Unfortunately, the slaughter of horses is very common. Any horse that no longer has value to the owner is a candidate for the slaughter house.

Many people aren't aware that mares are impregnated and used in the production of Premarin, an estrogen replacement therapy. The foals of these mares are considered a by-product of the production and usually killed as well for their meat.

No horse is safe from the slaughterhouse unless their owners have made a commitment to care for them and keep them for their entire life span. All types of horses have been sent to slaughter including former race horses such as the 1986 Kentucky Derby Winner Ferdinand and Exceller who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Also riding horses, police horses, show horses and others.

If you're wondering exactly who is doing the slaughtering of these horses and why; you'll be interested to know that two of the largest Dallas Crown and Beltex are both located in Texas but are foreign owned corporations. While most Americans are appalled at the thought of eating horse meat, it is a very big business overseas where horse steaks and other cuts are considered a delicacy. A few of those countries are France, Belgium, Japan, Italy and Switzerland and they account for almost all the horse meat that is consumed by humans. Although they are foreign owned corporations, the USDA inspects all the horse meat before shipment overseas - something that American tax dollars pay for.

Horses are almost never slaughtered for pet food any longer, the reason isn't because the pet food companies suddenly got compassionate. The reason is that they couldn't compete with the high dollar that the slaughterhouses will pay for horses to be used for human consumption. Horses that are on their way to the slaughter house are often purchased by horse rescues so they may get good homes with loving families that won't sell them to the highest bidder.

If you don't have room or the money to care for a horse full time, consider making a donation to help this worthy cause. If enough people are made aware of what is actually going on with the horse slaughter industry, perhaps it can be stopped all together.