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If you are squeamish, you may wish to skip the next paragraph.

In Mexico, the horses are sent single file through a tight chute where they can barely move. At the end of it is a man. When the horse walks to where he is at, he quickly plunges a knife into the animal's spine, severing the spinal cord. The horse, still very much alive and aware, collapses in a heap, paralyzed. They are then dragged inside the plant, where their throats are cut and they slowly bleed to death. Until that moment, they can still see, hear, and feel pain- but cannot move at all.

Using a captive bolt sometimes didn't kill the horse, but at least it rendered them unconscious. At least they weren't usually aware of anything after that. The way Mexicans slaughter horses is truly repulsive.

I think instead of banning horse slaughter outright, steps should have been taken in this country to make it more humane. As it was, there were problems that needed addressing, such as making sure that the animals in feedlots had enough food and water, and instead of using the captive-bolt, use a method that would kill the horse immediately and painlessly.

The real problem, however, lies with the fact that there are simply too many unwanted horses. Just as there are too many unwanted dogs and cats. But horses are much harder to place in new homes, what with zoning laws and other hurdles. And boarding fees are usually sky-high.

So what is the real answer here? I can't say. But for starters, if you are a horse owner (I am not, by the way. Can't afford one!) don't breed your horse unless either you know you can keep the foal, or that it will go to a good home. Don't breed for fun, unless you are responsible. Foals are cute, but they grow up. They need a lot of space, and a lot of food. They will need regular hoof care and shoeing. Vet bills are expensive, and if you have horses, you will have vet bills, no two ways about it.

Also, don't breed inferior mares and stallions. This often compounds the problem of unwanted horses. Resulting foals may have poor conformation, making them unpleasant to ride, so few people are interested in buying them. They may be prone to certain illnesses, due to genetics. It's best to leave breeding to the professionals.

An all-out ban on horse slaughter isn't the answer. What needs to be done is to tackle the very real problem of unwanted, abused, and abandoned horses. If every unwanted horse was a wanted horse, the slaughterhouses might just have to close down anyway.

Learn more about this author, Laureen Manera.
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