Wednesday, February 29, 2012

IMPACT-Humanitarian Trailer from Saving America's Horses


Please, help us make this STOP. Share, speak out, spread the word, make people KNOW what is going on, this needs to END.

The dam French, Italians, Belgians, Japanese, they can learn to eat something else, something other than OUR HORSES. Boycott ALL THINGS French, Italian, Belgian and Japanese UNTIL THIS STOPS.

This makes my heart ache and my soul is tortured over what so many horses have been through. I pray Rhiannon and Epona rain Karma down on their heads for each and EVERY HORSE HURT. FDEF

World's oldest horse Shayne, 51, lives in Brentwood - the same town as record-breaking dog | Mail Online

World's oldest horse Shayne, 51, lives in Brentwood - the same town as record-breaking dog | Mail Online

The oldest neigh is Essex: Meet Shayne, 51, from Brentwood, the world's most mature nag
Pip, a 24-year-old terrier-whippet cross, became world's oldest dog in December

By CHRIS PARSONS
Last updated at 3:23 PM on 29th February 2012

A weary thoroughbred has been hailed the world's oldest horse thanks to a leisurely life which has seen him reach the age of 51.

Shayne, a liver chestnut Irish Draught Cross, has clocked up over half a century thanks to a restful retirement in his own private stables in Brentwood, Essex.

And the elderly nag has some senior company after it was revealed that he lives in the same town as Pip the 24-year-old terrier, who is thought to be the world's oldest dog.



Good innings: Shayne still enjoys a gallop outside his stables in Brentwood, Essex, despite clocking up 51 years as one of the world's oldest horses

(please click the link at the top of the page for the rest of the article)

Nicole Graham and Astro: Mother stayed by horse's side for 3 hours after getting trapped | Mail Online

Nicole Graham and Astro: Mother stayed by horse's side for 3 hours after getting trapped | Mail Online

Race against the tide: Bravery of young mother who stayed by her horse's side for THREE HOURS after getting trapped in mud 'like quicksand'

Panic as 78-stone show horse is 'swallowed-up' by mud
Mother freed her daughter and another horse before returning to trapped animal
Astro was freed just minutes before the tide closed in

By RICHARD SHEARS

Last updated at 7:12 PM on 29th February 2012

This was the terrifying moment a brave young mother battled to keep her beloved horse calm as sea water closed in on the animal after he became trapped in mud 'like quicksand'.

Exhausted and mud-splattered, Nicole Graham clung to her trapped horse Astro for three hours keeping his head high in a race against the tide.

The 78-stone show horse had sunk into quagmire-like mud and was facing the prospect of drowning as the water rose around them.







'Like quicksand': Both Miss Graham and her horse were stuck up to their waists in the mud as the tide was closing in



(for rest of article, please click link at the top of the page)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Radical Wyoming Politician’s Horse Slaughter Plans Challenged in Missouri « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Radical Wyoming Politician’s Horse Slaughter Plans Challenged in Missouri « Straight from the Horse's Heart

OpEd by R.T. Fitch ~ Equine Author and President of the Wild Horse Freedom Federation
Missouri Towns say No to Wyoming Horse Eater’s Slaughterhouse




Wallis Dream Horse

Virtually within hours of notorious Wyoming State Rep.“Slaughterhouse” Sue Wallis’ announcement of plans for a foreign owned horse slaughter plant to be built in the community of Mountain Grove, MO the local citizens have mobilized though the Community Preservation Project (CPP) to stop the plant’s approval and what would be the resulting destruction of their community.

Wallis, the former VP of the anti-horse and slaughter endorsing United Horseman group, has been an outspoken yet unqualified mouthpiece for the return of banned horse slaughter’s return to the sacred shores of the United States. The last of three foreign owned slaughterhouses were shut down in 2007 with both the host states, Texas and Illinois, banning any further companion animal killing facilities from rebuilding within their borders. A recent broad and in-depth survey conducted by the renowned Lake Research Partners and sponsored by the ASPCA clearly found that over 80% of the American public is opposed to horse slaughter for human consumption within the United States yet the likes of Wallis continue to beat their broken drum and subversively attempt to drive a poisoned and deadly point down the throats of unwitting Americans.

In an open letter to the citizens of Mountain Grove and neighboring Cabool, MO, CPP’s representing attorney, Cynthia MacPherson stated:

Pickup hauling horse trailer slams into rig on NJTP | 6abc.com

Pickup hauling horse trailer slams into rig on NJTP | 6abc.com

Pickup hauling horse trailer slams into rig on NJTP
Updated at 09:19 AM today




ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. - February 27, 2012 (WPVI) -- A pickup truck hauling a horse trailer slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike Monday morning, trapping the driver of the pickup inside the vehicle for nearly three hours.

The accident happened just before 5:30 a.m. Monday on the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike near Route 195 in Robbinsville, Mercer County.

(for rest of story please click the link at the top of the page)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Children's Letter writing progression

The children are our future, and I can't imagine a future where horses are killed and tortured.  Please, help the children spread the word and contact your congress representatives and let your voice be heard.

They Slaughter Horses, Don’t They?

Essay by Ginny Moore     


 “Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to cultivation,
we will find the hoof print of a horse beside it.” -John Moore

