Jamaica's Story: An Unlikely Happy Ending to a Horse Slaughter Case

Want to know more

Hi Bonnie,

I am a Canadian writer (5 books to date in a True Horse Stories series + various magazine article) and came across this post while researching for new story ideas. I LOVE the sound of this one... it's a near perfect fit for the type of story I'm needing. I'm wondering if there is any way that I could find out more information from you about this horse - where you heard about him , etc.

Thanks very much in advance for leads you might be able to offer.

Sincerely,

J Andrekson

greed and killing horses

I appreciate so much the column and comments; it is bottom line human behavior including greed which causes so much suffering to all animals. Menopausal women - "can't you be uncomfortable for ten seconds?" Please think about the incredible suffering of equines, or at least please try the plant based HRT - I discussed this with my ob/gyn, and he was aware of premarin's ingredients - one of his assistants thankfully won't let him ignore it!

Stop Slaughter of American Horses

As the owner of one PMU and the rest slaughter bound horses, I am a total advocate for ending slaughter and can attest to the fact that it's all lies that the only horses that go to slaughter are aged, crippled or crazy (the oldest one I have is 8 yrs. and the baby is about 6 months, all healthy, none crazy). Thanks Bonnie for making the story available for people to read. The big breeding barns (at least in Indiana) are responsible for sending loads of horses to the kill auction at Shipshewanna, IN) knowing exactly where they will end up. Irresponsible owners are the other culprits. It's a good feeling when people are made aware of rags to riches stories for these animals. They are the poster kids in this issue. I've seen some horses at the kill auction who should have been on the cover of breed magazines (such as the two paints) and horses that looked like they just came from the show ring (the pretty young palomino) or the matched set of grays, the black horse with the star... all young, healthy and could have had a great life if they had been lucky enough to get a good owner rather than a death sentence in a slaughter house. Let's hope that the select few who blocked the bills to end horse slaughter will be blocked themselves and let's hope that horse slaughter comes to an end this year. Thanks again for posting this article.

Horse Slaughter and HRT

Thank you Bonnie for this article. One thing I would like to mention is that 'unwanted' horses are being bred regularly to supply menopausal women with premarin and other equine based HRT. I am by no way condemning women for their choice in this matter, but suggest only they talk to their doctors about alternative therapies. Cenestin, which is plant based, apparently is very close in it's effect to premarin. Once a PMU mare can no longer produce the hormone in her urine, because she can no longer get pregnant, she is shipped to slaughter. Any foals produced that cannot be sold, also get shipped to slaughter. Doing this one small thing can immediately impact the number of horses killed.

Horse Slaughter, an UNnecessary evil

Bonnie,

Thank you so much for identifying a horse that almost went to slaughter. Claims by pro-slaughter advocates that horse slaughter is necessary because these horses are dangerous, old or are irreversibly lame are clearly proven false in this case. By the USDA own statistics, 92.2% of the horses going to slaughter are sound and young.

Pro-slaughter would like for Americans to believe their false claims about horses going to slaughter but your story and others, like the story about Lights on Broadway who was literally taken off the slaughter truck when the driver showed the trainer his papers, are showing the American people that slaughter is all about greed, irresponsibility and not being held accountable.

Thank you very much for keeping Americans informed of the truth about horse slaughter.

re:

Bonnie, you are an hero.

Responsibility for Horse Slaughter

The plight of horses in our country is one of great concern to me as a horse lover. And sadly, I feel it will probably get worse over the next five years before it gets better. As an animal advocate and current owner, it is important that all horse loving factions work together for the best possible outcomes for our equine friends which prevents suffering or a long trip on a semi-trailer to Canada or Mexico.

Unfortunately, the resolution of our horse dilemma revolves around proper funding. It is imperative that horse lovers, breed organizations, welfare groups, and legislature work together to pursue all avenues and options to raise the appropriate funding to care for and provide proper housing for our injured or geriatric thousand pound friends. The cost for maintaining these horses is staggering compared to the work of our dog and cat rescue groups.

A larger call to action is definitely in order and I feel a very good solution is possible if egos are put aside and the horse is put first. I feel appropriate dollars and homes can be found (or developed) if individuals start finding out the true final destination of their equine friends.

breeding and slaughter

I couldn't agree with you more. The unthinking back yard breeding of horses and other animals without regard to the responsibility of safeguarding a life should be unacceptable in what we would hope is a civilized society.

Legislation should be enacted to safeguard the future of our fellow beings on this planet so all shall be provided with the kind of love and care some humans have come to expect of their own species. Hopefully through legislation a kinder and gentler planet will somehow evolve. THank you Bonnie for bringing JAMAICA as such a perfect example to the eyes and thus the minds of all who read your article.

Judie Stein

Thank you Bonnie

The overbreeding of horses has got to STOP. Horses going to slaughter only fuel our ugly image in the world.

I appreciate you sharing Jamaica's story.

Responsibility

Bonnie,

Thank you for yet another example of who our "unwanted" horses really are. I read far too many articles that claim horse slaughter is necessary to absorb our unwanted horse population.

These articles all have one thing in common: They never say anything about the fact that every horse has an owner and that owner is responsible for the horse. Simply holding people to this responsibility would go a long way to assuring that horses did not end up in slaughter.

But then, we don't seem to eager to force anyone to be responsible. We bail out AIG with $80 Billion and they throw a party. We admonish them and weeks later give them another $40 Billion. Apparently we have lost the concept of personal responsibility.

Together we can defeat the forces of greed and irresponsibility and the first step is simply to stand up and identify them.

John Holland