In my inbox this morning was a position statement update from the group that calls itself “United Horsemen”. They contend that the cessation of equine slaughter in the United STates has lead to some seriously inhumane unintended consequences. Their conclusion is to alleviate the suffering of the thousands of ‘unwanted’, uncared for, neglected equines in this country we need to bring back equine processing plants. What are YOUR thoughts?
Below is a verbatim text chunk from the missive.
HORSE WELFARE Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter” starkly documents the decline in horse welfare, and the economic decline of the horse industry due to the inappropriate federal intervention that closed the humane and regulated horse slaughter plants in the United States.
Because of this the GAO strongly suggests that Congress may want to reconsider the annual riders attached to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that prevents USDA inspection of horses. Alternatively they suggest that the other option for Congress is a complete and total ban on horse processing or transportation of horses for processing.
As pointed out by the GAO, and as testified to by practically every horse industry and agriculture organization in the Nation, bills such as S. 1176 that seek to eliminate any possibility of humanely processing horses offer zero solutions and will only exacerbate the suffering of horses, increase the number of needless and wasteful deaths, cause more abandonment, neglect, pain, and misery, and continue the destruction of an entire sector of U.S. agriculture.
Therefore, as U.S. horse industry members, supporters, and concerned citizens we call on Congress to take proactive measures to stop the needless suffering of horses and people by:
- removing the annual riders from the Ag Appropriations bill that prevent USDA inspection on a voluntary fee basis (the processor pays for the inspection) which does not cost the taxpayer a dime, allows for the overnight creation of hundreds of private sector jobs, and allows the entire horse industry to begin to regain economic value, viability and vitality; and
- oppose any and all measures that use the heavy hand of federal intervention such as S. 1176 (American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act) that do absolutely nothing to improve the welfare of horses, and only result in increased suffering.
Image from RTFitch - click to visit his blog
What Stands Out
In point 1 above “the entire horse industry “. The entire horse industry? Really? Everyone? Or just the people who make money from the cheap acquisition of equines and the rendering of their carcasses?
In the second point “do absolutely nothing to improve the welfare of horses,”. OK, so disallowing the slaughter of horses is not good for the horses? Let’s ask the horse next in line at the slaughter plant!
Conclusion
With this latest release it becomes clear that these people these “United Horsemen” are neither united nor horsemen. It appears at the core they are industrialists with a specialty in equine meat production pure and simple. With this in mind, below is a list of likely some of their benefactors. Should you see any one of these persons respond to your “free to good home” horse ad, or beside you at an auction you should be aware of their possible reason for purchasing their next equine. (Note: no, they don’t always buy horses to bring to slaughter, if they find a still usable horse they’ll go ahead and flip them to maximize their profit if it can go higher than that horse’s meat price. These are businessmen.)
Known Kill Buyers
(Source: Alex Brown’s wiki - page link: http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Kill_buyers)
Also review this Killer Buyer List
Neil Dilon- VA (New Holland- Eylers- mt.Airy- Moorefield- Smith Grove)
Jack Hannah- MN
Mike O’Connal SD
Terry Saulters-Texas
Trent Ward-Texas (Auctioneer at many auctions including Sunnyvale on Lawson Rd, every Thursday, Canton every first Monday, Cleburne every Wednesday)
Blake Thompson-Texas
Mike McBarron-Texas (Auctioneer is partnered with Trent)
Bill Richardson-Texas
IW Ward-Texas
Leroy Baker-OH
Jeron Gold-MI
Fred Bauer-Oh
Landfair Brothers-OH
Ron Andio-OH
Josh McKay-WV
Don Nickerson-NY Buys at New Holland Ships to Canada
Arlow Kiehl-NY
Charlie Carter-CO
Joe Simon-MN
Randy Musick-SD
Dennis Chavez-NM Ships to Mexico
Monte Clark
Dale Haley-IN
Jeff Smith-KS
Randy Smith-KS
Jason and Buck Ryan-KY
Jodie Ramey-KY
Anton Wald-LA
Richard Godbout-MN
Terry Lee Brooke-MO
Ole Olson-NV, WA , OR Ships to Mexico
Eggburt_OH
Jack Paluso-OR Ships to Canada
Jack Reinert-SD
Dennis Smebakken-SD
Dave Harriman-WA
Chuck Walker-WA Owns Feedlot in WA that ships to Florence Packing Feedlot in WA that ships to Bouvry Canada.
Ted Kerst-WA
Les and Jack Ryan-WA
George Baker-OK
Monzerat Munoz-TX
Manny Phelps-CA
Ryon Simon-MN
Danny Rice-KY
Don Wright-KY
Wade Giles-CA
Gary-CA
Russell-CA
David Misner-CA (Los Angeles area)
Ray Barrett (Barry)-CA (Stockton – Turlock area)
Vern Ring-NJ (phone # is 609 992 6740)
Brian Moore-PA
CANADA:
PAT HOUDE is a Kill Buyer in Manitoba
Grof (Jeff Grof is a kill buyer based out of Lindsay Ontario)
Barkey (Dan Barkey used to run the Claremont Horse Auction – it is now run by Bill Simmons – next auction July 24)
Calvin Kuepfer (kill buyer and auctioneer – was conducting the horse auction at Millbank and has been seen at OLEX and Claremont auctions).
The name Dan Albrecht comes up too – which is very interesting, in that the Albrecht name is known in Pincher Creek – where a large slaughter bound horse feed lot exists in Alberta.
