This comprehensive body of work produced by equine advocate Linda Horn arose as a result of commentary by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who stated that Congress should come up with a better solution for unwanted horses.  Instead of slaughtering non-food animals for human consumption, he said that there needs to be a “a third way” to deal with horse problems instead of killing.  When Congress lifted the ban on horse slaughter for human consumption, five pending applications were filed.  The USDA preferred that the ban be renewed instead.

Of course, Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, appealed to Vilsack calling on the USDA to deny permit applications for horse slaughter facilities, citing concerns with the cost and safety of the practice. His letter highlighted the negative economic impact that horse slaughter could have on the meat industry,  after the EU discovered that horsemeat had made its way into the beef supply.  In the month following media reports of horsemeat laced products, sales of burgers and other meat products collapsed by as much as 40 percent.

“Horses are not raised as food animals and are routinely given substances that are banned by the FDA from administration to animals destined for human consumption. At a time when USDA’s budget is diminished by budget cuts and sequestration…every dollar spent at horse slaughter plants would divert necessary resources away from beef, chicken, and pork inspections – meat actually consumed by Americans. While I work to restore this ban, I strongly urge you to exercise all available options to prevent the resumption of this industry.”

Now that Congress’ latest 2014 budget bill has blocked the resumption of horse slaughter in the U.S. by cutting funding for inspections of the process,  Linda’s documentation of alternatives to slaughter,  emphasis on humane euthanasia,  and alternatives for post-mortem disposal options in the United States is more important than ever.

The vast majority of pro-slaughter promoters will never  accept that this is the decline and fall of horse slaughter. Slaughterhouse Sue is still flagellating her troops into believing that they have lots of options moving forward.  But Linda has shown that anti-slaughter resources do exist,  and groups and organizations in other states could be mobilized out of necessity.  Inventiveness and ingenuity are stimulated by difficulty,  as we are reminded by the well-known proverb “necessity is the mother of invention,”  often ascribed to Greek philosopher Plato.

Compiled by Linda Horn – PDF version available here

USDA Secretary Vilsack’s “Third Way” can address the current horse situation better than slaughter. The vast majority of horses who end up at the borders come from somewhere else. To be successful, the situation must be addressed at the source. Several states already have solutions in place. When all states set up their own programs there will be positive, long-lasting progress nationwide.

I hope Members of Congress, state and local legislators will endorse and promote this document. We intend to fund it privately, with no contributions from government budgets.

Here are a few examples of existing programs. There are many, many more.

STATE PROGRAMS – A GOOD EXAMPLE

New Mexico Equine Protection Fund.

If every state set up something like this – with each handling its own excess population – it would go a long way toward solving the dilemma.

http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/

Information about other state programs is available online.

CRISIS INTERVENTION

American Humane Association – Red Star Program – Disaster Relief

Help for the Leachman Horses. They helped with several other rescues involving horses

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/programs/emergency-services/recent-emergency-services/montana-horse-relief.html

American Humane Association Second Chance Fund

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/programs/shelter-services/second-chance-fund/

HAY BANKS

Grants and Other Support

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/nutrition/hay/horse_hay_bank_resources_061410/

ASPCA “Hay It Forward”

http://www.aspca.org/get-involved/horses/aspca-hay-it-forward-project

UHC Partners with ACTHA to Help Unwanted Horses

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31295/uhc-partners-with-actha-to-help-unwanted-horses

Stamp Out Starvation of Horses – Georgia

http://www.sosofhorses.com/SOS_Of_Horses/Welcome.html

Equine Safety Net – Kentucky Horse Council

http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/safety-net/

Oregon Hay Bank

http://oregonhaybank.org/

Sound Equine Options – NW Oregon & SW Washington State

http://www.soundequineoptions.org/programs/temporary-feed-assistance

BITS – Back In The Saddle Project – California – Butte, Glen & Yuba Counties

http://backinthesaddleproject.com/haybank.html

HAY PRODUCTION

The USDA could provide subsidies to grow horse hay and establish a National Hay Registry that publishes hay available in each state.

