Horrifying scenes of brutal treatment of horses kept in appalling conditions and a total systemic failure that puts human safety at risk were highlighted in a shocking investigation by RTÉ.

The RTÉ Investigates documentary, “Horses – Making a Killing”, aired on 12 June with an additional report in RTÉ Prime Time on 13 June. Among its findings were cases of horses’ identities being laundered, awful conditions in which 26 horses were found at Dover (news, 6 June), plus horrific undercover footage.

Part of the programme featured covert recordings from a holding site connected to Ireland’s only equine abattoir, Shannonside Foods in Co. Kildare, showed instances of a horse having markings changed with spray paint, of what appeared to be re-microchipping, and horrific treatment of equines.

Shannonside Foods Ltd said any allegation of an equine being mistreated “will be fully investigated by the company”.

When H&H went to press on Monday (17 June), operations at the abattoir had been fully suspended.

The programme’s footage is significant for two main reasons – the appalling treatment of animals, and the risks to human health of eating meat from horses that have been signed out the food chain. It also showcased the significant flaws in traceability of horses, including problems with the outdated and fragmented paper passport system.

A spokesperson for Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) told H&H that an investigation into activities involving the supply of equines for slaughter is in progress, with support from An Garda Síochána (national police).

They added that the DAFM has suspended the operation of the plant, and that the plant is currently subject to a legal notice detaining all carcases presented for slaughter last week. The spokesperson also said that in late May, the department issued a legal notice prohibiting the presence or entry of horses to the adjacent holding premises, where much of the distressing footage was filmed.

The spokesperson said the building where the majority of the hidden camera footage was filmed does not form part of the DAFM-approved slaughter plant, adding that it “is not the lairage of the plant and not subject to direct veterinary supervision” under relevant regulations.

“The department does not have a permanent presence on equine or other farmed animal holdings, but any officer of the department authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act has the authority to enter and inspect premises where issues arise. All persons keeping horses are required to have an equine premises registration number,” said the spokesperson.

“The department cannot provide any further comment on these matters as they remain subject to active investigation.”

DAFM minister Charlie McConalogue added: “This is an active investigation, and while it is vitally important that I ensure that process continues without prejudice, I am stating categorically that the full rigour of the law will be applied where warranted, and no stone left unturned.

“And while, for this reason, I cannot comment in detail on the investigation, I can confirm that the following actions have been taken: no animals have entered the food chain from this slaughter plant in the past three weeks, all carcases that were presented for slaughter last week are detained and the operation of the plant is now fully suspended.

“I am committed to building on the actions already taken to improve our equine traceability and ensure the highest standards of equine welfare. In this regard, it is very clear that a collective effort across the European Union, among member states and the commission is required to further improve the traceability system.

“My immediate priority however is to ensure that the full force of the law is brought to bear in relation to these matters.”

The practices and situations brought to light have been widely condemned, including by Horse Sport Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland.

World Horse Welfare has called for “urgent action to be taken by governments and authorities”, and has also launched a petition to members of European Parliament.

Charity chief executive Roly Owers said that “what we witnessed was outrageous and proof that, well over a decade on, the horse meat scandal never truly ended”.

“These horses were let down in every way possible by an inherently flawed system and we hope that the disgust generated by the programme, alongside the food safety concerns, will be channelled into practical action by EU and UK authorities,” he said.

• Watch the RTÉ documentary *warning: contains graphic content and upsetting scenes*

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Welfare consequences identified for horses during long-distance transport to slaughter build an “irrefutable case for change” – as it is hoped recommendations will pave the way for change to EU law.

In 2020, the European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry out an independent review into the welfare of livestock during transport, ahead of a possible update to EU animal welfare laws. Last month, EFSA published its findings in five reports, of which the equine-specific report identified 13 “welfare consequences” as being “highly relevant” for the welfare of horses during transport. These included handling stress, restriction of movement and injuries – and it was found horses may experience fear, pain, discomfort or fatigue, associated with these consequences.

EFSA stated that to reduce the impact of transportation on welfare, greater space, lower temperatures and reduced journey durations are required “compared to the current rules and practices”. The recommendations include providing food and water at regular intervals of no more than four hours, the temperature inside vehicles transporting horses not exceeding 25℃, stalls being at least 40cm wider than the widest point of the horse, and horses being able to lower their heads below their withers. The concept of fitness to travel should be “properly defined”, and those handling horses should be well trained.

World Horse Welfare – which was founded nearly 100 years ago by Ada Cole to bring an end to the practice of long-distance transport to slaughter – submitted evidence to EFSA (news, 2 Jun) and “welcomed” the report.

“This report acknowledges what we have been saying for years: the longer the journey, the more horses can suffer, especially when conditions are not right,” said Roly Owers, the charity’s chief executive.

“These recommendations echo many of our own. The report is an irrefutable case for change, and I very much hope that their recommendations will be taken on board, alongside a specified maximum journey time limit.”

A World Horse Welfare spokesman added that unlike other species, a large number of equids are transported for reasons other than slaughter, such as moving to new grazing, for breeding purposes and when being transferred to new owners, so these recommendations will affect all horses being transported for “commercial purposes”. But it was recognised that horses being transported for slaughter are often subjected to longer journeys, in poorer conditions, so these recommendations will benefit these animals in particular.

Mr Owers said since Brexit there is a “real danger” animal transport requirements in Great Britain and the EU will “significantly differ”.

“World Horse Welfare is working to seek as close alignment as possible with animal welfare and health rules, including disease control. This will hopefully ensure the welfare of equines as they are transported between the EU and Great Britain, but also allow for ease of compliance for transporters,“ he said.

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“The stars are aligning” for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring an end to the long-distance transport of horses to slaughter.

