Their Last Ride

The call came. It was time to go. My friend, who drove the 18 wheeler didn't know that I was there as a witness, just companionship and a spare hand at the wheel, he thought.

"Meet me at the local truck stop," he said. "Here's your chance to drive the big rig. "

I never asked him where we were going, I just grabbed an overnight bag and took off for Newburgh, New York to meet him midway on his journey.

After we exchanged greetings, I was shocked to see a double-decker stock trailer filled with horses rolling to the death house. Like prisoners on their way from Cologne to Dacha during the war, huddled together in cattle cars, these horses were en route to a similar fate - a Canadian stock yard to meet the Killers. There was a host of breeds and colors. A blaze, a star, an Appaloosa, a few Thoroughbreds, a couple of Standardbreds, some once loved child's pony. All with one thing in common, they were too naive to know that hours from now they'd get an air-gun-launched bullet between the eyes.

Eight hours into the haul (six for me) we were in Quebec.

We were there now, but three hours too early. The Killers wouldn't arrive until 6 a.m. and the slaughterhouse was as lifeless as the horses shortly would be. They were herded herded tightly on board, standing in manure and urine seeming to sense their reprieve and acted relieved. It gave me time to ask him some questions and think back on the trip.

Earlier, prior to boarding, the horses had, for the most part, been kept in holding pens at the dealers after they arrived from a number of sales. Some came directly from notable yearling venues. Others were mules, donkeys or old used-up draft and workhorses.

Along the highway they had no water or hay - but they did receive provisions earlier this day - although I was told that this wasn't the usual procedure. Why feed a dead horse, right! That applied too the brood mares, heavy in foal.

As I remember the ride, we stopped just before we reached the Canadian border. We pulled over to make sure the inmates were standing. The one thing that's not allowed by Customs officers or Federal veterinary official is a downed animal, or the load gets turned away. Just in case one was down, he could plug them in with a cattle prod. All preparations were in place. Thank God, all of these were standing, and I didn't have to watch anything more shocking than what was already happening. So, down the road a piece, when the inspectors looked in with a flashlight and sealed the trailer with a tag, they handed over the necessary paper work - and the trip continued.

It was frosty cold that night, I thought during the drive. How those poor, abused arthritic horses must have been feeling. At daybreak, we still awaited the Killers. I got out of the truck to stretch and I came across a horse's hoof and leg from another load. It’s like I, stood lifeless, between the sun's glory and cruelty. I cried. But I realize at I wasn't crying for that limb lying near the brush. Nor for the 40 some odd on board the trailer. The tears were for the millions more that would arrive. I knew then, seven years ago, I had to do something to stop the flow.

The killers arrived. With bull whips and cattle prods with hoots and hollers they pushed them down the manure covered ramps, as I watched them slip and fall losing their footing.

Some that couldn't get out of the way were trampled to death - right then and there. And out of this mess, like the messiah, was this beautiful quarter horse. A mare, maybe seven or eight. Age didn't matter now as she faced the Eternal. But she stopped to look at me. Mane freshly pulled, new shoes, and a coat that into gleamed into the Universe, showing of a far-away groom who shared love with sweet feed and a currycomb. She didn't just look at me. She stared. And I'm not sure, her asking,

"How did this happen to me?"

I thought, "What can I do?" But did nothing. I probably should have haltered her right then and stopping this insanity single handedly. Like a tourist on the streets of Munich, in 1942, I stood mute and still pay for that moment.

Lined up and cold-bloodily assassinated - every day in this nation. In every state. Every county. Every breed. It's a long ride from New Jersey to Quebec. But years later that mare still lives in my heart, in my hopes. She lives if we give her life. If we let her play in our fields. If we ride her, pet her and groom her. And if we can't do that, we can do Something. If we stand together and love her then she still lives. What happened that night? Why didn't I do something to stop it! Won't you help me now, to ensure this doesn't have to continue!

There are things that you can do through HHR&YA. You can provide homes. You can provide temporary (foster care) shelter. You can volunteer time. You can provide (501-C) tax-deductible contributions. You can spread the word, instead of passing the buck. You can hold a local fundraiser, (car wash, bake sale).

And if things are so bad that you have to give the old girl away, don't sell her like cattle to the butcher or to some stranger who is the highest bidder.

This newsletter and Sarah's story is dedicated to the following horses who took their last ride. Sarah personally worked with some of these mares on a breeding farm. What wonderful mares they were. Could not homes he found for them? The average purchase price for these horses was $350.00:

The Facts About Horse Slaughter

Fact: Horses are an integral part of American heritage and culture. 
Fact: Horses are pleasure animals used primarily for recreation and sport.
Fact: Americans do not eat horses or raise them for food.
Fact: Horse slaughter is a virtual secret industry.
Fact: The method by which horses are slaughtered is cruel and inhumane and cannot be regulated to be humane.
Fact: Horses are acquired for slaughter without disclosure contributing to both consumer fraud and horse theft.
Fact: Widespread use of pharmaceuticals and aminogycoside antibiotics "not prescribed for food animals" renders American horsemeat potentially dangerous to human health.
Fact: Horse slaughter subsidizes over breeding, theft, and the unlawful extermination of our wild mustangs.
Fact: Horses are not feeding the starving masses, rather a $15 a pound delicacy for foreign gourmands.
Fact: State revenues and horse-related industries are diminished by horse slaughter.
Fact: Horses are taxed differently than food-source animals.
Fact: Dogs and cats are protected against slaughter and export to countries where their meat is eaten. Horses deserve this protection also.
Fact: Horse meat eating is discouraged by Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist & Hindu religions.
Fact: Responsible horsemen humanely euthanize their horses.
Fact: According to a national poll, 93% of Americans want horse slaughter stopped.

Every year, an average of 100.000 horses are slaughtered for human consumption in the United States. They are transported to one of three foreign owned plants in Texas and Illinois and their meat is exported to Italy, Belgium, France and Japan. In addition, approximately 40000 horses are shipped to slaughter in Mexico and Canada.
 
Where do these horses come from? They come from race tracks, farms, riding academies or private owners. Horses, too slow to win a race. Horses who have worked on a farm and now have become too old or too weak. Sick and injured horses or horses who, for whatever reason, have become “unwanted”. They are sold at auctions all over the country where they spend hours and sometimes days in overcrowded pens, often without access to food and water. Often, aggressive horses or stallions are not separated from the others which results in severe injuries.
 
They are transported for up to 28 hours, without food, water and rest, to their final destination.  
 
Upon their arrival at the slaughterhouse, many of them are already “down”, unable to rise, due to exhaustion, dehydration or injuries. These horses are supposed to be euthanized on the truck. However, they are sometimes dragged into the slaughter facility with a cable winch.
 
Federal law requires that horses must be rendered unconscious prior to slaughter, usually by a captive bolt. However, due to horses’ natural aversion of anything approaching their foreheads, some horses, even after multiple attempts, are improperly stunned. They remain conscious as they are hung up by their rear leg and their throat is cut.
 
In 1996, the United States Department of Agriculture issued guidelines to regulate the commercial transport of horses to slaughter, an attempt to ensure minimum humane standards.
Unfortunately, this attempt failed. The language is vague and unclear, a fact that makes enforcement next to impossible.
 
In 2006, the House of Representatives voted 263-146, overwhelmingly supporting the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503). The Senate version of the bill, S.1915, received the support of 34 cosponsors but did not come up for a vote before the end of session.
 
Take action!
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has been reintroduced to the 110th Congress.
Write your Congressman and Senator and ask them to cosponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. If they are already cosponsors, thank them for their support.