As we all know, one of the PSAs like to modify their arguments for slaughter depending on their audiences. I imagine when they are only talking amongst themselves, they don’t bother with the warm fuzzies and probably just say things like `them horses all need to die’ and `horse is good eatin’ while banjo music plays in the background. Lucky for the rest of us, they sometimes have enough brain activity to try to appeal to what they perceive would be our better natures when they try to convert anti slaughter people. I give them credit for at least realizing that by and large, antis tend to actually like horses and have a lot of compassion. That’s why we get to hear about old and sick horses that have nowhere to go from the PSAs. It doesn’t usually occur to any of them that pretty much all of us realize that those horses aren’t `good eatin’. I would have to say my favorite argument from them is the mythical `unwanted horse’. I hear a lot about these creatures lately as apparently, they are infesting suburbia in packs and offending the delicate sensibilities of the PSAs not only by their mere presence, but they are the reason for the bad economy and a myriad of other ills society suffers from. So, today I thought it would be all sorts of fun, to meet some of these `unwanted horses’ that apparently are or were in desperate need of harvesting so they can have their dignity restored and have a value. As you know, the only solution in dealing with these beasts is slaughter.
Meet Snowman. He was a former plow horse of unknown breeding that found himself standing on a slaughter truck at the age of 8 yrs old. Clearly his previous owner saw no value in him even as a beast of burden and no longer wanted this horse. This would make him exactly the type of horse the PSAs say needs a slaughter-house in order to save them. Lucky for Snowman, Harry de Leyer, a riding instructor, saw something in that horse that inspired him to purchase him off that truck for $80. After getting him going under saddle and discovering a gentle nature, he used the horse for a lesson horse at the riding school he worked at. When school let out for the summer, de Leyer needed to sell a few horses to get by and Snowman was purchased as a private mount. If the story ended there, it would still be a success story and proof that this horse had far more value than a piece of meat on a dinner plate. However, Snowman clearly felt he belonged with de Leyer and would escape from his new home to return to his old one. Eventually it was decided he belonged with de Leyer and they went on to make history together in the show jumping ring. I can never do his story justice in one short paragraph, but needless to say, he was very `wanted’ and went on to win countless national titles, become a media star and put his young rider on the map as well. Who knows how famous and important he could have been had he just gone to be somebody’s dinner when originally offered for sale?
How about Sunday Silence? Most people on this side of the pond will remember him for winning races like the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, The Breeders Cup Classic, as well as his heart stopping rivalry with Easy Goer. Hard to think of a horse like this as `unwanted’, but he was. He was not considered to be particularily well-bred as a young horse and was small and cow-hocked. After overcoming a near fatal virus as a weanling, he was offered for sale as a yearling where he failed to reach his reserve bid and went through as a buy-back. He was then offered for sale as a two-year old in training where the bidding stopped well below his reserve price and again he went home to his breeder. Soon after shipped from Kentucky to California in hopes of at least finding easier company to race in, when he survived a trailer wreck after the driver died of a heart attack resulting in a flipped over rig. Still trying to recoup some of his investment in the horse, breeder Arthur Hancock eventually worked out a deal with trainer, Charlie Whittingham to purchase half of the horse for $25,000. That’s not a lot of money for horse that would compete at the level Sunday Silence ended up at. Before he even raced, Whittingham sold half of his half to another friend. Clearly, nobody had big dreams for this horse. After retiring due to injury and despite his numerous accomplishments on the racetrack and winning $4.9 million, Sunday Silence still failed to attract much interest as a breeding stallion and was promptly sold to Japanese interests and shipped overseas. Ironically, even though Japan is the same country that slaughtered Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand after he outlived his usefulness as a sire, it was there that Sunday Silence finally found his value. Despite dying at the relatively young age of 16 yrs of age, he topped their sire list 8 times and he was syndicated in Japan for what converts to approximately $25 million n US. His impact on the Japanese racing industry is still strong and some of his offspring have found their way back over here to boost up our bloodlines. Not bad for an unwanted horse, huh?