This is the belief of World Horse Welfare, which has launched an appeal in its campaign against the “horrific and unnecessary” journeys endured, still, by some 20,000 horses a year.

Roly Owers, CEO of the charity that was founded nearly 100 years ago by Ada Cole to bring an end to the practice, told H&H the EU is reviewing its animal transport legislation for the first time in 17 years.

“This is the big one,” he said. “This is the opportunity our founder set us up for. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.”

World Horse Welfare has spent years gathering evidence for a report, which makes key recommendations for changes to the practice. These are: a maximum 12-hour journey limit for horses intended for slaughter; any journey over four hours being defined as a long journey, so it is then subject to more legislative controls; and compulsory, species-specific training for anyone involved in transporting horses. There are also recommendations to review the minimum space given to each horse, change the definition of “fit for transport” to include that the horse must arrive at its destination in a fit state, ensure that horses have access to forage and constant drinking water for at least six hours before the start of their journey, and for all these rules to be “properly enforced to ensure horse welfare”.

Mr Owers said the number of horses being transported has dropped from about 165,000 in 2001.

“That means we’re in touching distance of achieving what Ada Cole wanted us to,” he said. “The numbers have reduced significantly, thanks in part to the voice so many people have given to our campaigns, but there are still 20,000 horses too many being transported; one would be too many.

“We believe there’s no need for this. There are local slaughterhouses and we’re not trying to stop the horsemeat trade, just the long-distance transport that’s so totally unnecessary, and has such a horrific impact on horse welfare.”

Mr Owers said all donations to the appeal will enable the charity to continue gathering the evidence on which its recommendations have been and continue to be made.

“That’s critical, and needs to carry on,” he said.

“The trade is without doubt less bad than it was, but less bad is still unacceptable.

“These horses can travel for days over thousands of miles with little chance to rest, eat or drink. They become exhausted, stressed and severely dehydrated; many are in pain and all are suffering unnecessarily on these journeys. In terms of how bad it is, people who have been stuck on the Tube in London in summer, or on a train when the air conditioning’s broken will have a snapshot of what it’s like. I caution against being anthropomorphic but in terms of how horrifically uncomfortable it is, that’s probably the nearest explanation.”

Mr Owers added that he is hopeful of a good outcome. If the recommendations are approved and enforced, and people are educated, it is hoped those in the trade may consider other options.

“Before they might have been resistant, but then they won’t be and the trade can and will end,” he said. “We’ve provided a good, evidence-based report to the EU, which has been clear about its priorities for animal welfare, and we believe what we’ve put forward is a good balance between the commercial aspect of the trade and ensuring equine welfare is protected.

“In many ways, this is an exciting time. The stars are aligning and we need to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.”

To donate, visit: www.worldhorsewelfare.org

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A ban on racehorses entering the human food chain has been both welcomed and questioned, as the industry seeks to avoid unintended consequences in a well-intentioned move.

All horses entered to run in any race in Britain must be signed out of the human food chain, via their passports, by 1 January 2022. This will also exclude horses from entering the animal food chain in Britain, which is regulated to the same standard.

The rule applies to all horses trained in Britain, and connected technology means entries will not be possible if the horse is not signed out on the Weatherbys ePassport.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is also looking at how it can practically apply the rule to international runners, which is more complex. This is because of EU legislation covering who has the authority to sign horses out of the food chain – plus how and when this is done – along with variations in equine passports from country to country.

But the industry has been warned that it “will not make a blind bit of difference” without up-to-scratch traceability and enforcement.

“This rule change is yet another reminder of the importance of the UK implementing a digital-first equine ID system with full traceability and intelligence-led enforcement, and racing undertaking robust due diligence on racehorse aftercare along its entire supply chain,” World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H.

“Unless this happens, signing every racehorse out of the food chain will not make a blind bit of difference to whether they will wind up in slaughterhouses as they will be at the same risk as any other horse from unscrupulous players in the horse meat trade.”

Mr Owers added that without a legal outlet in the UK, former racehorses could be at greater risk of being exported abroad for slaughter, and of being sent to an illegal, unlicensed slaughterhouse.

“So this new rule will mean that it is more important than ever for racing to keep a close eye on what happens to horses once they leave the racetrack and consider how, as a sector, they can ensure welfare is protected at end of life,” he said.

“Horse meat is a valuable commodity, and where there is money to be made, there are those who will find a way to make it – and animal welfare will not be a consideration.

“The scale of this fraudulent trade is impossible to quantify as it takes place under the radar, and the current regime of equine ID and enforcement is simply unable to tackle it. This is what needs to change if we want to truly protect all horses, including former racehorses.”

BHA director of equine health and welfare James Given told H&H the new rule is “very much just one step on a much broader journey”.

“[This journey] was instigated through the publication of the Horse Welfare Board’s strategy for welfare in racing, “A Life Well Lived”, which includes improved traceability, a recent funding review, greater clarity of roles and responsibilities when it comes to aftercare and much more, alongside a focus on safety, quality of life and public trust,” he said.

The timing of the announcement is pertinent. While there has been much discussion in the wake of the Panorama documentary, aired on 19 July, the decision to permanently exclude racehorses from the human food chain was agreed unanimously by the BHA’s cross-industry veterinary committee on 28 January. This was then put out to wider industry consultation and approval by the rules committee and BHA board in September.

The announcement came a week after the publication of the “moving animals across borders” report by Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee put pressure on Defra to tackle equine welfare and traceability issues across the whole horse industry (news, 7 October). This included highlighting the need to move to a digital identification system, which exists in the thoroughbred industry, in order to prevent equine ID fraud and horse smuggling.

“The introduction of laws and regulations to protect animal welfare is important but ultimately meaningless if they are not enforced,” stated the report. H&H has contacted Defra for a response.

