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