Horses helped us settle the american west, contributed to communication via the poney express, helped us farm our lands, bring the cattle to market, plow our fields, and yes even used in circus acts many highly evolved like the Lipizzaner Stallions.

One story that hurts me deeply is anyone that knows and understands Thoroughbred Racing will be deeply sadened and angry over the following story.....
Back in the mid 80's there was a very famous horse a Kentucky Derby winner named "Ferdinand" a winner of the Breeders Cup as well. In time Ferdinand was retired from racing and after failing at stud was sold to Japanese interests in Japan. The Blood-Horse, attempted to learn of Ferdinand's whereabouts after a member of the Howard Keck family that owned and bred the horse inquired about having him returned to the United States, where he began his career at stud. As a racehorse, Ferdinand won eight of 29 starts and earned $3,777,978, retiring as what was then the fifth leading money winner of all time. His victory in the Kentucky Derby gave trainer Charlie Whittingham his first success in that classic, and it was the final career Derby win for jockey Bill Shoemaker.

Sold to Japan's JS Company in the fall of 1994 at a time when Japanese breeding farms were aggressively pursuing American and European breeding stock, Ferdinand spent six breeding seasons at Arrow Stud on the northern island of Hokkaido, from 1995-2000. Initially popular with local breeders (he was mated to 77 mares his first year), Ferdinand was bred to just 10 mares in his final year at Arrow, and his owners opted to get rid of him. and in one of the worst acts since the bombing of Hiroshima they had Ferdinand slaughtered, talk about a terriorist act against an americon icon this is it! Even now this brings tears to my eyes and a huge ache to my heart, when i think of that Horse that was a champion and brought joy to many americans suffered such a horrible death, it is so unjust! Pope John Paul II once said that animals have souls and that God has a special place for them, that being so Ferdinand is at peace now, but it also means that his slaughter was the very act of murder!

Nearly 100,000 horses are brutally slaughtered annually at three remaining foreign-owned slaughterhouses in America "" all to fill the bellies of gourmet diners in upscale restaurants in Europe.

Horses have always been an American symbol of freedom. Their loyal, relentless work is part of what made this country. They are the living legends of American history.

Horses going to slaughter are most often treated inhumanely. They are injured in overcrowded trailers and are abused by handlers. Many times they are conscious during acts of mutilation and slaughter.

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (bills HR503 and S1915) would provide a permanent and immediate ban on both the slaughter of horses in the United States and the exportation of live horses for slaughter abroad.

These bills will be voted on the week of Sept. 5.

These horses have earned and deserve the right to live. There are rehab and retirement facilities that could use these magnificent animals. Please be a voice for them and call, fax or write your members of Congress today and ask your friends and neighbors to do the same.