Could we just leave the American Horse alone and not slaughter them for food?

No I don't want anybody eating horses. They are workers and a great animal and not food.

I don't believe it was ever a practice to slaughter healthy horses. Most had reached the end of their .... "usefulness" , so to speak.

Now, I realize that may sound cruel, but most of these animals were on their way to a bullet in the head , anyway.

Here's what mystifies me about the whole thing. Other countries are * buying and eating * the meat of horses that would've be put down, anyway. Gotta love Europe.

As an owner of a self-funded private animal sanctuary, let me ask you a few questions.

Horses all over the U.S. are virtually dieing of starvation because of this economy.

Sanctuaries who are dependent upon receiving donations aren't getting those donations, because of this economy and many are going under, as I type.

People frequently get horses without realizing that they are expensive to maintain. Feed, farrier, vetting, worming, etc. The list goes on and on.

As a result, the horse as well as millions upon millions of other animals are suffering.

So, based on the circumstances, what do you recommend be done? Who will take the unwanted horses in? Who can afford to feed and maintain them?

I loathe what is happening. I'm an animal lover and even I can't afford to take more in, because if I do, those in my care now, will suffer as a result.

That's where many of us are today.

What is more humane? Allowing an animal to starve to death or euthanizing it?

There are unwanted/uneeded horses out there. There is no diference between a horse, cow , pig, goat, sheep or any other animal found on the farm. Since the horse slaughter ban there has been an overabundace of cruelty to hosres.

Like it or not, the fact that other animals that we regularly slaughter for food are just as intelligent as horses is a valid argument against your insistence that horses deserve some special treatment.

Don't make a statement and then insist that all of the valid arguments against it not be used.

I had no idea that anybody ate horses. I presumed they weren't tasty. Anyway, I don't see why we should respect horses more than any other animal. Either they have "rights" as PETA and others believe or they don't. Currently they don't.

BTW, you know that horses aren't native to North America right?

Horses are currently sent to slaughter in other nations--some with not so good ethical criteria. Let's keep it in the US where we have some standards.

I would agree but I'm powerless to stop it. Horses don't taste very good anyway.

Have you tasted horse? Taste like chicken

All slaughtering of animals should be illegal.!