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'Morning Romp' by Rentsch


Manes & Tails Organization Spring 2007 Newsletter


Status of Texas Lawsuit and Legislation

The two slaughterhouses in Texas had their appeal for a rehearing of their case denied by the full Fifth Circuit Court of the United States. Empacadora de Carnes de Fresnillo, S.A. de C.V., Beltex Corporation and Dallas Crown, Inc. have now petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States for a writ of Certiorari to hear their case. The Supreme Court grants the writ in a very small percentage of cases and since the Circuit Court has upheld their decision, it is expected that the Supreme Court will deny the petition.

Records from the USDA Export Report document that on week ending March 22, 2002, 367 horses were slaughtered in Mexico for a total of 4,238 since January 1, 2007. It is not illegal for horses to be exported to Mexico from Texas, or any other state, and Beltex is a partner with Empacadora de Carnes de Fresnillo, S.A. de C.V.

Texans are currently fighting against newly introduced legislation which would repeal the 1949 statute just upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of the United States. Please see the International Fund For Horses for more information regarding this legislation.

It is vital that HR 503 and S. 311 pass as soon as possible as the legislation bans export of horses for slaughter. Please be sure to contact your two Senators and one Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the legislation. A phone call to a District Office Aide is effective as typically these Aides are not as busy as those in D.C. Please fax your Senators and Representative only once, and follow up with a handwritten letter sent via snail mail. Hand written letters carry the most weight as the constituent has taken the time to write the letter, put it in an envelope with a stamp and get it to the post office! Contact information for all members of Congress can be found here.


Zoo Campaign

Lion in a Rocky Landscape

'A Lion in a Rocky Landscape' by Landseer

The 'Fans of Barbaro' have initiated a campaign to educate zoos across the United States to stop feeding horse meat to their big cats and other predators. Removing horse meat from the zoo food chain obviously removes another distribution channel for the slaughterhouses. Thus far, the following zoos have made a commitment not to use horse meat:

Austin Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Columbus Zoo

Salient points regarding the feeding of horse meat to these animals were stated by Cindy Carroccio, Director of the Austin Zoo:

What we feed at Austin Zoo:

DO NOT FEED HORSE MEAT
We feed human grade meats; purchased from Sysco Food Services
Chicken Leg Quarters - 19.99 per case
Beef Heart - 55.05 per 50 lb case
topped off with Mazuri Carnivore Vitamins
We have had no diet related health issues with our cats
We fast one day a week.

We spend about $275 per week to feed:

6 Tigers
6 Lions
4 Leopards
2 Jaguars
4 Cougars
3 Servals
4 Bobcats
1 Lynx
1 Wolf
Occasionally 4 bear get some of the meat
During deer season we get the left overs from the processor.


Ms. Carroccio can be reached via phone at 512 288-1490 in the event that any other Zoo Director would like to speak to her for more information. To contact zoos by phone, fax, or letter, click here for a listing of all zoos in the United States.

Research © 2007 Carrie Gobernatz, Director Fair Dinkum Farm Equine Rescue

Nursemare Foals

Spoiled Acres Nursemare Foals

Nursemare Foals Rescued by 'Spoiled Acres' in Indiana


The Jockey Club is projecting a 2007 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 37,500, an increase of 0.5 percent against the 2006 registered foal crop estimate of 37,300 announced at this time last year.

Many Thoroughbred breeders take the newly born foals from their dams and have 'nursemares' raise them so the Thoroughbred mare may be re-bred immediately. The nursemares are typically Quarterhorses and Paints. Their offspring are orphaned and will die if they are not rescued immediately. There are two organizations in particular known for rescuing these nursemare orphans. Last Chance Corral and Spoiled Acres. Due to the sensitivity of the origin of the orphans, these organizations will not discuss whom they save the foals from. Their facilities are set up to provide intensive care and the survival rate of the foals is extremely high. Foals that are not rescued go to slaughter as their meat is considered a delicacy and their skins are used for clothing, rugs, and purses, among other items.

Research indicates that the Standardbred industry does not use nursemares for their foals. In the event that a Standardbred foal needs to be nursed by another mare, a Standardbred mare is used. The Standardbred foal crop for 2006 was 10,584. By contrast, the American Quarterhorse Association reported over 120,000 new foals for 2006. Many of these foals were orphans and some were sent to slaughter immediately as the breeders have the 'slaughter incentive' to part with these newly born foals.

The large majority of Quarterhorses and Paints are bred via Artificial Insemination vs. 'live cover' as is done in the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Given the enormous number of new Quarterhorse foals, is it your opinion that AI should be banned for the Quarterhorse and Paint breeds? Take the Poll and let us know.

Please support Spoiled Acres as they are not as well known as Last Chance Corral and they need donations to care for these foals.

Rescuing the Aged and Handicapped

Mustang Hearts

Mustang Hearts rescue with Debbie Richmond.

Mustang Hearts is located in a remote area of northern Idaho. Debbie Richmond currently has 18 horses that are either blind or suffer some infirmity that many would consider qualities that make these horses unadoptable. Mustang Hearts goes to auctions and feed lots, purchases these horses, rehabilates them and gives them lifetime sanctuary. Please visit Debbie's rescue and help her out with a donation. Debbie does all of the caretaking by herself and is recovering from a fractured arm!

Remember 'Ferdinand'!

Manes and Tails Organization

'Ferdinand' - 1986 Kentucky Derby Winner - Slaughtered

2007 is the 21st anniversary of 'Ferdinand's' Kentucky Derby win. Ferdinand also won the Breeders Cup Classic, and was awarded 'Horse of the Year' in 1987. Ferdinand was sent to Japan to stand stud, however, he was not successful as a stallion. It was discovered in 2002 Ferdinand had been slaughtered.

It is appropriate for Ferdinand to be memorialized this year at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day. There has never been a truly public mention of this Breeder's Cup Classic winner and 1987 Horse of the Year being slaughtered. Author Bill Heller, the winner of the 1997 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Magazine Writing on Thoroughbred Racing founded the 'Ferdinand Fee' in 2005. In an effort to help end the slaughter of horses in the United States for human consumption, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the New York Racing Association partnered to launch the 'Ferdinand Fee,' the voluntary fee is $2 or higher ($5, $10, $25 and other are the other categories participating horsemen choose from).

This is appropriate, however, more needs to be done to raise awareness. It is time to not only honor Ferdinand's memory and accomplishments, but to educate horse lovers and racing fans about slaughter and the legislation in Congress. No horse should be a 'poster horse' for something tragic, however, if the collective feeling of goodwill generated by them inspires others to work to ban horse slaughter then their legacies will live on in a most meaningful way. An on air tribute during the pre-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby would be appropriate. The large majority of racing fans either do not remember him, and they surely are not aware of the vile end to his life.

If the Thoroughbred industry is truly supportive of the 'American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act', then they will be sure to let all horse lovers, especially fans of Thoroughbred racing, know that this horse was slaughtered for human consumption, just like hundreds of horses every Monday through Friday in the United States.

Remembering Ferdinand could actually help the legislation. For Ferdinand to be marketed post mortem as 'Dine on an American Champion' needs to be addressed in a proactive manner.

© March 24, 2007
Ellen-Cathryn Nash
Manes and Tails Organization


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