            In some ways it’s very hard for me to believe we live in the 21st century.  While we seem quite advanced in many ways, there are many other ways in which we seem as uncivilized as we were thousands of years ago.   In that light, it seems contradictory that we have made great strides scientifically and technologically yet much of the world’s population still relies on the slaughter of other living beings to sustain their lives.  While most of us in the United States eat meat we do not normally associate meat with horses.  In fact, to the bulk of the population horse meat is considered taboo.  For several years slaughtering horses in the United States for human consumption has been banned.  And even when it was going on here in the United States, we ourselves were not eating it.  The overwhelming majority of the meat was being exported.  Before the ban there was a struggle between the pro and anti-slaughter groups to lobby their views to congress to have bills passed for their individual causes.  In 2007 after many years of working to get equine slaughter banned, anti-slaughter groups succeeded with a small victory with a bill that included wording in it that effectively banned slaughter by defunding USDA inspectors.  No horses can be slaughtered in the United States without USDA inspectors in the slaughter houses.  Very recently, in fact earlier this month, November 18, 2011, President Obama signed a bill that opened the door for horse slaughter to once again occur on American soil. Frank Luba a reporter for the The Vancouver Province, states in an article while investigating horse slaughter in Canada.  “The situation has become more of an issue in Canada since the U.S. passed a bill in 2007 that removed federal inspection of equine slaughterhouses. That removal stopped the slaughterhouses from operating and the Americans began shipping horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.  The Humane Society International contends that nearly 94,000 horses were slaughtered in Canada in 2009, primarily for meat sent mostly to European and Asian countries.”  (Luba)  So the issues that were once ours, have now moved north.  The bill recently signed, H.R. 3161, § 738,  had  previously been worded to state  no money would be allotted to support USDA inspectors to inspect horses for slaughter intended for human consumption.   If the funding for inspectors is once again reinstated due to the new wording in the bill, horse slaughter could happen again.  The burning question is, will it?
            Horse slaughter is a hotly contested subject among horse people.  The two camps associated with horses are those who consider horses companion animals, and or “recreational animals”, the other camp want them classified as livestock, just the same as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.  The Bloodhorse Magazine, a widely accepted Thoroughbred Horse publication, did an article on horse slaughter in 2006 right before the initial ban on horse slaughter took place.  “A national public opinion survey found that 69% of Americans are against killing horses for human consumption. The findings come just a week before the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill that would end horse slaughter for human consumption”. (Duckworth).  To classify a horse as “livestock” seems preposterous; horses are what we use to round up livestock!  Horses are our second set of ears when we are out on the trail.  They are the mounts that police use to fearlessly control crowds.  Horses are the animals so often used for special needs children to build up their confidence.  In fact, it’s been proven that therapeutic riding on horses can bring about very real and permanent change to autistic children (Bass).  All these attributes seem way beyond what an animal bound for the slaughter house and then the dinner plate should be capable of doing.  Horses are even a part of a team sport in the Olympics.  Have you seen a cow compete in a team sport, or a sheep, or a pig?  I think not!  Horses have even been bestowed medals of honor for their service on the battlefield; the story of “Sgt. Reckless” is about such a horse.  Do we eat war heroes?  Hardly!
            Indeed, throughout our history of the United States, horses have played an integral and irreplaceable role in the discovery and settling of this great land.  In fact, there was a time not all that long ago when stealing a horse was punishable by death.  Horses were that valuable.  So when did our attitude toward horses change?  When and how did they lose their value?  Even once the automobile was invented, horses still played a huge role.  In World War I thousands of horses were used in battle, ridden by the Calvary, there were used to pull artillery and other equipment.  Even in the very recent war in Afghanistan horses were ridden in the mountainous and rocky areas.  No military vehicles are as affective in those areas as a horse.  Horses were greatly valued in past wars, and the best and bravest received accolades, high praises and commendations for their work on the battlefield.  So what happened?
            As the automobile grew in popularity and once it was mass produced making it more reasonable to purchase by the average citizen, slowly but surely horses were used less and less for work and daily duties.  They were still needed on cattle ranches where motorized vehicles were not practical.  And police still used them to patrol city streets.  But as the decades went by, and technology grew and grew, the usefulness of traditional working horses grew less and less.  Soon horses were left virtually unemployed and looking at an uncertain fate.
“It excites me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower.....even in this space age.  And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton, and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he
has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder, and challenge.”
- Marguerite Henry, famous author of “Misty of Chincoteague”
            So now that modern technology has rendered the horse unemployed, for the most part, why is it that we still have millions of horses in our country?  The truth is the majority of humans have an affinity for horses.  There is a certain amount of romanticism surrounding horses and the old west, that sentimentality creates a love for horses in people who don’t even own them.  We still like to watch them race, watch competitions during rodeos, see them march in parades and vacation goers to the west can still see wild mustangs running free.  Horses still play a huge role in our everyday life, even if it’s just in our language.  We still measure our car’s engine in horsepower.  That came from the thought of how many horses would it take to produce the same amount of energy.  How often have you heard the term “healthy as a horse”?  Horse related verbiage is all around us.
            Even though most Americans find horses appealing and hold them in special favor, there are others who do not.  There are some Americans who wish to exploit the horse for financial gain.  Horsemeat is a delicacy in other countries, and is very expensive and eaten only by the very rich (McCutcheon, Rose).  For this reason there are people who wish to have the slaughter of horses reinstated in the United States.  There has been lobbying for this in Congress by rich and powerful people, mostly a sect of the cattle industry and those who want to take advantage of the wants of the rich in other countries.  A large part of the population in the US is not even aware that this practice goes on.  Several years ago it was brought to the forefront when it was discovered that Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was killed and eaten in Japan.  Race fans were outraged, and racetracks around the country enacted the “Ferdinand Fee”, a voluntary donation with each admittance fee that goes toward the upkeep of retired race horses and a non-profit group named “The Friends of Ferdinand” formed to assist in placing off the track thoroughbreds in jobs and careers after racing.  (McCutcheon, Rose) 
            Even with the ban of horse slaughter in the US, horses were being shipped across the borders to Canada and Mexico for slaughter in their facilities.  The people who take the horses across our borders mostly acquire them from auctions where horses are brought when people can no longer care for them properly, or want to sell them quickly.  Much of the time the horse’s owners are unaware that the buyer is a “kill buyer”.  A “kill buyer” is the name given to a regular auction buyer that purposefully purchases horses from the auction at a super low price, often for as little as $5.00 to $10.00. Those who bring their horses to these auctions are usually totally unaware that their former “pet” will be headed to their demise in foreign slaughter houses.  Once the auction is over the horses are loaded into large trailers and from there they head for the border.
            In an interview with Elizabeth O’Neal who is president and founder of Triple O Equine Sanctuary (the opinions of Elizabeth’s are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization, Triple O Ranch Equine Sanctuary) I ask her what people could do to insure their horses do not wind up with a kill buyer.  Her response was, “Do not price your horse below the going rate paid by kill buyers.  If you sell them at a cheap price, the kill buyers can purchase them, transport them and sell them for meat while still making a profit. They cannot buy more expensive horses and make a profit, so they are no interest to them.  Profit is the only priority in this business.” (O’Neal, Elizabeth)  Even at auctions, if owners would put a minimum price on their horses they would greatly deter the kill buyers.
