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Unwanted horses are creating problems within industryI have trained, bred and worked with horses for over 20 years. I use my horses on a daily basis in the feedyard and recently started training outside horses again after a five year hiatus. I am concerned about the recent changes in the horse industry. Suddenly, I am getting calls from people who want me to re-train their horse or fix their horse's problems that were created from the owner's stupidity or inexperience. If the horse is beyond my help, I generally tell the person to sell the horse to someone who can deal with it, even if it means taking a loss on their investment. Then I advise the person to get a horse they can work with. If I can get the horse through its issues, I still advise the owner to sell the horse to an experienced rider. Whatever the case, I have seen some extremely dangerous horses coming from inexperienced trainers. Recently, I have visited with friends in Oregon and Missouri. Both have reported domesticated horses being turned loose in national forests and in with the wild mustangs. Can you imagine the horror of a driver as a horse steps out in the road in front of them and, because they are accustomed to vehicles, doesn't move? I have seen a horse hit by a semi truck. It is ghastly! I hate to think of a scenario where people are killed in a horse-vehicle accident all because their owner didn't have an outlet to place their unwanted horse. Horse rescues are helpful but I can see the unwanted horse population growing beyond the capacities of rescues as many people use artificial insemination, breed for quantity, not quality. And there are inexperienced people jumping into the breeding world because they want to raise a colt they haven't enough knowledge to properly train. Inexperienced breeders most generally have mediocre mares and, when they cross them with fancy bred stallions, they might end up with a winner but most generally not. What do we do with the mediocre horses no one wants to show? What do we do with those genetically afflicted horses? Should we just allow them to stand around until they eventually die? To me this is unethical. Or, do the breeders sell them cheap to some sucker wanting to get into the show world and let them deal with all the vet bills? I've recently become acquainted with a long-time breeder of Foundation Quarter Horses. He has some fine bred mares but, due to a drought in their area, needs to find pasture or sell the mares. The owner would rather lease the mares because he will never get the true value for these mares. It is a buyer's market, and that will bring new horse owners out of the woodwork, now that they can afford to buy a horse. Again, inexperience and ignorance generates more unmanageable horses. If the Humane Society, liberals and bleeding hearts, who have no real understanding of the horse industry, get their way, there will be legislation to ban all transport of horses out of the country to where it is legal to slaughter. The horse population was kept in check with horse slaughter plants. The horses that were mismanaged and neglected were taken out of the population. Now, with the population soaring, horse owners may be faced with legislation to limit our equine lifestyles and the number of horses we breed, not to mention all the fees for disposal they are suggesting all horse owners pay. I realize people in the United States hate the idea of eating horse meat but I have eaten horse meat and find it a pleasant and different source of protein. Remember, the Native Americans ate horse meat as well as used them for transportation. Some countries eat horse meat; so there is a market where someone can recoup their loss on a horse that is unacceptable for use. Like many, I really don't want to see a horse going to Mexico for slaughter. I'd feel more comfortable with the U.S. plants reopening. At least we could regulate them closely. As a horse breeder, I have already limited my breeding numbers and restrict outside mares with bloodlines I consider unacceptable to my stallion's reputation. As a trainer and horse enthusiast, I would like to challenge the horse world to take a stand to reduce the number of unwanted horses by reopening closed plants or allowing the transportation to horsemeat processing plants with humane slaughter practices. I do not intend to offend anyone but, in all reality, we cannot allow things to go down the road they are presently on. Here are some suggestions that may help. --Call or write your senators and representatives; don't expect others to write to them. You need do it because the Humane Society and others are lobbying them to prevent the transporting and slaughter of horses. Let's hound Washington, D.C. until they get the message that this horse slaughter ban is creating unwanted, dangerous horses, not to mention lowering the quality and value of our beloved equine friends. The Senate switchboard number is 202-224-3121 and the House number is 202-225-3121. --Breeders need to limit the number of outside mares bred and restrict the bloodlines to keep quality in the breeds. Limit the number of mares bred in their herds by rotation of mares. Limiting breeding can slow the numbers somewhat and we need to do this before the Humane Society forces legislation that requires limited breeding. --When selling horses, make sure the person you are selling to has the experience needed to handle the horse you have for sale, regardless of the money being offered. Inexperienced horses do not need to be in the hands of inexperienced owners. --Join with AQHA, Animal Welfare Council and other organizations supporting humane slaughter of horses. Make yourself heard before we lose our rights to use our horses as we see fit. That is, after all, the ultimate goal of the Humane Society: to ban horse use in rodeos, shows, pleasure and other activities. --Mary Powell, Lucas, Kan. 8/25/08 Date: 8/20/08
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