Robert Redford, ex-NM Gov. Richardson fight against domestic horse slaughter

[TexasTowelie]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Robert Redford and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday joined the fight against a return to domestic horse slaughter, announcing the formation of an animal protection foundation to fight the opening of plants in New Mexico and Iowa.

The Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife's first act was to join a federal lawsuit filed by the Humane Society and other groups to block the planned Aug. 5 opening of the first horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. to operate in more than six years.

"Horse slaughter has no place in our culture," Redford said in a statement. "It is cruel, inhumane, and perpetuates abuse and neglect of these beloved animals."

A lifelong horse lover, Richardson said he is committed to do "whatever it takes to stop the return of horse slaughterhouses in this country and, in particular, my own state."

More at http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-07-22/robert-redford-ex-nm-gov-richardson-fight-against-domestic-horse-slaughter .

[markiv]

1. It's all a matter of perception - I think horsemeat could become acceptable, with promotion

I think a chain of horseburger fast food restaurants could become popular with the right promotion

say, have them decorated on the outside, like mr ed's horse barn



have commercials featuring mr ed, promoting horseburgers, mr ed was always popular. call it something like 'Mr Ed's Horse-pitality'

[newfie11]

2. I've owned horses and been around them my entire life

I still have 2 out in my pasture.

Have I ever sold one for meat, no.
BUT don't think your doing them a favor by banning slaughter.

Hay prices are at an all time high, vets are expensive, the market for horses is low, unless we're talking , race, eventing, cutting, etc.

Without slaughter, horses belonging to folks with no/little money will slowly starve to death. Injured horses are not treated due to costs.

This is not doing them any favors. What should be done is tightening up rules and regs on care at slaughter houses and transporting to there.

Horses did not fare well being trucked to Mexico/ Canada for slaughter when we had the ban. Think bringing it back will stop the shipping, I don't think so.

People need to get out to the real world and see what's happening to horses and what their banning slaughter is doing to horses.

[dusty trails]

3. Domestic horse slaughter ?

How about the thousands of mustangs running wild across New Mexico? Why not use their meat?

I recall in the mid-70s, when I was living in Connecticut, a few meat markets sold horse steaks and roasts.
Canned cat food contained horse meat - My cat loved it.

Mexico. Argentina, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland, Japan (to name a few countries) have no problem selling horse meat in their markets and restaurants.

The eight most populous countries in the world consume almost 5 million horses each year.