Ed Whitfield, Equestrian Hero

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The Equine Protection Network applauds Congressman Whitfield and Senator Landrieu's efforts to Save America's Horses.
Let's get down to brass tacks here. How is Senator Landrieu from LA going to use her political favors and clout to move the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, AHSPA, HR 503, when all the bodies in New Orleans have yet to be identified? People still without homes? It would be poltitical suicide for Landrieu to stand up on the Senate Floor and Save America's Horses.
As for Whitfield, our hats are off to Whitfield for getting the votes to pass HR503 in the House in 2006. Sadly though when it comes to the debate on the issue, Rep. Goodlatte won the debate on the House Floor with his powerful pro slaughter message, even it was filled with lies. Lies that Whitfield and others failed to address.
Recently Rep Kirk from IL introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2008 co-sponsored by Whitfield. The language will ban the inhumane doubles, except the law will never be enforced because it has civil penalties.
Anyone who is serious about banning the inhumane transport of horses in double deck trailers and Saving America's Horses from slaughter needs to study history to understand all the players. The history of the Commercial Transportation of Horses to Slaughter Act is on the EPN website -http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/legislation/cthsaHistory.html
Read it and weep. Also on the EPN website are the violations of the regulations and action taken by APHIS, along with the Owner/Shipper Certficates that have not been filled out according to the regulations and no one at APHIS has done anything.
If you want to Save America's Horses-Demand that HSUS who takes in more donations than all the non-profit pro slaughhter organizations combined, hire the best profrsssional lobbyist available to lobby the AHSPA,and the best law firm to sue APHIS for not doing their job.
Your money is better spent donating to the Republican or Democratic National Committees if you want your voice in Congress heard. Politicians listen to donors...
Christine Berry
EPN

Equine Protection Network, EPN of PA 7:08PM July 31, 2008

I own horses and run a variety of horse related web sites. I also deal daily with the fallout of the racing industry (as well as the equally bad English and Western show industry). While Bonnie hasn't spent her life around horses, she is bringing important things to light. And the feelings of non-horse owning American apparently do matter to our legislators and to at least a few of us in the business.
As an industry, we're worse than boxing ever thought about being. We are completely ungoverned, except by incestuous organizations like the Thoroughbred owners and US Equestrian Federation (their President and the USEF equestrian of the year are husband and wife!).
A 50% growth in feed and hay prices has wrecked the show and race industry. Years of over breeding by unscrupulous thoroughbred and quarter horse breeders has brought us here. But letting them off the hook by sending their culled colts to slaughter is unacceptable and not a mark of a capitalistic economy. They got into a commodity business and now they don't want to deal with the slow side of it.
Here is a little Mark Twain for you doubters. Twain, a big support of animal rights, said once that you could judge a country by the way it treats its animals. We haven't changed a bit and it is a real shame.
A Horse's Tale
"How many times have I changed hands? I think it is twelve times—I cannot remember; and each time it was down a step lower, and each time I got a harder master. They have been cruel, every one; they have worked me night and day in degraded employments, and beaten me; they have fed me ill, and some days not at all. And so I am but bones, now, with a rough and frowsy skin humped and cornered upon my shrunken body—that skin which was once so glossy, that skin which she loved to stroke with her hand. I was the pride of the mountains and the Great Plains; now I am a scarecrow and despised. These piteous wrecks that are my comrades here say we have reached the bottom of the scale, the final humiliation; they say that when a horse is no longer worth the weeds and discarded rubbish they feed to him, they sell him to the bull-ring for a glass of brandy, to make sport for the people and perish for their pleasure."

