Subject: [againstslaughter] Re: Problem of Unwanted Horses
The following is a copy of a letter i sent to the RPOA this morning.
It was in response to the message posted at the bottom by Mary.
Amy
Re: Mary Beth
Hello, I am a member of the horse industry that has been watching your
discussion with
Mary Nash with interest. However, you baffle me. I have never heard of you at
any horse show, trail ride, rodeo, auction, or clinic; what connection exactly
do you have with the horse industry? I also sense a tone of condescension in
your replies to her which considering the serious nature of the discussion is
disturbing.
I grew up in the world of the AQHA, APHA, ApHC, IAHA, 4H, THJA, GHHJA, SJHJA,
AHSA (now USAEq), ATA, racetracks, and rodeo. I have worked on cattle ranches
and for the USFS in Montana where horses really ARE a necessity. I rescue horses
from neglect and slaughter sales privately, but I am also a member of Lone Star
Equine Rescue and the Greater Houston Horse Council. I was a zookeeper for a
number of years (Houston--we didn't feed horsemeat BTW), and I am now a peace
officer in the City of Houston (working abuse calls among other things).
You are operating under some misconceptions as to how the industry works. It
doesn't get more "hands on" than the people who are in the trenches
fighting the slaughter houses among which I am proud to be counted. In fact, I
quite resent being referred to as an "animal rights activist". I
certainly do ride my horses , eat meat, and own pets. I was at the same hearing
that you testified at, and would like to correct a few points, for example, the
AVMA and AQHA are not and never were for Ms. Brown's bill. Their official stance
is neutral.
Most of the people who testified for the bill (including yourselves) are
strangely enough
not horse people. The Texas Cattle Raisers Association? Texas Goat Raisers? I
mean, really. Non-horse people, and that does include the RPOA which I stress
again I have never even heard of and I've been in this industry my whole life,
should keep their noses out of it IMO. And yes, there are anti-slaughter vets
out there, too.
Do you notice that no matter how many slaughter plants there are in this
country, there
always seems to be enough horses to supply them? Where do they come from if they
are not being bred? The industry supports the slaughter plants, not the other
way around. In 1989 the US slaughtered over 300,000 horses but in 2002 the US
slaughtered only 42,000 (est.). Where did the other 260,000 go, and where is
your huge humane crisis? They weren't exported to Canada or Mexico according to
the numbers. So what happened? Obviously we aren't producing as many now--when
the number of plants dropped from 14 to 2, we apparently reduced the amount of
horses needing to be slaughtered somehow. If the last two close, it is not a big
leap to
guess that those 40,000 would be reduced to near zero. It's what happened
before.
How much would you care to bet that if the plants reopened, production would
gear up to meet their needs? This is the way the horse industry works, and
unfortunately you are being misled by a few industry "professionals"
whose main goal is to always be able to dump horses on the market without
repercussion. The slaughter plants encourage the mass production of horses,
which in turn drives prices down--not up--and hurts those of us breeding a
quality product because we cannot compete against the $300 horse for newcomers
to the horse world and the dollars they bring. As with any livestock industry,
we cannot survive by selling only between ourselves, we must be able to attract
new enthusiasts. Not enthusiasts who buy a lower quality horse and are then
disappointed by the way it turns out, and quit! For the overbreeding to stop,
the slaughterhouses MUST be eliminated.
Horses are not and cannot be kept by the average public like dogs and cats!! It
takes space and money to raise horses, you cannot do it in an apartment and
expecting the horse industry to follow trends like the dog and cat industry is
unrealistic!
I also want to point out that like the AKC with its hip dysplasia, for instance,
the major
breed registries in this country depend on sheer numbers and not quality, to
make a profit. They do not inspect horses before approving them for
registration. I applaud the AQHA's decision to stay neutral on this issue even
though if breeding is reduced their profits will be also.
The industry absorbed 260,000 plus horses per year in 13 years without any major
repercussions, and you are now worried about the last 40,000? How realistic is
that?
Amy Backo
Xanadu Farm Trakehners
Navasota, Texas
Breeder of ATA Horse of the Year "Garnelle"
From: Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
To: Mary S. Nash
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: Question
Dear Mary,
Helloooooo! Why is it so difficult for you and your circle to grasp who we
are? There is some info about us is on our website but I haven't gotten our
programs to our webmaster to be posted. Will be doing this during the month
of June. We're big on education regarding all species of animals and have
experts on our board of directors representing same.
We are not a political organization and only speak out when the welfare of
animals is at stake. We are all volunteer except for a part-time Education
and Rescue Coordinator at our office. Our pet care assistance hotline
tries to help anyone with an animal problem and we have a big book of resource
people and phone numbers. Hands-On. In the Trenches. Working
to solve animal problems. An alliance that brings many programs under our
umbrella. That's Us!
We are alarmed at all the lies and exaggerations being spread by animal rights
activists and formed to provide a reasonable voice regarding animal issues.
We have a Pet Education, Assistance and Rescue Program which is being emulated
by new groups starting up all over the country. We network a huge
statewide program to rescue animals of all species.
There are too many programs to list in an email but if you would like a
complimentary newsletter which includes a chart of same, send me your snail mail
address.
We support legislation which is for the welfare of animals and oppose
legislation which is agenda driven and detrimental to animals. We are
*owners* of our animals, not guardians, in order to care for, love and protect
them. We believe deeply in the human/animal bond.
How in the world do you come up with *a connection to A&M?* I wish we
did have a sugar daddy somewhere and we could do even more.
I am sorry but we just disagree on the horse slaughter issue. We don't
like the doubledeck trailers either for hauling horses and I've been told by one
of our horse owner members that they will be phased out in 2007. Wish it
were sooner.
We don't want horses slaughtered any more than you do so let's work together on
this problem. What can we do to keep horse owners from taking them to
auctions? Anything?
Mary Beth
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
900 NE Loop 410 #205-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 822-6763
rpoa@texas.net http://responsiblepetowners.org
$10 Annual Dues (Jan - Dec)
Our membership stays informed
regarding all animal issues with an
e-mail list and quarterly newsletter!
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