The horse industry has an annual economic impact around $300 billion dollars, 4.0 million horses, and 1.6 million full-time jobs. The industry is always changing in some fashion to keep up with the forever changing industry. Some of the biggest challenges facing the future of the equine industry are as followed, 1) Horse slaughter, 2) Horse Health, 3) Cost and unwanted horses. There are approximately 9.2 million horses in the United States, according to the American Horse Council, and each year a percentage of these horses become unwanted. Each year about 1% of horses are sent to slaughter (Unwanted Horse, 2008), while others indicate it is closer to 1.5%. Until recently, the vast majority of unwanted horses were slaughtered here in the …show more content…
U.S. In 2006, “according to the USDA, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in the three U.S. plants and another 30,000 were sent to Mexico and Canada” ("The Facts about Horse Slaughter"). In 2007, this number increased 311% to 45,609 of horses that were shipped from the U.S.
to Mexico for slaughter. With the closure of slaughter plants, the number of unwanted horses has increased at an alarming rate each year. According to the Animal Welfare Council, the cost for caring for unwanted horses will be around $220 million dollars each year, based on 2005 statistics. Bob Goodlatte who represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in the House of Representatives has projected that this number will increase to over $530 million by 2016. Horses can live well into their thirties and, according to the Unwanted Horse Coalition, the low end of the price scale for care of a horse is $1,800 annually. Breaking this down to a daily cost, without any veterinary expenses, it is estimated to be about $5 per day according to American Association of Equine Practitioners. The American Horse Council estimates that the average horse owner owns a horse for about 4.5 years. Many people view horses as they do their dog or cats: a companion animal. When people buy a dog or cat, they keep them for the life of that animal and don’t sell them every four …show more content…
years. Horses are livestock; they are used for sports, recreational activities, or on the farm. They are not sleeping at the foot of the bed every night, or living in the house every day. I am one of the biggest supporters of the equine industry, but I think that horses serve a purpose, and when they can no longer serve in the needed role, they should be taken care of properly. The horse industry is a business that directly generates about $39 billion dollars to the U.S. economy and has a $102 billion dollar multiplier impact. According to the Horse Council, this industry provides 460,000 full time jobs and pays $1.9 billion dollars in government taxes ("National Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry"). I find it difficult to understand why the anti-slaughter groups would want to turn their back on an industry that is producing that kind of money and creating that many jobs when we are currently faced with hard economic times. The Quarter Horse Congress is the largest single breed horse show in the world, and will generate over $ 30 million dollars for the local economy. One of the biggest questions that has been asked since the closure of the three slaughter plants is what to do next. Tom Persechino, who represents the American Quarter Horse Association states, To millions of Americans, horses have long been magical, mystical creatures that have carried us when even out own legs couldn’t, brought us joy when no other human understood us and teamed with us to settle a nation. Out horses ask for so little, and yet they’re willing to give so much. In many ways, horses were man’s best friend long before canines assumed that title. Often, our horses become part of the family and transcend the role of traditional pet. They become our trusted equine counterparts. Because of that bond and in a perfect world, it would be ideal for every horse to live out its days in rich green pastures or in our backyards. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case because all horses and owners are not created equally (Persechino, 2008). I think that one of the smartest way to solve are unwanted horse problem is to simply educate people more before they purchase a horse. Many horse associations are starting to limit the numbers of horses that can be registered per year, which is slowing down some of the breeders. When a cap is instituted, it begins to slow overbreeding and breeders become more selective on what is bred and raised. One of the founding organizations working towards better education for horse owners is the Unwanted Horse Coalition, of which the American Quarter Horse Association is the founding member. Formed in 2005, the Unwanted Horse Coalition represents a board alliance of equine organizations that joined together under the American Horse Council to educate the industry about unwanted horse issues. The Coalition brings together key stakeholders to develop consensus on the most effective ways to work together to address this issue of America’s unwanted horses (Unwanted Horse, 2008). The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety, and responsible care and disposition of these horses ("Unwanted Horse Coalition").