A euthanasia code of practice for the thoroughbred industry was also published last winter, to help people make the best end-of-life decisions for a horse when the time comes. The new rule ties in with those guidelines. It seeks to prevent horses being sent for slaughter in exchange for money for their meat, rather than preventing abattoirs from ever being an end-of-life option when considering a horse’s welfare.

“British racing has in place a euthanasia code of practice to aid trainers and owners with end-of-life decisions. The guidance is clear that whenever possible, euthanasia should be performed at home or in suitable surroundings,” added Mr Given.

“The transporting of horses to an abattoir to be sold for consumption should not, in my view, be classed as euthanasia and is not an approach that we should tolerate in our sport, which is why a rule preventing this practice is a positive step. I am confident that most British trainers and owners agree with me on this and already observe this principle.”

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World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers has warned that trafficking of horses with forged documents is only “the tip of the iceberg”, with the activity also linked to other illicit trades. H&H finds out more...

A Europol investigation that found competition horses with forged passports are making their way into the food chain has only uncovered “the tip of the iceberg”.

The six-month Opson IX operation, targeting slaughterhouses in Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, found some 20% of foreign horse passports showed signs of forgery. The investigation led to both live horses and more than 17 tonnes of horsemeat being seized.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H the findings came as “no surprise”, as there is a “huge” black market in forged equine passports.

“We have seen empty lorries returning to the UK from Europe with horse passports and cash on board – it’s no great leap to imagine those passports making the journey multiple times with different horses,” he said.

“A slack equine identification system allows horses to be traded like commodities in a murky underground world. Many of these horses will be retired sports and pleasure horses at the end of their careers, but there is little doubt some will be stolen animals.”

The majority of competition, leisure and racehorse owners sign their horses out of the food chain to allow vets to administer a full range of drug treatments, as horses destined for slaughter cannot be treated with common medications such as phenylbutazone (bute). It is demand for horsemeat in Europe, combined with the “chronic shortage” of meat declared safe for consumption, that is thought to drive this illegal trade.

But Mr Owers said the trafficking of horses with forged documents is only “the tip of the iceberg”, with the activity also linked to other illicit trades. Lorries with livestock are less likely to be searched as rules discourage their being held at border crossings, meaning criminals can take advantage – there is anecdotal evidence that horse urine masks the smell of narcotics against sniffer dogs, he added.

The Opson IX operation, a follow-on from previous efforts to target the trafficking of counterfeit and sub- standard food and drink, was co-ordinated between Europol’s intellectual property crime coordinated coalition and Interpol.

Despite interruption from the Covid-19 pandemic, enforcement authorities from participating countries were able to go ahead with checks of documents from more than 157,000 horses from eight countries, as well as inspecting around 117 tonnes of horsemeat.

Europol executive director Catherine De Bolle said: “In times of crisis, criminals always look for new ways to abuse consumers and increase their illegal profit to the harm of public safety.

“Counterfeit and substandard food is not only deceitful to consumers but can also pose a significant threat to their health.”

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A cull of Australia’s wild horses is set to go ahead in Queensland.

Brumbies are found across Australia and there have been a number of slaughters in the past.

In October 2000, there was a public outcry after around 600 horses died during an aerial cull in Guy Fawkes National Park, New South Wales (NSW).

The Queensland action — which is not state wide — will take place in the Clemant State Forest.

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman told H&H that over several years, the number of horses has increased in the forest and they pose an “immediate risk” to highway traffic.

He added that two people have recently died from collisions with horses, including a 15-year-old boy who was killed when the car he was in hit a dead horse last month (30 September).

“The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing undertakes regular programs to control [wild horse] numbers to sustainable and manageable levels in selected locations,” he told H&H.

“Planning for the control of feral horses in the Clemant State Forest and Paluma National Park in northern Queensland has now commenced.

“The Department is working to have the operation start as soon as possible, however we cannot definitively say at this point when control measures will commence.

“[The authority] prides itself on the humane removal of animals and a specialist vet will be appointed to oversee the removal program.”

He also said they will work “within strict guidelines” to ensure the cull is conducted humanely.

Jill Pickering, president of the Australian Brumby Alliance (ABA), told H&H that she has advised Queensland officials of a number of non-lethal alternatives to the cull.

These include fencing, speed awareness campaigns, trapping and rehoming as well as fertility control.

Meanwhile, New South Wales (NSW) is also reviewing its wild horse management programme for Kosciuszko National Park.

A draft wild horse management plan is being put together by an independent body and is due to be released in December.

This would then be on public exhibition for two months during January and February.

The final plan is expected to be released mid-2016.

“The ABA has put forward a range of non-lethal options in public forums, official meetings and formal submissions,” added Ms Pickering.

She added that the group is against aerial culls and wants scientific evidence to prove that Brumbies are not being wrongly blamed for damaging the environment.

“It is impossible to get a clean kill shot, when firing at a moving target from a moving platform,” she said.

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Welfare charities and H&H readers have reacted with shock to undercover footage from Red Lion Abattoir in Cheshire that shows inhumane practices and cruelty to horses being slaughtered.

Footage shown on Sky News on Saturday (19 January), showed horses being hit with iron bars and groups of horses being crammed into pens before being stunned together — which is illegal in the UK.

In one of the most distressing incidents, a horse appears to come around as it hangs from the ceiling and seriously ill or injured horses are left to suffer rather than being dispatched promptly.

Only two abattoirs in the UK are licensed to slaughter horses — Red Lion Abattoir in Cheshire and Potter’s in Somerset.

Animal welfare group Hillside Animal Sanctuary fitted secret cameras at the Cheshire abattoir and passed the footage to Sky.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said the practices they found were “disgusting, appalling and totally illegal”.

