Each year thousands of horses meet with an untimely end in 3 foreign owned slaughterhouses in the US. Nearly 90,000 horses were slaughtered in 2005 for human consumption overseas. Thousands more were shipped live to Canada and Mexico for slaughter there .... Both Dallas Crown, Inc. in Kaufman, TX and Cavel International, Inc. in DeKalb, IL are Belgian owned. While Beltex Corporation in Fort Worth, TX is French owned.

Many people believe that only old, sick, *unuseable* horses are slaughtered. This is far from the truth. Horse meat is considered a delicacy in France, Japan, Belgium and other European countries. Young, healthy, meaty horses are much prefered over old, skinny animals. But sadly enough, the ones people seem to be able to justify are the ones that served people their entire lives and are no longer 'useful'. Did they scream out and search for the person that they loved before they were killed? To look at a few horses on their way to slaughter, please visit: BETRAYED BY GREED Pictures courtesy of Craig Lundgren of Hobbie Horse Stables and Sanctuary

Most horses slaughtered are bought by so called *killer buyers* at livestock auctions. These killer buyers are middle men for the slaughterhouses and will buy any horse they can, in order to fill up the truck. Please visit: Auction Casualties by Amanda James for pictures of horses sold at auction, most going to slaughter. The majority of sellers at these auctions do not realize that their family pet is in danger of being bought by a killer buyer. Please consider selling your horse privately. If you must sell at auction, be sure to stay and present your horse to potential private buyers. Loose horses without representation are at the highest risk of going to slaughter. But no horse is safe ...

 Horses endure immense suffering on their way to slaughter. Often shipped for more than 24 hours without food or water, forced to travel in a bent position in double-decker trucks which are designed for cows and pigs, not for horses. Some arrive at their destination injured or dead. But the suffering has only just begun for horses arriving alive at the slaughter plants. Many horses are crammed together in pens awaiting their turn in the knock box. Often horses are driven into the stunn box with electric cattle prods. Federal Law mandates that horses are unconsious before being slaughtered. Stunning is usually done with a captive bolt gun. But many horses are stunned improperly and are still consious when they are being hoisted by a rear leg and have their throats cut to bleed out. We have chosen not to add extremely graphic pictures to our site. But we ask you to please visit some or all of the following links. These videos and pictures are graphic and are not suited for small children. Please use your own judgement and discretion:

sharkonline - undercover video from inside a horse slaughter house.

Blood Country - a Texas Shame - GRAPHIC

The American Horse  Video by John Holland

Humane Farming Video

Supporters of this barbaric practice claim horse slaughter is a form of humane euthanisia. Judge for yourselve after watching the videos. The majority of Americans want to see the slaughter of horses stopped. You can help put an end to horse slaughter in the US: Please contact and urge your representatives to vote YES on H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Please visit the ASPCA to find your legislators

To see the actual bills, click the following links: H.R. 503 and S.1915

Meanwhile, there are a few things you can do to proctect your horse:

**As mentioned before, do not sell your horse at an auction. Instead try selling your horse privately. Check references on the potential buyer. Ask for a contract with buy back guarantee.

***Consider donating your horse to a non profit horse rescue organization or retirement home.

 **Donate your horse to a good therapeutic riding program. Please ask what happens to the horses when they are no longer useful to the program.

**Humane euthanisia by a licensed veterinarian is a better option than cruel slaughter.

**Don't breed your mare. There are already too many foals in need of permanent loving homes. If you are ready to share your life with a foal, consider visiting a auction near you or talk to horse rescue organization.