Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: Horse Lovers And Activists Saving Slaughter-bound Equines
Emily Murdoch, an Itchmo reader, is a writer, runs a dog rescue, and is also part of a horse rescue in the state of Washington. She recently wrote this article and sent us it to bring attention to horse slaughter and the group’s mission to save as many horses as possible from slaughterhouses.
Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: Horse Lovers And Activists Saving Slaughter-bound Equines
By Emily Murdoch
They shoot horses, don’t they? Isn’t that the saying? Would it shock you to know that a bullet would be infinitely kinder, than the harsh reality that befalls so many of our unwanted American horses?
Slaughter, and the slaughter pipeline, is no place for a horse. At livestock auctions, where unlucky horses are paraded before a crowd for that needle-in-a-haystack chance of being purchased by a loving family, horses are more often purchased by Kill Buyers, who make their living off horse meat. Kill Buyers often purchase young, sound, impeccably trained riding horses whose families or past owners believed would find a good home. They purchase horses dumped at auction by irresponsible breeders and people who want to squeeze that last buck out of a horse, regardless of its fate. Some of the horses have been abused and neglected; some have been starved and are fattened up at feedlots before being shipped. Some of the horses are wild horses, who never stood a chance; some are stolen horses leaving behind frantic owners who fear the worst.
Americans have been led to believe that only old, sick or crippled horses go to slaughter, if they‘re even aware of slaughter at all. But it’s simply untrue. Horse slaughter is America’s dirty little secret. Horses, which the American Veterinary Medical Association classifies as “companion animals†(pets), are rounded up and essentially tortured to death to satisfy foreign palettes.
A painful, fear-filled, inhumane fate awaits over 100,000 of our American horses each year. Because the last operating American slaughterhouse, Cavel International in Illinois, was ordered shut down on April 6th, 2007, the horses have been rerouted to the slaughterhouses of Canada and Mexico. In Mexico, the slaughter plants render horses with a knife stabbed into the horses’ back repeatedly until the spinal cord is severed. The animals are then lifted up by chains, their throats slit, and bled to death, often while still conscious, with waiting horses looking on.
I found out about horse slaughter four years ago, while working on a novel. Wanting to round out the main character, and living in the West, I decided to make the character a horse rescuer, then set about researching the subject on the internet. What sort of horses need rescue? Where do rescued horses come from? What I learned horrified, outraged and profoundly changed me. How did I not know about horse slaughter before? How in a civilized country built by the horse, and where Americans don’t eat horsemeat, are we betraying and exporting our national heritage for foreign consumption?
Vowing to do my part, and now four years later, if you looked outside my living room window you would see two horses and a donkey grazing in the corral, saved from slaughter and the horrors that await so many other American horses, donkeys and mules. The reality is, far from being old, crippled or useless, these equines were young, sound, and desperately in need of someone who cared.
During my research I came across Columbia Basin Equine Rescue, or CBER, a horse rescue group in Washington state that works with horses presently on the feedlots. From their website, you can place a beautiful face and kind eyes on the slaughter statistics, and view horses presently on “death rowâ€. And you can even do something about it — adopt one of these feedlot horses, or, make a donation to save a horse’s life. CBER is hands on, working in the emotional trenches as they evaluate each horse and post their availability on the internet. There are days when no more can be done; the truck that takes the horses to slaughter pulls up and with many tears shed, another unfortunate group of unadopted horses is loaded and whisked away. Their photos are taken down and moved to the “In Memory†page of CBER‘s website.
It’s time to stop the inhumane and callous exploitation of American horses. Support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which prohibits United States slaughterhouses from processing horses for food to be sold in Europe and Asia, and bans the exportation of live horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. Write your Senators, your Representatives, your President and let them know the murder of American horses is unacceptable. Start an Anti-Slaughter petition, sign an Anti-Slaughter petition, educate family and friends, and educate yourself. Don’t turn away and do nothing, now that you know; the horses need your outrage and your compassion. There are so many things in life we can’t control; the slaughtering of America’s horses is not one of them.