From a purely unemotional standpoint, these horses that are slaughtered and put into the food chain are full of toxic medications and chemicals that are used in horses every day.  Horses here in the United States are not bred or raised to be food.  Horses are routinely given wormers, often every couple of months, some of which are not recommended to be consumed by humans.  They are also administered analgesics, especially horses off the track. Phenylbutazone, or “Bute”, is a pain reliever that is a known carcinogen to humans and it invades every part of the horse, including the muscles.  This is particularly harmful as it has never been determined how long it takes for Bute to leave a horse’s system.  If a horse was ever given Bute it should never be introduced into the food chain.  (Fitch)  No care is taken when transporting horses from the United States to Canada or Mexico about this very necessary information.  There is no six month quarantine time.  “Protests were also held at slaughterhouses in Nanaimo and in other cities across Canada.  ‘Horses are for riding, not eating,’ said Vancouver-Kingsway NDP MP Don Davies from Ottawa. ‘Horses are commonly administered drugs that are banned for use in [other food] animals.’” (qtd inLuba)
"If you must kill, kill without torture."  Muhammad
            According to Equine Welfare Alliance, somewhere around 112,000 horses are shipped across our borders and slaughtered each year. (Equine Welfare Alliance)  Proponents of horse slaughter will tell you this has increased because the economy has gotten so bad people are not able to care for their horses and are sending them to auction, and thusly to slaughter.  They have played up the poor economy as being the devastating catalyst to what appears to be an increase in horse slaughter.  This is a fallacy.  “Slaughter proponents claim that horse slaughter is necessary because there are too many horses, but the irony is that the availability of slaughter creates a ‘salvage market’ that encourages excess breeding and poor breeding practices. In a market where supply is so easily increased, it will simply follow demand.”  (Equine Welfare Alliance)  The Equine Welfare Alliance has done a great job keeping track of the numbers over the years, going all the way back to 1989.  The real truth is that there were fewer numbers of American horses being slaughtered here before the ban than are now being slaughtered across the borders.  So the economy has really had no effect on the overall quantity of horses being slaughtered.  (Equine Welfare Alliance)   Only the location has changed.
            This reasoning is seen in the support by the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Paint Horse Association and the Jockey Club.  Every one of these horse registries are in favor of horse slaughter.  At a glance this seems counterproductive, but there is a method to their madness.  To truly understand their rationale you have to understand horse reproduction. Horses only bare one offspring per year.  The only way a breeding facility can have any hope of making absolutely certain they have “champion” horses every year is to breed every mare they have.  Out of hundreds of foals born each year, they will only get a scant few that are “champions” and the rest are discarded.  To these “breeders” the only real motivation is money.  Without a way to unload their rejects, and still make a small profit, they would not be able to continue with these breeding practices.  So they push their agenda and blame the economy.  The Equine Welfare Alliance has a paper on its site from the Government Accountability Office and on pages 11-15 describe the “facts” that AQHA have put forth. (Equine Welfare Alliance)
            There are people who would argue that if someone is unable to care for a horse any longer, and they cannot afford to humanely euthanize it, sending it to slaughter is better than letting it slowly starve to death.  This would seem a viable solution, but for one fact:  there is no humane way of slaughtering a horseIn an article on the site, Equine Welfare Alliance we read ‘As Dr. Lester Friedlander,  DVM & former Chief USDA Inspector, told Congress in 2008, ‘The captive bolt is not a proper  instrument for the slaughter of equids, these animals regain consciousness 30 seconds after being  struck, they are fully aware they are being vivisected.’"  (Equine Welfare Alliance)  This goes beyond inhumane to truly being torture.  For those who know and understand the psyche of the horse, because they are a herd animal, when one hears another scream in pain or fear; it elicits their “flight” instinct.  Herd animals have this to assist them in fleeing from predators, and to keep the herd together, it’s an instinctual response.  For horses in line behind the horse being slaughtered the fear they must possess hearing their herd-mate screaming in pain and fear must be horrific.  And being able to smell the blood and other odors coming from the freshly slaughtered former herd mate would be unimaginable.  Being prevented from fleeing from the source of that fear and pain must be inconceivable.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress
can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”  --Mahatma Ghandi
            So what are we to do?  Firstly, as individuals we owe a duty to the animals in our care, and must do what is truly best for them.  Since multiple sources say that slaughtering of horses is inhumane, then reason states it needs to stop.  That creates yet another problem, how do we convince those that are stubbornly set on the idea that it is a viable way to reduce the unwanted horse population?  Being diligent in showing them that there are genuine, legitimate alternatives is the answer.  There are many great rescues and sanctuaries that will take horses that are unwanted, that people can no longer care for, whose racing days are done, or any number of reasons.  “For healthy horses that become displaced for whatever reason, there are still many avenues to explore before considering selling the horse at a low end auction which is frequented by kill buyers.  Networking between owners, friends and family as well as equine organizations most often does place a horse if the owner is willing to take the time to wait until a suitable home is found.”  (O’Neal)
“Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution.  Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.”  ~ Thomas A. Edison
            There are many solutions that can be taken so that slaughter of horses is not necessaryEducation is our biggest asset. Teaching the casual owner of horses how to avoid their pets being victims of the kill buyer is a huge first step.  Next rescues and animal groups around the country need to work hand in hand with the large registries to place the horses that they do not want into loving homes with people who will care for them and give them the love and respect they deserve.  While these actions are taking place, a voice is needed in Washington to also educate and reinforce that the majority of people, people who are voters, are not in favor of horse slaughter.  Politicians are driven mostly by two things, money, and votes.  Lobbyists for big money groups can promise plenty of campaign contributions, but without the votes of the people, that money does them no good.  This message needs to be sent loud and clear.
Legislature is the surest way to get rid of this issue once and for all.  Elizabeth O’Neal stated it quite clearly in the recent interview I did with her, she said:  “My preference would be to get our elected officials to pass legislation to protect American horses from slaughter. (S. 1176 - H.R.2966 - American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption).”  (O’Neal, Elizabeth)  This bill is currently awaiting a vote.  If this bill passes, it will stop all slaughter of American Horses, here and across our borders. 
“There's nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.”
- Ronald Reagan
            Regardless of which side of this issue is taken, there are no sure and simple solutions.  When there is a demand for something, a supply is created.  If people are willing to succumb to supplying that demand, it’s a difficult thing to stop.  Morals are not the same across the board.  Morals may be taught or learned.  How they are taught or learned is the problem.  And they vary from individual to individual.  The best we can hope for in situations such as this is a compromise.  I firmly believe if we educate and provide rescue and sanctuary for horses that are in need, both sides will be appeased and the horses will all be happier for it. 
“If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.”  ~C.S. Lewis
They slaughter horses, don’t they?  At the moment, yes they do.  In Canada and Mexico there are horses that are losing their lives, their flesh is being processed and packaged.  The beautiful creatures they once were are reduced to bloody meat. I look forward to a time when the wild horses run free with no fear of capture, and all other horses can just be horses, not dinner.
"And God took a handful of southernly wind, blew His breath over it and created the horse." ~ Bedouin Legend