“What we have seen is a complete, systemic failure of the slaughterhouse to comply with UK welfare laws,” he said.

“We are now calling for all operations at these premises to be suspended until new procedures are put in place and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) guarantees the plant will comply with the law.”

A World Horse Welfare petition calling for CCTV in all UK slaughterhouses already has more than 16,000 signatures. Sign the petition.

And the British Horse Society’s chief executive Lynn Peterson said: “The treatment of these horses was barbaric, inhumane and frankly a downright disgrace in 21st Century Britain.”

The licences of two slaughtermen at the Red Lion Abattoir have been revoked by the FSA and they could be prosecuted.

In a statement to Sky, the abattoir said the incidents were “not the norm, but of an isolated nature” and they have taken disciplinary action against the person involved.

The statement continued: “In attendance at The Red Lion Abattoir are three full-time food standards officers comprising of an official veterinarian and full-time meat hygiene inspectors throughout production.

“Horses should individually enter the stunning area and most certainly not three at a time.

“However, small horses and ponies having spent years together as companions are difficult to separate. Horse lovers would understand that.”

The Red Lion Abattoir added that its meat was not part of the recent supermarket burger scandal.

*Warning this video contains extremely distressing content*

View the video on youtube

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Best selling author Jilly Cooper is supporting World Horse Welfare’s calls for a short, finite journey limit for horses being transported for slaughter.

Over 65,000 horses destined for slaughter are unnecessarily transported across Europe each year.

An avid horse lover, Jilly Cooper said: “It breaks my heart to think of the indiscriminate suffering inflicted on horses, ponies and donkeys every day. That’s why I give my whole-hearted support to World Horse Welfare’s campaign.

“Let’s get behind World Horse Welfare and give them the support they need and deserve to end this terrible and unnecessary cruelty to horses.”

While there are many licensed slaughterhouses across Europe, thousands of horses are transported in temperatures that can exceed 40 °C, on journeys that often last more than 24 hours. World Horse Welfare is calling for the European Commission to introduce a maximum journey time of 9-12 hours.

Roly Owers, chief executive at World Horse Welfare said: “We are delighted that Jilly Cooper is speaking out in support of these horses. The long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter is the single biggest abuse of horses in Europe.

“A short, finite journey limit must be introduced to stop the suffering of these horses.”

To get involved in the campaign, World Horse Welfare asks members of the public to send a quick and simple email to their MEP. This has to be done by late September 2012 before an important vote takes place. Head to www.worldhorsewelfare.org/help-tomorrow/transport_action for more information.

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A vet on the frontline of improving welfare for horses traveling to slaughter on the continent has won a new award.

Dr Alexander Rabitsch, a practising vet in Austria, has become the first recipient of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Trust/Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) Equine Transport Enforcement Award.

Dr Rabitsch is an animal transport inspector in Carinthia in the southern Bundesland of Austria.

The main motorway from northern and central Europe passes through his checkpoint on its way to Italy, Slovenia and the Balkan countries and is the main route for horses sourced for slaughter traveling from Eastern Europe to Italy.

The annual award was introduced by the BEVA Trust at the end of last year in recognition of the individual or group working in the field, doing the most to improve enforcement of the current transport Regulation. Each recipient wins €1000.

For the past 13 years Dr Rabitsch has carried out random checks on transporters of live animals to assess compliance with the current regulation (EC) 1/2005.

He works in cooperation with the Federal Police, taking the necessary actions required to safeguard the welfare of the animals; supervising the unloading and the care of the animals in case of emergencies, reporting to the court and notifying the Austrian competent ministry.

Dr Rabitsch has also drawn on his considerable experience to lobby the European Parliament for the improvement of the regulation governing the live transport industry.

BEVA Trust spokesperson, Dr Madeleine Campbell, said: “Alexander Rabitsch’s outstanding work to implement the existing regulation governing the long-distance transport of horses makes him a very worthy recipient of the first BEVA Trust/FVE Equine Transport Enforcement Award.

“His ideas and tireless endeavour to further develop the current regulation promise to help to improve conditions for transported horses and other animals in the future.”

The award was announced at the FVE General Assembly, held in Brussels on 19 November 2011. I

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More than 100,000 horses a year in the US are being slaughtered for human consumption in Europe and Asia, despite the country’s slaughterhouses having closed down in 2007.

A government study has uncovered that horses are being transported many miles to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered for food.

“Nearly the same number of US horses were transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter in 2010 — nearly 138,000 — as was slaughtered before domestic slaughter ceased,” the study on the unintended consequences of stopping domestic horse slaughter revealed.

“From 2006 through 2010, US horse exports for slaughter increased by 148 percent to Canada and 660 percent to Mexico.”

American zoos and circuses, which earlier could obtain horse meat domestically, now buy imported horse meat to feed their collections of big cats, the study added. Pet food manufacturers are permitted to process meat from domestic horse corpses, it said.

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Experts from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have recommended improvements to current EU welfare legislation for horses in transit to slaughter, including a 12-hour cap on journeys and improved conditions.

The EFSA recommendations are based on research by World Horse Welfare and mean the charity is a step closer to its goal of ending the long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe.

A report by the European Commission on the current rules is due in the autumn.

Jo White, director of campaigns at World Horse Welfare, said that the recommendation of a 12-hour journey limit for horses destined for slaughter was extremely welcome.

She said: “To have this robustly enforced could bring an end to the stress, exhaustion and suffering along Europe’s slaughter routes.”

Other recommendations include providing water before and after the journey and continual access to an unrestricted supply of clean drinking water during the whole of any rest period.

Individual partitions would also be mandatory.