For more information:
Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org
Shark: Showing Animals Respect and Kindness: http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000528
1st Photo: This is Kiva Glow, being ridden and evaluated by Jeff, a horse trainer, and a rider for CBER. Kiva Glow was shipped to slaughter on 8-13-07, after time ran out. His ad for a second chance read: 20 year old, 14.2h, roan BLM gelding. He ties, and easy to tack up. He was good to ride but does not appear to know much. Split reined and neck reined a little, does not respond well to leg pressure. Just a little refresher course is all he would need. He was sure footed as many mustangs are and was sound at time of assessment. Picked up his feet gentle and willingly.
2nd Photo: Peter was on the feedlot in July of 2007. His ad for a second chance read: Very sweet yearling QH/TB, halter broke & very very friendly. Would make someone a great project. In the photo, he is one-year-old. He stands with his new owner, 14-year-old Alyssa. Which fate do you think a horse would choose, if a horse could choose his fate?
3rd Photo: Shipping Day: “Despite the best efforts of CBER and it’s supporters, not all the horses can be saved. The best way to save all of the horses from slaughter is to support the Anti-Slaughter Legislation for American Horses.”
To see more photos, visit http://columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-ShippingDay.asp
October 11th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I really wish that I had not read this article because I am so sick to my stomach now. I wish I could go down and grab up everyone of them and save them. How heart wrenching! HOW can this be stopped?!
October 11th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Well, I may not be able to help financially but I just googled ’sign an Anti-Horse Slaughter petition’ and found several….so I’ll be busy for a while.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
There is a lot of controversy regarding CBER. Many people don’t consider them a rescue at all–since what they do is solicit money to “rescue” the horses, which in turn puts money in the feed lot owner’s pocket, enabling him to buy even more horses to then sell to meat dealers.
Read this blog http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blog.....-year.html for more information.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
To think that any of our fellow humans could kill a horse in this manner is just to horrible to comprehend. Your description of slaughter of these intellegent and noble horses makes me want to cry and vomit at the same time. Growing up with horses and loving them deeply makes this story very hard to take. Barbaric acts like this just shouldn’t happen to one of America’s most prized and depended on beasts of burden, mules and donkeys included. I will go the those websites mentioned above and sign, sign, sign. And GodBless those people who were able to save a horse, any horse.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Why do they still go to slaughter if they are not adopted? Why doesn’t CBER just humanely euthanize them? I’m confused.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
This is so horrible, horrible, horrible. It’s one of those things that really makes you question humanity.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
There will always be disgruntled folk who talk down a rescue, and who also forget it’s about THE HORSES! Saving a horse means paying its ransom, even to the Kill Buyer. The Kill Buyer buys the horse. Horses aren’t free.
Claudia — euthanization takes money. An unadopted horse belongs to the KillBuyer, not the rescues, UNLESS it’s adopted. Which, again, takes money.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I adopted out a horse I outbid the killbuyer on at auction through CBEr and I also adopted a horse from them. I had a great experience and the horse I adopted from them is a wonderful 12yr old AQHA mare.
I fully support thier mission. They welcome questions and inquiries regarding why they operate the way they do. I have found them honest. I did my research before I chose to adopt, I read about bad experiences and good experiences, I queried
October 11th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
There are thousands of horses available for adoption or rescue on petfinder.com. Talk it up with your friends and relatives. As you see, these are not the old, crazy or crippled that pro-slaughter folks would have you believe. Every life saved makes room for another to come into a program. If you can’t adopt, or foster, support these folks who are trying to do what’s best for the equines….donkeys and mules are in this too. Prices are thru the roof for grain, gas and hay - all necessities not to mention farriers and vet costs. There is an over-population problem in the equine world too with backyard breeders not to mention racing industry. Times may be tougher before we pass the AHSPA but we can do it if we all stick together and help in whatever way we can!!
