In America, slaughterhouses that were used for producing horse meat are all shut down, but owners and companies still ship horses across borders to be slaughtered for horse meat. Most of the horses shipped over borders are met with inhumane treatment. The process of sending them over the border is long and grueling. Once they arrive at the slaughterhouses, the horses are forced through narrow passageways and beat over the head with a hard metal bolt until they fall unconscious. Once unconscious they are dismembered. The horses are not euthanized before being dismembered. In some cases, the horses may even still be conscious during dismemberment due to the failure of the bolt successfully knocking them out.

Not only is the process of getting horse meat cruel and inhumane, but the actual horse meat itself can be unhealthy for human consumption. Throughout a horse's lifetime, they may be given chemicals or drugs to increase their performance. According to the Humane Society, "Over fifty known drugs are expressly prohibited by current federal regulations for use in food animals. Any use of those drugs should block their use as food, yet almost every horse who would be slaughtered for meat has been exposed to many of these prohibited drugs". Large companies such as, Taco Bell, Burger King, and IKEA have all been accused of having horse meat mixed in with their beef. The effect that the drugs and chemicals have on humans' health is not yet known. It is believed that the consumption of horse meat will cause a direct threat to the health of humans.

Horses are sent away to be slaughtered when they are deemed to have no more of a use towards their owners. The H.R 961 bill (also known as Safeguard American Food Exports Act), will prevent slaughterhouses from reopening in America and will also prevent people from sending horses over borders to be slaughtered. It is currently still sitting in the U.S House of Representatives. Please sign and make a difference in these horses' lives and the health of American citizens.