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To that end, I started thinking about stories I could write to help shed some light on the issue of horse slaughter. One avenue I am pursuing, is investigating the other side of the pond where the slaughtered horses end up. My friend Luis lives in Paris and sent me several photos of "boucherie chevaline" near his neighbourhood. Seen here is, Etablissement Barbaud.
Luis advises that, "there isn't quite the same taboo on eating horse meat here, although it's less and less common (much like eating organ meats is a less and less common practice.)"
It was disconcerting for me to see a butcher shop featuring horse meat as its main product. If you take the time to Google image search "boucherie chevaline", you'll come away with a few enlightening images that make cold reality of the fate of horses making their way from slaughter in Canada to the shops of Europe.
I think it's also worthwhile to point out that the work continues for Alex Brown. Here is an excerpt from Alex's news section regarding a recent trip to the Olex auction in Kitchener, Ontario:
"Many of the horses went to kill. I saw five thoroughbreds go through. Three went for 24 cents / pound, one for 22 cents and one for 16 cents per pound. It was a bad day for Belgiums. One went through for 5 cents / pound. Oddly I felt particularly sad for that horse, although all their fates are the same.
Afterwards I made a trip out to see "Smooch", Kiss My Hoof, who we bought last week from the auction. He looks terrific in his new surroundings, which happen to be an Amish farm about 30 kilometers north of the auction. He was happy munching grass, jogging and cantering around his field. He looked very sound and a lovely mover. The plan is to ride him next week and get him into another home. As sad as going to the auction is, seeing Smooch seemed to make things right at least for one horse anyway"
I'll have a story published in the next issue of Down The Stretch (November 12th) with regard to horse slaughter that can hopefully help raise a little more awareness to the ongoing fight. As well, I've managed to donate quite a few HPI points to the Long Run foundation with relative ease, and I will certainly continue to write about the subject whenever I can.
However, more can be done on behalf of these thoroughbreds who have offered up so much enjoyment. From time to time, I think all of us in love with horse racing should take a step back from complaining about synthetic surfaces and our poor handicapping to consider the fate of the athlete.
Triple Dead Heat promises to keep the faith to the cause, while also endeavouring to write fun, upbeat and hopefully informative stories on thoroughbred racing
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Visit Alex Brown Racing and read about the issues and get involved.
Visit Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society and adopt a horse or volunteer.
Visit Phase 2 Thoroughbreds and help a race horse find a second career.
Join the fight at Canadian Horse Defence Coalition and help stop horse slaughter.
Donate funds directly from your HorsePlayerInteractive account to the Long Run Retirement Society. 1500 points can be redeemed for a $5 donation.
4 comments:
great post. i just found this that i'm sure also rings true on this side of the border as well.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20081103/ARTICLES/811030996/1001/NEWS01?Title=Safe_haven_for_horses
She says that before the economic bust that began about two years ago in Florida, she typically cared for about 40 unwanted or neglected horses at any one time. The association would then return them to good health and put them up for adoption. Most came from area law enforcement agencies that took possession of them from people unable, or unwilling, to care for the animals.
Now she cares for 73 horses. Most are on her organization's 149-acre facility. But, because there are so many, she has to keep some on nearby farms.
Silver said the real increase in abandoned and neglected horses started earlier this year.
"When gas prices went up, the phone started ringing off the hook," she said. "They'd tell me they lost their job, they can't afford to feed them any more, or they lost their homes and don't know what else to do."
About 75 percent of the horses she takes in are from first-time horses owners, she said.
Hi
having written a large story in the TORONTO STAR on Derby day this year about Canada's role in horse slaughter, it is tough to imagine the horse meat stores within 5 minutes of Woodbine.
also, I talked to several restaurant owners in Mississuaga and surrouding area who serve horse meat.
forget Europe, it's in our own backyard!
Hey Walt - That's a great link and part of the economy crunch not talked about on CNN. It's good to know that there are good people in Florida looking after displaced horses.
Jen - Your article in the The Star this year motivated many people to take action. It sounds like you are well on the track to another story on the issue...
Hopefully there will come a time when all we will have to worry about on this issue is fundraising and finding homes, rather than saving ex-racers from kill pens.
Great post! Thanks for keeping this issue in the public's eye. I own 2 ex racers and can attest that they are fantastic horses to own! Please keep on helping our horses. They have so much to offer.
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