Need to hear about horses that are still in the land of the living? Say `hello’ to Neville Bardos. He began his career as a racehorse in Australia and by all accounts was a miserable failure. He’s also a cribber, which if you remember our pal NT’s list (https://shedrowconfessions.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/24-reasons-to-slaughter-a-horse/), is one of the top reasons it’s ok to slaughter a horse. In fact, Neville Bardos was headed for the dinner plate when Boyd Martin coughed up the princely sum of $850 to redirect his fate. Neville Bardos has become an international star in Eventing and was named USEF Horse of the Year in 2012. This was after he was in barn fire in 2011 that resulted in burns all over his body and lung and throat damage from smoke inhalation. He was only given a marginal chance at surviving, but in fact not only survived, but returned to compete at the top level within months. This former `canner’ horse from Australia is now owned by an American ten share syndicate. Imagine how much more he could have become if he just would have gone to slaughter like he deserved!
Maybe since most PSAs seem mostly concerned with wringing the last few dollars out of their companion animals, they can’t wrap their minds around the success of the horses we just featured. I can understand how it would be hard for them to grasp that one horse in the right hands can basically become an empire maker or put a person on the map in a good way, when they seem to be so worried about a couple hundred dollars worth of blood money. For that reason, I will talk about the horse pictured above. She’s not famous and she probably never will be. However, very recently she was standing in the kill pen at Unadilla Auction with her fate pretty much sealed. Lucky for her, she was bailed out that day for the princely sum of $130 and a mere six weeks later was winning ribbons for her new owner (http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2013/08/09/mare-goes-from-kill-pen-to-show-ring-in-6-weeks/).
Still not convinced? We’ve talked about the two horses pictured above before. Both these horses raced at Beaulah Park in Ohio, but once their careers were over, found themselves at Viande Richelieu Meat Inc. in Massueville near St.-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Usually, this means there is no chance of the storybook save from death in a kill box as was the fate of Backstreet Bully, when his connections tried to save him after he was shipped to slaughter (https://shedrowconfessions.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/a-sickening-end/). Lucky for these two horses, due to the tenacity of several advocates and perhaps divine intervention, they were recovered from that slaughter plant, and as a result at least Viande Richelieu Meat Inc. will no longer accept known Thoroughbreds (http://www.drf.com/news/canadian-slaughterhouse-firm-no-longer-accepting-thoroughbreds). Both of these young horses went on to compete at The Battle of the X’s, a challenge for former racehorses that was hosted by Remember Me Rescue in Texas. They can also look forward to happy and productive lives for many years to come. I’m sure their connections will be happy once their tails grow back out and they can erase all memories of what nearly was the fate of these two beautiful horses.
No matter how many examples I post, PSAs will continue to talk about unwanted horses. They will say these are the exceptions and not the rule, while us antis will say that it is actually the reverse. The fact is that these horses are not exceptions, but victims of circumstances and sometimes bad marketing. That’s something that your average PSA just cannot comprehend. They will shriek that they took their horse to a sale and nobody bid on it. What they will fail to mention is that not every sale is the same and you need to market to your desired buyer. I could take my Warmblood to a weekend auction in cowboy country and I guarantee you the only bid he will get is from a kill buyer. That’s even if I clipped him up and rode him through the ring. The fact, is he wouldn’t be at a venue that the type of people that generally purchase horses like him frequent. However, if I chose to market him to the show crowd, put a fair price on him and showed him around to those people, I could probably turn him quite quickly. I shouldn’t even say `probably’ as I have turned down offers for him plenty of times. If you take your horse to New Holland, Unadilla, Sugarcreek or any of those known slaughter auctions, you are selling your horse to a kill buyers or rescue organizations and none of those people are going to pay you top dollar for a horse. For the most part, serious buyers don’t even go to those sales as they are pretty hard to witness when you can’t save them all. Then consider the fact of running horses through loose, having them in filthy and poor condition and you have decreased their value even more. The fact is horses find themselves in the slaughter pipeline because people are assholes and refuse to take responsibility. No other reason. Saying they are all unwanted is like saying that every single person is undesirable. You only have to look at how many PSAs get married or at least have baby daddies and mamas to know that’s not true. Just like the unwanted horse, it’s merely a matter of being in the right place at the right time or vice versa. I want to close by featuring two more horses that are not unwanted. Sadly, they may be in the slaughter pipeline, but nobody is giving up on finding them just yet and we will not allow them to become one of these fabled `unwanted horses’. They have never been unwanted. Please share their picture/flyers around and put out the word. Also say a prayer or whatever it is you believe in while you’re at it. Let’s bring these boys home!