For more on welfare during transportation don’t miss vet news next week (10 February, 2011)

This news story was first published in the current issue< of Horse & Hound (3 February, 2011)

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European vets will meet this month in a bid to stem what one welfare chief calls “the biggest abuse of horses in Europe today”.

The vets will discuss how to improve the plight of thousands of horses who travel long distances to slaughter on the Continent each day.

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president Dr Madeleine Campbell will represent British horse vets at the meeting in Brussels on 29 November.

The vets will review how well EU regulations governing the transport of horses for slaughter are being enforced and look at trade flows, risks to animal health, horse identification and the effects of closing slaughterhouses.

Dr Campbell said: “It is all very well to campaign for new rules, but at present even the existing regulations are not enforced adequately. No one is better placed to help with this than vets.”

Roly Owers of World Horse Welfare, which campaigns for European transportation regulations to be policed and made more stringent, said current transport standards are atrocious and the lack of regulation contributes to the spread of diseases like swamp fever.

The charity has evidence that horses regularly suffer dehydration, injuries, severe fatigue, stress and disease while travelling to slaughter.

He said the charity was hopeful that the leading vets attending will take action.

“We need to raise the profile of the issue with the chief veterinary officers and make them realise there is a problem,” said Mr Owers.

“Then we need enforcement. World Horse Welfare believes the current regulations are not fit for purpose, but if they were enforced, the lot of horses would be a great deal better.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 November, ’10)

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Slaughter horses that travel long distances could be helped by plans for meat to be labelled with its country of origin.

Last week the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted for origin labelling on meat, dairy and fruit and vegetables — as well as meat and fish products used in processed food. The vote now goes to the EU Council of Ministers later this year.

This means that Italians — who consume 74% of horsemeat eaten in the EU — will be more aware that their meat has travelled thousands of miles from such places as Romania, Poland or Lithuania.

Jo White from World Horse Welfare, which is battling to halt the long-distance transport of slaughter horses, is delighted with the decision.

Once it becomes law, food producers have three years to update their labels, and small firms will have five years.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (24 June, ’10)

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The campaign to stop the long-distance transportation of horses for slaughter has reached a critical stage with World Horse Welfare pleading for the public to pressure their MEPs.

Last month, World Horse Welfare handed a 132,565-signature petition to the European Commission (EC) calling for a revision in the law governing transportation of slaughter horses.

The charity wants finite journey times introduced, better partitions and stocking density issues addressed — and, crucially, for the legislation to be enforced.

But now, the promised review has been halted.

World Horse Welfare veterinary consultant Keith Meldrum said: “The EC has stalled progress because of opposition from other parties [such as transporters] — and they have very loud voices.”

To force the EC to continue, a written declaration has been tabled by Liz Lynne MEP, Sidonia Jedrzejewska MEP and Carl Schlyter MEP.

World Horse Welfare director of campaigns Jo White said: “For the declaration to work — to force the EC to publish proposals on reviewed legislation — we need 50 per cent of the 368 MEPs in the EU parliament to sign by 21 January. We have a mountain to climb.”

Miss White urged the public to write, ring or visit their MEPs immediately.

“Public opinion really carries sway in Brussels,” she said. “The petition raised the game. People must realise what they can do.”

A template letter for people to send to their MEPs, which has been translated into a number of different languages, is available on www.worldhorse welfare.org/takeaction

“We want people to urge friends and family in Europe to write to their MEPs as we need support across every member state,” added Miss White.

World Horse Welfare was founded in 1927 to campaign against the live export of British horses for slaughter.

While this practice has all but stopped, in 2007 the charity launched the Make a Noise campaign, fighting the long-distance and often illegal transportation of the 100,000 horses that cross Europe to slaughter each year.

H&H readers acted in outrage when head of news Abigail Butcher saw at first hand last July the shocking conditions in which horses travel — and how often the rules are flouted.

See www.horseandhound.co.uk/livetrade for the report

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (5 November, ’09)

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Another horse has been found slaughtered in South Florida. It is the 21st killing of its type this year

The remains of a bay thoroughbred horse were found by riders on Saturday (31 October) on a roadside in Homestead.

The thoroughbred mare is believed by investigators to have been around three or four years old.

The horse’s back legs were missing and its organs were found nearby in rubbish bags.

A Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) investigator said the horse appeared to have been butchered elsewhere and then dumped on the roadside.

This is the latest in a spate of horse slaughters in the area. Police believe the horses are being killed for their meat, which can be sold for up to $40 a pound on the black market.

“It was a typical slaughter,” Richard Couto, from the SPCA told local press. “This was done by pros.”

Over the past couple of months four men have been arrested in connection to the killings.

Last month ranch owner Roberto Aguedo Chavez, 53, and worker Ricardo Olivarez, 45, were arrested after selling illegal horse meat to an undercover policeman.

And in September teenagers Santiago Cabrera, 19 and Miguel Cordero, 18, were charged with charged with armed burglary, animal cruelty, killing a registered breed horse and breaking a fence.

But police are saying this latest incident is unconnected to any previous arrests.

“There are so many people doing this,” Mr Couto told the Miami Herald. “It is profitable and there is a high demand, and the problem is not going away soon.

“It was a pretty brutal scene. I love horses, and going to a scene like that and seeing one in 10 to 15 pieces, it’s difficult.’

“South Florida is probably one of the only places in the United States that a dead horse is much more valuable than a live horse.”

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The campaign to end the torture of long-distance transport of horses for slaughter has reached a critical stage, with World Horse Welfare urging horse-lovers to sign the petition before it closes on 18 September.

World Horse Welfare’s director of campaigns and communications, Jo White, said: “We recently returned from a field trip looking at the slaughter route from Romania to Italy and the harsh reality is that there are still many horses suffering on these inhumane journeys.”