GRANTS

The ASPCA Provided $1.8 Million in Grants to Equine Groups in 2012

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31259/aspca-provided-1-8-million-in-grants-to-equine-groups-in-2012

TRAINING & SHOWCASING RESCUED AND SECOND CAREER HORSES

The Penn National Racetrack Model

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/76860/penn-national-working-for-horse-adoption

UHC Member Addresses Rescue and Adoption: Rags to Riches Rescue Competition

http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/?id=5&s=4&story=110

‘Thoroughbreds for All” Event to be Held April 26

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/thoroughbreds-for-all-event-to-be-held-april-26/

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RESCUES

State legislatures have the ability to create tax checkoffs to help rescues at no cost to taxpayers. It won’t solve the problem, but every little bit helps.

Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance Tax Checkoff Information

http://www.counwantedhorse.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=160

In 2013, the New Mexico legislature passed a check off bill as well.

“THANK YOU to the New Mexico House for passing SB274 on a 62-0 vote! Sen George Munoz’s bill will create a tax check off to help fund licensed horse shelters to help more abused, abandoned, and neglected equines in New Mexico without raising taxes! Having passed the Senate, the bill awaits a signature from Governor Martinez to become law. SO MANY people came forward to support this bill.”

This is the Fact Sheet. The Text of the Bill is available online.

http://apvnm.org/legislation/2013/Horse%20Shelter%20Rescue%20Fund%20Factsheet-1-26-13.pdf

GELDING CLINICS & GELDING VOUCHERS

National Equine Resource Network (NERN)

NERN’s goal is to help set up clinics nation-wide based on their model.

http://www.nationalequine.org/

The Unwanted Horse Coalition

http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/?id=7&s=8

New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher

http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/

Horse Plus Humane Society – California – Monthly Clinics Low-cost clinics

http://www.horsehumane.org/gelding.htm

BITS – Back In The Saddle Project SNIP – California

http://backinthesaddleproject.com/SNIPS.html

FERTILITY CONTROL FOR MARES

PZP – Information from The Science and Conservation Center, ZooMontana

http://www.sccpzp.org/

EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE

Sound Equine Options – NW Oregon & SW Washington State

http://www.soundequineoptions.org/

NETWORKING TO RESCUE HORSES

A Home for Every Horse

http://www.equisearch.com/a-home-for-every-horse/

A Home for Every Horse – Participating Rescues

http://www.equisearch.com/a-home-for-every-horse/rescues/?utm_source=EquiSearch-Hub&utm_medium=left-rail&utm_campaign=AHFEH

HSUS Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/12/safe-stalls-horse-rescue-network-120512.html

CANTER

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31448/canter-transitions-1-000-ex-racehorses-in-2012

There are so many Facebook groups that successfully network to re-home horses in need and help owners in difficulty it would be almost impossible to list them all here.

TRANSPORT FOR RESCUED HORSES

Reasonable transport is one of the biggest challenges to those rescuing horses.

The following Facebook groups and others are helping meet that challenge:

Fleet of Angels

http://www.fleetofangels.org/

Horse Rescue Transport Network

https://www.facebook.com/HorseRescueTransportNetwork

Rescue Rangers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rescuerangers/?ref=ts&fref=ts

uShip Highways to Help. Rescue horse information is at the bottom.

http://about.uship.com/highway-to-help/

EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY

Articles About the Value of Programs to Individuals and the Community

Grants Fund Research on Equine-Assisted Therapy and Veterans

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29767/grants-fund-research-on-equine-assisted-therapy-and-veterans

Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence

http://www.chrysalisequine.com/files/EAP%20-%20a%20mental%20health%20intervention%20for%20children%20who%20have%20experience%20intra%20family%20violence.pdf

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Healing Therapy or Just Hype?