October 11th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I love CBER, I’ve adopted several horses from them and they are all the loves of my life. They would have been food for some human overseas and that thought makes me absolutely sick. I thank CBER for the thousands of horses saved from that fate. Rescues are always judged so I wouldn’t pay much attention to the haters out there, they are just negative beings with I guess nothing better to do :) LOVE YOU CBER!!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Seldom has their been a so-called “rescue” that has given all other rescues such a bad name, but Columbia Basin has accomplished just that. They are in reality, not a rescue at all. They are a middleman for a kill buyer - marketing his horses for him, and tacking on $450 for themselves PER HORSE! For more information on these skilled con-artists, please check out http://www.speakforthehorses.com/CBER.htm This is all facts that were taken right off their own bulletin boards before they took them down. The real rescues out there NEED your help. CBER is not a real rescue.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Seldom has their been a so-called “rescue” that has given the term “rescue” such a bad name, but Columbia Basin has accomplished just that. They are in reality, not a rescue at all. They are a middleman for a kill buyer - marketing his horses for him, and tacking on $450.00 PER HORSE FOR THEMSELVES! They refuse to reduce their fees in any way, even to keep a horse safe.
For more information on these skilled con-artists, please check out http://www.speakforthehorses.com/CBER.htm This is all facts that were taken right off their own bulletin boards before they took them down. The real rescues out there NEED your help. CBER is not a real rescue.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
RIP OFF”S They are in it for the money not the horses they have given several hundred thousand dollars to this kill buyer to go buy more horses to keep them in business!
http://www.speakforthehorses.com
October 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Well, CBER is losing ground everywhere so I guess it’s not surprising that they would be working on PR. Please everyone do your research on this organization before donating. Google is your friend (try googling CBER Rescue for a start).
October 11th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
ATTENTION READERS! This blog has been infiltrated by pro-slaughter wonks who stop at nothing to advance their pro-slaughter agenda. They are a powerful constiutency, backed by the cattle industry, and obviously have enough time on their bloody hands to attack a horse rescue, for goodness sakes! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Like I said, do your research. Google is your best friend. Try googling “CBER Rescue” and read what people have to say about this “rescue” operation.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
CBER is such a great rescue. It was nice to finally find a rescue that did not require a site check as that’s such a pain. Most rescues had problems with my barb wire but they where fine with it. I really appreciated the help I received as all the adoption fees were paid for by donors. I had never heard of a rescue that gave away free horses before this. The only down side was that my horse does have a gimp to his step when I ride him so I don’t gallop him down the streets as much as I would like. I think I may try & raise some money soon for the vet to come out and see him. Anyhow, I would absolutely recommend adopting from CBER. If it doesn’t work out you can always sell the horse and get another.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
CBERLover, you’re hysterical. And - right on!!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
The feedlot horses deserve homes, regardless of the politics around them. Go tell the ones on the feedlot, that because they are owned by kill buyers, they don’t deserve saving. ???? That sounds real humane. Right.
So, let’s blame a rescue group saving these forgotten horses for everything — for humanity’s inhumanity, that slaughter pipeline horses dragged around from lots to auctions and corraled with other strange horses may get sick, that slaughter exists, that Kill Buyers exist, that people are horrible and dump their horses, that it costs money to buy horses and to operate a rescue, that horses cost money, period, (that the world is round, that the sky rains sometimes … )
Now, let’s go tell those equines standing on these feedlots as we speak, screw you, horse! You’re tangled in the barbed wire of politics and haters, and it’s more important than your life. You don’t count, because your ransom fee goes to a KB. As a matter of fact, let me help you up into the slaughter truck myself, right now — watch your step — Ho! Good dead horsie!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
PRO SLAUGHTER PEOPLE, GO AWAY AND EAT A HAMBURGER!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I hate slaughter. Slaughter is evil!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I don’t know where the pro-slaughter remarks are coming from. I am totally against horse slaughter, in any way, shape, or form. I have one rescued horse right now, and donate money to legitimate horse rescues.
