The Transportation of Horses

For my senior project, I decided to write about the connection of U.S. slaughter auctions and Mexican slaughterhouses. Below is one of the sections of my paper translated into English. These posts are better read in order. This is Post #5.
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After selling the horses in the slaughter auctions, the horses bought by kill buyers are sent to Mexico.  The trailers that they use to transport them are too small for the number of horses that they transport and the trailers are designed for pigs and cows.  The trailers have two floors and are top heavy.  Many of the horses that are transported are stooped over during the trip because the trailers are too short (Spears, 2017).  According to Powell'sa article, the regulations for transporting horses say that horses have to be transported in trailers with only one floor (2014).  Therefore, the trailers used by many kill buyers break the law.

During the trip, the horses do not receive water, food or attention (Riggs, 2011).  Spears says that this constitutes as a violation of federal regulations (2017).  When they cross the Mexican border, the border patrol seals the trailers and they are not opened again until they arrive at the slaughter houses.  Sometimes, the trip from the border to the slaughter house can last from ten to twelve hours (Osborn, 2009).  In total, the transportation can last 24 hours in extreme temperatures without the horses drinking any water (Lucky Three Ranch, 2017).  Another author, Finch, says that the transportation is “...a trip marked by violent physical abuse, starvation, dehydration, exposure to temperature extremes, accidents and injuries, loneliness, panic, and unmitigated pain and terror” (2012).

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There are thousands of horses that go for slaughter each year and the numbers aren't slowing.  If you would like to donate to save horses, please go to this link: Gofundme.com/saved

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References:

Finch, J. (2012, Aug 08). Horse slaughter: revealing the truth, part-two-the process. Retrieved from http://www.habitatforhorses.org/horse-slaughter-revealing-the-truth-part-two-the-process/

Lucky Three Ranch (2017). Matanza de caballos. Retrieved from http://www.ontheroadin.com/mexican-horse-slaughterhouses/

Osborn, M. (2009, February 15). Horse slaughter conditions in Mexico explored by AAEP group: Debate over the practice continues in Congress. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/090301h.aspx?PF=1

Powell, S.M. (2014, April 5).  More horses being shipped to Mexico, Canada for slaughter. Retrieved from: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/More-horses-being-shipped-to-Mexico-Canada-for5379495.php.

Riggs, M. (2011, October). Slaughter horse horror. Reason, 13-14

Spears, T. A. (2017). Mexican horse slaughterhouses: Bloody work: Mexican slaughterhouses. Retrieved from http://www.ontheroadin.com/mexican-horse-slaughterhouses/

All photos are courteous of Happy Tails Farm & Rescue Center and Thunder Ranch Horse Rescue Project

Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange

For my senior project, I decided to write about the connection of U.S. slaughter auctions and Mexican slaughterhouses.  Below is one of the sections of my paper translated into English.  These posts are better read in order.  This is Post #4.
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Shilo, rescued from Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange in 2015

Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange is located in Canandaigua, NY, outside of the city of Rochester.  This is the biggest slaughter auction in New York that functions independently (Fingerlakes Horse Auction, Canandaigua, NY 7/26/14, 2014).  Horses are sold at this auction five times a year and they sell roughly 250 horses each time (Sherwood, 2011).  There are less horses at Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange than at Sugarcreek Livestock Auction and Finger Lakes has more racehorses and Amish horses for sale.  According to an investigation done by Animals Angels, at Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange, there was not enough water offered to the horses and that the horses were tied too tightly to be able to reach it.  Also, the taller horses could not lift their heads as the ceilings were too low and the workers were whipping the horses (Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange, Canandaigua NY 3/24/12, 2012).  In another investigation in 2014, the horses did not receive water or hay.  There was metal and wires hanging from the ceiling that the horses could get to and the horses were skinny.  In front of two donkeys, there was a sign that said "Johnny's Meat Market" (Fingerlakes Horse Auction, Canandaigua, NY 7/26/14, 2014).  However, the director of the Ontario Humane Society has not received any complaints about the treatment of horses at Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange.  According to the owners of the auction, there is a vet that works there and have said that "people who don't want to deal with their horses for whatever reason will 'dump them on us... and some will go to slaughter.  Unfortunately, this is what happens to them" (Sherwood, 2011).


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There are thousands of horses that go for slaughter each year and the numbers aren't slowing.  If you would like to donate to save horses, please go to this link: Gofundme.com/saved

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References:

Fingerlakes Horse Auction, Canandaigua, NY 7/26/14 (2014, July 26).  Retrieved from http://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/fingerlakes-horse-auction-canandaigua-ny-7-26-14

Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange, Canandaigua NY 3/24/12 (2012, May 11).  Retrieved from http://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/finger-lakes-livestock-exchange-canandaigua-ny-3-24-12 

Sherwood, J. (2011).  Horses to slaughter?.  Retrieved from https://www.mpnnow.com/article/20110807/News/308079978

Photo is courtesy of Thunder Ranch Horse Rescue Project