Tag Archives: Humane Society

Fighting to End Horse Abuse

Congress held a hearing last week on the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act. Help us keep the pressure on Congress to pass this critical legislation.

This has been a critical couple weeks for all of us fighting to end the disturbing and cruel practice of horse soring. Last Wednesday, a congressional subcommittee heard testimony during a hearing focused on H.R. 1518, the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would strengthen the enforcement and penalties for the federal law against horse soring. This hearing was a critical step.

The pressure is building, but we need your help to keep it up. Please make a one-time donation of just $20 to the Humane Society Legislative Fund to help us advocate for legislation to end horse soring and other forms of animal cruelty and abuse.

Horse industry groups, veterinarians, and animal advocates, Democrats and Republicans, are all coming together to pass this important bill. The bill already has 234 co-sponsors in the House.

We’re working overtime to convince Congress to take action to put an end to the deliberate cruelty inflicted on these majestic animals. Beatings. Neglect. Chemicals applied to hooves to cause intense pain and exaggerate a horse’s gait — all to force the horse to raise its legs and win some prize. It’s torture and it’s unconscionable.

With your help, we’ll put an end to this inhumane and criminal practice. Your donation will give us the support we need to continue fighting to end horse soring and other forms of animal cruelty and abuse.

Horse soring should never be allowed to happen. And, together, we can stop it. Thanks for all that you do for animals.

Sincerely,
Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund

Press Conference to Address Horse Welfare Issues Will Be Held on Opening Day of International Equine Conference

September 18, 2013 – Lexington, Kentucky (EWA) – The Third Annual International Equine Conference, hosted by the Equine Welfare Alliance, will be held September 27-29 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

On the opening day of the conference, Friday September 27, horse welfare organizations will come together to hold a special press conference to provide expert information on equine welfare to the media and advocates that cannot attend the full conference.

Michael Blowen, owner and founder of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility, will open the press conference. Participating in the press conference will be key individuals from The Equine Welfare Alliance, Respect4Horses, the Cloud Foundation, Wild Horse Freedom Federation, Wild Horses of the Abacos, and the Humane Society of the United States.

The press conference will cover the potential re-opening of horse slaughter plants in America, BLM’s mismanagement of America’s wild horses and burros, horse tripping, the over breeding of horses and other current issues pertaining to equine welfare.

Where:
Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm
1841 Paynes Depot Road
Georgetown, KY
502.863.1775

When:
Friday, September 27, 2013 from 11:00a to 12:00p

All press, media and public are welcome to attend the Press conference. Refreshments will be served.  Please be seated at 11:00a.

After the Press Conference, the three day International Equine conference will continue with a tour of Three Chimneys farm in Midway, Kentucky, Old Friends Farm and a meet and greet reception at 7:00p at The Kentucky Horse Park. On Saturday, presentations will commence and will end on Sunday. The soon to be released documentary “America’s Wild Horses” will also be previewed at the International Equine Conference.

For the agenda, list of presenters, additional information or to register, please visit www.equinewelfarealliance.org.

The Equine Welfare Alliance is a dues free, all volunteer 501(c)(4) umbrella organization representing over 300 member organizations and over 1,000 individual members worldwide in 21 countries. EWA and its members are involved in a grass roots effort dedicated to ending the slaughter of American Horses and the preservation and protection of our Wild Horses & Burros on public lands. www.equinewelfarealliance.org

Respect4Horses is a horse welfare organization whose goals include providing information and documentation to educate the public, the media and legislators in order to promote changes in legislation in regards to current horse welfare issues such as horse slaughter and the roundups of our last remaining wild horses and burros. www.respect4horses.com

Wild Horse Freedom Federation is a registered, Texas non-profit corporation with federal 501(c)(3) status.  WHFF puts people between America’s wild equids and extinction through targeted litigation against governmental agencies whose documented agendas include the eradication of wild horse and burros from public, federal and state lands.  www.wildhorsefreedomfederation.org

The Cloud Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of wild horses and burros on our western public lands with a focus on Cloud’s herd in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana. www.thecloudfoundation.org

Old Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we hope to raise awareness of all equines in need.  www.oldfriendsequine.org

The Wild Horses of Abaco organization is dedicated to saving the Wild Horses of Abaco, the world’s most endangered breed with only one mare, Nunki, remaining. Abaco is the northernmost of the larger Bahama Islands located of the southeast Florida coast of the United States.  http://arkwild.org/blog/

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We’re there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty – on the Web at humanesociety.org.

Contacts:

Simone Netherlands, Respect4Horses
928.925.7212
simone@respect4Horses.com

John Holland
540-268-5693
john@equinewelfarealliance.org

CEO of the Humane Society Responds to Wall Street Journal Article on Horse Slaughter

Photo: Steve Hebert for The Wall Street Journal

Gentlemen,
I know there are a thousand critics out there, and I think I personally may have 995 of them, but I did want to take a moment to express my disappointment with your May 3rd piece on horse slaughter. I think you fell for the false framing of the issue by proponents of slaughter, and you validated the anecdotes of a handful of people and turned them into a fact pattern. I don’t think it was reporting at its best.

There were some actual errors, including the mention that the Congress took the action of specifically “authorizing funding for inspections” at horse slaughter plants. The Congress did no such thing. It simply chose not to include language that specifically barred funding for inspections. In fact, every time the full Senate or House has voted on the issue, the outcome has been lopsided in opposition to horse slaughter. In this case, a couple of conferees to the Agriculture spending bill dropped the House-approved language barring funding. You’ll find no language in the appropriations bill that mentions that horses should be slaughter, and there’s definitely no authorizing language to that effect.