Works Cited
Bass, Margaret M., Catherine A. Duchowny and Maria M. Llabre. “The Effect of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on Social Functioning in Children with Autism.”  Journal of Autism and DevelopmentalDisorders (2009).  39:1261–1267.  Print.
Equine Welfare Alliance.  n.d.  Web.  23 November 2011.
Fitch, R.T.  Straight From the Horse’s Heart. Wordpress.  n.d.  Web.  23 November 2011.
Luba, Frank.  “Horse slaughter 'disgusting'.” News The Vancouver Province [British Columbia, Canada] October 5, 2010. Final ed.: News;  A14  Print.
McCutcheon, Rose.  “Horse slaughter an outrage.” Tulsa World [Tulsa, Oklahoma]  April 16, 2009.  Opinion.  X. Print.
O’Neal, Elizabeth.  Telephone interview.  15 November 2011

Not just horsing around … psychologists put their faith in equine therapies | Society | The Observer

Not just horsing around … psychologists put their faith in equine therapies | Society | The Observer

Not just horsing around … psychologists put their faith in equine therapies

Health professionals say horses can reflect our emotions to bring relief from addiction and stress

Tracy McVeigh
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 25 February 2012 11.08 EST


A horse will move away from an angry person and follow someone they trust, says one therapist. Photograph: Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters

In a Sussex field, a large bay horse is galloping around, tail held high. This magnificent creature is one of a new army of animals that is helping therapists to treat everything from addiction to autism to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Reports last week showed that dogs, already known to be invaluable helpmates for blind, deaf, diabetic and epileptic owners, were also being trained to help dementia patients.

(for the rest of the article, please click the link at the top of the page)

Woman's horse rescued from 'kill pen' | Nation | News from Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington...

Woman's horse rescued from 'kill pen' | Nation | News from Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington...

Woman's horse rescued from 'kill pen'
Posted Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012





BY HELEN O'NEILL

The Associated Press

The mare was tall and spirited and a joy to behold, galloping across the pasture with her head high, lithe and fast and fearless.

But the 6-year-old thoroughbred was practically impossible to handle. High-strung and feisty, Burma swayed impatiently in her stall, chewed the wooden doors, got tangled in her harness. She was hopeless on the track and often had colic.

To 16-year-old Megan Chance, she was perfect.

"This is the horse I want," she announced jubilantly in 1998.

Her parents relented, and Burma was hers.

(Please click the link at the top of the page for the rest of the article)



Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/25/3763075/womans-horse-rescued-from-kill.html#storylink=cpy

Friday, February 24, 2012

horse meat, Mountain Grove, Cabool, Missouri, slaughter, processing plant, human consumption; horse meat plant proposed in Missouri - ky3.com

horse meat, Mountain Grove, Cabool, Missouri, slaughter, processing plant, human consumption; horse meat plant proposed in Missouri - ky3.com

Horse meat processing plant proposed in the Ozarks
The horse meat produced near Mountain Grove would be sold for human consumption.


by Linda Russell, KY3 Newslrussell@ky3.com

3:32 p.m. CST, February 24, 2012

MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. -- A company called Unified Equine wants the Ozarks to be home to its first processing plant for horse meat for human consumption. The proposed plant would be just east of Mountain Grove near the Wright-Texas County line in the Twin Cities Industrial Park.

Unified Equine has been working on its business model for two years. When federal legislation in November brought back the ability for the USDA to inspect horse slaughter plants, the Wyoming company got serious about finding its flagship location.

"We wanted a state that was supportive of our efforts, and the folks in Missouri are 100 percent on board with what we're trying to do and how we're trying to do it," said Sue Wallis, chief executive officers of Unified Equine, as well as a Wyoming state legislator.

"Oh, I think it would be horrible. People would be moving out," said Mountain Grove resident Danita McCaig.

Many shudder at the idea of horse meat production in their back yard, but others in the agricultural area are showing support.

(for rest of article click link at the top of the page)
____________________________________________________________
Sometimes I live in a "dream world" thinking everything is all good and wonderful and then I'm brought back down to earth.  Somethings I object to, but can see the other side.  Horse Slaughter is an issue where I cannot see the other side, no matter what angle I try to view it by.  Horses are special, unique creatures given to us to make us better, make our lives happier, easier, they give us purpose.  They fulfill that wild spirit in us that has all but disappeared.


I would starve before I ate a horse, or cat or dog for that matter.  But to eat a horse, any horse, is an abomination.  To me it just almost seems sacrilegious to eat a horse.  Horses to me are almost a spiritual experience.  They are a little bit of heaven here on earth.  To eat them is just wrong.  To kill them in the torturous way that is done to slaughter them is hideous, cruel and simply unacceptable.  Please just leave the horses alone.  FDEF

Study: Evolution of earliest horses driven by climate change | e! Science News

Study: Evolution of earliest horses driven by climate change | e! Science News

Study: Evolution of earliest horses driven by climate change
Published: Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 15:34 in Earth & Climate


Danielle Byerley, Florida Museum of Natural History.

When Sifrhippus, the earliest known horse, first appeared in the forests of North America more than 50 million years ago, it would not have been mistaken for a Clydesdale. It weighed in at around 12 pounds -- and it was destined to get much smaller over the ensuing millennia. Sifrhippus lived during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a 175,000-year interval of time some 56 million years ago in which average global temperatures rose by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, caused by the release of vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and oceans.

(please click link at top for rest of article)

Federal Wild Horse Lawsuit Hearing Set for Friday | Horse Back Magazine

Federal Wild Horse Lawsuit Hearing Set for Friday | Horse Back Magazine

Federal Wild Horse Lawsuit Hearing Set for Friday

February 23, 2012
Groundbreaking Case will be Heard in Sacramento on the Merits



SACREMENTO, (In Defense of Animals) – Last April, in a precedent-setting decision, Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. refused to dismiss the case on legal technicalities, meaning it will be decided on the merits. Judge England also ruled that the plaintiffs – animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA), ecologist Chad Hanson, Ph.D., wild horse sanctuary founder Barbara Clarke, DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary, and wild horse enthusiast Linda Hay – have standing to challenge the action and that the case is not moot.

