Tag Archives: Equine Protection

Rescue/Protection Sources

The High Price of Horse Slaughter

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Chicago (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance and Animal Law Coalition applaud Rep. Jim Moran and House of Representatives Appropriations Committee members who stood up for the horses this week. Rep. Moran introduced an amendment to the proposed agriculture appropriations bill to make sure commercial horse slaughter in the U.S. remains illegal.

The amendment was accepted by the Committee on a vote of 24 to 21 and it’s now on to a vote by the full House on the agriculture appropriations bill on June 15.

The amendment de-funds (prohibits funds from being spent on) ante-mortem inspections of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. Without these inspections required by federal law, horses cannot be commercially slaughtered for human consumption in the U.S. The inspections have been de-funded since 2006. http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1809

The next step must be a ban on exports of U.S. horses for slaughter for human consumption. More than two thirds of Americans support a ban on horse slaughter. Proponents have avoided discussing what is clear to most Americans – the inherent cruelty of horse slaughter. 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.”

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Rescue/Protection Sources

House Appropriations Committee Approves Amendment Blocking Tax Dollars from Being Used to Continue Horse Slaughter

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Washington, D.C. (May 31, 2011) — In yet another resounding victory for America’s horses, the House Appropriations Committee voted in favor of language sponsored by Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) prohibiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture from spending tax dollars on inspecting horse slaughter facilities. The language, originally passed into law back in 2005, has halted horse slaughter operations for years, but for some reason, was not included in the current Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill approved by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee late last week.

“The Animal Welfare Institute commends Representative Jim Moran for his introduction of the amendment restoring this important language before the full Committee,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI.  “Representative Moran and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) spoke strongly about the need for this amendment while pointing out now is not the time to start spending tax dollars to prop up a foreign owned and driven industry that prays on the suffering of American horses.”

While the amendment was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, AWI will remain vigilant to ensure horse slaughter proponents do not try other tactics to have it removed as the bill makes its way to the full House for a vote or even in the Senate when the time comes.

For more information:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

Rescue/Protection Sources

URGENT eALERT: Calls Needed TUESDAY in Support of Amendment Keeping Federal Government Out of Horse Slaughter Business!

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Dear Humanitarian,
Late last week the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  The language defunding the required USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities was not included for the first time since 2005, despite strong bipartisan support in Congress. This first step, if successful, may allow foreign investors the opportunity to reestablish horse slaughter in the US.

At a time when Congress is dramatically cutting back federal spending and eliminating wasteful federal programs, it is disturbing that some in Congress would allow for the reestablishment of a taxpayer subsidized federal program that existed solely to support foreign owned horse slaughter facilities that inflicted tremendous suffering on American horses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The full House Appropriations Committee will be voting on the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill this Tuesday afternoon.  An amendment will be offered to restore the prohibition on putting USDA inspectors in horse slaughter facilities.  Restoring this USDA defund language is important, and it is critical that you call and urge your legislator to support the amendment.

Continue reading URGENT eALERT: Calls Needed TUESDAY in Support of Amendment Keeping Federal Government Out of Horse Slaughter Business! →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events

Colorado Horse Park Three Day Event and June High Prairie Dressage Canceled

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Parker, CO — In order to add one more buffer week to ensure that there is no possibility of EHV-1 infection at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), the organization has canceled the following events scheduled for June 2-5, 2011: Colorado Horse Park Three Day Event and June High Prairie Dressage. This is merely a precautionary measure; no horse exposed to the virus has been on the property. In fact, no horses with EHV-1 symptoms have been identified in Douglas County. FEI veterinarian and CHP consultant, Terry Swanson D.V.M., stated that he believes there is very little likelihood of EHV-1 being discovered at the Park and he felt that the extra buffer week would lay the issue to rest.

“We wanted riders and owners to be absolutely confident that their horses were safe at The Colorado Horse Park,” explained Helen Krieble, founder and president of The Colorado Horse Park. “Our hearts truly go out to the competitors who were planning on showing next week. We are truly sorry for them. However, we want everyone to feel extremely certain about the remainder of the season.” Of course, riders who have already entered the CHP Three Day Event and June High Prairie Dressage Show will receive full refunds.