Now humane euthanasia, that’s a different story.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I bought a horse from CBER too. Unfortunately, it was completely and totally misrespresented. Not only was the horse not the breed they said it was, but it was also not the heighth they said, and it was LAME! They refused to take the horse back after they had my money too. I ended up giving the horse away and they didn’t even ask where it went. Since they never had me sign a adoption contract, it was easy to do. Instead, I got a bill of sale. Is this normal for a “rescue”?
October 11th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I admit it, I have a personal grudge against the people who run CBER. Perhaps I was “rescuing” this horse for the wrong reasons. I’m sorry I couldn’t make a dime off of it.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
“Now humane euthanasia, that’s a different story.” HUH?
You’re against that TOO ??? Oh my.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
To Darla: I’m aware of a lot of people like that. The author of fuglyhorseoftheday blog was sold a horse by CBER who turned out to be much older than advertised as well as 90% blind! The horse was shipped to Los Angeles to this woman. Fortunately for the horse, this is an ethical human being and the horse will be cared for the rest of its life. Many other CBER “placements” aren’t so lucky.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
So sad that the people who have disagreements about CBER feel that their need to bash CBER is more important then all the good this article could have done in helping the horses. This article was about helping horses and educating the public about slaughter… these people obviously feel that their own hate is more important to voice then the fate of the horses themselves.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
I have adopted 4 horses from CBER. Thank you CBER for saving their lives! Please see their story here:
http://columbiabasinequineresc.....pe=Success
I hope after reading this article everyone considers rescuing a horse rather then breeding one. We have so many horses in America that are going to slaughter, please consider adopting a horse instead of breeding. Horses of all breeds, colors, training and ages go to slaughter.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Oh no! I didn’t mean that I was against euthanasia! I meant that I didn’t believe in horse slaughter.
I certainly believe that many horses are better off being humanely euthanized.
I guess I could have worded it better :-(
October 11th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
“I certainly believe that many horses are better off being humanely euthanized.”
Under what circumstances is ANY horse not better off being humanely euthanized than slaughtered?
I don’t understand how you can be pro-slaughter, under any circumstances.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
“I certainly believe that many horses are better off being humanely euthanized.”
Under what circumstances is ANY horse better off being slaughtered than humanely euthanized?
I just don’t understand how you can support ANY horse being sent to slaughter.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
The 2nd comments from Darla are not mine. Someone is obviously trying to add to what I say and make it look like I said it. How nice!
October 11th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Literally thousands of horses have been prevented the suffering and terror of transport to Canada and ultimately slaughter thanks to CBER and their volunteers. As some of you have mentioned, there is a substantial amount of CBER criticism. I challenge ANY rescue to place this many animals and consequently deal with thousands of individuals without problems arising. My experience has been that CBER reacts to problems by looking for a solution. What more can we ask?
They do not own the horses. The horses belong to a feedlot owner who allows them to post the horses and their info. He calls the shots. If he wants to ship horses and CBER has not succeeded in placing the listed horses, he ships them to slaughter. Can you imagine how terrible this is for the folks who spend their days working to find homes for the horses?
A few disgruntled individuals cannot be assuaged. They have built websites around their animosity for CBER and apparently devote their lives to ‘the cause’. If only they could use that energy to rescue horses and/or put an end to slaughter. CBER’s mission is to prevent gruesome deaths for the feedlot horses.
I have adopted seven horses from them. Although CBER is not perfect, not much in life is. My horses are treasured members of the family, perfect in their way and I know that CBER made an undeniable difference in their lives.
October 11th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Literally thousands of horses have been forced to endure suffering and terror and sent to deaths because CBER throws money at a killer buyer who turns around and buys more horses to kill with it. He buys them for a couple of hundred or less, CBER sells some of them for him for 500-800 and he goes out and buys more. It is a never ending cycle. CBER makes a tidy chunk o change for themselves. They need the killer buyer and he needs them. They never talk much about the truckloads of horses threy help send to slaughter that they call the no-hopers or canners.
October 11th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Here’s a link to many of the horses that CBER has saved from a brutal death, and this is only in the last 15 months. There are hundreds more.
http://www.columbiabasinequine.....pe=Adopted
October 11th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Why not just make it simple? You save horses your way and let CBER save horses its way. Then twice as many horses are saved from slaughter and that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Until their is a shortage of horses to save, it just doesn’t make any sense that people who are in it for the horses would bash rescues.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Same tired old hacks at it again.
