For the Sake of the For the Sake of the Horse, Horse People, & Horse, Horse People, & Animal AgricultureAnimal Agriculture

An NCSL Resolution for An NCSL Resolution for Common Sense & CompassionCommon Sense & Compassion

What happens when an entire sector of animal agriculture is rendered worthless…

What happens to… Markets Transportation Value Animal Welfare Disposal Private Property Rights Costs to States & Taxpayers Waste of it All

How Big is the Problem?

1%-2% of private horses used to be processed Most un-useable horses are worthless Zero market for brood mares, weanlings, yearlings

10 million horses in the USOver 9 million in private sector

At least 33,000 on BLM 31,000 in holding pens

US Plants Closed Sept 2007…US Plants Closed Sept 2007…Before 2007Before 2007 Past 15 years – 1 to 2 % sent for processing in U.S. - +/- 100,000Past 15 years – 1 to 2 % sent for processing in U.S. - +/- 100,000

10 – 20,000 sent to Canada 10 – 20,000 sent to Canada 6,000 – 12,000 to Mexico 6,000 – 12,000 to Mexico

U.S. plants closed as of Sept 2007U.S. plants closed as of Sept 2007 Mexico accepted over 45, 000 US horsesMexico accepted over 45, 000 US horses Canada accepted over 30,000Canada accepted over 30,000

In 2008In 2008 As of August 14As of August 14

32,443 head to Mexico, 32,443 head to Mexico, 2007 by this date, 22, 632*2007 by this date, 22, 632*

**USDA Market News US to Mexico Weekly Livestock Export Summary USDA Market News US to Mexico Weekly Livestock Export Summary

So, what can you So, what can you do with an un-do with an un-useable horse?useable horse?

Sell to another ownerSell to another owner Sell at auctionSell at auction Give awayGive away EuthanizeEuthanize Send to processing facilitySend to processing facility Neglected/Abandoned Neglected/Abandoned

Equine Recovery FacilitiesEquine Recovery Facilities

Fall 2007/ Early 2008Fall 2007/ Early 2008

30 or more rescues 30 or more rescues across the countryacross the country

Most echoed the same Most echoed the same concernsconcerns

Recovery Comments from Early Recovery Comments from Early 20082008 Georgia: the number of unwanted horses has gone Georgia: the number of unwanted horses has gone

through the roof.through the roof. Indiana: contacts to facility up four foldIndiana: contacts to facility up four fold Maryland: 3 – 5 calls a day, have to turn many Maryland: 3 – 5 calls a day, have to turn many

away.away. Washington: rescue full. Seeing more sickly horsesWashington: rescue full. Seeing more sickly horses Texas: rescues are expected to clean up the mess Texas: rescues are expected to clean up the mess

created by the short sightedness of some groups created by the short sightedness of some groups

Neglected HorsesNeglected Horses

Neglected Horses taken in by Neglected Horses taken in by USUUSU

August 08 Recovery August 08 Recovery CommentsComments

Huge increase in number of Huge increase in number of people not wanting to keep their people not wanting to keep their horseshorses

Some rescues have gotten hate Some rescues have gotten hate mail if they express their opinion mail if they express their opinion on horse processingon horse processing

Donation upon taking a horse inDonation upon taking a horse in 3 – 4 calls a day now compared to 3 – 4 calls a day now compared to

3 – 4 a month previously3 – 4 a month previously

Recovery comments cont’.Recovery comments cont’. Not only receiving local Not only receiving local

calls but now from other calls but now from other statesstates

Better quality, ie registered Better quality, ie registered horseshorses

Not getting the number of Not getting the number of horses adopted out as in horses adopted out as in the pastthe past

Horses in poorer condition Horses in poorer condition

Many have not been handled as Many have not been handled as should have beenshould have been

More calls on neglect or abuse More calls on neglect or abuse casescases

For first time having to place For first time having to place horses with other rescues, horses with other rescues, financially strapped.financially strapped.

$500 for 1$500 for 1stst three months then three months then $250 after that.$250 after that.

$200 a month per head not $200 a month per head not including farrierincluding farrier

Horse Auction CompaniesHorse Auction Companies Fall 07/Early 08Fall 07/Early 08 15 -20 auction 15 -20 auction

companies across the companies across the countrycountry Worried about the futureWorried about the future Horses left at the auction Horses left at the auction

facilityfacility Low end horses have no Low end horses have no

marketmarket High quality horses still High quality horses still

have markethave market

Auction Company Cont.’Auction Company Cont.’

The horse market is in The horse market is in crisiscrisis

Owners can no longer Owners can no longer count on getting any count on getting any money back when they money back when they want to sellwant to sell

Concern over being Concern over being able to continue with able to continue with horse auctionshorse auctions

The horse that The horse that yesterday was a $5000 yesterday was a $5000 horse today is a $2000 horse today is a $2000 horsehorse

Seeing more business Seeing more business coming from out of coming from out of country, ie Canadians country, ie Canadians or Europeans buying or Europeans buying horses because of horses because of weak dollarweak dollar

One owner indicated One owner indicated that in 2007 20% of his that in 2007 20% of his business was out of business was out of country, in 2008 45% country, in 2008 45% out of country.out of country.

Auction Companies August 08Auction Companies August 08 Have begun screening horses Have begun screening horses

coming in. coming in. Low end and mid range horses Low end and mid range horses

market has bottomed out. market has bottomed out. Horses bring half or less than Horses bring half or less than

what they would have brought what they would have brought two years ago.two years ago.

