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The problem we hope to address is simple. Too many unwanted horses in America are being brutally slaughtered in Mexico and Canada. A horse may become unwanted for a number of reasons. There are healthy horses of varying ages and breeds that are purchased for pleasure, maybe for a child or grandchild, and when the novelty wears off the well-intended owner doesn’t know what to do. Horses develop disabilities, or simply become too old to fulfill the owner’s original purpose. Some horses aren’t “pretty” enough; others don’t show very well or run fast enough. Some become unruly and difficult to handle, often due to lack of attention. As beginning riders improve, they graduate to faster and stronger horses and their first horses are no longer needed. Many horses go from one owner to another until the horse’s original talents and purpose are unrecognizable due to poor handling, and the horse is deemed useless or unfit. There are many healthy, sound horses on their way to slaughter that were never given a chance to live up to their fullest potential, and whose original owners and/or breeders would be horrified to discover their fate. Unfortunately, many horse owners who are not educated about the care and handling of equines are unwittingly contributing to the unnecessary suffering and mistreatment of horses.
Another myth about horse slaughter is that it is the only economical way to dispose of the old, unsound and emaciated horses. This is an illogical statement in that these horses don't weigh enough to bring sufficient money at slaughter to pay for the transportation costs. Horsemeat is considered a delicacy in parts of Europe, and they like the meat to come from horses that are 6 months to 8 years old. In Japan, the meat from foals is most prized, commanding high prices throughout the country. This market demand can only be met by the slaughter of young healthy horses, so there is no truth in the contention that slaughter houses process only the old, unsound or emaciated horses. Most private horse owners see their horses as valued family pets, and they care deeply about what happens to them after they move on to new owners. These are the people that we hope to reach through MississippiHorses.org. We want to help educate the inexperienced owner and offer alternative disposal avenues that will insure our animals are humanely treated until their death. Horses have earned this right. Our Founding Fathers understood how important the horse was to the development of our country, declaring them to be companion animals rather than livestock. Horses carried us into battle against our enemies and died alongside our early patriots. Horses allowed us to expand our fledgling empire westward, giving our nation the ability to grow into what we are today. Horses were our workmates and companions, allowing us to do so much more than would have ever been possible had they remained just another species of wild animal. They deserve our love and respect, but most of all they deserve our protection. MississippiHorses.org is dedicated to this cause, and we hope you'll use our information and resources to help you determine the best way for you to solve your unwanted horse problems. |
 (See larger image) These foals are the byproduct of the Surrogate Mare Industry. Thousands of these foals are sent to slaughter every year. Rescue organizations such as Last Chance Corral purchase day old orphaned foals to literally save their lives. Foals that aren’t adopted are slaughtered for their skins known in the fashion industry as “pony skins.” |
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However, individual owners aren’t the only ones contributing to the problem of unwanted horses. The over breeding of horses has helped produce this oversupply, as well as the commercial programs involving mares and foals. There are many responsible breeders who pay strict attention to the genetic qualities they want to pass on to their foals, and these breeders generally produce healthy horses that live long and productive lives. Unfortunately, there are also breeders who produce genetically weak animals that are harder to sell and have very little value other than being a family pet. There are many breeders of competitive horses – racehorses, jumpers, cutting horses, etc. - whose goal is to produce the next champion of their sport. Inevitably, some of these fall short of greatness and are unknowingly sent to auctions from where they ultimately end up at the slaughterhouse. The mistreatment of mares used for surrogates and the foals they must abandon (
Horse auctions are a vital piece of the industry, and many people have been served well by buying and selling horses in this manner. The history of the horse in America is rich with stories and experiences from different auctions, and many today – such as the Keeneland yearling sale - are significant events in the industry. However, auctions are the major suppliers for kill buyers, and many horses sold at auction end up being loaded into stock trailers and driven straight to the slaughterhouse. It is important that horse owners clearly understand what might happen to a horse sold at auction, and also to understand that there are better ways to find another home for an unwanted horse.