We can make a difference to these horses and we are doing so…
Make your outrage about equine slaughter known to your politicians…
Educate!
Increase awareness about the plight of slaughter bound horses- so many people do NOT know that people still kill horses.
Stop backyard breeding.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Thank you so much for the nicely written article. I have four CBER horses and have supported the rescue of others. I have conducted my business with CBER in a professional way and in turn have received excellent service from them. For a small group of volunteers they do an amazing job. Buying a horse from a lot based on a brief description and a picture is a gamble. I enjoy rolling the dice and seeing what I get. The joy comes from taking a lost soul and giving the horse a chance. It can be costly and full of surprises but that is the spirit of rescue.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:19 am
Well, all I can say they (CBER) save a lot of horses that would have been dinner.. for some folks in Europe..
I wish they could save them all.. we need to ban export of horses to Canada and Mexico…. The horses need to stay home and we need to fix the problems here and not export the poor horses..
If you had to live a day in the hoofs of our horses.. you would ban slaughter. I don’t think any human would want to be on the dinner plate in Europe. We don’t eat cats .. dogs…. pets…. horses are not dinner here.. we have higher standards.. but it’s ok if it’s a dirty secret… in the US
Stop the killing… walk a mile in the hoofs of our horses… see if you would want to do it…
October 12th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Same old same old. No one is against horses being saved. Many who have no respect for CBER have a lot of respect for other rescues, in the same state.
Just think how many more horses CBER could save - now and IN THE LONG RUN - if it always gave proper medical care and training to the horses in its QT, if it really DID check out potential adopters (for example, a number of CBER placements ended up being advertised for “training” on bestiality boards), if it fairly represented the horses it’s selling, if it didn’t want to make profits on every single horse it brokers, and if it got the horses at auction instead of from a dealer. No, it’s always “the ugly truck is coming” (interestingly, if the high amounts aren’t donated fast enough, the truck will encounter delay after delay….honest.)
Just be careful, you folks out there with butterhearts for all animals. “Charitable” organizations are not always what they seem…..and an organization that flips horses like pancakes is probably not the organization with the horses’ best welfare always in mind. And it’s certainly not a “rescue”.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:26 am
There will always be folk who lie and take advantage of people and rescues, and who break their trust. That’s the fault of those people, not the rescue. I feel badly for CBER, to have been victimized and then blamed for it. It’s always blame the victim in this world, isn’t it. How convenient.
Looks to me CBER has learned some hard lessons, kept on going and growing, tightened up procedures, got in some new blood and continues to save horses. So stop beating a dead horse, as they say. CBER isn’t perfect, so what? Neither are horses. But CBER didn’t invent Kill Buyers, slaughterhouses or the trucks, it’s not their fault the horses are feedlot horses, and the horsemeat business is legal in the U.S. So, with or without CBER, the feedlots go on.
CBER is saving the horses that need it the most. If it’s a dance with the devil, the horses are worth it and then some. With or without rescues, KBs still make their living.
But it’s not about that. It’s about the horses. God be with the CBER folk, who look these unfortunate creatures in the eye on a daily basis. I couldn’t do it, and stay sane. Thank you for what you do.
The feedlot horses count too.
If you think 500 or 600 dollars is expensive for a horse, you must be a city slicker in a high rise somewhere, ignorant to horse prices. Every horse you buy is a risk, rescue or otherwise.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:39 am
Wanted to add, if CBER got the horses from auction instead, who is going to save the feedlot horses?
And, can they borrow your barn and a few slips of hay? And all the money it takes for horses in general, and can they borrow your 100 acre spread, too? Because they have to be housed somewhere.
