No Horse Meat Here!!

It's a rare occasion when I get to go to the grocery store alone. When I do, I enjoy my "quiet" time without the family bugging me for soda and pudding. On this day trip, Publix had tables set up with sushi samples and other goodies. I was stopping and sampling, trying to ignore a man who was huffing and puffing around the meat department. As I moved away I saw the Meat Manager step out from the back. "Huffy-Puffy" and he start talking. I roll my eyes and walk off as I hear Huffy-Puffy start complaining in a very thick French accent about the lack of international fair.
The manager asked him exactly this, "Sir if you tell me what you desire I can see what we can do for you." (Our Publix is like that, great customer service.) Huffy-Puffy says lovely, what I really would like to enjoy this evening is....... Okay I can't remember exactly what the dish was called now, but I did have cheval in the title. I stopped dead in my tracks. The manager looked confused and asked him what exactly was in this wonderful dish. Well I spun my cart around, hit the spice and condiment display in front of the Seafood display and yelled it's horse meat!!! I was fuming! The man looked down a me from his pointy nose and with a smirk said yes.... exactly horsemeat!
LOL The manager looked at me and him with big round eyes and said "OHHH I am sorry I didn't realize that is what you were asking for, we don't have that here". Huffy-Puffy started to complain again when I pounced. "Do you know where your beloved cheval comes from? It comes from our American horses! They are tortured and sent to inhumane slaughter houses. Do you know what you are eating? The carcinogens, the chemicals? Wormer, steroids, medications? Don't you people realize what you are putting in your bodies? In THIS country horses are fed feed from bags that say DO NOT USE ON ANIMALS MEANT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
He started to get really red, really really mad. Next thing I know I feel the managers hand on my shoulder pulling me away, gently. As I walked away he started spouting in French, probably something along the lines about that Crazy American Lady, but my French is lacking.
The manager's face was pasty white, he didn't know what to say. I looked at him and told him I was sorry. I work in horse rescue, am fighting to end horse slaughter along with millions of other Americans and gave him my email address. I also told him in detail how bad the horses are treated and if Publix ever considered adding Horse Meat to satisfy the European consumer they would lose 1000's of customers. He told me that he didn't think Publix would ever do it and thanked me for the education. I think he was a little afraid of me too.

So that was my story.
I saw the manager the other day and he said when I left the French guy said I didn't know what I was talking about!

Kind Regards,
Laura Boothby
Pure Thoughts, Inc
www.pthr.org


A Stand 4 The Horses
Equine Welfare & Rescue Education
http://www.myspace.com/4thehorses

A Journey Home: The Story of A Broker Horse

This week AC4H, and their network, worked very hard to save the lives of the broker horses who were at high risk of going to slaughter. I was reminded of Lily Reba, a little arab mare that many people fell in love with and worked very hard to save. I wanted to revisit her story today. So here is Lily Reba's story in her own voice...........................

I am not sure how I ended up here, but I am sure glad I have. Please gather around ladies and hear my story. I can't remember all the details, but I do remember how it all made me feel........

I was born an Arabian Princess. I was dainty, but quick on my feet. My Mama was so proud of me and how a swept across the fields faster than the wind. I think I was a happy filly and as I grew I learned to except humans as part of my herd. I knew I was special, as all horses are, but when you are born an Arabian Princess who is quick on her feet and as smart as a whip you learn to hold your head up high and prance with elegance and grace.

When I became a young mare I learned to carry humans on my back. It was scary at first, but I learned to trust them as my ancestor had. Now this is where my memory gets foggy. One day I remember hurting my leg very badly and my humans did nothing to help me. It is possible I was left in a pasture or stall for a very long time and considered useless. You would think because of my royal heritage I would be treated better. I have since learned this happens to many more horses than I ever imagined! I think because of the pain and hurt I learned to forget the betrayal of my humans. One day my humans didn't want to take care of me anymore and made me leave on what humans call a horse trailer....you know those big black caves. I was scared but again I did as I was told.