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/equine-assisted-psychotherapy-healing-therapy-or-just-hype/all/1

Horse therapy helps youth deal with life issues

http://www.hpj.com/archives/2009/feb09/feb16/Horsetherapyhelpsyouthdealw.cfm

A few of many Equine-assisted Therapy Programs:

Many of the horses are donated by those who can no longer care for them.

Equine-assisted therapy for military veterans and families – General information and links to programs

http://www.examiner.com/article/equine-assisted-therapy-for-military-veterans-and-families

Mini Horses as Therapists for Children

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130106%2FNEWS0107%2F301060351%2F1051&nav_category=NEWS0107

Equine Psychotherapy Associations

http://www.equine-psychotherapy.com/therapy-associations.html

EGALA

http://www.eagala.org/

Care for the Troops

http://www.careforthetroops.org/about_equineassistedactivities.php

Equine Assisted Therapy – St. Louis

http://eatherapy.org/

Equine Partners Unlimited – Ohio

http://www.equine-partners.org/

Back in the Saddle Project

http://backinthesaddleproject.com/index.html

Horse Plus Humane Society – California

http://www.horsehumane.org/programs.htm

Medicine Horse Program – Colorado

http://www.medicinehorse.org/vets.html

RESPONSIBLE BREEDING

HSUS Responsible Horse Breeders Council – 800 breeders had signed on as of January 2013.

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31238/responsible-horse-breeders-council-formed

TRULY HUMANE CHEMICAL EUTHANASIA

HSUS Humane Horse Remains Disposal – by State

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/horses/facts/humane_horse_remains_disposal.html

Veterinarians for Equine Welfare List

http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/veterinary-medical-schools.php

New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher System

http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/

Horse Plus Humane Society – California

http://www.horsehumane.org/eclinic.htm

BITS – Back In The Saddle Project – California

http://backinthesaddleproject.com/euthclinic.html

DISPOSAL SERVICES

HSUS Humane Horse Remains Disposal – by State

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/horses/facts/humane_horse_remains_disposal.html

Veterinarians for Equine Welfare List

http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/veterinary-medical-schools.php

New Mexico Equine Protection Fund – Voucher System

http://www.equineprotectionfund.org/

DISPOSAL – RENDERING

National Renderers Association Members

http://cdn.harmonyapp.com/assets/51004fea30413252d4000482/NRA2012Directory.pdf

DISPOSAL – BIODIGESTION – THE WAY OF THE FUTURE

Biodigestion holds promise for equine disposal. This option should satisfy those who argue the primary way equines can be beneficial to humans after death is as food. The technology is already being used for disposal of diseased livestock, chemically euthanized dogs and cats, and animals killed on roadways. Biodigesters can handle many types of biologic materials, including manure. In addition to a number of other useful by-products, units can be set up to generate electricity from the produced methane. The USDA has issued a number of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants for both research and building plants. Much more information is available online.

USDA Secretary Vilsack’s Column: Energy Efficiency and the Food, Farm and Jobs Bill

http://blogs.usda.gov/tag/anaerobic-digester/#sthash.XNNNl4re.dpuf

USDA Funded Digester Reduces Pollution, Powers 1,500 Michigan Homes

http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/10/12/usda-funded-digester-reduces-pollution-powers-1500-michigan-homes/

Five good reasons to implement a biogas plant on your farm

http://www.greenprospectsasia.com/content/five-good-reasons-implement-biogas-plant-your-farm#sthash.JXZ3N5w2.dpuf

MORTALITY COMPOSTING

Should I Consider Composting A Horse Carcass?

http://www.alphahorse.com/composting-a-horse-carcass.html

How To Compost A Dead Horse

http://www.alphahorse.com/compost-a-dead-horse.html

Composting A Dead Horse: The Process

http://www.alphahorse.com/composting-a-dead-horse.html

As you can see, there are many alternative to horse slaughter in the U.S. Sadly, it’s doubtful many will be explored or implemented if irresponsible horse owners continue to have the option of discarding their animals at will. Only Congress has the power to protect our food exports and save our horses, and the best way is to bring the SAFE Act to the floor for a vote. Thanks for your time and consideration.