Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Will "Americans Against Horse Slaughter" be Welcome at The First Annual Horse-Slaughter Convention?

...and will we ever know if someone dosent ask?

The Pro-Slaughter organizers are inviting ALL interested parties to participate; http://www.united-horsemen.org/summit-of-the-horse/summit-agenda/

Do you think any "Americans Against Horse Slaughter" will even bother to ask?

http://www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.com/

"Americans Against Horse Slaughter" need to call and see if they would be welcome at this "Summit of the Horse" Convention, and if so, will they make reservations to attend?

Sue Wallis
sue.wallis52@nullgmail.com
307 685 8248 ranch
307 680 8515 cell


Dave Duquette
info@nullunitedhorsemensfront.org

541 571 7588

*Booths are available for $500 which include 2 registrations for the Summit

Monday, December 6, 2010

Horse-Slaughter Summit / Day One

SUMMIT OF THE HORSE – PROGRAM

January 3rd – Monday

6:00 pm – Opening Reception – Trent Loos – Master of Ceremonies for the Summit of the Horse

Trent Loos is a farmer, rancher, and radio host with a special love for folks who lead the same life he has chosen. Trent is a sixth-generation resource provider, specializing in supplying seedstock to pork producers, and beef cattle. When he’s not busy cutting cattle, Trent’s passion is spreading the word about the many positive things in production agriculture, where it is “individuals, not the institutions, that make a difference.”

Announce winner of 2011 Dodge Truck from Chapman Dodge

January 4th – Tuesday

9:00 am – Welcome and Opening Remarks

John Falen, President of Public Lands Council & Tom Collins, Clark County, Nevada, Commissioner

9:30 am – Opening Keynote: The Politics of Land and Horses

U.S. Congressman Charlie Stenholm, Texas, (retired)

9:45-10:00 – Break

10:00 am – The Horsemen’s Forum – Necessary Steps to Restore Lost Value and Normal Markets

A discussion that includes a broad range of horse industry spokespersons representing horse marketing, top trainers in various disciplines, breeders, breed registries, and event organizations. Forum participants will give their brief answer to the question, “What are the most important things that need to be done to restore the horse industry in the United States?” This first round will be followed by questions and answers with the audience.

Dave Duquette – Hermiston, Oregon – working cow horse trainer

Frank Bowman – Springfield, Illinois – Horsemen’s Council of Illinois

Bill & Jann Parker, Billings, Montana – Billings Livestock Horse Sale

David Solum, Solum Brothers – Lamar, Missouri – breeder – production sale

Ted Robinson – Oakdale, California – cow horse trainer

Dennis Foster – Virginia – Master of Fox Hounds Assn

Johnny Zamrzla – California Horse Council – PRCA

Ike Sankey – Joliet, Montana – Sankey Pro Rodeo – PRCA stock contractor

Bob Loomis – Marietta, Oklahoma – NRHA trainer and breeder

Katherine Minthorn Good Luck – Pendleton, Oregon – Intertribal Agriculture Agency

Tyson Larson – Nebraska – rope horse trainer and Nebraska State Senator

12:00 Noon – Lunch Break

Afternoon Sessions: Healthy lands/Healthy Horses—Restoring ecological balance to federal lands, controlling excess and unwanted feral horses on state, tribal, and private lands.

1:30 pm – Bob Abbey, BLM Director – Sustainable & Realistic Solutions to Wild Horse & Burro Program

2:15 pm – Wild Horse Gathers and Issues Regarding Horse Welfare

Dr. Boyd Spratling, DVM and member of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Committee

2:45-3:00 pm – Break

3:00 pm – The BLM situation

A forum of land management agencies, range specialists, equine specialists, wildlife conservationists, Western state policy makers, and domestic horse industry representatives discussing the current situation on the land, and effects on other users of federal lands, as well as market effects on the horse industry of BLM policies.

John Falen, President of Public Lands Council

Dean Bolstead, BLM wild horse program

Dave Catoor, horse gathering contractor

Steve Torbit, National Wildlife Federation

Larry Johnson, Nevada Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife and former member of BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Committee

4:00-4:15 pm – Break

4:15 pm – Unintended Consequences on State, Tribal, and Private Lands

Tribal leaders join with private land owners and state land managers to discuss the breadth and scope of devastation wrought by uncontrolled populations of feral horses not under the jurisdiction of the federal government. This forum includes a discussion of the unintended consequences that have resulted in the alarming increase of abandoned, neglected, and starving horses.