I can't remember how long my ride was, but I sure didn't like where they took me. It was loud and smelled of fear. There were so many animals and humans all of them yelling and sweaty. It was early spring and I started to very chilly. I kept getting pushed around and stepped on. The other horses around kept saying how they hoped their humans would come back soon. I had a feeling none of us would see our humans ever again. Sometime later I was taken into a area where a whole lot of people stared at me. Not many seemed to like the looks of me, but one man with kinder eyes then most raised his hand and nodded at me. I hoped this was a good sign.

I soon found myself in another one of those caves on wheels, this time I had some travel mates. We ended up at a big red barn. There were many horses, all different shapes, sizes and colors. I wish I could say I enjoyed this time with so many beautiful creatures, but the truth was I was starting to feel very sick. Every day my nose got stuffier and then I had a fever. The doctor said I had pneumonia, I don't know what that is but I sure felt sick and I wouldn't wish it on the grumpiest mare.

Rumor had it that I had found a new human but because I was sick I wouldn't be able to go home yet. First they had to send me to Horse Spa and Recovery. I wish I could say I was a good patient but I was not. I wouldn't eat and I got sicker before I got better. I lost so much weight because I wouldn't eat. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. To tell you the truth I was a little sad. I was so hoping to go to my new home right away, but humans have rules and we have to follow them. I have learned that it was for the best. I made a good friend in a pony who drove up in the cave with me. I will miss him,but I know he is going to his forever home too.

It took me a while to get better, but when I did I knew that I would soon be coming home. The nice ladies told me I would have a new home with 4 other ladies, and best yet they all knew how I felt. All of them had been thrown away after being used up and injured by their former humans. The nice ladies told me how many people had come together to save my life from a horrible fate. I was so excited to meet my new Pasture Pals!! Most of all I was so thankful to all of th humans who didn't give up on me and thought I was worth my weight in gold.

So ladies that is how I ended up here with you. I look around at you all in amazement. We all have come from different places, but our story is almost the same. An Arabian Princess with a crooked front leg, a Standardbred matriarch who hobbles about with 2 bad fronts legs, a paso/QH who has had her knee blown out. Oh and of course the Alpha mare, who recently lost her pasture mate. She is all Paso Fino, tiny thing that she is. I can't wait to hear all of your stories ladies.A very special home we have here with Ms. Randa our super human lady. She says she knew I belonged here and she cried the day she knew I was coming home. I also heard how she plans on having a special brace made for my bad back leg!! She told me of how many humans waited to hear I was safe and sound. They waited to hear my journey was done. I am glad to say that it is. I have truly found a home.

Thank You humans.... all of you!!!! Because of you I have a new forever home in NY!! Thank you to all the other rescues (horses) who gave me support. I am so happy to be home!! I already took a nap and strolled in my new pasture!!!

Sweet Nickers to All,

Lily Reba (Reba for short)

PS. Special Thanks To Christy for telling everyone I needed help.

Donate? Volunteer? I Am Gas Broke!!!!!

Talking with fellow volunteers and donors of horse rescues, and other non for profit organizations, this week I found out I am not alone in trying to figure out a way to pay for trips to the farm to volunteer, donate toys, serve at the local soup kitchen, or even hand over canned goods to local food banks. We have all found ourselves working more and more to cover the expense of gas and other related expenses that we don’t have the actual time to dedicate to volunteering.

I have come to the conclusion it is a no win situation. We simply can’t keep up with the rising costs and this leaves the rescues and charities we support in an even harder place. How are they able to cover cost and supplement labor if donations and manpower is down? How do we help the rescues, pay our bills, and feel like we are contributing to all our goals for the horses and people who need us to help?

The Salvation Army, Goodwill, national food banks, and many other not for profit charities are seeing a major decline in donations of material goods and monetary donations. As our economy continues to be hit, week after week, and big and small business's continue to cut employees' pay, jobs, and benefits, many have stopped donating and are squirreling away pay checks.

