The Washington Times
September 4, 2007


Letter to the Editor
Horse slaughter by other means

While most horse welfare organizations are upset and concerned over the high number of horses the U.S. is exporting to Mexico and Canada for slaughter this year because of the closure of two Texas horse slaughtering facilities, I believe there is also reason to be concerned over a particular group of horses exported to Mexico from New Mexico, which are not listed as intended for slaughter ("The horse is saved," Editorial, March 30).

In addition to sending 24,915 horses to Mexico so far this year for slaughter, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported, we also have exported to Mexico 640 stallions and mares and 2,215 geldings, all of which are listed as horses not intended for slaughter. Stallions and mares may be exported to Mexico to be used for breeding purposes, but what would be the purpose of sending 2,215 geldings not intended for slaughter? Possibly Mexican rodeo-type competitions known as charriadas and then surely slaughter afterward? And how many of these horses are wild, possibly supplied by some of the long-term holding facilities through federal contractors? Two thousand twenty-two of these geldings have been sent from New Mexico alone, yet New Mexico has sent no mares or stallions this year.

It's time for the horse welfare organizations to start taking a look at the horses sent to Mexico from New Mexico that are not listed as slaughter horses. Even with the hopeful passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, these horses not listed as slaughter horses will continue to be sent to Mexico because the legislation of that act does not prevent horses sent over the borders for any purposes other than slaughter.

It is time for the public to become aware of this situation as well. I believe we have a rat in the barn.

VALERIE JAMES-PATTON
Shingletown , Calif.

Posted with permission by V. James-Patton as submitted to the Washington Times