Arlen Washines, Yakama Nations

Frank Bowman, Illinois Horse Council

Katherine Minthorn Good Luck, Umatilla, Intertribal Agriculture Council & Northwest Tribal Horse Coalition

Jeri Dobrowski, AMillionHorses.com

Jason Smith, Warm Springs Tribe,

Wade Cox, Colorado rancher

6:00 pm – Evening Reception – The Equine Market Report

An informal discussion with those involved with horse sales and horse marketing from around the country hosted by Nancy Robinson, Vice President for Government and Industry Affairs, Livestock Marketing Association

January 5th – Wednesday

Morning Sessions: The U.S. Horse Industry—Protecting our horseback cultures and livelihoods

9 am – The International Animal Rights Agenda and what is Necessary to Counter Activist’s Tactics, Dennis Foster

Dennis Foster is the Executive Director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association in Virginia. A retired military intelligence officer, Dennis has become an internationally renowned expert on the radical agenda of animal rights organizations worldwide. Following Foster’s presentation, will be a panel discussion including those who have been on the front lines, such as horse owners who have been attacked by animal rights groups speaking from their experience. The objective will be to provide practical, hands-on advice and training on how to protect yourself and your way of life from radical extremist agendas.

Frank Bowman, Horsemen’s Council of Illinois

Mindy Patterson, American Federation of Animal Owners

Denissa Malott, Victim of HSUS abusive actions, and her ongoing effort for justice

Dave Duquette, United Horsemen, who continues to work closely with Denissa Malott and her ongoing battle

10:15 – 10:30 am – Break

10:30 am – Protecting our grazing & other rights— Karen Budd Falen, Wyoming

Attorney Karen Budd Falen has gathered data and conducted research which exposes the egregious misuse of Equal Access to Justice Act funds by environmental and animal rights groups, who have used federal taxpayer dollars to sue the federal government with the objective and end result being the taking of private property rights of animal owners and livestock producers. Her discussion will include straightforward advice on what rights we have as animal owners, and steps we all need to take to petition the government for redress of grievances—a constitutionally guaranteed right of every American citizen.

12:00 Noon – Lunch Break

Afternoon Sessions: Efforts underway to provide humane and economically viable options

1:30 pm – Dr. Temple Grandin – Humane Handling of Horses

2:30 pm – Efforts underway to provide humane and economically viable options

In spite of the economic devastation of the horse industry, efforts around the country are underway to bring humane and regulated horse processing back to the U.S. This forum will include those involved in enterprises already underway to build plants in Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Wyoming and elsewhere.

Ed Butcher, Montana

Jason Smith, Warm Springs Tribe, Oregon

Sue Wallis, Wyoming

3:15-3:30 pm – Break

3:30 pm – Setting the high standard for humane processing of horses

Representatives from U.S. and Canadian animal science and humane livestock handling organizations, as well as federal and state livestock processing regulatory agencies discuss what is necessary for the humane processing of horses. This will include a presentation of the Equine Humane Handling and Assessment Project of the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada.

Tim Amlaw, American Humane

Temple Grandin & Mark Deesing from Grandin Livestock Systems

Joey Astling, USDA/APHIS Slaughter Horse Regulation

Jennifer Woods – Humane Handling and Assessment Tool Project

4:30 pm – The international perspective

How the U.S. situation is affecting the Canadian and Mexican horse industry, as well as global impacts.

Bill desBarres, Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada

Chris Gould, Canada, World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses

Rob Leach, Australia, horse trainer familiar with feral horse and camel depredation problems in Australia

Manuel Sada, Criadores de Caballos Deportivos Mexicanos AC, Mexico

6:00 pm – Evening Reception – Canadian and United States Connections in the Equine Economy

Temple Grandin book signing

January 6th – Thursday Morning

8:30 am – Brian Sandoval, Governor of Nevada (or his designee)

9:00 am – U.S. Congressmen Doc Hastings, Washington, new Chairman of Natural Resources Committee

9:30 am – Gary Moyer – Board of Directors – National Conservation Districts

10:00 am – Steve Foglesong – National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn (NCBA) President

10:45 am – 11:00 am Break

11:00 am – G.B. Oliver – Executive Vice President, Paragon Foundation

The Paragon Foundation was founded on the idea that it is the responsibility of government to protect the rights of fellow Americans, as written in the Constitution, as well as the responsibility of every American to make sure the government remained true to its purpose. Understanding that knowledge is power, Mr. Oliver will wrap up the Summit of the Horse in a way that seeks to arm landowners, land managers, horse owners and horse industry professionals with the information and negotiating skills necessary to protect their property.

