American Indians support horse slaughter
By Drovers news source Friday, June 26, 2009
Katherine Minthorn Good Luck, representative of the National Tribal Horse Coalition on the United Organizations of the Horse's Founding Leadership Team, reports that the National Congress of American Indians has passed a resolution expressing the tribes' views in regards to federal interference with their ability to sustainably manage horses on tribal lands, and supporting the reopening of US processing facilities.
Tribes in at least four states-Oregon, Montana, North and South Dakota-are working to establish humane processing facilities on tribal lands to provide an economic boost, jobs, and a much-needed valuable use for excess horses on tribal lands, and as a service to all horse owners. This resolution was passed at their Mid Year Conference in Niagara Falls, NY, June 14-17. Link
Many tribes in this country have vast tracts of land and bands of horses that they manage. Their ability, along with everyone else’s, to properly and responsibly manage both of these resources has been threatened by the closure of our domestic horse processing facilities. Horses are only one part of a greater ecosystem. Especially in the case of feral horses, we can’t allow them to run uncontrolled. Let’s utilize this resource rather than waste it.
3 comments:
Isn't this a BAD thing for people trying to spread the word of good Ag? And isn't it a bad economic thing for us horse people who now have the economic value of our well-bred, capable, well-trained animals reduced to mere meat value? I hope you'll take a look at the horse slaughter thing more closely. If they told you it was humane, they're lying. Horse vets would never put horses down this way, and even AAEP says chemical and gunshot should be the acceptable "humane" methods -- no mention of captive bolt.
Horses are worth more than meat, and promoting them as meat is just going to pull down their value.
Nobody has to sell their horse for processing, but some want the option. And besides, their value can't go down much more. At the local horse sale two weeks ago, colts were bringing $1. Processing is a responsible option that can be done in a humane manner for those that wish to do so.
In response to funchy: AAEP also says that they support horse slaughter - not that they are "pro horse meat", but they do see it as a viable option. One of the primary reasons the captive bolt has been used is because it is safer for the workers than using a firearm (especially in enclosed facilities). If the issue here, for you, is the captive bolt, then we need to make that part of horse slaughter better - not ban horse slaughter. To ban horse slaughter because we don't like the captive bolt would make about as much sense as banning riding horses because of poor saddle fit - we need to fit the saddle, not ban riding.
You ask "isn't it a bad economic thing for us horse people who now have the economic value of our well-bred, capable, well-trained animals reduced to mere meat value?" To this, I have to ask: Why would a well-bred, capable, well-trained horse be sold to slaughter? Even in this dismal economy, if a horse is well-bred, capable and well-trained, he will easily bring $5,000.00. I saw two horses sold for that this past week. Troy points out that colts are bringing a dollar in his comment and I know the sale of which Troy is speaking. This is definitely below "mere meat value" and at least a portion of the reason for the value is the lack of the the horse slaughter market. But back to the well-bred, capable and well-trained horse - if, for some reason, that horse is no longer capable, his value will go down. If he is unsound, his purpose in life becomes very limited. This is the horse that gets reduced to mere meat value. If your well-bred, capable and well-trained horse gets sold at mere meat value, that would have to be your fault - you can accept or reject the offer.
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