Against Horse Slaughter
J. K.
Mrs. M
Honors English 10
May 15 2012
Against the Slaughter of Horses The horse, an elegant creature, dancing across fields, meant to be free; the horror going on behind the curtain defiles his spirit of freedom. He is viewed by many as a loyal companion. In sporting events, he represents half of the team, the momentous force that propels the duo to victory. He shares the pain and tears, the struggles and triumphs, with his human counterpart. As a gentle friend, he teaches fearful adults how to trust again; reinvigorates the hopeless with the drive to live; and provides disabled children with a comforting way to become reacquainted with the world. The common denominator derived from the roles played by the majestic equine is the intimate bond shared by horse and rider. This bond can be compared to that between a dog and his owner, one that is as inseparable as mother and daughter. However, a fiery issue has come to light, one that has the equestrian world hopelessly divided. It concerns the controversial matter of horse slaughter in the United States of America. The plight of the unwanted horse is complicated and to some the idea of getting rid of the financial burden and getting paid for it seems like a godsend. However, horse slaughter is a cruel practice. To put it simply, horses are not raised to be slaughtered in the same manner that cows and pigs are; the emotional and physical trauma involved for the horse is too big a price to pay as well as being generally illegal; and there are countless alternatives to inhumane slaughter.
The horse is a docile being, mild-mannered and doe-eyed, raised to be a loving companion animal. However, due to the massive decline in the equine industry, horse owners are forced to make desperate choices. Despite the fact that there are no operational plants in the States, horses are routinely purchased at auctions by ‘killer buyers’. The previous owner is permitted to walk away with a check in hand, sending his
Mrs. M
Honors English 10
May 15 2012
Against the Slaughter of Horses The horse, an elegant creature, dancing across fields, meant to be free; the horror going on behind the curtain defiles his spirit of freedom. He is viewed by many as a loyal companion. In sporting events, he represents half of the team, the momentous force that propels the duo to victory. He shares the pain and tears, the struggles and triumphs, with his human counterpart. As a gentle friend, he teaches fearful adults how to trust again; reinvigorates the hopeless with the drive to live; and provides disabled children with a comforting way to become reacquainted with the world. The common denominator derived from the roles played by the majestic equine is the intimate bond shared by horse and rider. This bond can be compared to that between a dog and his owner, one that is as inseparable as mother and daughter. However, a fiery issue has come to light, one that has the equestrian world hopelessly divided. It concerns the controversial matter of horse slaughter in the United States of America. The plight of the unwanted horse is complicated and to some the idea of getting rid of the financial burden and getting paid for it seems like a godsend. However, horse slaughter is a cruel practice. To put it simply, horses are not raised to be slaughtered in the same manner that cows and pigs are; the emotional and physical trauma involved for the horse is too big a price to pay as well as being generally illegal; and there are countless alternatives to inhumane slaughter.
The horse is a docile being, mild-mannered and doe-eyed, raised to be a loving companion animal. However, due to the massive decline in the equine industry, horse owners are forced to make desperate choices. Despite the fact that there are no operational plants in the States, horses are routinely purchased at auctions by ‘killer buyers’. The previous owner is permitted to walk away with a check in hand, sending his
Cited: "The Issue of Horse Slaughter." Equine Advocates. 31 Mar. 2012. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.equineadvocates.org/issueDetail.php?recordID=2>. "Unwanted Horses and Horse Slaughter." AVMA. 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/unwanted_horses_faq.asp>. "The Facts on Horse Slaughter.” The Humane Society of the United States. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/horse_slaughter/>. "How Humane Is Horse Slaughter?" HorseChannel.com. 5 Dec. 2008. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2008/12/05/american-horse-slaughter.aspx>.