“The American Mustang is a native wildlife species; few people realize that the western United States is actually the evolutionary birthplace of the horse,” said Ms. Fazio. “This suit seeks to ensure that, in accordance with the laws of Congress, this majestic species is protected as wild and free-roaming, safe from illegal interference by the BLM and immune to the pressures of the livestock industry and other commercial interests that wish to exploit our public lands.” “Because of Judge England’s decision last April, tomorrow’s hearing will be about the merits of our case and not legal technicalities,” said Eric Kleiman, Research Director for In Defense of Animals. “Tomorrow, America’s wild horses will finally have their day in court.” Kleiman also noted that one of lawsuit’s major claims involves BLM’s failure to euthanize old, sick or lame horses “in the most humane manner possible.” He said that the legislative history cited by plaintiffs clearly shows that Congress expected that such euthanizing should occur on the range – and before any roundup would take place.

(click link at the top of the page for full article)

Woman Whose Horse Was Struck And Killed To Testify In Hartford - Clinton, CT Patch

Woman Whose Horse Was Struck And Killed To Testify In Hartford - Clinton, CT Patch

Woman Whose Horse Was Struck And Killed To Testify In Hartford

The Clinton veterinarian whose horse died after it was hit by a 17-year old driver is testifying in favor of a new bill to increase the penalty for those who cause harm.

By Fay Abrahamsson

February 21, 2012





Lynda Perry, the Clinton veterinarian whose horse died last summer after being struck by a car, will be testifying Feb. 22 in favor of a new state bill that will demand harsher punishment for those "causing harm to a vulnerable user of a public way."

Perry and Trapper, her 15-year old Lippitt Morgan horse, were both struck by a Dodge Durango last July driven by 17-year old Robert Lee of Clinton. Perry sustained injuries and survived; her horse did not.

Lee received a verbal warning by the Clinton Police Department. He claimed he was blinded by the sun and did not see Perry and her horse.

(click link at top for rest of article)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: LES VIANDES DE LA PETITE-NATION SLAUGHTER PLANT TEMPORARILY CLOSED | Canadian Horse Defence Coalition's Blog

IMPORTANT UPDATE: LES VIANDES DE LA PETITE-NATION SLAUGHTER PLANT TEMPORARILY CLOSED | Canadian Horse Defence Coalition's Blog


IMPORTANT UPDATE: LES VIANDES DE LA PETITE-NATION SLAUGHTER PLANT TEMPORARILY CLOSED

Posted on February 22, 2012

Les Viandes de la Petite-Nation Inc. slaughter house in Quebec has been temporarily closed, with inspections and audits being conducted at the plant by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). La Petite-Nation (LPN) was the subject of the December 2011 investigative report by the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) entitled “Pasture to Plate: The True Cost of Canada’s Horsemeat Industry”:http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/lpn.html.

The report cites numerous violations underCanada’s Meat Inspection Act, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) animal welfare standards, cruelty violations, as well as reveals a flawed Equine Identification Documents system. LPN is one of two plants operating in Quebec, and one of four plants operating in Canada.

(click link at top of page for full article and link to blog)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

PHOTOS: Two dozen young horses saved from slaughter | news10.net

PHOTOS: Two dozen young horses saved from slaughter | news10.net

PHOTOS: Two dozen young horses saved from slaughter
5:38 PM, Feb 21, 2012

Written by
George Warren


  

OROVILLE, CA - A horse rescue organization paid as little as $50 each for 24 young horses it believes were headed for the slaughterhouse.

"It's a felony to sell horses for slaughter in California, but it happens every day," said Tawnee Preisner of the Horse Plus Humane Society.









Link to pictures and slideshow

Preisner said 10 of the horse were bought Saturday at a livestock auction in Turlock, and the other 14 were purchased Monday directly from the man who hauled all of them down from Oregon.

Preisner said the group identifies horses likely being sold for slaughter based on the price, which she said runs about 22 cents per pound.

The group has rescued more than 2,000 horses since its inception in 2003, but has never bought so many youngsters at once.
The sudden influx has strained the group's resources, but Preisner said cost was the least of her concerns.

(for the rest of the article at the top of the page)


Orphaned Arabian horses coming to Westmoreland Fairgrounds - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Orphaned Arabian horses coming to Westmoreland Fairgrounds - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Orphaned Arabian horses coming to Westmoreland Fairgrounds


By Rossilynne Skena, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, February 22, 2012


The Arabian Rescue Mission needs donations of money and supplies, including antibiotics, feed, grain, hay, blankets and grooming tools.

To adopt a horse, visit www.arabianrescuemission.org and download a copy of the application. Send it to the group or bring it to the Westmoreland Fairgrounds on Sunday or after.

To donate money, visit the website and click "donate."

Donations will be accepted at the fairgrounds or can be mailed to the addresses listed online.

To donate supplies, take them to the fairgrounds or call Derry Best Feeds and make a donation to the Arabian Rescue Mission's account.

To donate toward medical care, contact Allegheny Equine Associates.


About the writer

Rossilynne Skena is a Tribune-Review staff writer

A New Jersey nonprofit group will rescue more than 40 horses from a hilly West Virginia farm this weekend, carting them to the Westmoreland Fairgrounds for veterinary treatment and adoption.

The Arabian Rescue Mission will orchestrate "a cooperative rescue," said Terry Figueroa, its president and founder.

"Generally (the horses are) in pretty good shape," Figueroa said. "Better shape than most herds I deal with, because these people asked for help before anything got to dire need."

The horses' owner died in December. A family member contacted the group for help because the family doesn't know how to care for horses.

"He left the farm in 2008, so I assume that was the last time they actually got real handling and the kind of care he provided," Figueroa said.

A West Virginia man has been feeding the horses and giving them hay, she said.

Some horses have injuries or infection and need treatment. All are infested with worms. Others died over the winter from lack of care, old age or coyote attacks.

Of the 54-horse herd, seven have been adopted. One died in the last week or two, and a few are missing. Figueroa expects between 43 and 46 will arrive at the fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township.

Many horses are available for adoption.

Adopting a horse is free, but there's a $25 application fee to process and screen each applicant.

The Arabian horse typically is curious and social, Figueroa said, describing them as smart, beautiful and sensitive.

