Horses are in an awkward position. On the one hand, they keep us company and share many leisure activities with us ; on the other, they are subject to major exploitation at racecourses and are killed for their meat. One Voice says STOP! They are also entitled to respect. We are demanding pet status for them. They must no longer end their days in an abattoir !
In France, horses are profit-making animals. Although for many of us horses are now pets, they are not protected as such. Quite the opposite in fact. Every day horses and foals are exploited without mercy and are killed for their meat. Foals are killed at between 6 and 9 months. Young draught horses and adult retired horses (horses that cannot be used for racing or riding schools) are then also killed, after experiencing the hell of transport at the end of a life of slavery. As consumers no longer like horse meat, it is mostly used for pet food. But that’s not all.
Mares are also treated. They are battery farmed in the United States to harvest a hormone contained in their urine which is used to manufacture a medicine to treat the effects of the menopause. Thanks to a campaign lead by One Voice in France, the use of this medicine, with its doubtful secondary effects, has not developed in France.
However, mistreatment of horses is far from being eradicated in our country. It was only in 1988, thanks to a major campaign by One Voice, that the suffering endured by Pottocks ponies in the Basque Country began to disappear. However, we must remain vigilant. Unfortunately, horses are still mistreated, notably during transport. Horseracing is one area where cruelty runs unchecked through unlimited exploitation of horses. Giving horses pet status would mean that the mistreatment they have to endure could be classed as cruelty. The people who commit these acts could then receive heavier sentences and horses’ living conditions would improve.
One Voice is requesting pet status for horses. It is not acceptable for them to continue to be mistreated and abused with impunity. We demand respect for our horse companions !
