I believe that we can all relate to how some may be facing financial hardships during this global pandemic, including horse owners and those who run, for example riding stables and horse rescues.
CBC has featured several articles in the past month including…
Link above includes a 46 second video…
“Since horses aren’t considered livestock, equine-focused businesses aren’t eligible for many of the government incentives that farmers or other businesses are, said Katrina Merkies, an associate professor at the University of Guelph who specializes in equine behaviour and welfare.
Not being able to afford to care for horses, Merkies said, could lead to them being sold to another industry.
“There’s a whole slaughter industry that is out there for horse meat,” she said. “And it would be a very sad thing to see a lot of horses entering that pipeline.”
Other news agencies are covering this as well…
NEWSDAY:
More horses potentially at risk of being sold for slaughter
Flynn, who is buying fewer horses due to the pandemic, said she worries that as the crisis continues, more horses could potentially be sold for possible slaughter overseas.
Striano said she has similar concerns, worried that barns that depend on riding lessons for income may be forced to scale down on horses, which would put older equines at risk of being sold.
“The older senior horses that are not making as much money for them will be gone,” Striano said. “That’s where we’ve stepped in. You keep a rider safe on your back for 15 years and your reward is to go to slaughter? In my book that’s not right.”
https://www.newsday.com/news/health/coronavirus/horse-stables-barns-covid-19-1.44083008
PAGE 6: THE HAMPTONS – NEW YORK
Why hundreds of Hamptons horses could be headed for the slaughterhouse
“Horses that usually appear in the Hampton Classic could be headed for the slaughterhouse because of the pandemic, insiders fear.”
“A top trainer and a stable-owner tell Page Six that at this time of year city dwellers are usually heading out to the Hamptons, where they lease so-called “school horses” or “schoolies” for their kids for the horse show season that culminates in the famed Bridgehampton show.
https://pagesix.com/2020/04/25/why-several-hamptons-horses-could-be-headed-for-the-slaughterhouse
THERE IS GOOD NEWS AS WELL
There are programs being developed to help those in need including:
https://www.fortheherd.ca/?utm_campaign=For_the_herd_Introduction
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP
As AE Dyer writes on Facebook…
Write to your governments!
Local … town, county, province, feds!
They take all sorts of tax money from these businesses!
They [horse owners and riding stables] employ people! They buy “stuff”! They provide recreation services!
These are businesses where you do not just turn off the tap! Horses are companion animals!
SUPPORT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HORSE RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS
BEFORE YOU REHOME YOUR HORSE PLEASE WATCH THIS 3 MINUTE VIDEO:
NetPosse writes:
“Your life changed in a drastic unexpected way. You can no longer take care of your horse.
You are heartbroken but know you have to find another “forever” home for your horse and have a tough decision to make.
But even when you think you’ve taken all precautions in finding the right place for your horse, is it still enough?
All of the horses in the video above were thought to have gone to their wonderful new homes.
Now no one knows where they are or what happened to them.
If you are thinking about rehoming your beloved horses, before you do please watch this video.
Stolen Horse International AKA NetPosse is a global network that was created to help people in their search for missing & stolen horses, tack, trailers & equipment, and locating owners of found horses.
Join with us as we increase public awareness on horse theft.
We need your help!
We send out alerts to all of our fans so that they can all help us find those missing horses.
Learn more at:
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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