Oregons Anti-Horse-Tripping Bill Tabled

Sue Wallis, Dave Duquette from "United Horsemen Fronting" take credit for this;

"Victory over Animal Rights Forces"

Anti-rodeo Senate Bill 613 declared dead

(SALEM, OREGON)-The Oregon Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources announced today it has nixed a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, February 24 on Senate Bill 613. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)-backed initiative was aimed at wiping out Oregon's thriving rodeo tradition by banning the roping of livestock. Legislative leaders said the measure also lacked support in the Oregon House of Representatives, and lawmakers will not address SB 613 again this session.

The so-called "horse tripping" bill would have outlawed the archaic practice of roping horses by the legs, causing them to crash violently to the ground. "Tripping" of horses was voluntarily banned by the Charro Rodeo Association in 1995. Some Oregon rodeos, such as the historic Jordan Valley Big Loop Rodeo, still include horse roping among the event lineup. However, strict rules safeguard the horses' welfare, disqualifying contestants who mistreat a horse or cause it to fall.

"No rodeo event in Oregon condones, or conducts, horse tripping. Oregon has comprehensive laws in place to protect animals. This bill was totally unnecessary. It was nothing more than a first step by HSUS to ban all roping of all animals in our state," Dave Duquette, United Horsemen CEO and President, said.
"Horses are livestock, and if this bill had become law, it would have set the precedent for making it illegal to rope a cow. After all, they're both livestock - what's the difference between horses' legs and cows' legs?" he added.

United Horsemen members called, wrote and e-mailed their Oregon Senators to let them know the truth about the misleading bill. They were joined by other SB 613 opponents, including the American Quarter Horse Association, the Oregon Quarter Horse Association, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association, the Pendleton Round-Up and many other rodeo directors, supporters and horsemen from around Oregon and the Northwest.

Duquette emphasized the need to remain vigilant against other HSUS-backed legislation. "The HSUS goal is to gradually pick away at owners' rights to decide what is best for our horses and livestock," Duquette said. "They hide their agenda behind pretty language about protecting animals. But we are finally starting to educate the public about what is behind the curtain. Oregonians are too smart to fall for the misleading HSUS rhetoric. Those of us who love horses, livestock and the Western lifestyle need to work together to preserve our heritage and the right to decide what is best for our animals."

An excerpt from an email circulated by HSUS' Oregon Director, Scott Beckstead, in response to the news that SB 613 had been killed:
"We will continue to carefully monitor both the Big Loop rodeos in eastern Oregon, as well as the clandestine charro rodeos in other areas... Rest assured this bill will be sponsored again in the next session, and we will not stop trying until we finally get the law passed..."

Action Alert from Slaughterhouse Sues "United Horsemen Fronting"

They are calling on their friends in Oregon to OPPOSE a bill that would prohibit the rodeo "sport" of horse tripping. Oregon people who REALLY care about the welfare of horses know what to do. Contact your reps (listed below) and tell them that you SUPPORT this bill!

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ACTION ALERT

Last week we sent out the message below to our membership and supporters. If you live in Oregon, or have ties to Oregon, now is the time to act.

Committee Hearing on Oregon Senate Bill 613 - Horse Tripping
February 24th - Capitol Building Room HR D
3:00 to 5:00pm

SB 613 is the last item on the agenda, so it is possible it could get moved to a later date.

Please meet on the steps of the Capitol Building at Noon, or inside if the weather is bad. We need as many people as possible to testify, and to call ahead to make appointments with Senators Dingfelder, Prozanski, Olsen, Thomsen and Hass who are on the committee, and your own Senator if you live in Oregon.

Senator Whitsett's office will make sure that they all have a copy of the information that the United Organizations of the Horse has provided and all of the emails that Senator Whitsett has received opposing the issue.

Call Dave Duquette, for more information
541 571 7588
info@unitedhorsemensfront.org

Oregonians, we need your help!

Please contact your state Senator and explain why they should DEFEAT SB 613, the so-called "horse tripping" bill.

This is an assault by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) against all rodeo and equine sport.

HSUS claims that "horse tripping" is a cruel and commonplace practice.

Here is the truth: "horse tripping" is non-existent in Oregon! This is the usual HSUS tactic - lying and misinformation. What they really want to do with this bill is take the first step toward banning all rodeo and equine sport.

Points to be made in opposition of SB 613

1. The Charro Rodeo Association banned "horse tripping" voluntarily in 1995

2. Rodeos like the Jordan Valley Big Loop in Oregon have rules to protect the horses' welfare. Contestants are disqualified if a horse is "tripped."

3. HSUS has passed this law in 10 states, most of which have never had a Charro Rodeo. This proves their disingenuous motives.

4. We already have animal cruelty laws, and SB 613 would dilute those existing laws.

5. There is no form of "horse tripping" in Oregon. There is nothing to ban! The only purpose of this bill is to set a precedent for HSUS in their effort to ban all rodeo and equine sports.

6. This bill would create a financial hardship for rural communities that rely on rodeo events to bring in tourism dollars.

