Post 1

Taylor Capps

Oct 27, 2019Local: Oct 27 at 9:14pm
Course: Oct 27 at 8:14pm

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I chose to research horse slaughter and what I found was quite appalling. Horse slaughterhouses have been banned in the U.S. since 2007 (although it’s not a permanent ban and is reviewed yearly), but horses are still being transported to Canada and Mexico to be sold for slaughter. The horse meat is distributed to places around the world like Japan where the meat is considered a delicacy. I think it’s absolutely cruel to ship these horses, whether healthy or old or injured, across the borders to be slaughtered inhumanely, especially for a profit. I believe a horse should be put down only if it’s absolutely necessary and if it is, it needs to be done compassionately by humane lethal injection. If an owner doesn’t want one of their horses anymore, they should be responsible and place the horse with a new, competent owner. I absolutely think there needs to be legislation put in place to ban the transport of horses for slaughter from the U.S. into Canada and Mexico. I researched why some people are pro-horse slaughter, but I just didn’t find their reasons changing my opinion on the subject. I think different avenues need to be found to deal with issues like overbreeding and unwanted horses rather than just sending them to slaughter (even if it was still legal in the U.S.). Just because a solution is simple doesn’t make it right.

Post 2

Rebecca Bean-Rask

Nov 1, 2019Local: Nov 1 at 2:48pm
Course: Nov 1 at 1:48pm

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PMU horses are pregnant horses (commonly larger breed horses) that are enclosed in small stalls or stanchions that wear collection bags or even attached to urinary catheters for the sole purpose of collecting urine that is full of estrogen. The estrogen filled urine is used for the making of PMS reducing symptom medications (Premarin) for women of today. The mares spend around 12 years of their foal producing life pregnant and when done with pregnancy are breed again. If the foal survives (many do not) and is a filly, she may or may not be kept around to be a PMU mare. If it is a colt and survives he will be sent to action block. These horses are many times kept in too small of areas, have limited access to water, kept pregnant all the time all for their estrogen rich urine to help ease PMS for humans. The foals often times die or shipped to auction along with horses that cannot get pregnant or past their prime. The equine market is already oversaturated with horses being unwanted that I think this PMU industry is another contributor to an already big problem. Some are sent to slaughter houses but here in the US there is no option for horses. There are alternative medications that women can use for PMS symptoms that don’t require the unethical treatment and over production of horses. The use of technology has made synthetics available for many medications and supplementation and women should not be afraid to ask for alternatives from their medical doctor. I need initial Post in 5 hours. After that, i will send the other posts so you can reply on them.

The below link is to an article on the Top 5 Controversial Issues within the Equine Industry.   These issues have been around for years, and many believe hard core one way or the other.   There is no in between with the Horse Industry.   I would like for you to read the article and pick one of the 5 topics to research.   Once you have done some research on the topic, I want you to give your honest, respectful opinion on the topic in 8-10 sentences.

Afterwards, I would like for you to respond to 3 of your peers.   When responding to your peers, you may rebuttal or agree, but you must support your claim with facts.   You may not just simply say: “good point”, “I agree”, or “I disagree”.   Please put some effort and time into this and really interact.   Your replies to peers are due Nov. 13th at 11:59 pm CST.

Here is the link to the article:  https://cowgirlmagazine.com/horse-top-issues/  (Links to an external site.)