America's favorite singing cowboy, Willie Nelson, is throwing his weight behind the fight to end the inhumane treatment and eating of ... horses. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 and S. 1915) would ban the slaughter of horses in the U.S. and the exportation of the live horses for slaughter abroad.
Working with the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, Nelson is urging all Americans to call their Members of Congress to let them know Americans won't tolerate the inhumane treatment of horses. Says Nelson, "It's like stepping on the American Flag."
SAPL's website makes their disgust clear. We Americans have never raised horses to eat them, yet every year, "American horses are being killed so their meat can satisfy the palates of overseas diners in countries such as Italy, France, Belgium and Japan."
On September 5, Nelson will ride up to Capitol Hill with Bo Derek, Ken Wahl, Jennifer Pryor, his family, and the Barbi Twins (as Dave Barry used to say, I swear I'm not making that up) to throw their support behind the bill, which has already received hundreds of co-sponsors on the Hill.
One hates to be picky about these things, but bills aren't introduced and voted on the same day, as the news release from his publicists, Schock Ink, claims. The bill's already been introduced and sent to the respective House and Senate Committees. Of course, since Schock Ink is the self-proclaimed "most dynamic and respected music industry public relations firms in the world through [the]creativity, diligence and the unquestioned media savvy of its founder, Elaine Schock," maybe they know something about the legislative process the rest of us don't.
Now, some may ask, what's the difference between eating Bambi and Trigger? And, granted a lot of these horses are ill-treated before being killed, isn't it just part of the American way? Think about chickens, lobsters, veal, acorn squash, and other items intended for our consumption treated in ways some might call inhumane. What makes horses so special? According to the legislative language, "horses and other equines play a vital role in the collective experience of the United States and deserve protection and compassion...Unlike cows, pigs, and many other animals, horses and other equines are not raised for the purpose of being slaughtered for human consumption."
Well, then, any other questions?
As Willie Nelson says, "It's time for the cowboys to stand up for the horses."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
I see nothing wrong with eating horse. I've never done it, but why is eating horse so taboo, if eating cow and pig and lamb and deer isn't? They are all large land mammals with some modicum of intelligence.
East Asians like to eat dog and cat, as well. I'm not at all fond of that particular cultural practice, but as long as they aren't eating MY dog or MY cat, let them do what they want...
2 - Dave Nalle
What the hell does Willie expect us to do with all the gigantic horse corpses we get stuck with?
Dave
3 - Clavos
Is Willie smoking again?
4 - Chris
Thanks to Willie for standing up for American values. Yes, other cultures eat horses, but we don't. The American people don't want horse slaughter and Willie is speaking up for them.
5 - RedTard
I can't understand why horses are any different than cows either. Some people will always be determined to force their morals on others I suppose.
6 - JustOneMan
I agree with Chris...willie has a long history of standing up for American values...like not paying taxes and smokin pot!!!
7 - Mark Schannon
Yeah, but did you check out the Barbi Twins? Are they the spookist looking people or what?
Personally, I hate horses. They smell bad, they attract flies, and they won't use litter boxes. Can't think of a better use for them than pate de cheveaux.
In Decaf Veritas
8 - Snarkattack
Mark (#7) please say you don't mean that?! Given enough time, we attract flies and smell bad, and when intoxicated don't always make it in time to the, um, facilities.
Australia could always donate the wild horses they sometimes are forced to kill (as they are vermin in very specific areas here).
9 - Mark Schannon
Snark, I'm sorry, but I yam what I yam -- a horse hater. I hope that doesn't make you think any the worse of me.
In Decaf Veritas
10 - zingzing
bring on the dead horses!
11 - Snarkattack
Nah Mark - diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. Or should I say horses for courses?
12 - Victor Plenty
I'd like to see more humane treatment of all animals, whether we eat them or not. Planning to make them into food after we kill them doesn't give us any excuse for needless cruelty.
On this horse legislation I'm undecided. Many of my friends and family members are horse people and I've been around horses all my life. So I count the horse among the animals too intelligent to be considered food. (Along with the dog, the cat, the great apes, the whales, the dolphin, and the octopus.)
However, I'm not so sure this idea is best promoted through legislation.
13 - troll
eat people...leave the equines alone
troll
14 - Clavos
I'd like to see more humane treatment of all animals, whether we eat them or not. Planning to make them into food after we kill them doesn't give us any excuse for needless cruelty.
