California Riding Magazine • March, 2009

The Gallop: Silks to Show Ring
Legislators get busy with two
anti slaughter proposals.

by Kim F. Miller

Proposals to ban the export of horses for slaughter and the commercial sale and slaughter of America’s wild horses kicked off equine-related legislation early this year.

The Humane Society of the United States reports that a large, bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced in January legislation to stop the export of tens of thousands of healthy American horses for butchering in Canada and Mexico. The legislation also codifies a de facto ban on the slaughter of American horses here in the United States for sale to countries in Europe and Asia. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) introduced the bill known as the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. Its passage is a top priority for The Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare and equine rescue organizations, veterinarians and horse industry groups.

Conyers and Burton were joined by 59 original co-sponsors in introducing the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, demonstrating their strong commitment to move this legislation through the process as quickly as possible and spare horses the cruel fate of slaughter for foreign gourmands. This bill is similar to legislation passed by the House Judiciary Committee last September.

State legislatures have acted to stop horse slaughter, shuttering the last remaining foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S. in 2007, and federal courts have upheld those state laws. But Congress has failed to act to stop the export of live horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, which is still occurring. More than 86,000 horses were sent across U.S. borders to slaughter in Canada or Mexico in 2008, surpassing the number of exports in 2007.

Wild Ways

America’s wild horses returned to the fore in February with a bill to restore the 34-year ban on their commercial sale and slaughter (H.R. 1018). House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Az.) introduced the bill.

In the 110th Congress, similar legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by more than a two-to-one margin with a vote of 277 to 137. The Humane Society commends the representatives for taking quick action and making this a top priority in the 111th Congress.
In addition to preventing the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses, H.R. 1018 prevents wholesale killing of healthy wild horses, prioritizes on-the-range management over roundups (including immunocontraception as a population control strategy that will save tax dollars), and prohibits particularly cruel round up methods, such as the use of helicopters and other airborne devices.

“Congressmen Rahall and Grijalva are seeking to protect the rightful place of wild horses on our public lands in the West and to stop the misuse of tax dollars on inhumane round-ups,” says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “They have been tireless in their efforts to correct the past mismanagement of this program and to get the program on the right footing.”

The Feb. 12 actions seek to restore the federal protections for wild horses and burros. They had been protected from commercial sale and slaughter since the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The longstanding protections were eroded over the years and took a huge hit from the so-called Burns Amendment of 2004.

This legislation comes on the heels of the Bureau of Land Management’s controversial announcement last year that it was considering killing large numbers of wild horses taken from the rangeland. The HSUS and other wild horse and animal welfare groups have worked with the agency to identify appropriate alternatives to wholesale slaughter of these animals. The HSUS is offering its partnership in immunocontraception programs that allow horses to remain on public lands and prevent the need for round up and removal of wild horses, saving millions of tax dollars.

Regardless of when or whether these new laws pass, thousands of horses living at overburdened rescue shelters are in need of immediate homes. Acknowledging that, top natural horsemanship trainers Pat and Linda Parelli have added a special rescue-horse demonstration to their Celebration tour, which comes West May 15-17 at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center. Partnering with rescues in compliance with the Humane Society’s voluntary shelter guidelines, the Parellis will work with one horse at each of their tour stops. Over three days, they will begin preparing these horses for a transition into a much better life. At the end, the horse will be adopted by an appropriate owner.

“Most horses who end up at rescues are not there because they are ‘bad’ or broken—but because their owners did not have the knowledge or resources to build a successful relationship with them. The Parelli Natural Horsemanship method of training teaches horsemen and women how to communicate effectively with their horses, setting the stage for a long, successful relationship,” says Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The Humane Society of the United States. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Parellis to celebrate horses and help find adoptive homes for rescued horses across the country.”

“Our greatest initiative in the horse industry is to help people have more successful relationships with horses and to not treat them as disposable items,” comments Pat Parelli. “Too many people get out of horses because they get frustrated or afraid, and too many horses suffer as a result… together we can change that.”

The World Cup Hunt

Mandy Porter had a 13-point lead going into the ninth of 11 qualifiers for the show jumping World Cup Finals, to be held, in case you’ve been living under a rock, April 15-19 in Las Vegas. Mandy and the Korsch family’s San Diego have two wins under their belt and look great for a return visit to the Finals. Harley Brown and Ali Nilforushan occupy the second and third slots in the West Coast league, giving them great positions to represent their countries, Australia and Iran. Richard Spooner was on yet another Thermal streak as we went to press, and he sat second among American riders in the standings.

Also with two wins, Will Simpson is right behind Richard, with Jill Humphrey and Ashley Bond hot on their heels. A lot can change over the final three qualifiers, Feb. 22 and March 7 at Thermal and March 28 at the Oaks in San Juan Capistrano. Young hot shot Karl Cook and veteran Rich Fellers could catapult up with a win, and drop scores will come into play at this point. Stay tuned!