
need to work with you,’” he said.
The Pickens plan would save BLM some $800 million over the next 12 years
and would be much better for the horses while also providing an economic
boost to rural Nevada. Pickens thinks it offers BLM a way out of a
painful situation.
“I don’t think they hate the wild horses, I think they hate the wild
horse issue because they’ve created a nest and they can’t live in it,”
she said. “I said, ‘I’m not here to be divisive but you don’t need to
have this ugly baby around your neck forever.’”
More than half of all the wild horses in the country roam the ranges of
Nevada, but as mentioned, the Nevada office will play only a minimal
role in the adoption day event.
Progress Made on Wild Horse Plan
Video: I-Team: Progress Made on Wild Horse Plan
The Bureau of Land Management’s perpetually- troubled wild horse program has struck a deal with the bureau’s most vocal critics. This fall, wild
horse advocates working with the BLM will stage a nationwide wild horse
adoption event to help relieve overcrowding inside government corrals,
where more than 33,000 mustangs are warehoused.
Years of accelerated roundups on the ranges and an adoption program that
has fallen far short of its goals have combined into a perfect storm of
bad news for wild horses. So many horses are packed into government
corrals that pressure is building on the BLM to take radical action.
The bureau says it can’t afford to feed more than 30,000 mustangs in
captivity, so it has floated an idea that might otherwise be unthinkable
— a final solution for the horse problem — mass euthanizations.
BLM’s national office knows what a PR nightmare it would create if it
ever started shooting or poisoning mustangs in captivity, so the bureau
has taken the bold step of partnering with the same wild horse advocates
who have been its harshest critics. BLM and leading animal welfare
groups have agreed to host a first-of-its kind event — a national wild
horse adoption day, the brainchild of longtime horse advocate Jerry
Reynoldson.
“This plan will entail approximately 60 adoptions across the country at
existing sites, satellite adoptions,” he said.
The target date is a two week window around September 26, 2009. The goal
is to find homes for 1,000 wild horses in one swoop, which is more than
half of the number BLM adopts out in an entire year.
The BLM officials in the northern Nevada state office have displayed
such hostility to wild horse groups that the national office decided to
essentially bypass them as part of the adoption, though there will be a
small adoption event locally.
After fighting the Nevada office for so long, Reynoldson is glad to be
on the same page with the national BLM. “I think they recognize that
something needed to be done to augment the adoption program in general
and help move these horses out. If you look at these specific project we
are doing, are budget is around $300,000. For 1,000 horses, for them to
keep them for a year is $1.8 million,” he said.
But it’s not just a one-time event. Its backers hope the adoption day
will serve as a permanent model for how to incorporate private marketing
expertise into a government program. “These horses, they are standing
there, head to butt, end to end, in countless different places with an
uncertain future, and it’s been that way for many years now. Some of
them have been there for two to three years,” he said.
BLM is also considering an even bolder plan for eliminating the backlog
— a proposal by philanthropist Madeleine Pickens to create a 1,000,000
acre sanctuary in northern Nevada.
BLM has said it doesn’t have the statutory authority to transfer public
grazing land over to the sanctuary. Reynoldson, a point man for Pickens
plan, says that even though BLM has expressed doubts about the plan in
public, it’s been supportive in private.
“Finally, when someone spoke from the BLM, the response was, ‘No, we
have nothing else Mrs. Pickens. You are the only game in town and we
need to work with you,’” he said.
The Pickens plan would save BLM some $800 million over the next 12 years
and would be much better for the horses while also providing an economic
boost to rural Nevada. Pickens thinks it offers BLM a way out of a
painful situation.
“I don’t think they hate the wild horses, I think they hate the wild
horse issue because they’ve created a nest and they can’t live in it,”
she said. “I said, ‘I’m not here to be divisive but you don’t need to
have this ugly baby around your neck forever.’”
More than half of all the wild horses in the country roam the ranges of
Nevada, but as mentioned, the Nevada office will play only a minimal
role in the adoption day event.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
TBFRIENDS Remember Joe's Horses
 | |||||
Tuesday, May 19th... That cold ocean air reached us last night. 125 horses with a huge collective ahhhhhhhhh....
