2 years back we had a Slaughterhouse for Equine try to construct 2 in Missouri, Thanks to our Politicians in Missouri. The organization was out of Wyoming called Euified Equine they used a piece out of a news clip out of context from Temple Grandin. And ran TV ads. Thus the reason for me writing her. I think her a brilliant person and I felt they were taking her news footage and using it to promote Equine slaughter houses back into the US Her words below

______________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Sheri - My biggest concern is horses having a horrible death in a local Mexican abattoir. Not all of them go to the EU plant in Mexico.
Sincerely, Temple Grandin

______________________________________________________________________________________

The Equine Slaughter house did not succeed due to a incredible lady attorney Cynthia MacPherson, a lawyer in Mountain Grove, Mo.New Update: But we have a different company called Rains that has built and plans on opening a plant in Gallatin,Mo. soon and one in Roswell ,New Mexico

This was my response to Temple Grandin, I agree with her statement. But all transportation is brutal whether it is within the US or out ,but feel there is another way…and here is my cause.

Dear Dr. Temple Grandin,

I understand your thoughts about the horrible way Horses are put through in the local Mexican abattoir and holding lots in the U.S. What I was trying to let the public know is now a Equine Slaughter plant is to be opened in Rockville, Missouri. We do not raise horses like we do cattle for human consumption, that is a big point I'm trying to make. These plants will not take anything but healthy animals and I'm sure you know that. How long would it be before they would wipe out the horse population and in that process we not only lose Equine, but also various breeds and the various patterns and colors and horse confirmations that were not man manipulated by breeding.. lost from the gene pool forever. Equine do not drop foals like cattle birth calves, without much complications as opposed to Equine. Another point, I'm sure the BLM would be standing in line from their round ups, the adoption program is a farce.. as it was.. in my opinion. They have allowed anyone to adopt these horses and never checked the adopter's places to see if they were qualified with structured pen requirements. Only to find after the(no sale) year requirement was up and the new owners lost interest or had no background in horses at all and could not gentle the feral horses. These horses would end up in the sale barn auctions for Kill buyers. I’ve seen for myself BLM horses snubbed to posts for days. Muddy holding lots filled with these once adopted BLM horses. The Equine Slaughter plants will just provide a reason for this cruel behavior to continue.

I'm just a old cowgirl with a background as a AI Tech and worked throughout Southern Colorado on working cattle ranches and worked also with Thoroughbred horses in rehabbing track horses. I'm semi retired now and have my own small place with my 3 horses. Just a girl with a love for Horses.

I see this as a mistake to allow Horse Slaughter plants in the U.S. and feel from just the huge history ,that. By the way, wouldn't have happened without the horse, we owe them so much more.

The USDA has laid off a thousand or more inspectors. Now they are expecting the inspectors now to do 2 to 3 times if not more of a work load.
I feel we are heading down a road of issues now we haven't addressed and just adding to it, with the Equine Slaughter houses.

Thank you for your response, I understand your point, but it's not always the end destination that is as cruel, but the sad journey in getting there.

sincerely, Sheri L. White Jetton

___________________________________________________________________________

My goal is too claim the Horse as one of America's symbol of Freedom along side the American bald Eagle(that is my idea) and for everyone to recognize the contribution they have been to America. I know it is a lofty goal, but they have recognized the civil working police canines and the Military Service Canine, Why not the Horse? They have contributed far more throughout the history, they deserve the respect and in turn it will hopefully stop these Equine Slaughter plants. And as I shared my concern as of now the USDA have there plates full and we are just asking for trouble as well with respects towards the consumers...such as these new strains of Ecoli...We have issues now we need to address with our poultry and swine and bovine, that each year a new crop of concerns just keep popping up...Not Introduce a new source. And will these Equine Slaughter plants stay with Equine or mix animals?

I hope I stated my points clearly in my letter...and for the types of people to address?. Maybe your vet, local cattlemen. How do they feel about my suggestions.?. As for my suggestion to name the horse as one of America's Symbols,that is my brainchild...but there are groups that are against the Equine Slaughter houses in the U.S. I was trying to get Temple to understand that with the horse, they are not cattle..they do not reproduce like cattle. I’m trying to get people to look down the road of all the ramifications the slaughter of horses would cause.

 

Here are some of the contributions of the horse, just a snippet to what all they gave.

The Pony Express

Calvary horses that carried our soldiers and officers

The local prairie town Doctor rushing to a new birth or the sick or injured

Stagecoach teams

Big draft farm horses that tilled the earth to feed our country

Building barns by pulling the ropes to lift rafters

Paul Revere and his fast steed a American Patriot rushing to warning The Colonial Militia during the American Revolution that the British were coming. A simple silver smith and his horse.

I could go on and on, but if you go back and reflect in History..The American Eagle represented our Freedom as should be and at one time were endangered.

But the horse participated, engage in battle, helped build the country we once called the land of Milk and Honey.
I’m just asking for justice and the right thing to do and then …THEN there will be no transportation of our beautiful horses to Mexico from the US and dignity in death when the time comes. Please.

Just a cowgirl ,That has held a huge Love for all Horses my entire life, Sheri Lynn White Jetton/ 6/20/2013 SLW