As of September 2007 horses are no longer processed in the United States. US horses intended for processing are currently exported to Canada or Mexico. All three US equine processing plants (two in Texas and one in Illinois) closed in 2007 not because of federal regulations but because of state laws banning slaughter.
The Texas facilities closed in January 2007 after a ruling by the federal appeals court enforcing a 1949 state law banning the processing of horses for the purpose of selling the meat for human consumption overseas.
The Illinois plant closed for the last time on September 21, 2007 after a series of closings and re-openings during the course of legal proceedings including appeals. That closing was the result of an Illinois law making it illegal to import, export, or possess horse meat intended for human consumption.
A Brief History of the Horse Processing Debate:
Animal welfare groups and animal rights activists have been lobbying for several years for the cessation of US horse processing. Anti-slaughter organizations include but are not limited to the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute, Equine Advocates, Habitat for Horses, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the National Horse Protection Coalition.
Through lobbying efforts several national and local attempts have been made to cease horse processing within US boarders. Some states have laws banning horse processing.
Information on national anti-slaughter legislation follows:
In 2005 US congress reduced the USDA budget for inspections which included the cessation of inspecting horse meat for human consumption. USDA inspectors continued to inspect facilities processing horse meat on a "fee-for-services" basis.
Animal rights activists filed a federal lawsuit to ban the USDA "fee-for-service" inspections and won that legal battle in the federal appeals court in March 2007.
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was introduced in the US House of Representatives in February 2005, passed the House summer 2006. The Act was not voted on in the Senate during the 2006 session. In January 2007 bills were introduced concurrently in the US House of Representative and the US Senate intended to ban the slaughter of US horses for human consumption. These bills did not make it out of committee.
In 2008 national legislation was again introduced to eliminate the transport or possession of horses intended for human consumption HR 503 & S 727. These bills have both been referred to committee (HR 503 to the subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security and S 727 to the subcommittee on judiciary).
Also in 2008 national legislation was introduced that would make it illegal to transport any horses to any destination via double decker trailers HR 305. That bill was sent to the subcommittee on highways and transit. Current US law prohibits transport on double deckers to slaughter plants. Some states currently outlaw all double decker transportation of horses.
The Current Status
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study which was published June 2011. The GAO study, HORSE WELFARE: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter, can be viewed online by clicking the preceeding title.
The Animal Welfare Council monitors state and national legislation related to horse processing. For up to date information on state legislation click here. For current related federal legislation click here.
Anti-slaughter campaigns are still being conducted by many animal welfare and animal rights organizations.
Several organizations have made statements against HR 503 and other anti-slaughter legislation as it does not provide for the care of "unwanted" horses or those horses affected by a processing ban. Organizations that have made statements include but are not limited to: the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, the United Horsemens Front, the Wisconsin Horse State Horse Council, and the Horse Welfare Coalition.
The Kentucky Horse Council's Stance
The Kentucky Horse Council remains neutral on the divisive issue of horse processing as both KHC members and the KHC board are split on where they stand. The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. In this capacity, we seek to educate horse owners about all issues, including equine processing, and advocate for the betterment of Kentucky's horse community.
Through this article we seek to provide information about the facts of horse processing. If you wish to express support of or dissatisfaction with current pending national or state legislation regarding horse processing, please contact your federal or state delegates directly.
If you do not know who your federal representative is, click here (for House of Representatives) or here (for Senate).
Through a variety of health and welfare programs the Kentucky Horse Council works to improve the lives of Kentucky's unwanted horse population.
