In 2007, the slaughter of horses on US soil came to an end when a court ruling upheld a Texas law banning horse slaughter, and similar legislation was passed in Illinois. However, failure by the US Congress to pass legislation banning horse slaughter means that American horses are still being slaughtered for human consumption abroad. Tens of thousands are shipped to Mexico and Canada annually, where they are killed under barbaric conditions so their meat can continue to satisfy the palates of overseas diners in countries such as Italy, France, Belgium and Japan.
As of August 2007, all US based facilities slaughtering horses for human consumption have been closed.
| Year | # of Horses Slaughtered in US for human consumption | # of US Horses Sent to Mexico | # of US Horses Sent to Canada | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 17,003 | 2,912 | 19,195 |
| 2023 | 0 | 17,997 | 2,373 | 20,370 |
| 2022 | 0 | 16,362 | 3,627 | 19,989 |
| 2021 | 0 | 18,292 | 5,139 | 23,431 |
| 2020 | 0 | 29,966 | 6,919 | 36,885 |
| 2019 | 0 | 53,162 | 10,486 | 63,648 |
| 2018 | 0 | 70,908 | 10,568 | 81,476 |
| 2017 | 0 | 65,930 | 12,273 | 78,203 |
| 2016 | 0 | 79,241 | 29,472 | 108,686 |
| 2015 | 0 | 84,938 | 40,670 | 125,608 |
| 2014 | 0 | 105,375 | 40,410 | 145,785 |
| 2013 | 0 | 102,554 | 42,102 | 144,656 |
| 2012 | 0 | 110,791 | 55,781 | 166,572 |
| 2011 | 0 | 67,782 | 59,743 | 127,525 |
| 2010 | 0 | 52,862 | 53,803 | 106,665 |
| 2009 | 0 | 46,098 | 52,405 | 98,503 |
| 2008 | 0 | 56,731 | 42,232 | 98,963 |
| 2007 | 28,902 | 45,609 | 32,452 | 106,963 |
| 2006 | 101,123 | 11,080 | 21,709 | 133,912 |
| 2005 | 86,504 | 7,821 | 17,324 | 111,649 |
| 2004 | 60,078 | 4,114 | 19,725 | 83,917 |
| 2003 | 48,377 | 818 | 21,434 | 70,629 |
| 2002 | 40,407 | 774 | 25,219 | 66,400 |
| 2001 | 51,080 | 245 | 28,490 | 79,815 |
| 2000 | 40,324 | # | # | 40,324 |
| 1999 | 62,813 | # | # | 62,813 |
| 1998 | 72,120 | # | # | 72,120 |
| 1997 | 88,086 | # | # | 88,086 |
| 1996 | 113,399 | # | # | 113,399 |
| 1995 | 112,677 | # | # | 112,677 |
| 1994 | 109,353 | # | # | 109,353 |
| 1993 | 167,310 | # | # | 167,310 |
| 1992 | 246,400 | # | # | 246,400 |
| 1991 | 276,900 | # | # | 276,900 |
| 1990 | 345,700 | # | # | 345,700 |
| 1989 | 348,400 | # | # | 348,400 |
# Data Unavailable
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service/USDA and Statistics Canada