H&H witnessed first hand the terrible suffering — and the overt flaunting of the rules — on a field trip across Eastern Europe last July.

With over 114,000 signatures from all over Europe already, World Horse Welfare needs more in order to press the case with the EU Commissioner for Health at the end of September.

Ms White said: “If you haven’t already signed, please do so as soon possible to make your voice heard.”

World Horse Welfare’s dossier of evidence shows the terrible suffering of the horses, ponies and donkeys that are taken on totally unnecessary journeys where they suffer dehydration and extreme exhaustion.

One route highlighted saw horses transported past 180 slaughter houses before reaching the destination slaughter house.

Ms White said: “A short, finite journey limit would protect these horses from the pain and suffering currently inflicted upon them.”

To join the campaign to fight for an end to the suffering go to www.makeanoise.co.uk and sign the petition.

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Sixty donkeys on the Caribbean island of Grand Turk will be castrated this week having been saved from slaughter.

Vet Dr Andrew Trawford, director of veterinary services at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon has flown to Grand Turk, the seat of government of the Turk and Caico islands, and will carry out the mass operation in order to save the donkeys from possible death by drowning.

A spokesperson for the sanctuary said: “We’d heard a rumour they were going to be taken out on a ship and thrown over board. The locals were getting fed up with them as they were becoming a pest. This is a big project for us.”

The donkeys have become feral since the demise of the salt making industry which dates back to the 17th century. The donkeys were the main form of transport on the island, which is only 6 miles long and one mile wide with a population of just under 4,000 people.

Dr Trawford said: “I have visited the islands twice before and have been in communication with officials since last summer. This breakthrough is an absolute triumph of persistence.”

The sanctuary will continue to play a crucial role in controlling the donkey population and securing their futures.

Dr Trawford added: “The indiscriminate breeding, including incestuous behaviour within confined areas on Grand Turk and South Caicos is of great concern and must be addressed as a priority.”

www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

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Animal welfare organisations have attacked the growing trend of rescuing and importing European horses destined for slaughter.

Small-scale British rescue groups are increasing in number with as many as 1,000 French, Spanish and Italian rescue horses set to be imported to the UK this year.

But British and French horse welfare charities say this often prolongs the misery for the rescued animals and exacerbates the problem of housing unwanted horses in the UK.

World Horse Welfare is campaigning for the introduction of slaughter at source and a carcass-only trade to spare more than 100,000 horses and donkeys who endure live transport to slaughter in Europe every year.

Director of campaigns and communication Jo White said: “We are very keen to deter well-meaning horse lovers from purchasing these animals.

“Saving individual horses and donkeys from the slaughter trade is very tempting. However, by buying one animal, often for a lot more than their market value, you fuel the purchase [by the seller] of many more.”

Redwings Horse Sanctuary and the Blue Cross joined World Horse Welfare in criticising the importation of rescue horses from the Continent.

Jenny Lupton, who lives in the Dordogne and runs Equine Rescue France, is also critical.

She said: “The dealers have cottoned on to the fact that there are English people who will pay more than meat money for these poor crocks and waifs.”

But other rescuers, like Rebecca Menz, from Buxton, Derbyshire, think the groups provide an important service to European horses.

Rebecca set up Equine Rescue and Rehoming at the beginning of 2008 and has almost 1,200 members who fund her work through donations and provide homes for the rescued horses.

She said her organisation had bought and imported 100 retired riding school ponies, privately owned horses and three English thoroughbreds. She hopes to rescue around 350 horses this year.

Another charity, Equine Section, was established in 2007 and is run by Debbie Hughes in Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

A third charity, Reflex Rescuing and Rehoming, is run by Teza Englefield, an equine agent in Maldon, Essex, and is supported by show jumper Laura Renwick.

What’s your view on this subject? Email us at hhletters@ipcmedia.com

For this article in full, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (5 February, ’09)

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The slaughter of two stolen loan horses for meat has revealed a loophole in current horse passport law.

Norfolk Police are investigating the disappearance of the mares, who were put on loan last year. H&H has now learned they were sent through an abattoir under false passports.

Norfolk resident Emma Hitchcox put veteran Lady and 10-year-old Gwen, who had kissing spines, out on loan last October to a woman who gave her a false name and address. The horses went through Turner’s abattoir in Nantwich, Cheshire, a month later.

“I am devastated,” said Ms Hitchcox. “I have been desperately trying to track them down and rang all the abattoirs. Turner’s told me they went through on 6 November.”

Gwen was microchipped and Lady freeze-marked, but H&H has learned that the Horse Passport Agency did not check the horses’ details against the National Equine Database (NED) or the Stolen Horse Register before re-passporting the animals.

Neither did Turner’s perform these extra checks before they went to slaughter.

The case represents the clearest indication yet of how open the passport system is to abuse, and how it can pose a serious threat to human health — the very reason passports were introduced in the first place in February 2005.

Both horses had been given the painkiller bute — banned in meat for human consumption — by Ms Hitchcox in the weeks before they were stolen.

Turner’s proprietor, Val Turner, told H&H: “The horses came to us from a dealer who I believe bought them at Melton [Mowbray horse] sales.

“The passports were fine. They were the right horses, with the right markings, the right freeze-mark and they had the right silhouette.”

Defra said this loophole would be closed by legislation to be introduced in July requiring all foals and adult horses being passported to be microchipped. It will also become mandatory for PIOs to record that number and pass it on to NED.

Read this story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (29 January, ’09)

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World Horse Welfare’s Chief Executive Roly Owers talks about some of the key horse welfare points of 2008 including the James Gray/Amersham case, Emmy (a terribly emaciated pregnant mare), training work in Southern Africa and the Make A Noise campaign against the long distance transportation of horses for slaughter across Europe.

