March 11, 2003

An Open Letter regarding horse slaughter

The tragic problem of slaughtering our precious horse population must be halted. Horses have carried our ancestors into battle, served our country with honor, have "raised" our children who loved them, as well as charmed our lives with their grace and beauty.

As a horsewoman and ranch owner, I buy and sell horses of all kinds. I handle the show horses, breeding horses and all types of pleasure horses. I have seen baby foals jerked from their mothers as she is unmercifully dragged up the slaughter chute. The fear, confusion and trauma is disgusting. These are perfectly clean and sound animals that have many years ahead of them. They are shoved, stomped, pushed, beaten with whips and prods, and have no defenses to fight back with. Bleeding, broken legs and bones, raw sores - who cares? They are only a price per pound item.

This horrific practice must be stopped! I must bid against these "killer" buyers to acquire some horses, perfectly nice quality animals that have good places to go and things still left to do.

There is not one decent thing that can be said about the slaughter of these animals that were the foundation of developing our country. I can only say:

And, to allow this to continue (with no conscious at all) make me wonder how these people can smile, go about on their day to day chores and work, play, enjoy their families and children - and sleep at night too! How can you live with yourself? Is this okay?