In that scenario, then the money that goes into saving lives/horses instead goes into board for just those few auction horses. It’s a waste of money and resources and equine lives. Less saved, more slaughtered. And the feedlot horses doomed.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:43 am
[…] Emily Huh wrote a fantastic post today on “Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: Horse Lovers And Activists Saving …”Here’s ONLY a quick extractVowing to do my part, and now four years later, if you looked outside my living room window you would see two horses and a donkey grazing in the corral, saved from slaughter and the horrors that await so many other American horses, … […]
October 12th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: Horse Lovers And Activists Saving Slaughter-bound Equines
By ME
They shoot horses, don’t they? Isn’t that the saying? Would it shock you to know that a bullet would be infinitely kinder, than the harsh reality that befalls so many of our unwanted American horses?
Slaughter, and the slaughter pipeline, is no place for a horse. At livestock auctions, where unlucky horses are paraded before a crowd for that needle-in-a-haystack chance of being purchased by a loving family, horses are more often purchased by Kill Buyers, who make their living off horse meat. Kill Buyers often purchase young, sound, impeccably trained
-Uh, no. Impeccably trained? Do you really have statistics to back up that statement?
riding horses whose families or past owners believed would find a good home. They purchase horses dumped at auction by irresponsible breeders and people who want to squeeze that last buck out of a horse, regardless of its fate-
-Including rescues who decide the horse is too dangerous and rather than euthanise it per the sponsors request they take it back to Chuck Walkers dealer lot ‘Gary Seals Livestock’, and load it on ‘the ugly truck’ and ship it off to slaughter. NICE.
. Some of the horses have been abused and neglected; some have been starved and are fattened up at feedlots before being shipped. Some of the horses are wild horses
-purchased by the dealer for $100 and then shopped all over the internet by a ‘rescue’ for $500 or more. GEe I WONDER what that Chuck Walker then does with the $400 profit? Buys 4 MORE to ship, maybe????????????
, who never stood a chance-
-because the dealer had a wad-o-cash in his pocket from CBER to buy them with
; some are stolen horses leaving behind frantic owners who fear the worst.
Americans have been led to believe that only old, sick or crippled horses go to slaughter, if they‘re even aware of slaughter at all. But it’s simply untrue. Horse slaughter is America’s dirty little secret. Horses, which the American Veterinary Medical Association classifies as “companion animals†(pets), are rounded up and essentially tortured to death to satisfy foreign palettes.-
- there are so many statistics about slaughter available online, odd that this author failed to include them
A painful, fear-filled, inhumane fate awaits over 100,000 of our American horses each year-
-Again, does she not even know the numbers?.
Because the last operating American slaughterhouse, Cavel International in Texas, was ordered shut down on April 6th, 2007, the horses have been rerouted to the slaughterhouses of Canada and Mexico.-
-actually they have ALWAYS been going to Canada and Mexico
In Mexico, the slaughter plants render horses with a knife stabbed into the horses’ back repeatedly until the spinal cord is severed.-
- No, NO, NO! Not ALL the plants in Mexico slaughter this way- way to prerpetuate propaganda! The plants in Mexico who do this are slaughtering not for human consumption for export! We Anti-slaughter folks are only as reputable as our statements and this one is emotion filled and based in half truth! This slaugher method, while presently popular thanks to the news story etc out there right now, is NOT the norm nor I would guess the majority as most of the pants in Canada and Mexico are foreign owned, slaughtering specifically for export.
The animals are then lifted up by chains, their throats slit, and bled to death, often while still conscious, with waiting horses looking on.
I found out about horse slaughter four years ago, while working on a novel. Wanting to round out the main character, and living in the West, I decided to make the character a horse rescuer, then set about researching the subject on the internet. What sort of horses need rescue? Where do rescued horses come from? What I learned horrified, outraged and profoundly changed me. How did I not know about horse slaughter before? How in a civilized country built by the horse, and where Americans don’t eat horsemeat, are we betraying and exporting our national heritage for foreign consumption?
Vowing to do my part, and now four years later, if you looked outside my living room window you would see two horses and a donkey grazing in the corral, saved from slaughter and the horrors that await so many other American horses, donkeys and mules. The reality is, far from being old, crippled or useless, these equines were young, sound, and desperately in need of someone who cared.