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The Scottish Government has agreed to support demands for strict enforcement of European rules regulating the transportation of live horses for slaughter.

Thousands of horses are transported for the human meat market each year, many undergoing journeys of more than 1,500 miles in packed lorries. Rules on feeding, watering and rest periods are often ignored.

World Horse Welfare is campaigning for tightening in the rules and updates on the legislation.

“In this day and age there can be no justification for 100,000 horses being inhumanely transported for slaughter each year in intolerable conditions and it is up to politicians at all levels of government to continue to press for action on this issue,” said John Scott MSP, the Scottish Conservatives’ spokesman on rural affairs.

Mr Scott, who has the backing of more than 40 other MSPs for a parliamentary motion calling for a tightening of welfare rules, raised the matter during Question Time in the Scottish Parliament on 6 November.

In his response, Rural Affairs Minister Richard Lochhead agreed to contact the European Commission to seek action to secure the proper enforcement of current welfare regulations.

Mr Scott welcomed the minister’s response, but went on to call for further improvements.

“I do however want to see the Government take a further step and give its support to an overall strengthening of the regulations, including the introduction of short finite journey limits and, ultimately, to support an end to the practice of long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter.”

Emma Cook, World Horse Welfare’s head of campaigns and European affairs, added: “We have been heartened to see cross-party support in Scotland for an end to this inhumane and unnecessary trade. We now hope to see real progress in Europe.”

To back World Horse Welfare’s campaign, visit www.makeanoise.org.uk

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US welfare organisations are warning of impending disaster for unwanted horses if new legislation banning horse export for human consumption becomes law.

Politicians are considering the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, that would ban the domestic or international sale, delivery or receipt of live horses for human consumption.

Supporters want to halt the increasing number of horses being shipped to Mexico or Canada for slaughter, after the closure of the three remaining Belgian-owned abatoirs in the US in 2007.

Welfare groups argue that a ban will eliminate a necessary end-of-life option for thousands of unwanted horses.

“Proponents of this legislation have done nothing to address the real issue [of unwanted horses],” said Dr Mark Lutschaunig of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

He said the closure of US slaughterhouses had already made matters “significantly worse” for horse welfare.

A spokesman for the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) told H&H: “Unwanted horses in the US are facing a crisis. The AAEP believes the option of sending a horse to a processing plant is the best way of reducing the unwanted horse population. The bill doesn’t address the long-term care and funding that would be necessary to help the many horses affected by a ban.”

UK charity World Horse Welfare was set up to put a stop to the transport of horses for slaughter, and head of campaigns Emma Cook said that the US bill has massive welfare implications.

“Carcass disposal is expensive and people aren’t always going to make the right decision,” she said. “Sometimes, it can be better for a horse to end up on a dinner plate than to be hobbling around for five years.”

However, there are reported to be over 500 organisations in the US — such as the Society for Animal Protective Legislation — that support the abolition of horse slaughter.

The last three American slaughterhouses — two in Texas and one in Illinois — dispatched 100,000 horses a year, mainly for export to France and Japan.

Now, the number of horses transported to Mexico for slaughter has rocketed by 300 per cent — in December 2007, 44,475 horses were exported to Mexico, compared with 10,783 the previous December.

US experts also believe horses are being exported to Mexico on the pretence of breeding or recreation — but end up in the slaughterhouse.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (15 August, ’08)

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A proposed ban of horse slaughter in the United States is scheduled for a House of Representatives vote tomorrow (Thursday).

The Bill, compiled by Congressman John Sweeney of New York State, seeks to amend the Horse Protection Act of 1970 by prohibiting the slaughter of horses in the US for consumption overseas. If successful, the new law would forbid the transport or sale of horses for meat, effectively halting the US horse meat market.

Last month the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act got its first-ever congressional hearing. If tomorrow’s vote is in favour of the new amended bill, it will then progress to the Senate.

Opinions in the USA are divided as to whether horse slaughter should be banned. Last month the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America (AMFHA) added its voice to the controversial debate, telling H&H the most humane and economic approach was to oppose change.

“We are very much against this Act [American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act], which would be very bad for horse welfare,” said Colonel Dennis Foster of the MFHA, adding that Kentucky and New York were the two states pushing the Bill.

Meanwhile the National Horse Protection Coalition has been established with the aim of passing the Federal legislation to put an end to the horse slaughter industry. Supporters include two-time Kentucky Derby winning horse trainer Nick Zito and film star Bo Derek.

Zito said: “Slaughtering a horse is beyond comprehension for most Americans, but the process that occurs prior is equally cruel and inhumane. Sadly, these horses are transported, often without food or water, for up to 28hr, to one of the three remaining US slaughter facilities.”

Over the past 12 years the US horsemeat industry has fallen dramatically — down from 329,000 horses slaughtered for meat to about 90,000 last year. But despite the declining market, those opposed to a ban claim it will create a glut of unwanted horses and breed cruelty and neglect.

“There is no stipulation in the legislation to make a horse’s life better if it is not slaughtered. There is already not enough funding for rescue facilities,” said Tim Case of the American Quarter Horse Association.

According to Colonel Foster the country’s rescue operations are over subscribed and costing tax players millions of dollars. He said California’s ban on horse slaughter two years ago resulted in many horses being taken over the border to Mexico for slaughter, where welfare conditions were “not as rigorous.”

The American Equine Veterinarian Association together with 57 horse associations and the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) share the AMFHA’s majority view; according to Col Foster “a wilful minority” of members support a ban.

“The removal of slaughter houses in countries such as the USA has the potential of resulting in serious welfare concerns,” said an ILPH spokesperson. “The ILPH is concerned with the welfare of the living horse. After the horse has been euthanized it is the owner’s decision what to do with the carcass. However the journeying distance and the welfare issues concerning this need to be addressed.”