I have been contemplating a garage sale on a large scale. Bringing lots of volunteers and donors together and making it into a weekend event for our local rescues. It’s time to look in the garage, the storage unit, and our closets and decide what we can live without.

For every unused picture frame or piece of clothing with a tag on it we could purchase a tube of wormer or a bale of hay. We could raise awareness by having our local news out to talk about horse slaughter and equine welfare. We could make a difference in a needy family’s Christmas.

Next week I am traveling to New York. I hope to gain the support of friends and family and have asked them to contribute and clean out their garages to help save a horse from slaughter or to donate for vet care to a rescued horse. Even if you only have one item to sell it can make a real difference to that one horse, one kid, or war vet who needs something…anything that let’s them know we care, we are here and that we will try harder.

Add YOur Comment

A clarification to the correction

I added my Lisa Ling Blog comment to this blog's page. I have learned finally to have a few stock comments to use as rebuttals to pro-slaughter articles. Over the next few weeks I will be adding talking points everyone can use. I have heard from many people that they would like to participate in such discussions but are not good at writing and commenting. I hope to help those who would like to be heard.

GUEST BLOGGER JOHN HOLLAND

***Note from John Holland***

Hi Folks,

There is a great deal going on and much of it is encouraging, however some other trends are very worrisome. It appears to me that there is a concerted effort to get rid of the mustangs before the Bush administration ends. They know that either Obama or McCain will be less likely to let it continue. I will pass along more information on that soon.

Here are some recent articles covering many aspects of what is happening. This is all on our side. The bad guys are also very active right now, so the battle is heating up.

John Holland

Transcript: Talkin' Horses with Welfare Advocate Alex Brown
TheHorse.com - Lexington,KY,USA
I follow your battle to end horse slaughter and certainly appreciate your dedication to such an important cause! My question: Do you think Barbaro's...

Slaughtering the facts about horse slaughter John Holland
Hillsboro Times Gazette - Hillsboro,OH,USA
As a writer and horse lover, I belong to a small group that monitors stories on horse slaughter and tries to get such stories corrected.

Ed Whitfield, Equestrian Hero
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
Before he took up the cause of thoroughbred racing reform, he led the so-far unsuccessful move to ban horse slaughter in the United States. ...

Suffolk downs begins zero tolerance slaughter policy
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2008/june/27/suffolk-downs-begins-zero-tolerance-slaughter-policy.aspx

Thoroughbred Times
by Steve Myrick
Suffolk Downs has established a new policy holding trainers accountable when their horses are sold for slaughter..

Petition to stop long distance hauling of horses in the EU.
http://www.ilph.org/makeanoise/thankspetition.asp

Please Comment On Lisa Ling's Blog Site

Here is the link.......
http://www.lisaling.com/

And here is what I wrote on her site..........
Horse Slaughter for human consumption is not only horrifically inhumane but may be causing long term health problems for consumers overseas. American horse meat is loaded with carcinogens from chemicals, drugs, and feed. Quarter horses and thoroughbreds go to slaughter more than any other breed, off track thoroughbreds are loaded with drugs and steroids and that is what people are eating. Consumers in Europe and Japan do NOT know this. The companies selling the horse meat are perpetuating the belief that the meat being consumed is coming from horses kept out on the range like cattle.
Americans were screaming from the rafters when China was sending us goods that were contaminated with harmful chemicals. The hypocrisy is unbelievable. Our government is looking the other way while foreign companies are lying to their countrymen. Any horse that is fed a name brand horse feed or grain has levels of carcinogens. On the side of a bag of grain it clearly states that it should not be fed to animals that are going to be slaughtered for human consumption.
Wake Up America, this is not just about ending an inhumane practice but about protecting fellow World citizens from greedy Big Business.
Let's not forget that according to the USDA that 90% of horses sent to slaughter are healthy, serviceable animals. They are of good weight under 7 years old and are not lame or sick. It's actually illegal to ship sick(such as cancer), blind, or "three legged" horses to slaughter.
Laura Boothby
www.astand4thehorses.blogspot.com

Knock Knock...

