S O U N D   O F F

January 13, 2008
Subject: Where are all the undernourished horses coming from? - Charles W. Sylvester

The problem of the pending horse slaughter ban, is already showing by the number of undernourished horses we're beginning to find everywhere.

If horse slaughter ban becomes law, approximately 100,000 horses could turn up unwanted each year. They'll be dumped along side the road, left in pastures to die slowly through starvation and on.
Who will take care of them?

Don't blame the people or horse sanctuaries, as they're doing the best they can on limited resources.

The number of horses to care for is increasing daily. At the same time feed cost is rising substantially. (Hay and grain up 100% and more.).

Those who want horses saved, instead of going to slaughter, are a part of this growing problem. If they don't want horses slaughtered, then they should be willing to step forward and pay for their care.

For example, horse-saver advocate Bo Derek should perhaps take off her clothes and make a sequel to "Ten." And because she's older maybe name it "Hang Ten." Then take all proceeds from Hang Ten and gift to a horse rescue operation set up that could handle 100,000 incoming horses per year.

The biggest supply of un-wanted horses is our own US Department of the Interior/ BLM - who supervises the Feral (aka wild) horse program.

This BLM program is the biggest government subsidized horse breeding program in the US.

They haul studs (Paints, Buckskins, black, grey) to different states. Why? Well, "breeding for color" gives the idea these horses will be more pleasurable for public viewing, and adopting.

Only problem: The potential people who might adopt a horse for virtually nothing, have 2nd thoughts once the reality of "feeding, pasture, stabling and medical costs" this little prize generates.

However, the government does have the luxury that private horse owners don't have, in that they use your tax dollars to place these feral horse in government run sanctuaries, at a cost of 50 to 60 million dollars per year.

The horse slaughter ban must be stopped now, before it becomes a law that cruelly destroys hundreds of thousands of horses.