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The welfare of slaughter horses during journeys across the EU is back on the European agenda. The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) received news from Defra last week that the Dutch Presidency of the EU intends to resume talks on the Regulation on the Protection of Animals during Transport.

“The Dutch Presidency has revived the proposal over animal welfare in transport,” a DEFRA spokesman confirms. “The UK position is that we are giving it positive support because it brings considerable improvements over the current situation.”

Released by the European Commission in July 2003, the Regulation reached the Council of Ministers in April 2004, after the European Parliament submitted their opinion. However, the council was unable to find an agreement over the proposal and negotiations collapsed. Now the Dutch Presidency look set to bring it back to the agenda.

“We monitored the situation after the collapse,” says Jo White of the ILPH. “Until now it looked like no one was going to take it up, but last week we got the news that the Dutch Presidency had decided to push this forward.”

If approved in its entirety, the Regulation would provide a unified legal framework for live animal transport across the EU, removing the differences between national legislations and tightening the rules for long-distance journeys. It would also define responsibilities for every step of the transport chain, from farmers and livestock markets to drivers and staff at assembly centres.

Under the new rules, horses in long-distance trips would stay in individual stalls with constant access to hay and water. Transport vehicles would have to be equipped with forced ventilation, automatic drinking systems, temperature monitors, data-recording tools, and an alarm system to alert drivers to any problems.

Anyone handling animals would have to be appropriately trained on transport welfare and pass an independent exam. Transport authorisations would be split into long-haul and short-haul, and long-haul operators would have to know how to cope with emergencies.

Transporters would also be required to keep a journey log, which would be checked against tachograph evidence — data from a device which measures and records speed and changes in speed — to ensure that travelling time limits are respected. Operators who break the regulation would risk having their authorisation withdrawn.

According to DEFRA, “the Dutch are looking to get an agreement on this before the end of their Presidency.” Whether they can succeed, however, remains to be seen. The timescale is very tight, because the Dutch Presidency will end in December, and the views of member countries on the matter are hugely different. When the council last debated the Regulation, discussions collapsed over travelling time limits and stocking density, so it is likely that some concessions will have to be made on these points. But the details of the current negotiation remain shrouded in secrecy.

“At the moment, we are trying to piece together as much information as we can,” says White, who, however, is very upbeat. “It’s a positive step that this is back on the agenda. We are working very closely with Defra on this and we’re looking at lobbying in Brussels.”

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Welfare organisations are putting mounting pressure on the government to stand up to the threat posed by proposed EU animal transport legislation to Britain’s much-valued freedom from the live export trade.

As they stand, the draft regulations could open the way for live export of horses from Britain. Meanwhile, fears have been raised that a side effect of passport legislation will be the closure of British abattoirs, creating a market for live export of horses.

International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) president the Princess Royal said at an ILPH seminar last week: “We are faced again with losing critical legislation. We seem to have been here before several times.”

DEFRA official Graham Cory told delegates at the seminar that government and industry are united with regards to live exports, and ILPH chief executive John Smales stressed how responsive the department had been to ILPH advice.

However, Peter Stevenson, political director of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), said: “I don’t have a sense from our government that it is taking this seriously enough and working hard on it.”

The ILPH is currently campaigning for members of the public to write to secretary of state for rural affairs Margaret Beckett, urging her to do everything in her power to stop the resumption of the live export trade from British shores.

Meanwhile, the CIWF presented a petition of some 60,000 signatures to Downing Street earlier this week.

For more information about the ILPH campaign Say No to Live Exports visit: www.ilph.org or (tel: 0870 906 1927) or write to ILPH Campaign Pack, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, Norfolk NR16 2LR.

Click here to sign the ILPH’s online petition.

Read the complete story in today’s issue of Horse & Hound (20 November)

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The ILPH has launched a campaign to prevent the resumption of the live export of equines for slaughter from the UK, after a legislation loophole was exposed that could lead to the resumption of live export trade.

Following the publication of the new EU draft regulation on the transportation of animals, the current minimum values legislation, which prevents the export of horses and ponies under a certain value, has come under the spotlight. There is concern that the current legislation might be deemed untenable on the grounds that it contravenes free trade between member states.

The ILPH was instrumental in the establishment of the minimum value legislation back in 1937 with the instigation of The Exportation of Horses Act. Minimum values are set higher than meat prices to ensure that equines are not exported live for consumption.

This legal quibble has been a serious worry for the ILPH since 1995, according to ILPH spokesperson, Lynda Freebrey. “Our attention was drawn to this potential loophole when it first materialised, which was in the previous regulation,” she explains. “It was decided not to bring the subject to public attention, as DEFRA was effectively enforcing minimum values, but we now feel it is time to raise awareness of the issue and get public support.”

The ILPH has created an online petition and is asking people to show their support by signing it. To view the ILPH petition click here.

Supporters of the ILPH’s latest campaign include the British Event Team, fresh from their gold medal at the European Championships. “We owe it to our horses and ponies to protect them,” says Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell. “We must act now and support the ILPH.”

Other high-profile supporters include Roger Helmer, MEP for the East Midlands who says: “There is a strong consensus in the European Parliament that live animals are suffering unnecessarily on excessively long journeys across Europe and we, like the ILPH, are actively seeking to reduce the maximum hours they travel. I urge all those who care about animals to support the ILPH campaign.”

The ILPH has been working closely with the EC and DEFRA with the ultimate aim of ending live transport of horses, ponies and donkeys in all countries. “If all equines have to be slaughtered within the borders of their home country, it would negate the need for minimum value legislation,” says Lynda.

To sign the online petition, visit: www.ilph.org/petitions.asp. For a campaign pack (tel: 0870 906 1927).

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