Horseback riding: it’s kind of the first thing you think of when horses cross your mind. Whether your thoughts to take you to treasured memories of riding lessons as a child or the big-screen thrill of watching Secretariat cross the finish line, the joys and triumphs of horseback riding are what we most commonly associate with these majestic animals. Unless, of course, you’re invested in the horse slaughter industry. In that case, the retired race horse who’s served her owner faithfully for years and the gentle family mare are both the same: a piece of meat. Because these individuals aren’t interested in the feeling a rider gets when she’s one with her horse, galloping through an open field. They aren’t interested in the wonder on a child’s face when her dreams of getting a pony actually come true. And they definitely aren’t concerned by the torture a horse faces in a slaughter facility.
Because no matter what arguments the horse slaughter industry might present to exonerate themselves, the fact is: there’s a reason it’s called slaughter. There is no element of this industry that is humane. And there’s no excuse for those who participate. So, if you want to know how you can save the lives of innocent horses and help put an end to the horse slaughter industry, here are our top tips on how you can help.
Get the Facts
Misinformation— or lack of information altogether— are two of the most common reasons why people are underinformed about horse slaughter or fail to advocate for change. So, start by educating yourself and work to share that information with others! Some popular misconceptions include the following:
Isn’t horse slaughter a good way of decreasing overpopulation?
NO! Although overbreeding of horses is a current problem, it’s caused by irresponsible breeders and the solution is increased education and regulations, not culling the population! In fact, overbreeding is the number one cause of horses winding up in the slaughter pipeline. And although statistics confirming that fact are readily available, breeders continue to breed carelessly because they know that even if there is no viable market for their horses— meaning a market which will lead to horses having healthy lives in a happy home—they will still be able to profit from selling them at auction.
And while a number of rescue organizations, families, and professional stable owners are seeking horses at auctions, it’s far more likely that these unwanted horses will fall into the slaughter pipeline in this manner. That’s why, if we want to decrease overbreeding and the population of unwanted horses, it’s better to close the slaughter pipeline on which these breeders rely.
Aren’t horses the same as any other food animal?
This is another common misconception and it couldn’t be farther from the truth! Unlike cows, pigs, or sheep, horses are not bred for food. Instead, they’re raised as companion animals, which means that not only is more time devoted to building their trust in humans, they’re also given more veterinary attention and thus injected with chemicals that make their meat unhealthy for human consumption. Unlike food animals, no regulations are applied to the types of medicines horses are given because no one assumes their meat will be eaten. So, not only is horse slaughter cruel and inhumane, it’s also very unsafe for humans!
Join the Fight
We understand that many people who want to help are also unable to provide a new home for an unwanted horse or aid in physically rescuing them. And that’s okay! There are still plenty of other ways you can help. Here’s a few:
Contact your Congressmen
Horse slaughter is illegal in the US, but that doesn’t stop over 80,000 American horses being taken across our borders for slaughter in Mexico and Canada. And although surveys show that as many as 80% of Americans are strongly opposed to horse slaughter, there are still no laws in the US actively banning the sale of any horses for slaughter or enforcing regulations that would keep our horses safe.
However, individual states who were formerly hosts to slaughter horses have taken action of their own to prevent them from returning; both Texas and Illinois have specific laws prohibiting the existence of any slaughterhouses within their state in addition to banning the selling, giving, or processing of horse meat intended for human consumption.
So, check out the laws about horse slaughter in your state and see what you can do! Remember that your voice matters, so reach out to legislators and ensure that the causes that matter to you are represented. Some key talking points to mention can include: protecting innocent horses from slaughter, protecting people from the toxic consumption of horse meat, and the negative environmental impact of slaughter houses.
Donate to a Horse Rescue
Most horse rescue organizations are severely overworked and underfunded. So, whether you can donate your dollars or your time, any contribution counts! Local rescue organizations exist all over the US, so there may be one closer to your area than you think! Check around, submit a volunteer application, and help save lives by assisting in rescues or providing love and time to traumatized horses who have been saved from slaughter.
Be Your Own Kind of Activist
If none of these options are available to you, you can still help by joining the fight through social media. Your Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are all platforms for making your voice heard, so use them to spread awareness about horse slaughter and encourage your followers to get involved! Hashtags like #StopHorseSlaughterNow can help.
So, whether you’re an experienced rider or someone with no prior horse experience learning about this for the first time, you can help end horse slaughter in any of the ways described above. You can also take up riding lessons and encourage others to do the same by using your voice to remind people that horses are a friend for life. Don’t let them be slaughtered— have fun riding them instead!