Each year, more than 100,000 American horses -- working, racing and companion horses and even children's ponies -- are horrifically slaughtered for human consumption. They are inhumanely transported long distances across our borders, in cramped trailers without food, water or rest. Then they are brutally slaughtered, and their meat is shipped overseas. Sadly, the vast majority of the horses that become victims of this predatory and deceptive industry are young, healthy animals who could have led productive lives with loving owners if they'd been given the chance.

Not only is slaughter immensely cruel, but U.S. horses are not raised for food, and over the course of their lives they are given a wide variety of drugs and veterinary treatments that make their meat unfit for human consumption.

Congress must act to completely end this horrific practice once and for all. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act would ban domestic horse slaughter and stop the export of horses for slaughter abroad. This vital legislation is needed to fully protect our American horses from ending up on foreign dinner plates. Horses have stood by us as our loyal companions throughout history -- we owe it to them to protect them from abuse.