Broodmares, weanling and Broodmares, weanling and yearling no marketyearling no market

Horses now hauled much Horses now hauled much longer distances if going for longer distances if going for processingprocessing

Consignments down 30%Consignments down 30% Solid broke geldings sellSolid broke geldings sell Average horse owner with horse Average horse owner with horse

of average pedigree has no of average pedigree has no marketmarket

Do not see it getting better in the Do not see it getting better in the near futurenear future

More than one company has More than one company has canceled fall salescanceled fall sales

Family run businesses Family run businesses established for decades may established for decades may shut downshut down

Abandoned HorsesAbandoned Horses

What has contributed to the What has contributed to the number of neglected or number of neglected or “unwanted” horses?“unwanted” horses?

High hay costsHigh hay costs High feed costsHigh feed costs Bad economyBad economy Lost jobsLost jobs High gas and food High gas and food

costscosts Housing marketHousing market Closing of the Closing of the

processing facilitiesprocessing facilities

BLM Information end of 08BLM Information end of 08

2007 - $22 million for 2007 - $22 million for holding costs nationally holding costs nationally

2008 – 70% of BLM budget 2008 – 70% of BLM budget will go towards maintaining will go towards maintaining the horses the horses

2009 - predict that 80% of 2009 - predict that 80% of total budget will be needed total budget will be needed to cover these coststo cover these costs

2012 – to continue its 2012 – to continue its current removal and holding current removal and holding practices, the BLM will need practices, the BLM will need $77 million$77 million

BLM Holding BLM Holding SitesSites

Short term facilitiesShort term facilities Hold horses for adoptionHold horses for adoption Up to about 6 months but Up to about 6 months but

if not adopted will hold if not adopted will hold them longerthem longer

BLM Long Term HoldingBLM Long Term Holding

Long term facilities Long term facilities locationslocations Pasture settingPasture setting Horses may remain Horses may remain

for yearsfor years Implications Implications

Land useLand use CostCost

Costs per horseCosts per horse

At BLM holding facilities- $6 per day per horse At BLM holding facilities- $6 per day per horse At prison facilities- $3 per day per head At prison facilities- $3 per day per head Long term facilities- $1.30 per day per headLong term facilities- $1.30 per day per head

Adoption Adoption ProgramProgram From October 1, 07 thruFrom October 1, 07 thru

July 30, 08 Nationally July 30, 08 Nationally adopted 2771, TARGET adopted 2771, TARGET number is 5000number is 5000

Seeing more returns than in Seeing more returns than in the pastthe past Utah- Utah-

Past years 12 – 15 Past years 12 – 15 returns per yearreturns per year

2007 took back 47 2007 took back 47 animalsanimals

2008 may reach 50 2008 may reach 50 returnsreturns

Adoption Program Cont.’Adoption Program Cont.’ Adoptions have bottomed Adoptions have bottomed

outout June 08- Wyoming, June 08- Wyoming,

Montana, and Colorado Montana, and Colorado

adopted out less than 50 adopted out less than 50

head, typically would head, typically would

adopt 150 head.adopt 150 head. July 08- 12 horses adopted out of 55, typically 50 – 60% July 08- 12 horses adopted out of 55, typically 50 – 60%

would have been adopted. would have been adopted. August 08- 10 out of 55 adoptedAugust 08- 10 out of 55 adopted

BLM Cont’.BLM Cont’.

Utah BLM has Utah BLM has canceled gathers for canceled gathers for rest of year. rest of year.

BLM has the authority BLM has the authority to euthanize the horses to euthanize the horses in holding facilitiesin holding facilities

BLM BLM OptionsOptions Selling without optionsSelling without options Mustang Heritage Mustang Heritage

Foundation pictureFoundation picture Mustang ChallengeMustang Challenge

Fertility vaccinesFertility vaccines EuthanizingEuthanizing

History of Horse ProcessingHistory of Horse Processing

Americans have eaten Americans have eaten horse meat throughout horse meat throughout our historyour history

America has provided America has provided horse meat to other horse meat to other countries for decadescountries for decades

The Nature of Horses

Horses are livestock Private property Uses

Horses as pets Alternatives needed

2003 Metric Tons 207Dollars $12,843

2004 Metric Tons 0Dollars $0.00

2005 Metric Tons 0Dollars $0.00

2006 Metric Tons 14Dollars $17,174

2007 Metric Tons 321.5Dollars $501,824

2008* Metric Tons 515.7Dollars $766,488

*Jan-Sept 2008

U.S. Imports of Horse, Ass, and Mule Meat

There is a market for horsemeat in the US

Since plant closures have had to import horsemeat back in to the US

Primarily for zoo meat, but also ethnic markets desiring horsemeat

Import Market

Export Market

Majority of world cultures appreciate horsemeat for nutrition, taste, and value Most of Europe, Asia, and French Canada China imports 204,000 metric tons Mexico 100,000 metric tons Brazil 100,000 metric tons

Frugal Icelanders Prepare For The HolidaysMorning Edition, December 11, 2008 · Iceland has been hit by the global financial crisis in a big way. With unemployment surging and the currency collapsing, less expensive traditional staples are coming back into fashion. Frugal Icelanders are avoiding imported beers. They are also buying horse meat, which is half the price of beef.

Doesn’t it make sense to use this resource? 10 million people die of hunger & hunger

related diseases every year 854 million go to bed hungry every night-

which is more than the combined populations of the United States, Canada, and the European Union

24,000 die every day—one every 3.5 seconds

Rather than spend taxpayer dollars on horses standing in holding pens that will never be adopted, and cannot be turned back out on an already over-populated, over-grazed range…why not send them to market, feed the hungry, and use the revenue to improve the conditions for other horses and people?

The ethics of animal agriculture… How we treat our animals…

Compassion Respect Responsibility Morals

For the good of the horses, and the horse people of this nation…