Facts about Horse Slaughter
- The former US-based, foreign-owned horse slaughter companies and a handful of trade associations that support horse slaughter have contributed to the continued export of tens of thousands of America's horses for slaughter in Mexico and Canada either by physically shipping horses to slaughter or by actively opposing legislation banning horse slaughter. Slaughter is not humane euthanasia. Horses suffer horribly on the way to and during slaughter.
- The current patchwork of state laws on horse slaughter is insufficient. A federal law prohibiting horse slaughter is imperative to prevent horses from being exported for slaughter in Canada, Mexico, or further abroad.
- Passage of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE) Act will reduce animal suffering, hence its wide support throughout the equestrian and veterinary world, as well as the humane community.
- According to numbers obtained from the California Livestock and Identification Bureau, since horse slaughter was banned in California, horse theft has dropped by over 34 percent.
- Americans overwhelmingly support an end to horse slaughter for human consumption. A 2021 national poll found that 83 percent of Americans support a federal ban.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is banning horse slaughter a states’ rights issue? Shouldn't the federal government not get involved?
No. Horse slaughter is a federally regulated industry. Opponents try to claim that slaughtering horses for human consumption is a states’ rights issue. However, this is not true. The slaughtering of any animal for human consumption in the United States is a federally regulated process. This is the same for cattle, pigs, or other livestock (Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603); Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104-127)). In addition, since horsemeat is not consumed in the United States, it must be hauled across state lines and the US border, which are clearly within the purview of the US Constitution’s Commerce Clause as it pertains to interstate commerce. While a state does have some leeway to ban certain slaughter practices within their state boundaries, these actions to not apply outside of their jurisdiction. For example, Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Illinois have banned horse slaughter within their states but those laws have no impact elsewhere.
Furthermore, nobody has a “right” to abuse or neglect an animal. There are laws against animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment at all levels of government in the United States. There are numerous federal animal cruelty statues in place now given the transitory nature of many issues.
Is it true that slaughter is a last resort for infirm, dangerous, or no longer serviceable horses?
No. The horse slaughter industry makes a greater profit off of healthy horses and therefore purposely seeks out such animals.
Will horse abuse and neglect cases rise significantly following a ban on slaughter?
No. There has been no documented rise in abuse and neglect cases in California since the state banned horse slaughter for human consumption in 1998. There was no documented rise in Illinois following closure of the state's only horse slaughter plant in 2002 and it’s reopening in 2004. Since closure of the last domestic plants in the earlier part of 2007, there has been no correlating rise in neglect and abuse cases. Conversely, horse slaughter engenders indiscriminate breeding and neglect by providing a “dumping ground” for unscrupulous owners.
If there is a ban on horse slaughter, will horse rescue and retirement groups have the resources to take care of unwanted horses? Should the government have to pay for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners?
Hundreds of horse rescue organizations operate around the country, and additional facilities are being established. AWI leads the Homes for Horses Coalition, a national network of over 500 equine rescues and sanctuaries dedicated to ending horse slaughter and supporting horses in need. However, not every horse currently going to slaughter will need to be absorbed into the rescue community. Many are marketable horses who will be sold to new owners. Sick and elderly horses should be euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. It is not the government's responsibility to provide for the care of horses voluntarily given up by their owners.
If slaughter is not an option, what will we do with sick, old, and unwanted horses?
There are over 6 million horses in the United States, according to the American Horse Council. The vast majority of US horses who die annually are not slaughtered but are euthanized and rendered or buried without any negative environmental impact. Just over 20,000 horses were exported from the United States for slaughter in 2023. If slaughter were no longer an option and these horses were rendered or buried instead, this would represent a small increase in the number of horses being disposed of in this manner—an increase that the current infrastructure can certainly sustain.
However, there is no logic in suggesting that all horses currently going to slaughter would need to be euthanized and disposed of following passage of the SAFE Act. Because most horses going to slaughter are marketable animals, many of the horses previously slaughtered would instead be kept by their owners, sold to someone else, or placed at sanctuaries following passage of a ban, thereby reducing any impact on the current infrastructure even further.
Additionally, humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and safely disposing of the animal's carcass is approximately $500, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $400–$1,500.
If there is a ban on horse slaughter in the United States, will there be an increase in the export of horses for foreign slaughter? Will horses suffer from longer transport for slaughter in countries where there may be weaker welfare laws?
The SAFE Act contains clear provisions prohibiting the export of horses for slaughter abroad, as well as clear enforcement and penalty provisions. Risk of federal prosecution and the high costs associated with illegally transporting horses long distances for slaughter abroad are strong deterrents. Ironically, the very organizations most critical of the surge in horses going to slaughter in Mexico following closure of the three domestic horse slaughter plants are working to defeat passage of the SAFE Act. In doing so, they are working in tandem with the companies that slaughtered horses here and which now are buying horses in the United States and shipping them to their plants in Mexico and Canada.
Is it true that no standards exist for horse rescue facilities that take unwanted horses?
AWI published a set of guidelines in 2008 that were incorporated into a sanctuary accreditation program via the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. (A revised edition of Basic Guidelines for Operating an Equine Rescue or Retirement Facility was published in 2023.)
Additionally, Horse rescue groups must provide for the welfare of horses in their custody in compliance with state and local animal welfare laws.