Here is a topic that I am currently helping to block legislation on. While on the front you may think that this is something that is wrong let me give you some facts. The US plants are the only ones that are currently regulated to any degree in North America. The plants in Mexico are an atrocity. Canada's are ok but not nearly as good as the ones in the states. Overseas it's a joke.

In the last 10 years animal rights wackos have successfully closed most horse meat packing houses. There are only a couple left in Texas now. In the US we have too many horses. Many horses are not wanted and have no value except as a lawn ornament and even then alot of them should be euthanized. Because of the cost, typically about $600 now by a veterinarian, these animals are left to suffer or are shot by their owners. Usually they don't do a good job of shooting them and the horse suffers. Or they just let the horse stand out in the field and suffer.

Now while I like horses just as much as anyone the meat packers provide a very valuable service. Just like animal shelters take in litters of dogs and cats and usually end up euth. a great deal of them there are horses that are too bad off anymore and like it or not there are horses that are just plain bad animals. Don't believe the "horse whisperers" that tell you that all bad horses are created. It's just not true. I've raised horses my whole life. I've taken wild mustangs and made them tame as your dog. I've also had horses that were hand raised from day one and regardless of the gentle handling, training methods, etc. they would just as soon hurt you as look at you.

Now I'm not asking you to change your mind one way or the other. It's just that I've seen this horse issue get pretty much out of control. We're starting to place animals on a level equal with man and people are taking it way too far. It's already happened with rodeo but that's another topic. We're heading down a slippery slope with horses. If we outlaw their butcher I guarantee you it won't be long before it happens with all animals. The organizations behind this already have plans in place as soon as horse packing is done away with to start with cattle and then pigs and on down the line.

The thing to remember is that good horses don't go to slaughter. Rarely do you see a good bred, useable horse going to the packers. What you see are crippled, blind, mean, etc. horses that nobody wants. Yes occassionally you can get a good one but that is the exception rather than the rule. Just like occassionally you get a good purebred dog at the pound but that's the exception rather than the rule as well.

Just know that there is another side to this story. If you see from the articles I've attached it is an extremely humane procedure, more so that what will happen across the borders. It won't stop the problem it will just make it harder on the horses.