HorseMeat on The Menu at 1st Annual Summit of the Horse?




If Sue Wallis and Friends had their way, it would! Below is a message being sent round today to her Pro-Slaughter Constituants, from The Horse-Slaughter Queen herself;

Hello Suscribers,

For today's Summit of the Horse blog we are sharing a reprint of an article written by Dan Pandolfo, a horse breeder and cattle rancher from Northgate, Sask., who says eating horse meat is more respectful than waste or abuse. This was originally published in the Western Producer on September 23, 2010.

There are many perspectives on the problems in the horse industry today. Dan shares one that many of us share.

Our hope is to bring all of the various perspectives together at the Summit of the Horse in Las Vegas to discuss calmly and rationally what needs to be done to restore the horse industry. We will not tolerate protests and obstruction, but if you come to the table with respect and decorum, you will be welcomed. I hope that you can join us!





Sue Wallis, Vice President
United Horsemen

Article;

Available horse meat a modern reality

I am a Saskatchewan horse breeder and cattle rancher. I read your Aug. 26 article ( "Horse breeding industry faces crisis") with interest and an open mind, and I feel compelled to give a different perspective.

In regard to Betty Coulthard's problems and the emotions spawned by the reality of product demand, I agree that it is difficult to see young horses go to slaughter plants.

However, I feel the same way about a pen of nice fat steers or heifers or a favourite productive cow that has spent her time on earth doing what she was meant to do - turning the earth's grasses and grains into life-sustaining protein.

After all, the relationship between mankind and forage-consuming animals has existed for well over 1,000 years.

Ms. Coulthard's perspective could be suspect to a lot of breeders and horse owners and potential new industry players. Making a statement such as " you have to raise 100 horses to get two good ones" is self-defeating when it comes to getting the public and horse enthusiasts to spend hard-earned dollars on the product of a specific breeding program.

In my program, I think if I raise one poor animal in 10, then I need to correct the problem as quickly as possible. In fact, I have a sales production program that includes a guarantee of a horse's quality, given proper care and animal husbandry is in place in the prospective customer's facility.

The truth about the price of horses is multifaceted. Part of it relates to the PMU industry.Canadian PMU producers were persuaded by the buyer of their product to produce papered stock to eliminate the impression that they were raising horses destined for human consumption. Producers complied.

Supply and demand set the price on the horses, and producers had to sell them to the pleasure and performance horse industry to comply with their contract holder and their own association. The result: a massive number of papered horses of varying quality. It created a glut on the market.

Producing high quality sport horses is a tough game to play. Even the best bred prospects sometimes do not work out as well as intended.

This has left a sour taste in the mouths of many people who invested in PMU bred horses. A number of these horses work out well but a greater number prove to be a poor investment.


Good horses still bring good money. The same is true of all top quality products. And yes, it's true that the market does not bear as much fruit as it did 10 years ago. We are in recession and everyone is included, horse breeders and users alike.

At this time in our history, horses are a luxury. Supply and demand are the dominant factors in this world and probably always will be.

North Americans are foolish and wasteful. Apparently we are so rich that we can, because of an emotional misconception, afford to throw away one of the highest quality red meat sources in the world.

Horse meat is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef or bison. It has higher protein per gram and is also rich in trace elements.

In our culture, obesity is running rampant, causing all kinds of expensive and damaging health issues. Yet we think eating horse meat is a sin, while the rest of the world consumes more than four million horses per year and has lower obesity rates.

This is a ridiculous situation. We have people in our own country who struggle to feed their families a good balanced diet. At the same time we sell our horses to a few fully integrated horse meat market retailers for a fraction of what they are worth on the world market.

I have been told that a 1,200 pound horse, when processed, retails for an average of $ 2,750 per animal. If you figure a yield of 65 percent on the rail, the meat is worth $3.52 per lb.

I have also heard that in some European and Asian regions, the best cuts can sell for up to $40 per lb. Of course, those would be fed horses for a specific market but it nevertheless appears that horse meat is worth a premium to beef in a lot of countries.

We see horses sold in this country for a measly 20 to 40 cents per lb., all because there is no domestic demand.

Yet 4.6 million horses are consumed by humans every year in other countries and cultures. Are we to assume these cultures are ethically corrupt, uncivilized or less intelligent than North Americans are?

