Oct27
2009 Stats: Fewer Foals Equals Less Suffering
Posted at 01:22 PM | Permalink
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The good news is that thoroughbred breeding stats for 2009 show a decline in the number of horses who were bred. The number of stallions bred dropped almost 9 percent, and the number of mares bred fell 13.5 percent, according to The Jockey Club. Don't misunderstand—there's still a whole lotta suffering in the making. This year alone, more than 45,000 mares were "covered" (bred), which means that tens of thousands of foals will be born into the racing industry and face the risk of suffering broken bones, being drugged, and being abandoned, neglected, or shipped overseas for slaughter when they are no longer considered "useful." Most of the slaughtering of U.S. horses takes place in Mexico and Canada: More than 100,000 U.S. horses per year are trucked to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered (and more than 10,000 of those horses are thoroughbreds formerly used for racing).
The Kentucky Derby and other high-stakes races represent the suffering of thousands of horses—day in and day out, year in and year out. While the drop in breeding means that fewer horses will be born to suffer a lifetime of abuse, there's still much more work to be done. Take a minute to check out our investigation into a Japanese horse slaughterhouse and write to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and demand breeding limits.
Posted by: Karin Bennett
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Comments
Keep up the pressure on these thugs,PETA. They fear your influence and power. Our country's horses are used and abused by the racing thugs then sent on trips to Mexico and Canada so that
foreigners can eat our pets. What would Americans think if our homeless dogs were sent to slaughter for the palates of foreigners?
Posted by: Valerie | October 27, 2009 08:20 PM
As long as the majority of humans relish eating the carcasses of our fellow creatures there will only be neglible advances in animal welfare.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | October 27, 2009 09:43 PM
Why am I not surprised that the horses are shipped to Canada for slaughter. I think I may extend my boycott of Canada's maple syrup to everything Canadian.
Posted by: Chris | October 28, 2009 12:43 PM
Yes, while many of the horses you speak about in this article is true, there are a good many of them that are well cared for, looked after, loved and live out their lives in the lap of equine luxury.
Posted by: Susie | October 28, 2009 02:11 PM
I never go to the races, greyhound, horse or any other... People say, "But the horses HAVE to be looked after well."
The fact is they don't! The poor things are whipped to make them run fast, and god forbid is they break a leg... It's bye bye horsey.
Posted by: Lauren Holt | October 28, 2009 04:33 PM