A big Happy one day late Birthday to Beckee Milton. The next tall chestnut with chrome will be named Milton.
Since Saturday there have been thousands and thousands of e-mails (okay, really only 70 or so) asking how I feel about Rachel Alexandra winning the Preakness. Is this good or bad for racing? I am always surprised when others want my opinion. No one ever listens when I brag about my shrimp with blue cheese and extra cilantro sandwiches. Hard to gage when I should speak up or not.
Now that you ask... I always root for girls. Fillies beating boys is rare, and a thrill.
But once again, due to the ego of a rich guy who bought Rachel for ten million, took her away from the old man who literally created her, just to put himself into the winners circle of one race, ruined what many besides myself were hoping for. Those rare moments in sports.
And we all know about those rare moments in sports. Who cares about golf? But I will never forget Tiger Woods hugging his ill dad after winning The Masters. A grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth by Bill Mazeroski to win the World Series. Over and over I have watched the tape of Michael Jordan hitting a crazy shot at the buzzer to win an NBA championship.
Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby. Wins so easily he could have made another trip around the track and been ahead by 50 lengths. Without Rachel, Bird wins The Preakness. And now, for the next three weeks, all eyes in America would have been on one little gelding. The most difficult feat in all of sports is to win The Triple Crown.
Love those late night ESPN highlights. What a story. A small time trainer from New Mexico. A little gelding who cost less than ten grand as a yearling, beating million dollar horses from the same sale. If Bird has a workout, ESPN would have showed us. If Bird has a bath, or eats a handful of organic carrots, ESPN would have been there with their cameras.
One or two years from now, walk down any street in America and ask 500 people who is Rachel Alexandra? Zero people will have the answer.
But if Bird wins The Triple Crown? 450 out of 500 will say oh yeah, that cute little horse we were all rooting for.
Mine That Bird, etched in our brains forever. Mentioned in the same breath as Seattle Slew. Affirmed. Secretariat. We could have had one of those rare moments in sports. Move over Tiger Woods, I need room on my video shelf.
Any time a horse is the center of attention in America, this is a good thing. Good for racing, and good for those who work with horses. But especially GOOD for the horses themselves.
Since we are talking horses, and racing, rumors continue to run rampant. Who knows what is true or not? A developer in San Francisco wants to buy Golden Gate Fields so he can build tall apartments overlooking the bay. Cal University in Berkeley wants to buy Golden Gate Fields so they can expand their campus.
I only know about the phone calls that come to us. Especially from Los Angeles, where Hollywood Park is expected to be torn down. Owners, trainers, racing officials ask me over and over. Does Tbfriends have a plan for all the unwanted race horses in the next two years?
Um, no. I can hardly plan tomorrow, let alone the next two years.
But this is getting scary. We need ideas.
Enjoy your 83 degree Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Rod Stewart on the oldies station...
Joe
My cell number is 530-383-2120.
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
A big Happy one day late Birthday to Beckee Milton. The next tall chestnut with chrome will be named Milton.
Since Saturday there have been thousands and thousands of e-mails (okay, really only 70 or so) asking how I feel about Rachel Alexandra winning the Preakness. Is this good or bad for racing? I am always surprised when others want my opinion. No one ever listens when I brag about my shrimp with blue cheese and extra cilantro sandwiches. Hard to gage when I should speak up or not.
Now that you ask... I always root for girls. Fillies beating boys is rare, and a thrill.
But once again, due to the ego of a rich guy who bought Rachel for ten million, took her away from the old man who literally created her, just to put himself into the winners circle of one race, ruined what many besides myself were hoping for. Those rare moments in sports.
And we all know about those rare moments in sports. Who cares about golf? But I will never forget Tiger Woods hugging his ill dad after winning The Masters. A grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth by Bill Mazeroski to win the World Series. Over and over I have watched the tape of Michael Jordan hitting a crazy shot at the buzzer to win an NBA championship.
Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby. Wins so easily he could have made another trip around the track and been ahead by 50 lengths. Without Rachel, Bird wins The Preakness. And now, for the next three weeks, all eyes in America would have been on one little gelding. The most difficult feat in all of sports is to win The Triple Crown.
Love those late night ESPN highlights. What a story. A small time trainer from New Mexico. A little gelding who cost less than ten grand as a yearling, beating million dollar horses from the same sale. If Bird has a workout, ESPN would have showed us. If Bird has a bath, or eats a handful of organic carrots, ESPN would have been there with their cameras.
One or two years from now, walk down any street in America and ask 500 people who is Rachel Alexandra? Zero people will have the answer.
But if Bird wins The Triple Crown? 450 out of 500 will say oh yeah, that cute little horse we were all rooting for.
Mine That Bird, etched in our brains forever. Mentioned in the same breath as Seattle Slew. Affirmed. Secretariat. We could have had one of those rare moments in sports. Move over Tiger Woods, I need room on my video shelf.
Any time a horse is the center of attention in America, this is a good thing. Good for racing, and good for those who work with horses. But especially GOOD for the horses themselves.
Since we are talking horses, and racing, rumors continue to run rampant. Who knows what is true or not? A developer in San Francisco wants to buy Golden Gate Fields so he can build tall apartments overlooking the bay. Cal University in Berkeley wants to buy Golden Gate Fields so they can expand their campus.
I only know about the phone calls that come to us. Especially from Los Angeles, where Hollywood Park is expected to be torn down. Owners, trainers, racing officials ask me over and over. Does Tbfriends have a plan for all the unwanted race horses in the next two years?
Um, no. I can hardly plan tomorrow, let alone the next two years.
But this is getting scary. We need ideas.
Enjoy your 83 degree Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Rod Stewart on the oldies station...
Joe
My cell number is 530-383-2120.
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
Sunday, May 17, 2009
EVILS OF HORSE SLAUGHTER
May 6, 2009 1:47 pm US/Pacific
Baby Horses Rescued After Moms Sent To Slaughter
EL DORADO HILLS (CBS13) ―
* The Grace Foundation Website
Seven foals whose mothers were sent to slaughter have been rescued and have new homes in El Dorado County this afternoon.
The baby horses arrived at The Grace Foundation in El Dorado Hills today. They were left to fend for themselves when a group of mares that included their mothers were sold to slaughter and shipped to Canada.
There were originally nine young foals abandoned but two died before a private citizen contacted The Grace Foundation. The foundation is a 600-acre rescue and rehabilitation center that currently is home to 120 horses.
"The horse industry is in a crisis and rescue facilities like ours are being bombarded with calls from desperate owners looking for a place that will take in their horse," said Beth DeCaprio, Executive Director of The Grace Foundation. "Unfortunately, we're nearly at maximum capacity already, and as a non-profit, our funds are already limited. But when we heard about these foals, there was no way we could just turn our backs."
DeCaprio says it will cost thousands of dollars to care for the foals. But she says the community has been extremely supportive.
"It's easy to be cynical about the world when you hear how these foals were basically left for dead, but the thing that gives us hope is the amazing capacity for generosity we witness every day out here," said DeCaprio.
The Grace Foundation hopes to adopt out the foals once they are nursed back to health.
Baby Horses Rescued After Moms Sent To Slaughter
EL DORADO HILLS (CBS13) ―
* The Grace Foundation Website
Seven foals whose mothers were sent to slaughter have been rescued and have new homes in El Dorado County this afternoon.
The baby horses arrived at The Grace Foundation in El Dorado Hills today. They were left to fend for themselves when a group of mares that included their mothers were sold to slaughter and shipped to Canada.
There were originally nine young foals abandoned but two died before a private citizen contacted The Grace Foundation. The foundation is a 600-acre rescue and rehabilitation center that currently is home to 120 horses.
"The horse industry is in a crisis and rescue facilities like ours are being bombarded with calls from desperate owners looking for a place that will take in their horse," said Beth DeCaprio, Executive Director of The Grace Foundation. "Unfortunately, we're nearly at maximum capacity already, and as a non-profit, our funds are already limited. But when we heard about these foals, there was no way we could just turn our backs."