The animal rights people have been successful in shutting down the slaughter horse industry in the United States, making U.S. slaughter horses worthless. Integrated retailers are able to buy American horses for the cost of assembly and trucking.

It seems unbelievable, but the anti-slaughter groups and animal rights people are crushing the taxable economic activity of the horse industry. At the same time they are enabling the horse slaughter monopolies in Canada and Mexico to make bigger profits than ever.

Using horses to sustain human life is far more respectful of these animals than to let them starve or put them down and waste their remains.

-------------------------
Bloggers Note: The asshole author said ONE thing right. The PMU Industry plays a HUGE part in the production of so many "un-wanted" horses.

Friday, December 3, 2010

HR 503 Not Worth Fighting For: Call for Operation Start Over

I have just been going over the latest version of HR 503, our "Anti-Horse Slaughter Bill (now S. 503 currently stalled in Committee) and after reading it, it suddenly dawned on me, this bill, as amended, does little to protect horses from slaughter....and sounds like the amendments could have been written by people of the likes of Sue Wallis. Read it and see what you think and Iwill get back to explaining why I think this bill is NO good and was written (same as the ROAM Act) to placate the anti-voters while at the same time allowing the pro-exactly what they want,....loopholes in the law that would allow the slaughter of our American Horses to Continue....

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109hr503rh/pdf/BILLS-109hr503rh.pdf

It also makes the Secretary of Agriculture responsible for all unwanted horses and encumbers tax payers with the cost of reimbursment to the owners of same. They are asking for $5,000.000 to enact this bill....(another reason it will never pass) and I am wondering WHY should the Secretary be responsible for the owners "unwanted" horses? Why should the tax payers have to pay, and why cant they just make a simple bill that says NO AMRICAN EQUINES should be slaughtered and that the owners will be responsible for the proper and humane disposal of their unwanted ones? Provisions holding the owners accountable for their own just might help cut the over-breeding down. Isnt that exactly what is needed, and what we want?

It does reaffirm in the bill that horses are not traditional food animals and should be "protected" from slaughter....AND THAT is a very good thing we must NEVER lose track of, but, it turns out though, in the context of this bill, they mean "protection" only for some. There are loop-holes that will allow some to be slaughtered even for human consumption. Why cant they just come right out and say that the slaughter any American Equine any reason should be prohibited, across the board? If we recognize that horses (in America) are not food animals, why should we allow ANY of them to be slaughtered for any reason? Slaughter is a horror reserved for food chain animals ONLY....there is no other reason to kill an animal in that way except to consume its flesh. Slaughter is never and can never be humane under any conditions. There is NO SUCH THING AS HUMANE SLAUGHTER. Anyone who says there is is a fool.

Recognizing the importance of the horse in our history, the 106th Congress designated Dec 13th as The National Day of the Horse. (A day I am ashamed to say, that most equine advocates ignore)

Several years ago, Author of HR 503, Congressman Conyers, pushed a bill through that designated JAZZ as a National Treasure.....so why not for American Equines too? After all, its our American Equines that are tortured and killed, NOT any Jazz Musicians!

What is needed is a bill designating American Equines as National Treasures and Recognizing that they are not a food animal in the USA and PROHIBITING their slaughter anywhere for any reason, period. Its really is that simple....why do the politicians, even those who proport to be our supporters, why do they keep mucking it up, dragging it on and on?

Could it be because they are ALL, everyone of them to a number, a bunch of liars, and cheats and thieves who will promice us anything but do little or nothing in furtherance of our goals?
Ya'all know my feelings on that!

FIRE CONGRESS
OUTLAW PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS
PAYCUTS FOR ALL OF THEM
(THEY SHOULD WORK FOR FREE)
RE-VAMP THE ELECTORIAL SYSTEM
SO YOU DONT NEED A MILLION BUCKS TO RUN
FREE AIR TIME FOR ALL CANDIDATES,
ETC ETC, ETC.

REVOLUTION NOW!

Legislative BS & So Much for Their Support

Will all this legislative support, (over 180 politicians) how come we still cant pass our bill (S. 503)?

http://thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bdcgQb:@@@L&summ2=m&/home/LegislativeData.php

Some one sent it to Committee knowing it would stall there and die. It happens everytime. When the bill was first submitted, they could have held on to it or put it on the calander right way. All I wanna know is, who was responsible for sending it to Committee?

Furthermore, there are ways to get it out of Committee but no one seems to be working on that goal....