If you live in North Palm Beach, FL and two little girls are knocking at the door. Please listen to what they have to say, take the pamphlet they offer, and dig around for that loose change in your pocket.
Late this afternoon we received a call from Jen Swanson at Pure Thoughts, Inc. Horse and Foal Rescue to please ask everyone to pray for Melody, Team Barbaro's sponsored mare from the Miracle Save ( www.pthr.org ) . She was suffering from impaction colic and was headed to the vet. We were so worried about this sweet mare who had stolen all of our hearts over the last few weeks.
Maria and Emma knew that the vet visit and possible need for surgery would be very costly. The immediately headed out the door to ask their lemonade stand customers to please gather their hearts and pocket change together for this sweet TB mare. In about ten minutes they had $8 in loose change to help pay a tiny fraction of Melody's bill.
Maria and Emma felt defeated. They knew that the eight dollars they collected wouldn't even pay for a bale of hay here in South Florida. I told them that it was okay, that when more people heard about Melody's illness and the rescue's determination to help her, that more people would turn to their own pockets and change jars and send a little to help. That it alll adds up.

I reminded the girls of all the times we raised funds for horses that needed help. Whether it was a horse saved from slaughter or the orphan foals, we all worked as a team to reach our goals.
This was a great lesson for both girls and now they are determined to try harder. I learned a lesson from them to.......TRY HARDER.


Laura Boothby
Pure Thoughts, Inc
www.pthr.org
http://astand4thehorses.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/4thehorses

Watch With Caution

This video says it all. I have cried viewing many videos created by fellow horse lovers and resuers but during this video I completely broke down. It is very hard to watch, but it may just be a tool we can use to get people to see what is really going on out to the mainstream public. Please if you don't think you can watch horse in pain, panicking or in extreme neglect or abusive conditions to NOT watch this video.

Make Some Noise...Make A Difference!

I have Stage Fright? Could it be!!?? I couldn’t wait to get the Blog up and running, now I can’t seem to figure out what to write about. I have started this paragraph five times only to hit the backspace key each time, unsure of my words, unsure of the message I am trying to get across. Even the word message does not feel like the right word. Do I mean my belief, my opinion, or perspective? How do I begin to explain what I am thinking and feeling when I cannot even decipher my own thoughts in my own head? Is this block coming from frustration, helplessness, or is it a deeper problem, like lack of confidence?

I could write about the fact I have not touched a horse in a week because I can’t fill my gas tank anymore to make the 45 minute drive to the barn. I could write about how the Olympics are right around the corner and our U.S. Team is preparing to make us all proud. I could write about how internet stalking of rescues is at an all time high. But does anyone really care about these things, when we still have horses going to slaughter in Mexico and Canada every week? When every day we have horses, mules, and donkeys popping up that have been suffering long term abuse and neglect?

It’s time to look at ourselves and see what we can change about ourselves to help the horses more every single day. We need to not only work on the anti-slaughter legislation but changing the state and federal laws that continue to protect the abusers of our National Herd. I know many people feel like me. How can we get the federal and state governments to change the laws when they themselves are contemplating the destruction of our wild Mustangs in the name of Big Business?

I think we each have a talent, better yet, a weapon that we are not utilizing. Our voices, our intelligence, our experience in the Horse World among all different types of people, young, old, wealthy, and very horse poor. It cost nothing to email our government representatives, it cost nothing to talk to fellow horse people who have no idea what is going on. Even more we have an entire country that may not own horses, but love them, respect them, and have childhood memories of their first pony ride or seeing their kids grin ear to ear as the touch the soft muzzle of a sweet horse at a fair or a local farm. The people who see horses as a National Icon, but do not live with them every day, they are a resource to our National Herd we must tap. We must reach out into the mainstream public and touch their hearts…..no their sense of right and wrong, the most human part of all of us who want to right the injustices that are happening every day to the voiceless, helpless victims of abuse, neglect, and our government’s inability to step up to the plate.