DeCaprio says it will cost thousands of dollars to care for the foals. But she says the community has been extremely supportive.
"It's easy to be cynical about the world when you hear how these foals were basically left for dead, but the thing that gives us hope is the amazing capacity for generosity we witness every day out here," said DeCaprio.
The Grace Foundation hopes to adopt out the foals once they are nursed back to health.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Preakness
AP
Rachel Alexandra is first female to win Preakness since 1924, holding off charge by Derby winner Mine That Bird to capture Triple Crown's middle jewel. | PHOTOS
The Day It All Started ,Barbaro's Legacy
Today marks the third anniversary of the day that started it all, Barbaro's Legacy. Because of Barbaro, so much good has come to horses around the world, from rescues, closing slaughter plants in the U.S., to better track safety.
During the 134th running of the Preakness, please take a moment and reflect on these past three years. Think about the friendships you have made, the Horses you have followed, the wisdom you have gained through the help of Alex and all the posters here on ABR.
Say a prayer that every horse and Jockey are safe today, and remember Sweet Barbaro, as he is why we are here.
May 20th 2006 Pimlico Race Track
Barbaro's Last Stride
Friday, May 15, 2009
TBFRIENDS Remember Joe's Horses
Friday, May 15th... Despite lack of custody liability insurance, we are once again sending horses to live with our friends.
There is no other way to do this. The numbers are staggering. Thoroughbreds come to us almost daily, most with racing tattoos. We have not even had time to give names to 8 horses. Some from feed lots. Some from private homes who threaten to kill their horses. Race tracks. A breeding farm out of business. We are shoulder to shoulder, hock to hock. Toss a key lime pie in the air, it comes down on a horse.
Adoptions are steady, but not great. We said goodbye to Untapped. We said goodbye to Dragnet. The day before Danny Gokey was booted from American Idol, Gokey the horse found a new home in Pleasanton.
And through it all, through our massive numbers and 18 hour days, there are pissed off people because I refuse them a horse. I explain nicely, your other horses look like crap. Obviously you are having a difficult time feeding your horses. So why should I allow you to adopt one more?
You might as well be talking to a red brick wall. Nothing gets in. Forever on the defensive, and they threaten and pout and say bad things about Tbfriends on the internet. Whatever. Always liked that term. Whatever. It would be a waste of our time to rescue a horse, only to place him into another sad situation.
And so we call upon friends to open their gates for our horses. The nicest family you will ever meet, living in Clear Lake. Friends in Vacaville, Dixon, Suisun, Davis, Elk Grove, Wilton, Grass Valley and Colfax. In the last week all have once again become foster parents. Helping to ease our numbers. We are extremely grateful.
Hungry horses are waiting for the old man to bring breakfast. Later we could be a toasty 90 degrees. Delicious ice cold orange juice from Simply Orange. Cinnamon rolls with melted butter made by Raleys. Flies starting their engines. Lady Ga Ga (huh?) on the radio...
Joe
THANK YOU JOE AND KATHY !!
CONTACT
My cell number is 530-383-2120.
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
There is no other way to do this. The numbers are staggering. Thoroughbreds come to us almost daily, most with racing tattoos. We have not even had time to give names to 8 horses. Some from feed lots. Some from private homes who threaten to kill their horses. Race tracks. A breeding farm out of business. We are shoulder to shoulder, hock to hock. Toss a key lime pie in the air, it comes down on a horse.
Adoptions are steady, but not great. We said goodbye to Untapped. We said goodbye to Dragnet. The day before Danny Gokey was booted from American Idol, Gokey the horse found a new home in Pleasanton.
And through it all, through our massive numbers and 18 hour days, there are pissed off people because I refuse them a horse. I explain nicely, your other horses look like crap. Obviously you are having a difficult time feeding your horses. So why should I allow you to adopt one more?
You might as well be talking to a red brick wall. Nothing gets in. Forever on the defensive, and they threaten and pout and say bad things about Tbfriends on the internet. Whatever. Always liked that term. Whatever. It would be a waste of our time to rescue a horse, only to place him into another sad situation.