(for rest of article please click the link at the top of the page)

______________________________________________________________
I have chosen Polish Arabs as the Breed of the Month for March.  Anyone interested in Arabians should read the links and information I've posted.  FDEF

Thieves use ute to steal circus pony - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

Thieves use ute to steal circus pony - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

Thieves use ute to steal circus pony


DAN PROUDMAN
22 Feb, 2012 09:57 AM

POLICE are hunting the ringleaders of a daring theft of a circus pony this morning.

Miniature pony Thunder was stolen around 1am from Webers Circus, which is in a park across from Newcastle Showground.

A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing the pony being lifted onto the back of a utility.

Shortly after, police drove past a utility which had a large tarpaulin over its tray.

They lost sight of it but later located it behind Hamilton North Bowling Club.

The pony was still under the tarpaulin and uninjured.

It has been returned to the circus.




HOME AGAIN: Natalie Weber from Webers Circus welcomes back Thunder the miniature pony after he was stolen last night. - Picture by Natalie Grono

Chicago Police horses will also get riot gear for NATO/G-8 summits - Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Police horses will also get riot gear for NATO/G-8 summits - Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Police horses will also get riot gear for NATO/G-8 summits

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter fspielman@suntimes.com February 21, 2012 1:56AM



6-11-10 Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade.......Mounted police try to restrain the crowd behind the last bus as the parade goes north on Michigan ave.......Rich Hein/Sun-Times


Updated: February 21, 2012 12:56PM

Horses in the Chicago Police Department’s Mounted Unit assigned to crowd control during the NATO and G-8 summits will be outfitted with “riot gear,” just like the officers riding them and those on the ground facing off against protesters.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is soliciting bids for “police horse riot gear and training aids” in preparation for the May 19-21 summits at McCormick Place expected to shine an international spotlight on Chicago.

The solicitation specifically requests: leather nose guards — 22 inches long and five inches wide — with “impact-absorbing foam”; clear, wrap-around visors to protect the horse’s eyes; 17-inch-long rear leg shields and 11-inch-long front leg shields, both made of “high-impact plastic” and soft foam; and “training aids” for horses, including a “crowd control training ball set.”

(please click link at top of page for rest of article)

No jail for Chesco woman accused of selling horses for slaughter

No jail for Chesco woman accused of selling horses for slaughter

No jail for Chesco woman accused of selling horses for slaughter
By Amy Worden

INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU

HARRISBURG - A Chester County woman accused of selling thoroughbreds for slaughter after promising to put them up for adoption will avoid prison by agreeing to enter a first-offender program.

Kelsey Lefever, 24, of Honeybrook, abruptly waived her preliminary hearing on four counts of theft by deception Tuesday in a Dauphin County district court. Prosecutors withdrew a fifth charge, that she had engaged in deceptive business practices.

"We agreed under certain conditions that she enter the first-time offenders program," said Francis Chardo, Dauphin County first assistant district attorney. "She will be restricted from activities relating to horses."

(please click link at the top of the page for rest of article)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Polish Arabs


Webpage Picture is from

_____________________________________________________________________________

Another great web page with wonderful information on Polish Arabs and their bloodlines.

_____________________________________________________________________________


                 Polish Arab
_____________________________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________________

That's all for now!!  FDEF

Off the Beaten Path: War Horses on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Off the Beaten Path: War Horses on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader


Off the Beaten Path: War Horses | Video

Cliff Naylor | 2/20/2012




The movie "War Horse," which is now in theaters, highlights the significant role horses played in World War I. What you may not know, is that nearly every horse that was used by the U.S. and British armies during that conflict was trained in Ft. Keogh, near Miles City, Montana.

Montana is horse country, but few people realize just how many stallions, mares and geldings were once rounded-up, trained, and shipped out of Fort Keogh.

"This was the largest remount station in the United States and literally hundreds of thousands of horses went through here between 1908 and 1920," said Ft. Keogh Historian Amorette Allison.

A museum diorama shows how massive Ft. Keogh once was when it covered 100 square miles, or 64,000 acres of land in eastern Montana. The breeding barn is one of the few original frontier buildings still standing.

Mark Petersen, who works with the Ft. Keogh Agricultural Research Station, described the different areas of the barn. "This is the breeding box and the stallions would be brought in here and they would bring the mare into this box and I`ve been told the reason why it`s so tall is that sometimes there would be a scuffle between the mare and the stallion."

(click link at top of page for rest of article)

Auctioning horses of many colors aids The Retreat at Beckleysville, a special needs riding center on Carroll/Baltimore line - Baltimore Sun

Auctioning horses of many colors aids The Retreat at Beckleysville, a special needs riding center on Carroll/Baltimore line - Baltimore Sun

Unique 'horse auction' aids therapeutic riding center on Carroll/Baltimore line

Event at Carroll County Agriculture Center benefits The Retreat at Beckleysville



Reagan Leaf, 5, whose mom, Carol, is involved with the Horse… (Photo by Jim Joyner)

February 19, 2012|By Katie V. Jones

Approximately 50 horses will be on display for auction at the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster on Sunday, Feb. 26.

One is blue, another has stripes and another has balloons.

Another has the scene of a fox hunt painted on its side.

Yet another comes with two tickets to a Broadway show.


(click link at the top of the page to read the rest of the article)

Horse rescue group to save Arabians from Marshall County farm  - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Horse rescue group to save Arabians from Marshall County farm - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -


February 20, 2012

Horse rescue group to save Arabians from Marshall County farm

By Zac Taylor

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A New Jersey horse rescue group will travel to a Marshall County farm this week to save more than 50 Arabian horses that had been dwindling in health since their owner became ill several years ago.

Terry Figueroa, founder of the Arabian Rescue Mission, said Monday that the horses owned by Fazal A. Kahn, who died in December, were in decent condition but still must be rescued because the family cannot find anyone to take care of them.

"I don't want to say they're in bad shape, but they're in decline," Figueroa said of the horses. "The family is upset because they have been asking for help."

The horses live on a large farm in Dallas, off of Sam Hill road, Figueroa said. A local man has been traveling to the farm every day to feed the animals since Khan fell ill in 2008, she said.

