Re: HR 856

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

Dear Congressman Stenholm:

I am a native Texan, and my family and I have been involved in owning, breeding and racing thoroughbred horses for over 50 years.

I am sure that you are aware that during the last state legislative session Texans overwhelmingly rejected efforts to overturn a 50-year-old state law prohibiting the sale and possession of horsemeat for human consumption.

I am writing to ask you to support HR 857, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which has been introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Sweeney and Congressman John Spratt. Support and passage of this bill will ensure that both state law and public opinion are supported and horse slaughter for human consumption will end in our country once and for all.

A similar bill is waiting to be introduced in the Senate. It has strong, widespread support from the private sector as well as many national horse organizations including The Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and Fasig Tipton, Inc.

If this issue is to be debated as an economic issue, the fact is that a live horse is worth more to the economy than a slaughtered horse. The horse industry generates billions of dollars a year into the U.S. economy. There are many expenses associated with maintaining a horse including feed, board, veterinary, blacksmith, transportation, just to name a few.

No money is spent on a slaughtered horse. Actually, quite the opposite is true. These horse slaughterhouses are foreign owned, and all of the meat and all of the profits are sent overseas.

Another concern that has been raised by the cattle industry is that the ban of horse slaughter will lead to the ban of cattle slaughter. This is not the case. The fact is that cattle and hogs are listed on the NYSE Commodity Market as a food product. Horses are not. Americans do not eat horses, nor do we raise them for food. If horse slaughter is banned, the cattle industry would benefit from an increased demand for beef by the countries that are currently eating horse meat.

Horses are our pets and companions. We ride horses, race horses and they are our working partners on farms and ranches. They are not food for the dinner table. Please support this legislation and end the existence of this industry in our country.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing what action you will take on this issue.

Very truly yours,

John R. Murrell, President

JRM:jj