Agreed. I won't eat veal, and would like to see other animals (chickens, e.g.) treated better, as well.
On this horse legislation I'm undecided. Many of my friends and family members are horse people and I've been around horses all my life. So I count the horse among the animals too intelligent to be considered food. (Along with the dog, the cat, the great apes, the whales, the dolphin, and the octopus.)
A cultural thing. What's sauce for the goose may not be...oops, sorry. :>) Heh.
However, I'm not so sure this idea is best promoted through legislation.
Again, agreed--for reason stated above.
15 - troll
cock fighting and pitbull fighting are part of the culture in the southwest...attempts to outlaw them fail regularly
I'd like to see people treat animals a little less humanly
troll
16 - Lady Dragonfyre
East Asians like to eat dog and cat, as well. I'm not at all fond of that particular cultural practice, but as long as they aren't eating MY dog or MY cat, let them do what they want...
I'm not particularly thrilled about it either, being a cat person. However, I might be able to withhold my judgment if it weren't for the treatment these cats and dogs receive prior to being consumed/stripped for their fur.
When these people prepare the cats/dogs for market, they dislocate their shoulders so they can tie the front legs tightly behind their backs. This is while they're still alive. On the dogs, they shove an open-ended can over the snouts so they can't bite. They can't pant, either, and it's a zillion degrees over there.
In a just world, a cageful of these poor dogs would bite their captors' nether regions and give them rabies.
17 - Nancy
Agreed: it's not that they eat them, it's the horrific torture they're subjected to beforehand. If I had my druthers, I'd submit the damned asians to their own treatment by way of education. Here, abuses also occur, but at least they're illegal & CAN be prosecuted, altho I'd recommend the 'get as you have given' treatment to violaters here as well.
Actually, Europeans eat horsemeat, too.
18 - Stevie
"When these people prepare the cats/dogs for market, they dislocate their shoulders so they can tie the front legs tightly behind their backs."
That kills them. In fact, taking a dog's legs and splitting them apart and bending them back is an effective way of dispatching them if you are attacked by one. I have never tried dog meat but I don't think I want to. They don't eat a strict diet intended to prepare them for human consumption.
I have eaten horse meat and I can tell you that it is better than beef when properly prepared. It is much leaner and much tastier. They don't make good steaks because of the absence of fat marbling so they are best prepared as smoked, thinly sliced luncheon meat. There is really nothing to compare to the excellent taste. Those Frenchmen know how to eat, believe me.
I think that personalizing and humanizing animals is dangerous to our moral sense and should be avoided.
19 - m wiley
Horses are beautiful animals and should be on the protected list - as most of the animals on this planet should be- or what is left of them. I guess its easy for some people to kill animals because they don't mind people killing each other - life is not important to them - animals or human beings..I say save the horses now..
20 - Iloz Zoc
I'm for not eating horses, dogs, cats, buffalo and quite a few other poor animals considered fair game. Yes, I do eat hamburgers and I wear leather shoes. Not dog burgers, horse burgers, cat burgers, or buffalo shoes.
I am not a vegetarian, but just because it might be edible, that doesn't mean we should eat it. Go get 'em Willie!
21 - Mark Schannon
As an omnivore...except for bananas, I hate bananas, can't stand them, would like to see them tortured forever...excuse me, I got carried away...
As an omnivore, I have no problem with eating anything, but I have a lot of difficulty with the way too many animals are raised and killed. (Which gives me pause because I love fois gros.) There are some conditions that are obviously inhumane--the problem is that because we tend to personalize animals and give them human attributes, there are other conditions that we might find horrible but don't bother them at all.
That being said, look at how we treat each other, which is the point mwiley made. Why should animals get treated better than people? That's what Enquiring minds want to know.
In Jameson Veritas
22 - Victor Plenty
Yes! We have no bananas today.
Of course I'd like to see humans treat each other more humanely as well. These advances in human culture can most likely be arranged to contribute to one another.
23 - Lumpy
Horses are hugh maintenance like some girlfriendsL but you can't sell your girlfriend to a dogfood factory. Damn.
24 - chancelucky
I got a copy of Soylent Green that had overwritten a copy of Sea Biscuit once.
25 - Colin
The taboo of horse meat probably dates to Ancient Rome and continues sporadically through history and culture to today.