During my research I came across Columbia Basin Equine Rescue, or CBER, a horse rescue group in Washington state that works with horses presently on the feedlots-
-These are not USDA licensed Feedlots, but dealers and therefore this statement is ignorant, showing her lack of understanding of the workings of industry… or just attempting to perpetuate that Myth CBER likes to spin.
From their website, you can place a beautiful face and kind eyes on the slaughter statistics, and view horses presently on “death rowâ€-
-OR for sale to the highest bidder as the seller is a DEALER selling to any Tom, Dick, Harry or slaughter buyer or private buyer who comes to his highly advertised, signs all along the highway dealer lot.
And you can even do something about it — adopt one of these feedlot horses, or, make a donation to save a horse’s life-
-Or not fill his pockets with cash vie his marketing dept., CBER so he can not go out and buy more. Turn hiim in to AC when you see injured/ill/illegal to ship to slaiughter horses on his lot! Hey there’s an IDEA!
CBER is hands on, working in the emotional trenches as they evaluate each horse and post their availability on the internet.-
-Selling horses as Geldings who arrive at the adopters a mare (or vice versa) and who are decades older than CBER- horse professionals extraordinaire- quoted, lame, sick, and blind
There are days when no more can be done; the truck that takes the horses to slaughter pulls up and with many crocodile tears shed, another unfortunate group of unadopted horses-ooh the loss of income hurts!- is loaded and whisked away. Their photos are taken down and moved to the “In Memory†page of CBER‘s website.
-And the money is handed by the thousands to the Dealer who then goes to the auctions and starts the whole cycle over again
It’s time to stop the inhumane and callous exploitation of American horses -
-Including by groups portraying themselves as rescues.
Support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which prohibits United States slaughterhouses from processing horses for food to be sold in Europe and Asia, and bans the exportation of live horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. Write your Senators, your Representatives, your President and let them know the murder of American horses is unacceptable. Start an Anti-Slaughter petition, sign an Anti-Slaughter petition, educate family and friends, and educate yourself. Don’t turn away and do nothing, now that you know; the horses need your outrage and your compassion. There are so many things in life we can’t control; the slaughtering of America’s horses is not one of them.
For more information:
http://speakforthehorses.com
CBERs WIKI here: http://www.alexbrownracing.com.....ine_Rescue
Columbia Basin Equine Rescue: www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org
Shark: Showing Animals Respect and Kindness: http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000528
1st Photo: This is Kiva Glow, being ridden and evaluated by Jeff, a horse trainer (to use the term loosely), and a rider for CBER. Kiva Glow was shipped to slaughter on 8-13-07, after time ran out-
-even though money had been pledged and a home found for the horse.
His ad for a second chance read: 20 year old, 14.2h, roan BLM gelding. He ties, and easy to tack up. He was good to ride but does not appear to know much. Split reined and neck reined a little, does not respond well to leg pressure. Just a little refresher course is all he would need. He was sure footed as many mustangs are and was sound at time of assessment. Picked up his feet gentle and willingly.
2nd Photo: Peter was on the feedlot in July of 2007. His ad for a second chance read: Very sweet yearling QH/TB, halter broke & very very friendly. Would make someone a great project. In the photo, he is one-year-old. He stands with his new owner, 14-year-old Alyssa. Which fate do you think a horse would choose, if a horse could choose his fate?
-Funny, no mention of Adam, Blaze, Casino, Sonya, Passion, Painter (the first), THE MARE IN THE MUD, Cuddlycowgirl and other adopters fosterers who caused harm to horses, that black and white leopard Appy adopted recently (who arrived from QT emaciated, and the QT provider refuses to answer questions about why the horse is thinner than he was on the, and the VET (talk aout ethics) refuses to talk about what was/was not provided this horse in QT. I bet that was worth the whole $300+ the adopter shelled out for QT!), or the mutant strangles on that dealer lot that caused the state vet to issue a mandatory QT for any horses coming off that lot and of course the lack of updates on the thousands of horses they claim to have saved but who knows cause they have no follow up in place!