(click the link at the top to read the rest of the article)

Monday, February 20, 2012

Greenland boy fights for horses | SeacoastOnline.com

Greenland boy fights for horses | SeacoastOnline.com

Greenland boy fights for horses
9-year-old Declan Gregg inspired to join effort for humane treatment of equines

By Joey CrestaBuy This Photo





Declan Gregg, 9, of Greenland, will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to testify against the slaughtering of horses.Ioanna Raptis/iraptis@seacoastonline.com

jcresta@seacoastonline.com

February 12, 2012 2:00 AM

GREENLAND — A shy, soft-spoken local boy is raising his voice to tell his representatives in Concord and Washington that horse slaughter is cruel and inhumane.

Nine-year-old Declan Gregg has already testified in front of the N.H. House Environment and Agriculture Committee and next month will travel with his mother, Stacie Gregg, to Washington, D.C., to present letters to Congress as part of the Million Horse March children's letter-writing campaign to stop horse slaughter.

(for the rest of the article please click the link at the top of the page)

Hearing set for Honey Brook horse trainer - dailylocal.com

Hearing set for Honey Brook horse trainer - dailylocal.com

Hearing set for Honey Brook horse trainer

Published: Monday, February 20, 2012

The preliminary hearing for a Honey Brook Township horse trainer accused of fraudulently selling racehorses for slaughter is scheduled for today.

A spokeswoman for Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Smith of Harrisburg said the hearing for Kelsey Lefever is set for 2:30 p.m.

In November, Lefever, 24, was charged with four counts of theft and one count of deceptive business practices after state police alleged she sold four thoroughbred racehorses to a New Holland company that sells horses to slaughterhouses in Canada.

Known as a skilled trainer in equestrian circles in the county and has shown horses at the Devon Horse Show, Lefever allegedly told two men from whom she had bought the horses that she would “care for, retain and re-home the horses into new careers” after they had finished their racing lives.


(please click link at top for the rest of the article)

Miniature Horse Found Slaughtered In Miami-Dade « CBS Miami

Miniature Horse Found Slaughtered In Miami-Dade « CBS Miami

Miniature Horse Found Slaughtered In Miami-Dade

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) – Authorities are asking for help in finding the person or people who butchered a 5-year-old miniature horse and left her in pieces by the side of the road in a remote section of Northwest Miami-Dade.

It is the third such discovery of a slaughtered horse in Miami-Dade in the past two months.

Richard Couto, the founder of the Animal Recovery Mission, said the Miniature Horse was found in the exact same spot in the C-9 basin at Northwest 179th Street and 129th Ave. where another butchered horse was found a month ago

A Miami-Dade investigator takes pictures of a miniature horse found slaughtered. (Source: CBS4)

“That was a quarterhorse that had been used for racing and I am 95 per cent certain the same killers have struck again,” said Couto. Couto says another horse was found slaughtered on Dec. 26th of last year in a Southwest Miami-Dade canal and that crime was not connected to the other two horses.

(click the link at the top of the page for the rest of the article)

____________________________________________________________________________
There are many many stories that I find and post that upset me a great deal.  This story in particular is extremely upsetting.  ANY horse being tortured and slaughtered is outrageous, but a miniature horse, that is the sickest of the sick.  As a former mini owner, their tiny little bodies have absolutely no defense against an adult.  My mini was 29", many of them are much, much smaller.  This disgusts me beyond words, and make me horribly said for this little girl.  Rest in peace dear one.  Run with the big guys at the rainbow bridge, feel no more pain and let us pray that Epona and Rhiannon unleash their wrath on whoever committed this heinous crime and they pay for it three times over.  FDEF

Horse Remains Found in Rural Miami-Dade | NBC 6 Miami

Horse Remains Found in Rural Miami-Dade | NBC 6 Miami

Horse Remains Found in Rural Miami-Dade




NBCMiami.com


Police are investigating after the partial remains of a slaughtered horse were found in a rural area of Miami-Dade Monday.

Richard Couto

Police are investigating after the partial remains of a slaughtered horse were found in a rural area of Miami-Dade Monday.

The remains were found in a wooded area near Northwest 182nd Street and 129th Avenue by a Miami-Dade officer doing a routine patrol, police said.

(please click link at top of page for the rest of the article)

HEET helps horses in peril | The Tribune & SanLuisObispo.com

HEET helps horses in peril | The Tribune & SanLuisObispo.com

HEET helps horses in peril

Each fire season, Cal Fire designates San Luis Obispo County as at risk from wildland fires spreading into urban areas. In the 2002-03 Highway 58 and Parkhill fires, the agency reported 2,200 acres, five residences and $110,000 lost.

That’s when a few concerned horses owners realized their animals were at risk during wildfires.

Stuart McElhinney said, “There wasn’t a coordinated emergency evacuation system to care for the horses and organize their rescue. We needed a volunteer effort to develop a plan (and to) implement a system.”

By January 2003, Morro Bay attorneys and Los Osos residents Stuart and Susan McElhinney filed nonprofit paperwork for the Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET). Their mission is to work cooperatively with Cal Fire, the county Fire Chiefs Association, the Sheriff’s Office and CHP to coordinate a first response evacuation plan for large animals.

(for the rest of the article please click link at the top of the page)

Horses reported stolen in northern Illinois found - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Horses reported stolen in northern Illinois found - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Horses reported stolen in northern Illinois found

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted Feb 19, 2012 @ 10:00 AM

CHICAGO — A nationwide hunt for four horses reported stolen from a stable in northern Illinois has ended after the owner discovered them in a neighbor's yard.

Claudia Hough, owner of Royal Ebony Stable in Spring Grove, says all the horses were found Saturday morning and appeared to be fine.

Hough discovered the four horses missing Friday morning. The horses together were estimated to be worth thousands of dollars.

Hough was offering a $5,000 reward for information that would lead to the horses.

She believes they were stolen because a wooden fence rail was removed, another was cut and a security camera was blacked out during the time of their disappearance.

Hough suspects attention to the story spooked the thieves into releasing the horses nearby.

____________________________________________________________________________

Great news!!  Not often we get good news from stories like this!  -- FDEF


Help for Horse Owners is On the Way | NJ.com

Help for Horse Owners is On the Way | NJ.com

Help for Horse Owners is On the Way
Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 11:01 PM Updated: Sunday, February 19, 2012, 11:45 AM
By Nancy Jaffer/For The Star-Ledger


Nancy Jaffer/For the Star-LedgerSponsors for fences and tailgaters are being sought for the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, which will mark its 10th anniversary in May. See On the Rail below for more information

"Help! I can't keep this horse anymore."

Sarah Ralston, a Rutgers University associate professor, is all too familiar with that cry of distress during a financially difficult era in which the phrase "unwanted horse" has become an unhappy part of the equestrian lexicon.