Continue reading CEO of the Humane Society Responds to Wall Street Journal Article on Horse Slaughter

Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him

Chester Weber donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fund raising event and donated the proceeds to the Humane Society. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (April 21, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, thought he was bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon when he donated the signed ribbon to a fund raising event. Weber considered it a “pay it forward” act, knowing that the proceeds from the ribbon were going to benefit the Humane Society of Marion County, Florida, in Weber’s hometown.

Weber said he felt content knowing his winning ribbon would be auctioned off on eBay and ultimately make a difference in the lives of the shelter animals. “I figured if the ribbon could raise money for a good cause, it would be much better than having it hang in my tack room,” he said.

What Weber didn’t expect, however, was for his ribbon to come back to him. While Weber’s attempts at “paying it forward” were acknowledged by fans everywhere, one fan took it a step further and bought the ribbon and returned it to Weber.

Continue reading Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him

Chester Weber Donates Signed Winning Ribbon from WEG to Raise Money for Humane Society

Chester Weber, here with teammates James Fairclough and Tucker Johnson, has donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fundraising event that will auction the ribbon on eBay and donate the proceeds to the Humane Society. The deadline for the auction is April 5th. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Bid on Ribbon on eBay through April 5

Ocala, FL (March 31, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, is bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon. Weber has donated his signed winning WEG ribbon to a fund raising event that will auction the ribbon on eBay and donate the proceeds to the Humane Society of Marion Country, Florida.

Weber, who recently won the FEI Horse Team division at CAI Live Oak, said it’s not difficult to say goodbye to the ribbon when it benefits a worthwhile charity. “I’m a big supporter of animals and the Humane Society is a wonderful organization,” Weber said. “If the ribbon can help support what they do, then that’s much better than having the ribbon hanging on my wall.”

Weber’s Silver Medal ribbon is currently on eBay and bidding will continue through April 5th. Diane Charipar, of Ocala, Florida, is spearheading the fundraising event and is thrilled that Weber donated the ribbon. “A mutual friend told Chester about this venture and with incredible generosity he offered his signed WEG Four-In-Hand Team driving ribbon,” Charipar said, adding that she has sold thousands of ribbons on eBay and donated the money to the Humane Society.

Continue reading Chester Weber Donates Signed Winning Ribbon from WEG to Raise Money for Humane Society

Extremist Horse Slaughter Group Encourages Horse Cruelty in Nevada

March 21, 2011 – Chicago (EWA) – United Horsemen (UH), a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes horse slaughter, is taking its fight against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to a new extreme. Not only does this group oppose every piece of legislation that benefits the welfare of horses but tries to garner support with bogus scare tactics.

The latest attack, made under the guise of a property rights issue, is against a proposed ban on “horse tripping” in Nevada. Horse tripping is a deadly and sadistic event which has found its way into the US from third world “Charro” rodeos and involves roping the legs of a running horse. The event commonly causes fatal injuries or permanent lameness to the animal.

“They are misleading the public with false information and trying to scare people into opposing the legislation. This is not an attack on rodeos or a first step to anything. It is a bill designed to end the cruel, dangerous treatment of horses as was the ban on horse soring,” stated Vicki Tobin of the Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA).

In its latest email to its supporters, UH provides a list of invalid talking points that are an insult to the public’s intelligence and a disservice to American rodeos. The group claims that the Charro Rodeo Association voluntary banned horse tripping in 1995 when in fact, they were forced to do so by a 1994 law, AB 49x – a law that was not spearheaded by the HSUS.

Continue reading Extremist Horse Slaughter Group Encourages Horse Cruelty in Nevada

2011 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference May 4-7, 2011 in Orlando, Florida

SIGN UP NOW to take advantage of FREE registration to the 2011 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference/Animal Care Expo in Orlando, Florida from May 4-7, 2011!

Dear Homes for Horses Coalition Member:
It’s time to register and make arrangements for this year’s Homes for Horses Coalition Conference in Orlando, Florida!  This is the 5th annual HHC Conference and we are sure that this year’s event will continue to strengthen the foundation you and so many others have helped establish, to make HHC the leading horse advocacy coalition in the country.

HHC is unique when it comes to equine advocacy groups.  It is made up of actual horse owners who are involved in all aspects of the horse industry, and equine rescues and sanctuaries community caring for and finding good homes for America’s horses.  While there are other so-called “horse coalitions” who talk about horse welfare, none bring the hands-on involvement, experience and commitment that make HHC one of a kind!  With your continued involvement, we look forward to building on these accomplishments and making a difference to even more horses in 2011!

Continue reading 2011 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference May 4-7, 2011 in Orlando, Florida

2011 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7, 2011

December 16, 2010 – Dear Homes for Horses Coalition Member and Interested Equine Rescues:
It is hard to believe that the Homes for Horses Coalition is preparing to host its 5th annual national conference in Orlando, Florida!  We are sure that this upcoming event will continue to build on the solid foundation you and so many others have helped establish, making the Homes for Horses Coalition the leading horse advocacy coalition in the country.

The Homes for Horses Coalition is unique when it comes to equine advocacy groups.  It is made up of actual horse owners who are involved in all aspects of the horse industry and equine rescues and sanctuaries community caring for and finding good homes for America’s horses.  While there are a few other so-called horse coalitions who talk about horse welfare, none bring the actual hands-on involvement, experience and commitment that make the Homes for Horses Coalition (HHC) one of a kind!  With your continued involvement, we look forward to building on these accomplishments and making a more substantial difference for the horses in 2011!

Continue reading 2011 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7, 2011