And Canuki WON the Battle of the Xs — both horses are healthy and happy today, their tails getting longer by the minute…
I forgot about that part! Even better! I look forward to those tails touching the ground at some point!
Beauty hidden by deceit, the humans that deceive these horses didn’t honestly deserve them. This is a matter of while there may be a horse for every person, not every person is for a horse! When the right person loves a horse, it aspires, even in our own backyards, the show pens, the ultimate levels in performance. They give all! What a beautiful reveal! We need this type of story in the Examiner pet section or Forbes or something! We need some positive outcomes for the people who don’t know about auctions, to see what they are missing, the potential in the un-obvious, determination in their eyes, loyalty in their heart, people need to inspired to save a horse. Let’s inspire people!
Most of us try to educate people and open their eyes. The types of auctions most of these horses were at, apart from Sunday Silence, are not for the weak of heart. It is heart breaking to see the lost souls and the types of people that dump at those auctions aren’t looking for salvation for their horses. Let’s get the SAFE Act passed and put these types of owners out of business once and for all!
You are so right shedrow! All of your points are forgotten by many. But the owners of the horses saved know what they are lucky to have. Keep up the good fight trying to make sense of ALL the reasons we fight against horse slaughter. So many good animals are killed without even of chance of showing their greatness.
Yes, let’s find the way to pass the SAFE ACT—
The SAFE ACT will not get past the committees onto the floor for a full vote unless the chair for each committee is on board. Currently, S541 is stuck in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the Chairman is Thomas “Tom” Harkin [D-IA] @(202) 224-3254.
In the House HR1094 is in the hands of Frank Lucas [R OK-3] @(202) 225-5565 who is Chairman of the Agriculture Committee which oversees the Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit (LRDC) subcommittee and its Chairman is Eric “Rick” Crawford [R-AR1] @(202) 225-4076.
HR1094 has also been referred to Fred Upton [R MI-6] @(202) 225-3761 as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who oversees the Health subcommittee and its Chairman is Joseph Pitts [R PA-16] @(202) 225-2411.
We need to make these calls over and over and urge constituents of their districts to become very politely active and persuasive. Some of these chairs lean one way and some the other. Make no assumptions.
Push this. Pass it on. Contact anyone you know who might be, or know, a constituent in their districts, particularly in OK-3. If you know someone who might have clout with these congress people, contact them. We must end this once and for all.
Anyone know Boone or Madeleine Pickens? He was helpful getting the bill out onto the floor for a vote last year. Animal Rights and Welfare celebrities might be persuaded to help.
An Anti Billboard was just put up in Niagra Falls. What if an Oklahoman leased a billboard space for the 1st of September and started raising funds for just such a billboard in OK-3?
I am ready to donate what I can. How about you?
Here’s and Anti Soring Billboard–
1149581_10151636352148381_1783376288_o.jpg
Oopps! Scratch that. Here–
That’s awesome! Has anybody heard if Budweiser is still going to support their Celebration of whatever it is? Huge uproar over that last I read.
Speaking of, can you imagine the public uproar if the foal depicted in their last Super Bowl commercial was shown being dumped to slaughter with the trainer running around trying to save him. Bet that 80% would jump to 99.9 after that commercial.
Is it wrong that I just laughed when I read that?
