Horses like 17.2 HH Puff, registered as a North American Spotted Draft (above) who began his life in Alberta where he was trained to drive, double and single before he was 3 and who was sold at 3 for $10,000.  

A horse it turns out who later also had professional training by a well known driving instructor, and as a result was featured in a magazine article.

A horse who loads like a dream, travels like a dream, who loves to be bathed, and to swim. A horse who has impeccable ground manners and loves to work.

A horse who through no fault of  his own ended up passed between a few hands and who on two separate occasions almost went to slaughter.

He came to me at about 8 years of age, for a song. 8 is young for a horse, not even considered middle aged.  I did not at first know his background, but it didn’t take me long to figure out that someone had trained him well,  and it seemed to me that he knew how to drive — a few tests and yes, it turned out that he did — and then he took to the saddle, he looked to pick up contact, and he loves to go, but if you say “WHOA” at any gait, you best be ready to stop, which is of course a very good thing!

Horses like Moose, 17.2 HH, Clyde x Thoroughbred.  It turns out that he too came to me, direct from a meat buyer at 8 years of age.  At the time I didn’t know about his background, but it was obvious he’d been well handled.  Tested from the ground and then from the saddle,  and when the jumps came out, he not only knew exactly what to do, it turns out he loves to jump!

How could a horse, that I came to learn originally came from a breeding program where horses regularly sold for $60,000 or more, a horse who is the bravest horse you’ll find any where, a perfectly sound, young horse, who again loves to jump, end up almost slaughtered for human consumption?

It happens every single day in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  EVERY SINGLE DAY.  

The USA has banned the slaughter of horses within U.S. borders but horses are routinely shipped from The U.S. to Canada and Mexico…

Amazing horses, young horses, sound horses, of every color, size, breed and of both sexes end up, again through no fault of their own,  slaughtered for human consumption.  Horses that are blank slates and horses who are well trained. Take your pick.

Yes, unbelievably, in Canada, a country we all consider to be a first world country, this barbaric practice exists.  To make matters worse horses are transported in ways that are not humane, slaughtered in ways that are meant for other species, and not only that, there are NOT any enforceable, accountable guidelines in place to protect those eating horse meat.

One of my neighbors asked why eating horse meat is any different than eating beef or other commonly consumed meat, and that’s a great question.

I want to go on the record and state that I don’t eat any meat but if I did, I would be concerned for a couple reasons including the fact that horse meat has ended up being sold as beef.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

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