3rd Photo: Shipping Day: “Despite the best efforts of CBER and it’s supporters, not all the horses can be saved-
-and even when all the horses they have highlighted for adoption are “saved’ others they call no-hopers do ship. Those no-hoper horses fate sealed by the very dollars raised to save the few. The best way to save all of the horses from slaughter is to not supply the dealers and killerbuyers with funding, and by support the Anti-Slaughter Legislation for American Horses.â€
To see more photos, get more information visit:
http://speakforthehorses.com
Check out CBERs WIKI here:
http://www.alexbrownracing.com.....ine_Rescue
Really, I like my truthful version much better!
October 12th, 2007 at 10:34 am
This is the “REAL” summerhorse as in the one people will associate with CBER and rescue issues.
This post:
summerhorse says:
October 11th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Here’s a link to many of the horses that CBER has saved from a brutal death, and this is only in the last 15 months. There are hundreds more.
http://don‘t buy there…
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Is NOT mine and I do not, will not and would not ever recommend getting a horse from this rescue or almost any rescue that puts dollars back into kill buyers pockets to buy MORE horses to ship to slaughter. I particularly do not recommend “rescues” that sell sick horses, mares that are geldings, crippled horses as sound, dangerous horses to novices, blind horses as sighted and sell $100 horses for $800 and sock the buyer for “quarantine” which does not include grain, meds, or farrier work.
The Yakima feedlot was nearly empty in Jan. and then FOB started shoveling money to CBER and now the feedlot is FULL to the brim with doomed horses, most of whom are never listed. So to “save” 100, now 100s MORE will die? Yeah that makes sense. I refuse to help make people who kill horses rich.
You can go BUY them from the owner for half the price, he’s a DEALER and will sell to anyone with the green! Better yet haunt the sale ads in papers, circulars and the net and go to the auctions and get them for a fraction of the price and skip most of the strangles and other lot crud diseases and injuries.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Please, feel free to spend your money at auctions to save these horses before they get to the feedlot. Regardless of what you think of this organization, THEY ARE SAVING HORSES LIVES. They do the best they can with the means they have. This is an innovative group who has learned to change their ‘regulations’ as conditions warrant. This is a new type of approach to saving horses and it is working. It is a shame that some people just parrot old lies and misstatements without looking to see the lessons learned from past history.
This article is not really about CBER…it is about equine slaughter practices in and out of the United States.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Would it make you happy if CBER closed up? That is what it sounds like… I wonder if the horses sitting in the feelot would thank you.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I love how CBER keeps saying this is all ‘new’ and they are learning as they go… YEARS after they started raking it all in.
If some statements are old lies or misstatements, I would love to see the corrections- with proof.
The Cuddlycowgirl mess is not a lie
Foster homes with horses removed for neglect is not a lie
That CBER does no post-adoption follow up, and therefore can
not say what has happened to a majority of the horses ’saved’ is not a lie
That CBER VP Wendy DeGraaf, among others, posted that CBER bought a trailer is not a lie
That Chuck often has horses on his lot who are not legal to ship to slaughter that he threatens to and CBER markets as in danger of without contacting USDA/AC is not a lie
Sonyas story is not a lie
The mutant Strangles on the lot is not a lie
That Samantha Panayotopulos bought horses with her Boyfriend Bruce Ball from Gary Seals and then showed them, tried to sell them for $15,000 and THEN those same horses showed up on CBERs website as at risk for going to the lot/auction/slaughter for adoption for $650 is not a lie
That Samantha Panayotopulos and Wendy DeGraaf were volunteers for Sleepy Hollow Horse Rescue and DID NOT assist authorities in their inquiries into the atrocities there is not a lie
The only lesson I see CBER has learned is avoidance, denial and flat out refusal to address questions when posed about their actions. That one they have down!
October 12th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
What exactly are YOU doing to help the horses already at the lot?
October 12th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Poor Kiva Glow.
Why did this horse ship when there was bail raised and a home found?