By educating potential and current owners, fewer horses will become unwanted because people will better understand the issues that surround ownership (Persechino AQHA). One of the other ways to solve the unwanted horses is to help find a new purpose for aging horses. Just because they aren’t performing at their peak doesn’t mean their life is over. A lot of retired horses will be donated to different therapeutic riding centers, as long as they are of sound health and mind. This is a great chance for an aging horse to bond with disabled individuals. I was lucky enough to be a part of the riding center at Texas Tech University, which is the elite of the therapeutic riding center. I really enjoyed the hours that I helped out at the center and it was such a joy to see the smile on the faces of the people getting the chance to ride horses. Another way to help change this problem is by donating horses to different colleges. Many colleges will use horses for different programs or for different research ventures. Another option for the horse to have a new career in public service. Several horses are used a police mounts, U.S Border Patrol, park units, prisons and as search-and-rescue
animals. Educators can give the most back to the industry just by being educated themselves. When we are trying to educate the future generation on the topic of the equine industry it helps to be up-to-date on the latest information. In my career, I have encountered a number of students who are miss informed on several topics relating to the equine industry. The future of the equine industry is in the hands of the younger generation and when they are learning incorrect or out of date information it slows down the process. I always try to stay as up to date on information as I can, so that when I am out into a teaching situation I will be prepared to educate the future and deliver and clear and concise message.
However, due to retaliation from animal rights groups, the BLM has not taken any measures to eliminate any excess horses. The bill forces the Bureau of Land Management “to sell "without limitation" every captured horse that is 10 or older or has proved unadoptable” (Murr, 51). Howard Crystal, a lawyer for the Humane Society, adds that "[the bill] consigns thousands of horses to death," prompting horse advocates for a more humane solution to the overcrowding of horses in current government management. Also, to manage the excess horses, the BLM also has debated whether to induce euthanasia on the horses.
Brosnahan MM, Paradis MR. Assessment of clinical characteristics, management practices, and activities of geriatric horses. JAVMA 2003; 223(1): 99-103
For as long as there have been horse slaughterhouses in the United States, they have been an issue of controversy (Associated Press State and Local Wire, 8/7/01). Currently, only two slaughterhouses that produce horse meat intended...
Depression has a major effect on a person life. The accumulation of hidden emotion could cause difficulty in life. The consequences could be irrational thinking, suffering in ceased emotion or lead to a total disaster. In “Horses of the night” by Margaret Laurence and “ Paul’s case” by Willa Cather, both authors introduce the concept of depression. Although both selections offer interesting differences, it is the similarities that are significant.
The use of horses for human consumption dates back to the earliest use of animals for human consumption. Horses are used for food in many counties but are also considered inhumane in other countries. In the United States specifically, horsemeat is not the norm for consumed meat. There seems to be a problem that has arisen. It is suspected that horses being slaughtered at horse slaughtering factories are not the most up to date, pain free for the horse, and human as people suspect them to be like beef kill floors.
In reading “All the pretty horses” by Cormac McCarthy, we are introduced to the protagonist John Grady Cole. At the beginning of the story, John Grady is attending his grandfathers funeral in the ranch that he now shares with his mother. John Grady Cole, grew up in world where being a cowboy meant freedom and a ever growing relationship with the one thing he cared about more than anything… horses. The story seems to unravel in the early 1950s when the old west began to evolve to the new ways of the west and the definition of what made a man a cowboy increasingly blurred. As the story evolves, it becomes evident that the selling of his grandfather’s ranch leaves Grady feeling adrift and incomplete. Henceforth, he deicides to set foot on his own and find a new place to call his home. We see that the loss of his grandfathers ranch and the passing of the old west he knew, serves as a reflection of how John Grady’s character attempts to maintain this cowboy lifestyle that he witnessed growing up . John Grady Cole’s character tough young, serves as a hero in his journey of becoming a man. Combined with his passion and idealistic mentality, his love for horses and the open plains of Texas/Mexico sets him off into new adventures. Realizing that each scenario encountered paves the way towards a journey of harsh reality, this story serves as one of growth and the passionate search of the old cowboy life. Grady sets out on a journey to Mexico with his comrade Rawlins riding off into the sun with hopes of finding a new home; they rode in hopes of regaining their sense of beloning.