Raymond Williams of AR 9:44AM July 08, 2008

We hear this argument all the time from the horse racing community.
"That said, you tout the work Ed Whitfield has done to eliminate horse slaughter houses as a good thing, when in actuality, it is quite bad. By eliminating slaughter houses in the United States, the government has lost all ability to govern the practices of slaughter houses and ensure they are as humane as possible. Now, the industry is shipping horses to Mexico where the trip and methods for destroying the animals is far more inhumane".
They try and convince us that when horses were distached for dog food or whatever in the US, it was done kindly and without suffering or pain.
In fact, the methods used by US meat processors were at least just as horrible and inhumane as those used by any other country.
That's why it was banned, folks.
Make your case for horse slaughter in this country if you wish, but jplease don't pretend that it was any more humane in this country than it is in any other. The FACTS puts the lie to that.
p.s. The comments from Mr. Gaffney are much appreciated at this time when every sports hero, human or otherwise, seems tainted by drugs. It's nice to be reminded once again as Charles Hatton described the great horse Secretariat, " His only point of reference is himself ".
TvNB

tvnewsbadge of VA 9:46PM July 04, 2008

Thank you Ann Marini for your nice words.
Secretariat did not have any drugs of any kind during his racing career. I never in the thirteen months that I was galloping him did I ever have to hit him with the whip. Secretariat was a true champion and ran from his heart..
The use of Steroids must be stopped at ALL tracks around the country and we must bring the racing game back to the enjoyment it is suppose to be. Where else but a racetrack can you jump up and down and scream at a TV watching your horse come thru the stretch and no one will think your crazy?
We must keep the racing game clean for the gambler and give them an honest run for their money.
There are two people that lose in this game and that is the horse player and the horse owner; - everyone else is on a salary, the trainer, groom, ex boy, feed man, vet, van driver, blacksmith, valets, etc,etc.,
BAN ALL ENHANCEMENT DRUGS AND MOSTLY STEROIDS NOW.
Jim Gaffney

Jim Gaffney of NY 10:42PM June 28, 2008

Saturday, June 28..
"I reminded Haley she lives next to a race track called Golden Gate Fields. I told Haley go to the backstretch entrance and ask for a day pass. Walk around and tell trainers you are looking for a gelding to buy. You might as well be carrying free doughnuts. You will be swarmed.
Haley called me later crying. There was a black gelding, and when the trainer brought him from his stall the poor horse could hardly walk. The trainer said give me $2,000.00 and the horse is yours. Haley asked what is wrong with him? The trainer said not much, he is just a little sore. Haley thought his cannon bone was broken. He stood on three legs."
www.tbfriends.com

Ann Marini, Ph.D., M.D. of MD 8:08PM June 28, 2008

"Saturday, June 28th... So many horror stories coming from friends who work at race tracks. From Hollywood Park we are accepting a filly who was tied to the rear of her stall and beaten until her butt bled. All she did wrong was finish last in a race. For being slow she was punished."
http://www.tbfriends.com

ofRL of MD 11:05AM June 28, 2008

You people who are critical of Ms. Erbe's comment about Barbaro being "slaughtered" can't see beyond your noses. Can't you see that the term slaughter is placed in quotes? Do you understand what that means? When a word is in quotes, it is NOT to be taken literally. Haven't you people ever heard of a metaphor? Geez......

ofRL of MD 9:57PM June 27, 2008

I totally agree with everything this (not a rich horse owner )commented on.
I make my living in thie industry everyday.,and I see all the good ,and bad there is to it.
I need to impress upon the media that if you are to comment on our sport please be thoroughly educated about it.
Remove your bias ,and report facts with accuracyto the main stream public ,not just your personal feelings.

of CA 5:23PM June 27, 2008

Is this what passes for "journalism" now? I put that is quotes because clearly the author wouldn't know journalism if it reared up gave her a quick kick in the pants, which is exactly what her "editor" should have done. I put "editor" in quotes because....well, you know.
The ignorance displayed in this article is actionable, in my opinion. If I were advising the Jackson's it would be to go for the jugular - this is supposed to be a respected rag. "Barbaor" - the documentary, is playing "on Demand" at HBO right now, you can dial it up anytime you want. The very basic facts, bastardized by this author, can be seen in this well known, acclaimed, documentary, "Barbaro."
Barbaro was not murdered. The absolute ignorance of it, and other well know facts (which have been covered above) is a disgrace to real journalism.

David McNeal of CA 5:05PM June 27, 2008

John Gotti was always well represented by the legal community and so will trainer Asmussen.
'Moss defending Asmussen on lidocaine charge'.
Yet, not one trainer, writer, owner, vet, member of congress or
lawyer steps forward to question the Murder of Eight Belles.

clockerbob of CA 4:58PM June 27, 2008