"A lot of horse owners have fallen on hard times and can't afford to do the right thing for their horses," she said, but there's more to the unwanted horse problem. Too many people who lack the basics of horsekeeping take on an equine without knowing what it will cost, both in terms of money and work, and have no idea how to deal with a large animal which may be untrained or simply too much for them to handle.

(click link at the top of the page for the complete article)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Horses That Heal - Homestead / South Dade - MiamiHerald.com

Horses That Heal - Homestead / South Dade - MiamiHerald.com

NATURE’S THERAPY

Horses That Heal

An equestrian center in South Miami-Dade is helping children and adults gain confidence,make emotional connections and help them develop basic skills.



Keion, 9, takes a ride on Stan the Man with the help of volunteers Takira Brown, far left, and Cece Tilson, far right, at Good Hope Equestrian Training Center in Redland on Feb. 3. 
ALLISON DIAZ / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD


BY ALEXA LOPEZ

Tucked away among the farms and nurseries of South Miami-Dade is a place where horses provide hope to children and adults in great need.

Good Hope Equestrian Training Center offers horse therapy to about 300 children, youths and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit organization also recently started working with veterans, many of whom have developed post-traumatic stress disorder from multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Any condition that is going to hinder your daily living can be a disability,” said Good Hope director Peggy Bass, 44. “If you’re within our mission and our scope, let us help you.”
(For rest of article click link at top of page)

$40 Million Jackpot Winner Accused of Neglecting 11 Horses | KSEE 24 News - Central Valley's News Station: Fresno-Visalia - News, Sports, Weather | Local News

$40 Million Jackpot Winner Accused of Neglecting 11 Horses | KSEE 24 News - Central Valley's News Station: Fresno-Visalia - News, Sports, Weather | Local News

$40 Million Jackpot Winner Accused of Neglecting 11 Horses

By KSEE News




February 16, 2012

The investigation of Francisco Romo's horses began Saturday. It's just the latest in a rash of incidents involving starving horses.

These were happier times. It was 11 years ago that Francisco and Trudy Romo won $40 million in the California state lottery. Their winning ticket had been thrown away.

(click link at top to view rest of article)

U.S. News - Officials: Horse's metal shoes sparked fatal blast in oxygen chamber

U.S. News - Officials: Horse's metal shoes sparked fatal blast in oxygen chamber

Officials: Horse's metal shoes sparked fatal blast in oxygen chamber



Jenifer Lowe / AP
This photo provided by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, a Marion County Crime Scene investigator photographs the damages caused by an explosion at an equine rehabilitation center in north Florida's horse country that killed a worker and a horse in Ocala, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

By msnbc.com staff

An explosion that killed a 28-year-old woman operating a hyperbaric chamber at a Florida equine therapy center was sparked by a horse kicking the side of the chamber with its metal shoes, authorities ruled.

Erica Marshall, an employee at Kesmarc Equine Rehabilitation facility in Marion County, died when the chamber she was running exploded on Feb. 10. Sorcha Moneley, 33, a visiting observer from Ireland, was wounded in the blast.

The sheriff's report said the horse, which also died, was wearing steel horseshoes inside the oxygen-rich chamber. Moneley told fire rescuers the horse kicked the inside walls, removing an inside protective layer and causing sparks before the explosion.

(Click link at top of page to view rest of article)

4 horses stolen from Spring Grove farm - DailyHerald.com

4 horses stolen from Spring Grove farm - DailyHerald.com

Black Silk was one of four Friesian horses stolen sometime between Thursday and Friday from a Spring Grove farm.

COURTESY OF CLAUDIA HAUGH

By Christopher Placek


Claudia Haugh affectionately refers to the 15 horses she raises on her Spring Grove farm as “my babies.”

So when she woke up Friday morning and saw a fence had been broken and four horses were gone, she was devastated.

I was there when they were born. I stayed there when their mothers were due — I helped them get their first breath,” Haugh said. “I’ve bred them, cared for them, and loved them. They’re very sweet. Very friendly. I don’t know where they are."

(for rest of article click link at top of page)

Teeth - Horse and Human Alike

Sorry I've been MIA, I've had an abscessed tooth and seriously have been out of it for a couple weeks and really felt like crap for the last week.  Finally got it pulled yesterday.  Still don't feel great, but at least I feel alive.

My horse, Crystal, is also having tooth issues.  Nothing serious, just needs them floated.  The problem around here is not that many people do them, and the ones that DO are super heavy booked.  So I'm waiting for him to come an fix her.  It's not major yet, just eating a bit slower than normal, so we're not critical by any stretch.

So it's back to searching for pertinent stories to post!  I hope folks enjoy my blog.  I always say, if you have any suggestions, PLEASE, send me an email or leave me a comment!

Ginny

Assateague wild pony killer can't hunt for five years | The Daily Times | delmarvanow.com

Assateague wild pony killer can't hunt for five years | The Daily Times | delmarvanow.com

SALISBURY -- Fines were not enough punishment for the hunter who pleaded guilty to shooting a wild horse on Assateague Island, a federal judge said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Victor Laws banned Easton resident Justin Eason, 26, from hunting on any federal lands for five years after he admitted to accidentally shooting a 28-year-old wild horse during a deer hunt at Assateague Island National Seashore. Laws also ordered Eason to pay $3,000 in fines and $2,000 restitution for the horse, and sentenced him to 18 months supervised probation.

"I'm of the opinion that a fine alone is not enough to protect the public and our natural resources," Laws said.

(for rest of article click link at top of page)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Horse Meat Investigation & Meetings, Europe 1/3/12-1/8/12


Horse Meat Investigation & Meetings, Europe 1/3/12-1/8/12

Animals’ Angels went to Europe and met with veterinarians and other animal welfare organizations to discuss the issues involved with the horse meat imports from Canada and Mexico. Animals’ Angels believes that it is of utmost importance to create more awareness among European consumers in regards to where the horses meat is coming from, the cruelty involved in this trade as well as the potential risk of drug residues. The meetings went well and we are excited about the possibility of a campaign on both sides of the Atlantic.

Additionally, the investigators looked into pricing of horse meat at butcher shops and the protection offered by the “Equine Passport”. While the ways to obtain the passport are slightly different in the member states , all passports require the owner to fill in information if the horse can later be slaughtered or not.

(for rest of story click link at the top of the page)