And so we call upon friends to open their gates for our horses. The nicest family you will ever meet, living in Clear Lake. Friends in Vacaville, Dixon, Suisun, Davis, Elk Grove, Wilton, Grass Valley and Colfax. In the last week all have once again become foster parents. Helping to ease our numbers. We are extremely grateful.
Hungry horses are waiting for the old man to bring breakfast. Later we could be a toasty 90 degrees. Delicious ice cold orange juice from Simply Orange. Cinnamon rolls with melted butter made by Raleys. Flies starting their engines. Lady Ga Ga (huh?) on the radio...
Joe
THANK YOU JOE AND KATHY !!
CONTACT
My cell number is 530-383-2120.
Our mailing address is:
Joe & Cathy Shelton
15891 County Road 92C
Woodland, Ca. 95695
You can send your letters to tbfriends@aol.com
House of Representatives Is Considering a bill to ban transporting Horses in Double-deck Trailers
House weighs ban on equine double-decker transport
May 13, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Washington -- The House of Representatives is
considering a bill to ban
transporting horses in double-deck trailers, thereby
turning into
federal law a similar rule the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has had in
place the last two years.
The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009 would
prohibit anyone from
transporting a horse "in interstate commerce" using a
vehicle with two
or more levels. The bill, also known as House
Resolution 305, is before
the House Subcommittee on Highway and Transit.
Several states have passed bans on double-deck horse
transportation, and
the USDA has prohibited the use of double-layer
trailers to transport
horses destined for slaughter since 2007.
Unlike the USDA rule, the new law, if passed, does
not specify a purpose
for the horse's travel but simply bans double-deck
transportation
altogether, according to legislation. Fines for
violations would range
from $100 to $500 per offense. It is
`(b) Civil Penalty- A person that knowingly violates this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of at least $100 but not more than $500 for each violation. A separate violation occurs under this section for each horse that is transported, or caused to be transported, in violation of this section. On learning of a violation, the Attorney General shall bring a civil action to collect the penalty in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the violation occurred or the defendant resides or does business.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Horse Slaughter A Financial Nightmare
are05.13.09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (photos attached)
Contacts: John Holland 540.268.5693 john@equinewelfarealliance.org Vicki Tobin 630.961.9292 vicki@equinewelfarealliance.org
Horse slaughter dream a financial nightmare
CHICAGO, (EWA) – The dream of the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and its affiliate the MQHA (Montana Quarter Horse Association) to bring horse slaughter back to the US may have just been dealt what may be its death blow. The blow came not from anti-slaughter advocates, nor public revulsion, nor Congress, but from a horse slaughter industry insider whose op-ed, Meat plant: a cautionary tale, appeared on April 30th in the Western Producer, a subscription-only Canadian online animal agriculture journal.
“Natural Valley Farms died the day the decision makers chose to kill horses”, says Henry Skjerven, an investor and director of the defunct Natural Valley Farms (NVF) slaughter complex in Saskatchewan , Canada . Skjerven tells the story of how NVF, which had originally been built to process cattle during the BSE crisis, ended in a $42 million financial disaster following its decision to kill horses for the Velda Group of Belgium .
The story broke just as the AQHA and Stan Weaver of the MQHA, were celebrating the passage of Montana bill (HB 418). On April 5, EWA broke the news that the plant had been closed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in December.
In his article, Skjerven refers to the plant’s confrontational interaction with the CFIA over the plant’s “composting” and other issues. Unlike beef that can be used in pet food, horse byproducts must be disposed of properly because they contain substances such as the wormer, Ivermectin, which can cause fatal encephalitis in some breeds of dogs. Blood disposal appears to have been equally problematic for NVF as with other horse slaughter plants. Not only do horses have twice the quantity of blood as cows, but the blood is notoriously difficult to treat. The bacterial agents used in standard cattle digesters fail to provide acceptable discharge levels because of antibiotics often found in horse blood. As a result, pollution follows the horse slaughter industry where ever it goes.