The remainder of CHP’s show season will run as scheduled, beginning with the first week of the expanded Colorado Summer Circuit on June 8, 2011. “I am confident that with the additional buffer week, the 2011 horse show season will not only be able to continue, but will be extremely successful,” Krieble stated.

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Breeds, Wild Horse Sources

Congressman Honors Cloud!

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Adelina as a yearling, 2010 - named in honor of Congressman Grijalva's granddaughter (the filly is the granddaughter of Blue Sioux & Red Raven)

Updated News

Dear Friends of Cloud and the Mustangs;
Our apologies, Congressman Grijalva represents Arizona’s 7th District in the U.S House of Representatives, not New Mexico. Congressman Grijalva has always been a great friend of wild horses and burros, and we sincerely thank him for introducing the House Legislation below which honors Cloud and all wild horses and burros. We encourage you to contact Representative Grijalva, thanking him for his support of all mustangs and burros with legislation that costs the taxpayers nothing, but does much to encourage their protection on our western landscapes.

We strongly urge you to contact your Congressional Representative and urge them to co-sponsor Congressman Grijalva’s Resolution!

Below you will find the legislature, which was submitted to the House of Representatives on May 27, 2011:

Continue reading Congressman Honors Cloud! →

Breeds, Wild Horse Sources

Cloud’s Birthday! Plus Other News

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Cloud on day of his birth with his Palomino mother. Photos copyright (C) The Cloud Foundation.

Help us celebrate Cloud’s 16th!

Dear Friends of Cloud and our Freedom Fund horses;
As many of you may or may not know, Cloud’s birthday is fast approaching! On May 29th, he will celebrate his “Sweet 16th.” It’s hard to believe that so much time has elapsed since I first saw him totter out of the trees with his mother! He has endured a lot over the years – harsh winters, predation, three helicopter roundups, bait trapping, and the loss of many members of his family. But he has survived and is still one of the top stallions in the Pryor Mountains, just like his father, Raven, was years earlier, and like his son, Bolder, is today. We hope you’ll take the time to wish him a “Happy Birthday” this Sunday!

Sierra in the Pryors with a young foal

On a separate, less celebratory note, our sweet Freedom Fund mare, Sierra, was injured and is now at the vet’s office in Billings. A tiny, quarter-sized puncture wound just above her hoof slowly turned infectious, and Sierra began limping. She had an operation two weeks ago to clean out the infected area, but she will need a second operation in order to clean out necrotic cartilage. She’s a smart girl and has been very calm throughout the whole experience. The vet techs are in love with her, and have taught her how to lead and to stay calm while the veterinarian changes her bandages. We’re very proud of how she is handling all this. As you can imagine, the cost for her treatment is quite high.

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Benefits, Community/Charity, Equestrian Aid Found., Products/Services, WHIN, Wild Horse Sources

Rhythm and Hooves Benefit to Save the Horses

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Nashville, Tennessee – The Women’s Horse Industry Association will be hosting a benefit to save horses during their annual national Networking Expo October 6-8 in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the exhibitors and speakers from the equine world covering all types of products and services, this year there will be a benefit auction the evening October 6 at the Radisson Hotel Opryland which will benefit the Cloud Foundation, The Equestrian Aid Foundation and Net Posse.

Auction items will include autographed items from country music starts and products and services from some of the members of the WHIA.  There are also plans for some “meet and greets” and live acoustic musical performances from Nashville recording artists.

The Cloud Foundation, named for the charismatic wild stallion Cloud, works to preserve wild horses on western public lands.  “Mustangs are safest with their families in the wild,” states Ginger Kathrens, Emmy Award-winning producer, Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation, and producer of the acclaimed Cloud programs for PBS’s Nature series. “When they’re rounded up by the thousands, they lose what they value most — their freedom and their families. And many make the ultimate sacrifice when they are sold to slaughter. Better and kinder management must be implemented if the few thousand mustangs remaining in the wild are to survive.”