So please stand up with me and network for our American horses. Start conversations with your fellow shoppers at the pet store or grocery store. When you go to a horse show this summer, ask the trainers, riders, and spectators if they know what is happening to the horses every day over the border. Educate yourselves with talking points, statistics, and quotes from those among us who have first hand knowledge of what happens at US auction houses in every state in the Continental U.S. Don’t be afraid to say the word slaughter or describe what is happening, unless a person really can get a sense of what is happening they will not be moved enough to act!

If we make some noise …..we can make a difference.

Laura Boothby

The Truth Must Be Told

Guest Blogger Jennifer Swanson
Co-Founder Pure Thoughts, Inc. Horse And Foal Reacue

THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD...
OUR FIRST ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED... THE TRUTH WILL BE TOLD
This is on the www.phelpsprts.com . You need to be a member to read it there. I am hoping it gets picked up eslewhere. I thank Phelps Media for being courageous enough to publish this article. The article is called. "What did they do to deserve this"You can see more of the pictures from the auciton at www.PTHR.org

http://www.phelpssports.com/viewarticle.php?id=7477

Jennifer Swanson

June 22, 2008

As you approach the auction house the first thing you see are the eyes looking out through rusted caged windows. The horses get as close as they can to the air, the sunlight they know is out there, but they can’t get too close or their eyes will be impaled by the bent and rusted prongs. Still, they look out, hoping to see something familiar, someone coming to take them home.

Every horse has a different story. For the horses at auction, the look in their eyes all begs the same question: what did I do to deserve this? These horses are in a dark, man-made and operated cement hell.

They are poked and prodded and crammed, sometimes 50 horses, into single pens. Some horses fight, some try to stay to the side to avoid getting kicked. Some are hurt, some are mares trying to protect their foals. Others are just trying to stay on their feet so they don’t get trampled. There are tired and wounded workhorses. Colicking horses. Injured racehorses standing on three legs that still wear sweat from their last race.

This horror is just the first step in a torturous journey that these horses are on. It’s a journey that we as Americans, horse lovers and humanitarians allow in our country. And just when I think it can’t get worse, they open the gates and shove another horse in there, and the ruckus starts again, as the horses shift and struggle for position. A few strong ones can fight for a little bit of hay in the corner. Many horses have their heads stuck out of the pen in hopes a passerby will give them a pet on the head, in hopes someone will see them and take them out of there. Their quiet pleas seem somehow louder than the screams of the horses who are scared and hurt.

The horses do not have to have a voice to tell their story. The workhorses and Standardbreds, injured and abused and yet often clearly fresh from work, are the most painful to watch. These horses have given their lives to work for their owners and then they are delivered to a painful death. The Amish, the people who use these horses for their means of transportation and agriculture, in many cases provide the most horrible cases of neglect and abuse. A bullet to the head is more humane than what they do to these horses. What in their faith allows for this cruelty? The auction at Sugarcreek is the dumping grounds. Most people will bring their horses there to be sold, but they will buy their horses from better auctions. They will go to Mt. Hope or and spend thousands on a beautiful Standardbred with bows in her hair right off the track. In a year or two this same horse will be at the kill auction in Sugarcreek: weak, abused and destined for slaughter. They will go to a draft farms and spend thousands on a beautiful team or a draft horse, usually a Belgian and the same things will happen. This horse will be used and worked to within days of its life and then sent to the kill auction. That is the reward these horses receive for their work and servitude. If the horses are injured, they don’t care for them. They simply work them until they can no longer work, then they are sent to the killbuyer. I know there are Amish people out there who take good care of their horses, but we see so, so many that don’t.

And it’s not only the Amish. The racing industry joins them in the cruelest act. Gleaming muscled racehorses are top choice for the killbuyers. On May 23^rd Pure Thoughts bought more than 15 tattooed thoroughbreds. Some of these horses were picked up at a Maryland racetrack by a man who said he would deliver them to a therapeutic riding center. Instead he planned to deliver them to killbuyers. Fortunately for those horses we were there and brought them home. What happened to Eight Belles is truly heartbreaking and it seems the racing community is trying to change practices and policies. But what about this behind-the-scenes atrocity. Do all of the people who mourned the loss of Eight Belles know what happens to many racehorses every Friday at Sugarcreek?