During debate over HB 418, the Montana Senate Agriculture committee dismissed evidence of these problems as anti-slaughter propaganda. Even the testimony of former Kaufman , Texas mayor Paula Bacon was ignored when she told of blood rising into people’s bathtubs in her town.
But unfortunately for NVF, the CFIA was not so easily assuaged. Even Butcher has admitted that any horse slaughter plant that is built in the US will have to be operated by an EU group like Velda because the horse meat market is in Europe and they control it. Now Velda needs a new home, but in his op-ed Skjerven, says, “horse slaughter never brought a single minute of profitability to the company.” In the end, it may not matter that HB 418 is unconstitutional, nor that a horse slaughter plant in the US could not export its horse meat without USDA inspectors, nor that the industry has committed a thousand sins against horses and the environment.
If investors in a horse slaughter plant cannot be comfortable in knowing they will make a profit, there will be no plant built. If Stan Weaver and the AQHA want horse slaughter they may have to do the killing themselves.
Contacts: John Holland 540.268.5693 john@equinewelfarealliance.org Vicki Tobin 630.961.9292 vicki@equinewelfarealliance.org
Horse slaughter dream a financial nightmare
CHICAGO, (EWA) – The dream of the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and its affiliate the MQHA (Montana Quarter Horse Association) to bring horse slaughter back to the US may have just been dealt what may be its death blow. The blow came not from anti-slaughter advocates, nor public revulsion, nor Congress, but from a horse slaughter industry insider whose op-ed, Meat plant: a cautionary tale, appeared on April 30th in the Western Producer, a subscription-only Canadian online animal agriculture journal.
“Natural Valley Farms died the day the decision makers chose to kill horses”, says Henry Skjerven, an investor and director of the defunct Natural Valley Farms (NVF) slaughter complex in Saskatchewan , Canada . Skjerven tells the story of how NVF, which had originally been built to process cattle during the BSE crisis, ended in a $42 million financial disaster following its decision to kill horses for the Velda Group of Belgium .
The story broke just as the AQHA and Stan Weaver of the MQHA, were celebrating the passage of Montana bill (HB 418). On April 5, EWA broke the news that the plant had been closed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in December.
In his article, Skjerven refers to the plant’s confrontational interaction with the CFIA over the plant’s “composting” and other issues. Unlike beef that can be used in pet food, horse byproducts must be disposed of properly because they contain substances such as the wormer, Ivermectin, which can cause fatal encephalitis in some breeds of dogs. Blood disposal appears to have been equally problematic for NVF as with other horse slaughter plants. Not only do horses have twice the quantity of blood as cows, but the blood is notoriously difficult to treat. The bacterial agents used in standard cattle digesters fail to provide acceptable discharge levels because of antibiotics often found in horse blood. As a result, pollution follows the horse slaughter industry where ever it goes.
During debate over HB 418, the Montana Senate Agriculture committee dismissed evidence of these problems as anti-slaughter propaganda. Even the testimony of former Kaufman , Texas mayor Paula Bacon was ignored when she told of blood rising into people’s bathtubs in her town.
But unfortunately for NVF, the CFIA was not so easily assuaged. Even Butcher has admitted that any horse slaughter plant that is built in the US will have to be operated by an EU group like Velda because the horse meat market is in Europe and they control it. Now Velda needs a new home, but in his op-ed Skjerven, says, “horse slaughter never brought a single minute of profitability to the company.” In the end, it may not matter that HB 418 is unconstitutional, nor that a horse slaughter plant in the US could not export its horse meat without USDA inspectors, nor that the industry has committed a thousand sins against horses and the environment.
If investors in a horse slaughter plant cannot be comfortable in knowing they will make a profit, there will be no plant built. If Stan Weaver and the AQHA want horse slaughter they may have to do the killing themselves.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
GO NICANOR !! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL !!
Trainer Michael Matz switched Nicanor to the turf for his fourth career start and it clearly suited the colt well, as he demolished a maiden special weight field by 15 1/4 lengths at Delaware Park May 13
Bloodhorse.com
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