January 9, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Vicki Tobin

630.961.9292

John Holland

540-268-5693

Slaughter Supporters Call for Boycott of Some of America’s Most Beloved Horsemen and Most Effective Horse Organizations

Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Pat Parelli, Sheryl Crow, Vigo Mortenson, Barbie Twins, USEF, Humane Society, PETA Under Attack From Obscure Animal Agriculture Group

CHICAGO, (EWA), – Some of America’s most prominent horse lovers were verbally assaulted and accused of malfeasance today for exercising their right of free speech over the ongoing decimation of the wild horse herds and their opposition to horse slaughter. The unprecedented attack came in a release issued today by little known Wyoming State Representative, Sue Wallis of United Organizations of the Horse (UOH), and left many in the horse industry scratching their heads.

The rambling diatribe called for a boycott of the respected United States Equestrian Federation, legendary horse trainer Pat Parelli, Willie Nelson and others for speaking up for the humane treatment of horses and protection of Mustangs. The release accused them of taking “dirty money” and selling out to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), but offered no specifics or proof.

The attack comes on the heels of a week of growing press coverage of nationwide demonstrations against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its removal of wild horse herds from the American West. In an earlier release, Wallis praised the BLM’s actions in removing the horses and she has suggested they be slaughtered and fed to the world’s hungry. Currently, horse meat sells for $30 per pound in Europe, making such a humanitarian offering unlikely.

Curiously, neither the USEF, PETA, nor the HSUS, has taken part in the recent demonstrations or law suits against the removal of mustangs in the Calico complex of Nevada. Notably missing from the list of organizations attacked in the release were those who actually did participate, including In Defense of Animals, The Cloud Foundation, the Equine Welfare Alliance and numerous other groups. Over 200 organizations, dignitaries and celebrities as well as over six thousand individuals have signed-on to a Unified Call for a moratorium on round-ups.

EWA’s John Holland explains, “I suspect this attack has more to do with hyping State Representative Wallis’ own campaign contributions than anything else. They love to use the PETA/HSUS boogieman to coax money out of their base. “Even so” continued Holland, “such an attack has the unmistakable aroma of desperation about it.”

Disguised as a plea to come to the aide of animal agriculture, the demand for a boycott attacks one of the farmer's and rancher’s most consistent humanitarians. Singer Willie Nelson has raised millions for farmers and stockmen facing foreclosure during hard times.

It also attacked Parelli, a former champion rodeo cowboy who went from riding bucking horses to pioneering a more gentle and cerebral form of horsemanship. Parelli clinics fill coliseums from coast to coast and abroad with horse lovers intent on learning to think like a horse,

The tax status of Wallis’ organization is under a cloud. Donations are funneled through a questionable tax deductible 501(c)(3) charitable group. Such groups are legally limited to the amount of its income (15-20%) that can be used for lobbying. To date, all UOH efforts appear to be related to lobbying for horse slaughter and against wild horse protection.

“If this is the way they are going to raise money” offered Holland, “I would suggest they squirrel away most of the proceeds in a legal contingency fund.”

The Equine Welfare Alliance is a dues free, umbrella organization with over 90 member organizations. The organization focuses its efforts on the welfare of all equines and the preservation of wild equids.