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Uncategorized

Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) Update: May 25, 2011

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The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has no “confirmed” or “suspect” cases of the neurologic form of EHV-1 to report today. TAHC officials continue releasing primary traced horses and their cohorts (stablemates) that attended the Ogden, Utah, NCHA event.

Currently 16 known horses in Texas that attended the event and 185 cohorts (stablemates) remain under movement restrictions. There are a total of ten premises that have been exposed and those premises are in the following counties: Randall, Parker, Jack, Kerr and Mills counties.

TAHC and Texas veterinarians continue to investigate new situations statewide where horses are displaying symptoms consistent with that of the neurologic form of EHV-1.

If traveling out of state, TAHC officials urge horse owners to check with the state of destination before traveling. A downloadable list of contact information for all 50 state animal health agencies may be found on the U.S. Animal Association website (http://www.usaha.org/Reference/FederalStateAnimalHelalth.aspx) or on the USDA website (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml).

The TAHC will post another Texas EHV-1 update tomorrow, Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. A new national report from USDA will also be available Friday, May 27.

For information regarding EHV-1, visit www.tahc.state.tx.us or Facebook (www.facebook.com/TexasAHC) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/TAHC).

Yvonne “Bonnie” Ramirez
Director of Public Information (Texas Animal Health Commission)
“Serving Texas Animal Agriculture Since 1893”

Uncategorized

Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) Update

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May 20, 2011 – Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials are continuing to trace exposed horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championships event that ended on May 8 in Ogden, Utah that were potentially exposed to Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). There are now 25 known horses in Texas that attended the event and 336 more cohorts (stablemates) of the 25 that are currently being held under movement restrictions across the state. The good news is that no new cases have been reported today. Texas still only has one confirmed case and one suspect case reported. The epidemiological investigation continues however, and Texas horse owners must be vigilant of the possibility that exposed horses may still be incubating the disease.

TAHC continues to suggest that horse owners closely evaluate the risk of participating in upcoming events scheduled for this weekend and/or co-mingling their horses with other horses and equipment (trailers) of unknown history. Because the incubation period is usually about 4-6 days or less, even a one week voluntary stop movement may be enough to nip the cycle of transmission between horses before it grows in scope. The TAHC will re-evaluate this position after analyzing new case data or other epidemiological information that may be disclosed over the weekend.

Horse owners should contact event organizers in advance to ensure that scheduled events have not been cancelled. Some other states have established emergency rules for entry as a result of this situation, so if interstate travel is planned, owners and/or veterinarians writing health certificates should check in advance to ensure they meet all entry requirements. Finally, it is recommended that all newly purchased horses or introduced horses to a premise should be isolated to help.

Another EHV-1 update will be sent out Monday evening. For information regarding EHV-1, visit www.tahc.state.tx.us. Several useful links can also be accessed through our website. You can also keep up with EHV-1 information through our Facebook (www.facebook.com/TexasAHC) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TAHC) sites.

Yvonne “Bonnie” Ramirez
Director of Public Information – Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
Web: www.tahc.state.tx.us
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TexasAHC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TAHC
Phone: 512-719-0710

USEF

UPDATED: Information Regarding Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) and Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM)

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As of 12:00 PM EST on May 20, cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been confirmed in eight states and in Canada. Please use the state veterinarian in your state as a resource for information and guidance regarding this disease.

Please see the USDA situation report for updated information: http://image.exct.net/lib/feef1d757d6307/m/1/USDA+EHV-1+Situation+Report.pdf.

Affected States’ State Veterinarian Contact Information:

California: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
Phone: (916) 654-1447

Colorado: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1167928197091
Phone: (303-239-4161

Idaho: http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/Animals/animalHealth/healthehv.php
Phone: (208) 332-8544

Oregon: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/__news_449105797.shtml
Phone: (503) 986-4680

New Mexico: http://www.nmbvm.org/
Phone: (505) 841-6161

Texas: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/

Utah: http://ag.utah.gov/news/EquineHerpesOutbreak.html
Phone: (801) 538-7162

Washington: http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/HotTopics.aspx
Phone: (360) 902-1881, (360) 902-1835

Continue reading UPDATED: Information Regarding Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) and Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) →