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RE: [RC] [RC] Canadian Slaughter - David LeBlancHeidi Smith said: So what would you do with the preservation breeders like me? I have 12 intact male horses on the place. I don't breed that many foals in a year. OK, so you get a license <g>. but the reality is that the vast majority of the horses who go to slaughter are NOT suitable as riding horses. I think some of those horses started out life with legitimate breeders, and then something happened. One factor that comes into play is that a horse is worth money to slaughter, and so some perfectly good horses are killed because someone managed to pay $500, got $800 for meat. Another problem is that horses cost a fair bit of money to keep. It isn't easy to spend $1000/year to keep around a horse that doesn't do anything but look cute. I have a 15-year old with high ringbone and she might not ever get ridden again, except by kids being towed on a lead rope. She can live to be 30 and stay in my pasture. Not everyone can do that, or cares enough about their animal. That's the tragedy here - people will slaughter a horse while they'd keep around a dog or cat in the same condition. I think it is mostly the economics of the problem. Sadly, there isn't a good solution. Also, not all non-commercial breeders are being irresponsible. A horse doesn't have to have perfect bloodlines to be loved, well cared for and have a useful life. OTOH, we have a neighbor that breeds Thoroughbreds and it's a real disaster. Irritates me every time I look over there. Bottom line--you can't legislate morality. Yup - you're right. Not much that can be done legally. As much as I'd like to, you can't save them all. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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