Op/Ed: Want a Quick Way to End Slaughter? Pass the SAFE Act

[Wandering Eyes]

I was pleased to see the increased dialogue regarding Thoroughbred aftercare and the additional steps needed to reduce the number of horses needing homes in two recent TDN articles, “Open Letter to the Industry: When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?” and “Aftercare Not Meeting the Need.”

Unfortunately, they are two ships passing in the night when all horse industry boats should be rowing in the same direction.  Regardless of the front-end attention from owners and industry, Thoroughbreds will always fall prey to abuse until the export of horses for slaughter is finally banned.

When I started the national campaign to end horse slaughter back in 2001, I was fortunate to gain the support of one of the greatest Thoroughbred owners of all time, the late John Hettinger of New York. John pushed for aftercare and industry improvements before they were considered normal. Most of all, he advocated for a federal ban to end equine slaughter and hurled his considerable resources at that target.  We came so close before his untimely passing.

Many years ago, I helped co-found the Homes for Horses Coalition, a national organization dedicated to supporting rescues and promoting sound standards of operation. At the time, there were few rescues across the United States and even fewer dedicated to caring for Thoroughbreds. With John's leadership, that began to change. Owners stepped up to make a difference, and quality rescues for all breeds expanded greatly.

Now, Thoroughbred industry leaders need to embrace the spirit of John Hettinger and come forward in a final, successful push to end the specter of horse slaughter once and for all.

Thoroughbred racing is not the most significant contributor to the slaughter pipeline, but it is the most high-profile of all the breeds impacted, and it represents the most profitable segment of the horse industry. That prominence enables the Thoroughbred community to play a leadership role in ensuring that horses are responsibly managed, humanely cared for, and receive a dignified end to their lives.

But no matter how many worthwhile rehabilitation, rehoming, and retraining programs are generously supported, you cannot honestly claim to place Thoroughbreds on a pedestal with slaughter still lurking in the dark.

Progress has been made. Foreign-driven market forces have significantly reduced the demand for American horsemeat. Greater public and industry awareness about horse welfare, responsible breeding, and the growth of quality aftercare programs are also a part of the reason for a dramatic decrease in slaughter numbers. Still, slaughter remains a convenient dumping ground for all the lousy behavior in the horse industry, regardless of breed, and Thoroughbreds will still get caught up in it.

No matter the size of the foal crop, there will always be those shunted off to underfunded rescues or doomed to the international slaughter trade. Unregulated killer buyers not only make money on truckloads of slaughter-bound horses, but they also are finding a second income by exploiting the public's empathy for horses in need, virtually holding them for ransom.

An annual Congressional measure, known as defund language, blocking required federal funds from inspecting horse slaughter plants has kept domestic slaughterhouses closed for almost 20 years now, but the workaround must be renewed with each annual Congressional appropriations cycle, and is never a sure thing. In the meantime, slaughter-bound horses are cruelly trailered across state lines and through international borders, with nothing to stop the despicable commerce.

Thoroughbred racing organizations have been and continue to be invaluable in the effort to pass the Save America's Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE Act) before Congress, which would place a lasting ban on the slaughter trade within the United States and stop the export of horses to foreign slaughterhouses. For that, I am grateful.

The passage of the SAFE Act, as sensible as it seems, is still in need of vital support. And, quite frankly, that support would come at a price far less than what is spent by people who are fortunate enough to be able to spend millions of dollars on a single horse. John Hettinger always reminded me that he did not get into the sport to make money, but for the love of the horse. I believe there are many who would echo his sentiments – men and women willing to shake things up and build support from across the horse world that could not be ignored in the halls of Congress.

So, let's put our efforts into ending horse slaughter once and for all, and removing that dark cloud looming for so long over the vital work of what happens to our treasured Thoroughbreds once their careers on the track and in the breeding shed have ended.

Chris Heyde is the founder and CEO of Blue Marble Strategy, a national animal protection lobbying firm in Washington, DC.  Heyde has been a leader on equine policy issues, from ending slaughter, protecting wild horses, and stopping horse soring for the last 25 years.

 

 

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