Meaning ….slipped through the cracks, sold down the line to an irresponsible and then the horrific outcome so many endure without the protection of the S.A.F.E. act
And here is the Anti-Slaughter Billboard in Niagra Falls–
PSAs don’t want the truth of slaughter being exposed, they need the uneducated to believe that they’re providing a swift end for the “unwanted” to further their agenda. Luckily for horses, the average American is much smarter than the average PSA (I believe the average tree slug is smarter than PSAs as well) and are seeing through their lies and propoganda. The main issue horses in the kill pen have is usually the person that dumped them there, not behavior or physical problems as PSAs will have you believe.
Such a great post, brought tears to my eyes to know they are healthy and happy. Thank you for this one, it was much needed. I wish we could save them all, because each one has a place in this realm, not on a plate. A friend stated on on of my posts on FB and it is something that I feel is important to share with you:
” If only people knew that when they ingest this meat, they are ingesting the molecules of intense emotional suffering and these molecules become part of them. And when we accept torture of animals, it is one of the first steps in a collective sociopathic pathology”
Brilliant statement to go along with a Brilliant Post! Excellent work. Sharing far and wide!
That is a great statement.
Twittering & sharing. I also own some of those mythical unwanted loves of my life. Great post.
I love all things Shedders. On a regular basis, some pretty Bitchin’ Broads (and the odd fellas with rapier wit) make statements of wickedly humorous clarity, which makes coming in here one of the highlights of my life.
Heather Clemenceau, who comments frequently here, has posted an article with a 9.9 Tickle Factor, regarding the vast intellect behind one of our most prestigious purveyors of Horse Culture in America – The Untied Horsemen (spelling error on purpose).
I hope I’m not overstepping, but it is a giggle worthy of sharing. It’s entitled:
“United Horsemen’s Members Skewered By News Satire!”
They truly are the gift that keeps on giving. I can’t stop laughing and we love us some `HeatherC’ over here too so you can always post links.
The proslaughter side actually has a “legitimate”, lobbying, charitable, Congressionally accessed, with a big, BIG unfettered boot in the door of USDA called “Unwanted Horse Coalition”; view their mutating speak here:
http://unwantedhorsecoalition.org/
Now, if anyone following the HCHS hell in the US for the last 9 years knows these chameleons have changed their original colors to feign care for the US equines (check out old speak from archived website…hope someone has it)…..although they started as a cause to block any efforts to shut down plants, export, demand owner responsibility and animal welfare cries by advocates. Look at their site now. This is because people like Vicki Tobin, ABR, many other names to mention were beating them up on facts on comment sites more than a couple of years ago.
Yet, this org (American Horse Council) are rabid (no vaccination available) meaters and big Ag HAGS!!!!!! They hijacked true welfare advocates’ message because their’s was soooooooooooo bad and unfactually based.
BUT THEY STILL SUPPORT SLAUGHTER. …MAKE NO MISTAKE.
See if you can find that now on their site?
Guess their position was SOOOoooooo indefensible, K Street told them to get a new paint job.
Ain’t enough paint in the world to refresh the faces of HCHS or $uey or Berman or Douche or NT or Puppymill and the list goes on….and on…
Please go to this link:
http://unwantedhorsecoalition.org/?id=2
Get a cup of coffee, cool drink of tall water or beer and read their SHIT! Ruminate for a bit. I found this on their “Issues” page after trying to find a search engine for HCHS on their site.
Evil, lying scum totin’ POSs pushing slaughter.
Anyone ever seen the success of their gelding clinics? Horseback/Steve Long have been following the program….and it is pathetic (numbers gelded).
But this gets back to people posting back to killers saying what are you doing to keep equines from slaughter?
btw…RMR website shows they have increased the reward for Trophy Case and Norway to 2k each.
Visualizing both boys in their RMR pasture happily munching sweet green grass
Keep the good thoughts going and share the info. They could be anywhere.
As I’ve always said, these horses are not unwanted, simply unlucky. At the wrong place at the wrong time. All they need is a chance.