Next time you enjoy a day at the races, think about the ones that did not make it that far or the horses that came in last in their race. Chances are there next stop is an inhumane slaughter. Is that really worth the exhilaration you felt as the horses crossed the finish line? Is their life worth our recreation? Are we, as a nation saying "It is okay that these horses experience a horrific death" is that what we want to define us as horse lovers?

But there is more. It’s not just the racing industry and the Amish. The slaughter pens hold many of beautiful horses, show horses, ponies, trail horses, pets, workhorses. Mares and week old foals are bought by killbuyers. They will be taken from the auction together but a stop will be made. At this stop the foal will be ripped from its' mother and either left to die or fattened up until it can be pass as a six-month old and then it will be sent to slaughter. The mare thinks losing her foal is a heartbreak, she has no idea what she is in for, this is nothing. Pregnant mares who are just days from giving birth are in the killpens after auction. They will be slaughtered. Killbuyer and slaughterhouses do not want our sick, old and lame. They want the healthy horses. Slaughter does not care what is on the registration papers, it just wants flesh.

But we haven’t even gotten to the process of slaughter yet. After the auction, the next horror these horses go through is the transport. Usually this is done unlawfully and without morals. The horses are crammed, again, into a trailer. Stallions, yearlings, mare, foals ponies are jammed in together. There is no water. There are no stops. They drive across the country to Canada or Mexico and don’t get off-loaded until they reach the slaughterhouse. Some will die on the way. If they act up, they are beaten harshly.

And yet, the American public turns a blind eye to this practice. So far we haven’t forced our government to listen to cries of the horses.

Some horse owners and lovers also stay in the dark, not educating themselves on the cruel truths of horse auctions. That nice man who seems to be buying up many good horses is NOT taking them back to his ranch. He is buying them for meat and he will smile at you politely and soon those horses will begin their long hellish journey, one that will end with him or her gasping for their last breath after being mutilated and tortured.

As rescuers we dance with the devil every day for the sake of the horses. We play the game we must play in order to be able to attend these auctions, work with the killbuyers and purchase these horses. We keep our stories amongst ourselves in order not to ruffle any feathers. We all filled with anger and rage over what happens and the tears are a river that runs constant. The story I tell is one I have lived with, it haunts my dreams and fills my soul. I look at the ones we save and cannot help but think of the ones we were unable to save. When I learned of horse slaughter, it changed my life. I gave up the life I had for a life that was once unknown to me and now I live and breathe it.

My job now is to speak for the horses and do my best to bring an end to this dirty little secret. From slaughter to nursemare foals. Cruelty and misuse of horses is inhumane and intolerable. For those who cannot speak ... I will.

On May 23, 2008, Pure Thoughts Horse and Foal Rescue aligned forces with the Davis- McCullough Foundation and saved all the horses that were intended to go to slaughter at the horse kill auction known at Sugarcreek Livestock auction. We did it with help from Victoria McCullough of the Davis-McCullough Foundation, which has spent years dedicating itself to the needs children and animals.

All equines were safe that day, including some from the week before who were waiting for their trip to slaughter. That was a single day that the horses were safe. As a country we have the ability to change this action and bring the horses of our country to safety everyday. These horses are being slaughtered for human consumption and shipped overseas to Europe and Asia. Let’s ban together and tell them No. Not our horses, the horses will not be tortured for your gluttony, not on our watch.

For more information on how you can help you may email Jennifer@PureThoughtsHorseRescue.com , visit the site www.PTHR.org or call 561-254-0415

Jennifer Swanson
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Horse & Foal Rescue
www.PTHR.org
19181 Capet Creek
Loxahatchee, FL 33470

Saving the life of a horse may not change the world...........
........but it will change that horse's world.