Why Thoroughbreds Go To Slaughter And How To Save Them

November 18, 2:37 PMWest Palm Beach Horse Rescue ExaminerCheryl Hanna
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AC4H recovered thoroughbred Luckyallmylife heading home
CS

Ferdinand, perhaps one of the most famous Kentucy Derby winners originally had been rumored to have been gelded and given away to a good home as a riding horse, but actually met his death at a Japanese slaughterhouse as did Exceller six years later. Exceller was elected to the National Racing Hall of Fame in 1999, and the plaque makes no mention of the manner of  his death; only that he died in 1997.
Although horse slaughter plants closed in the US in 2007, over 100,000 American horses continue to be crammed into livestock trailers and transported long hours to the borders of Canada and Mexico; their meat exported to such countries as France, Belgium and Japan and served as culinary specials with prices soaring as high as $40 a pound.

After the attention Barbaro brought to  the world many race fans and even non-race fans alike,  raised an awareness and stimulated inquiries  as to the welfare of these thoroughbreds  after their race careers had ended.  It brought about a percentage of  thoroughbred owners, trainers and breeders who  have become pro-active in order to protect the horses from winding up as restaurant fare, but many still prefer to have their horses simply "disappear." Thoroughbreds are used to being in stalls; they are seldom socialized and have been shipped to slaughter in a hurry because they " fall apart" or lose weight from stress, illness or drug withdrawal which then causes the agents for the slaughterhouses ( killbuyers ) a loss in revenue. It's easy to have the horses never be seen again creating the saying, " Stable to table in seven days."

Take for example the story of Go Smarty Go, son of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones who fractured his cannon bone after only a short racing career. The Stanton family, Go Smarty Go's owner turned the horse over to Pure Thoughts Horse and Foal Rescue in So Florida to make sure the horse would be cared for, retrained and placed in a safe home with an adoption contract. The Stantons paid for Go Smarty Go 's operation and helped with his aftercare and retraining.

Three thoroughbred racehorses previously racing at Penn National racetrack in Grantville, Pennsylvania as recently as July 2009 were recovered from a New York kill pen in October. Owner Danny Limongelli was the owner of all three horses and was notified. Mr. Limongelli sent payment for the horses, and stated he had trusted someone who told him the horses would be cared for and retrained and admitted he did not have any written agreement with the person to  whom he gave the horses. A few weeks later the horses were sold at a nearby auction, well known for brokers and killbuyers who routinely ship horses to slaughter in Canada. Another Chance 4 Horses,  an all breed horse rescue located in Pennsylvania, facilitated in the retrieval of Buckrub who had earned $114,673 in winnings mostly at Penn National. The R.A.C.E. Fund organization will be providing assistance for Buckrub after he is quarantined, and he will be heading to the Thoroughbred Retirement Fund at Wallkill Correctional Facility in New York for rehabilitation and adoption under the R.A.C.E. Fund program. Fleeting Light, a 6 year-old light bay gelding who earned $70,383 and had previously been claimed by W. A. Croll is available for adoption. Princess Taormina, an exquisite looking 6 year-old bay mare was one of six horses nominated by the Pennsylvania HBPA in 2005 as the best 2 year-old filly. This horse was just adopted and will winter in North Carolina and travel to Virginia in the spring for retraining.

Boggs, a beautiful thoroughbred with a heart on his forehead marking was well bred. He is by Theatrical, out of a Devil's Bag mare. He was bred in Kentucky by the same person who bred Exceller. Again, Christy Sheidy from Another Chance 4 Horses stepped in so Boggs would not meet the same fate as Exceller. Boggs last raced at Philadelphja Park last year and had been given to what was believed to be a good home, but the former owner again failed to provide any written protection and was unable to take him back. Even though she offered to donate towards his rescue expenses, nothing has been received as of this date.

Just last week, the fortuitous recovery of Luckyallmylife from a Pennsylvania kill pen again highlights the necessity of written protection that breeders must implement the moment a foal is born. Luckyallmylife, foaled by Hall of Fame trainer and breeder W.A. Croll ran his last race at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA on September 20, 2009 and was never protected with any written agreement when his racing career ended. Luckily, had it not been for the efforts of Christy Sheidy at Another Chance 4 Horses checking tattoo numbers at a broker barn lot with horses slated for slaughter, Luckyallmylife would not have been so lucky.

Why are all these horses ending up in slaughter pens? Several thoroughbred racetracks across the US have been implementing programs with zero tolerance slaughter policies insisting that owners and trainers become responsible for these equine athletes. Racetracks are now being pushed to enforce these policies and to implement the funding necessary for medical needs while these ex-racers recuperate and then transition into other disciplines such as dressage, trail riding or hunter/jumper candidates. Racetrack management and horsemen are being called upon to provide retirement sanctuaries for the horses. " All horses need to be protected with written agreements and potential adopters screened, and when it is medically deemed necessary that would affect the quality of life, a fund for humane euthanasia needs to be in place so American horses never need to be subjected to the inhumanity and cruelty of slaughter," states Christy Shiedy. " I just hope someday slaughter finally ends," she continued as she kissed one of her rescue horses on his nose, happily munching hay with not a care in the world.

For more information about thoroughbreds and any of the organizations helping to make a difference in their lives:
www.ac4h.com
www.PTHR.o