7. This would open the door for HSUS to wipe out other rodeo events like steerroping, team roping and calf roping next.

8. Rodeo supporters in Oregon and around the country should pay close attention to this and strike hard against it.

Locate your district and then scroll down for contact information

Senator Jason Atkinson
Party: R District: 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-415, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 1704, Grants Pass, OR, 97528
Email: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/atkinson

Senator Alan C Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
District Phone: 541-282-6502
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 2859 State Street #101, Medford, OR, 97501
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates

Senator Lee Beyer
Party: D District: 6
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-419, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.leebeyer@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/beyer/

Senator Suzanne Bonamici
Party: D District: 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
District Phone: 503-627-0246
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 990, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bonamici

Senator Brian Boquist
Party: R District: 12
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1712
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-305, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/boquist

Senator Ginny Burdick
Party: D District: 18
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1718
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/burdick

Senator Peter Courtney
Party: D District: 11
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.petercourtney@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/senate/senpres

Senator Richard Devlin
Party: D District: 19
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1719
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/devlin

Senator Jackie Dingfelder
Party: D District: 23
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1723
District Phone: 503-493-2804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 13432, Portland, OR, 97213
Email: sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/dingfelder

Senator Chris Edwards
Party: D District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Fax Number: 541-744-7110
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-405, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.chrisedwards@state.or.us
Interim Email: sen.chrisedwards@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsc

Senator Ted Ferrioli
Party: R District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950
District Phone: 541-490-6528
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-323, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 111 Skyline Drive, John Day, OR, 97845
Email: sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ferrioli

Senator Larry George
Party: R District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-307, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.larrygeorge@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/georgel

Senator Fred Girod
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
District Phone: 503-769-4321
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 101 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton, OR, 97383
Email: sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod

Senator Mark Hass
Party: D District: 14
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 536, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.markhass@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/hass

Senator Betsy Johnson
Party: D District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
District Phone: 503-543-4046
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box R, Scappoose, OR, 97056
Email: sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson

Senator Jeff Kruse
Party: R District: 1
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
District Phone: 541-580-3276
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-315, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 636 Wild Iris Lane, Roseburg, OR, 97470
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kruse

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson
Party: D District: 25
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-413, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/monnesanderson

Senator Rod Monroe
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
District Phone: 503-760-4310
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 7802 SE 111th Ave., Portland, OR, 97266
Email: sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe

Senator Frank Morse
Party: R District: 8
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708
District Phone: 503-910-9066
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-311, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/morse

Senator David Nelson
Party: R District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
District Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david

Senator Alan Olsen
Party: R District: 20
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-425, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanolsen@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/olsen

Senator Floyd Prozanski
Party: D District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704
District Phone: 541-342-2447
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440
Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/prozanski

Senator Diane Rosenbaum
Party: D District: 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1700
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/rosenbaum

Senator Chip Shields
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
District Phone: 503-231-2564
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 5313 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR, 97217
Email: sen.chipshields@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc

Senator Bruce Starr
Party: R District: 15
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
District Phone: 503-352-0922
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-411, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 22115 NW Imbrie Drive #290, Hillsboro, OR, 97124
Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/starrb

Senator Chris Telfer
Party: R District: 27
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
District Phone: 541-678-3370
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 155 NW Irving, Suite D, Bend, OR, 97701
Email: sen.christelfer@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/telfer

Senator Chuck Thomsen
Party: R District: 26
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-316, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.chuckthomsen@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/thomsen/

Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
District Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 785 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger

Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
District Phone: 541-883-4006
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 23131 N. Poe Valley Road, Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett

Senator Jackie Winters
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters

Nebraska Moves Forward with Horse Slaughter Plans

http://journalstar.com/news/unicameral/article_89f9cee8-8380-5936-8ac5-7aee93da2b78.html

SOS MO/AK Rescues

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR HELP

WE RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM CHANGING LEADS EQUINE RESCUE REGARDING THESE 116 HORSES ALONG THE MO/AR BORDER. PLEASE HELP SPREAD THIS MESSAGE. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED RIGHT AWAY. IF YOU CAN NOT VOLUNTEER, PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO FORWARD AS WELL.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR HELP
----- Original Message -----
From: Changing Leads Equine Rescue
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 3:32 PM
Subject: Horse cruelty case - 116 head


Hello everyone,

Please see the attached PDF. If you are interested in helping, please contact officer Thompson at eric.thompson@opkansas.org or 913-895-6279.

Sincerely,

Changing Leads Equine Rescue
--
Changing Leads Equine Rescue
P.O. Box 901343
Kansas City, MO 64190
www.changingleadsequinerescue.org
changingleadsrescue@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/changingleadsequinerescue
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MO530.html
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Good Morning Everyone,

I have been contacted by the ASPCA regarding the need for horse handler volunteers at a cruelty case site down along the Missouri/Arkansas border. I'm organizing teams of volunteers to go down in the next few weeks. I put together a short synopsis of what they are looking for (attached). If you are interested in going or know of anyone that can help please contact me. Please forward to any of the equine groups in the area that may have horse handlers or trainers that can go.

CACO Eric Thompson
Supervisor, Animal Services
Police Department

City of Overland Park
8500 Antioch Road
Overland Park, KS 66212
913-895-6279 (w) 913-890-1279 (f)
eric.thompson@opkansas.org
www.opkansas.org