Thousands of animals are put to sleep each year due to not having any available homes for them to be adopted. According to Jennifer Sexton and Tom Warhol in Domestic Animal Overpopulation, “The average female cat can produce two litters of six kittens per year, a female dog can produce one litter of six or more puppies per year, making pet overpopulation a significant problem.” Animal overpopulation is costing money and you can help the pets with spay and neutering programs. A new solution is mandatory contracts for breeders and spay and neuter programs. This paper will talk about spay and neuter programs, contracts for breeders, and why some people don’t think animal overpopulation is a problem. Thankfully there are solutions to this issue of animal overpopulation.
Rodeo is a sport with long American traditions and loved by many spectators and participants. Past history has shown that rodeo needed to make way for a new era of riders and trainers with a larger emphasis on the welfare of the animals and not be discontinued or banned entirely. Today’s rodeos do not present a danger to the animals because the animals are well-cared for and protected, rodeos have strict rules and the stock are treated as prized animals.
Young, Rhoria Lee, and Maggie Bracher. "Horsemastership part 2: Physical, psychological, educational and social benefits." International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation 12.3 (2005): 120-125. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
The lack of awareness programs attributes to animal hoarding greatly. The Robinson Rescue is an organization that “educate[s] pet owners about the importance of spay/neuter as a means of ending pet overpopulation.” ( ). This organization shows children how they should think of animals so that they do not abuse their animals like a case in which the defendants argued “that pets are classified as personal property…” and that they have feelings too (Donaghey 2011) (Gunnarson). Few people realize that 354 animals are eutha...
Day to day horses are abused, people start a long downward spiral into horse racing gambling addiction, and less and less people are watching horse racing. But we can stop it all, by one simple step. Shutting down all horse racing. You can get involved by telling more and more people about this, or with “Horse Racing Week” and let’s stop all the horses that are born and have nowhere to go but the slaughterhouse. All the people’s families who are worried sick all the time. Let’s help. We cannot let one more horse die while running a race for the greedy, selfish horse racing industry.
With over nine million types of horses in the United States, the need for quality health care for the horses has never been stronger. It’s certain that more equine veterinarians than ever before will be needed in the years to come to provide the care that owners want for their horses. According to the American Association of equine practitioners (AAEP), nearly half of the equine veterinarians are involved with performance horses(44.8%). The AVMA’S most recent employment survey of 2016 indicated that there were about 3,874 veterinarians in exclusively equine practice, with and additional 4,177 involved in mixed practices.
There was a year spent volunteering at Edelweiss Equine Assisted Therapy Group Inc. During the year of 2008 there were several duties performed at the outdoor facility that housed Edleweiss. While working at Edelweiss three were several activities that took place. The starting position was to help those who came for les...
Ray, Margaret. "Advertising and Pricing Policies in the Equine Breeding Industry or Sex and the Single Stallion."Applied Economics. 23.4 (1991): 755-762. Print.
The Cow and Calf division of the Animal Health segment markets its products direct to cattle ranchers. Such products include vaccines, medications, and antibiotics to support healthy and consistent herds of beef producing cattle. It segmented the market into three distinct categories. Hobbyists herd less than 100 cows; Traditionalists commonly carry between 100 to 499, and Businesses are working with 500 or more. (Mohr, 1999) Time spent in the field with the ranchers was allocated based on the volume of product purchased by each individual. Those that spent higher dollar amounts received the most attention (in the form of personal visits, seminar offerings, and trial product samples).