Although the numbers have significantly reduced since 2015, every year approx. 20,000 US horses are slaughtered for human consumption. They are transported across the border to large slaughter facilities in Mexico and Canada and their meat is exported to Japan and China.
Where do these horses come from? They come from race tracks, farms, riding academies or private owners and are sold at auctions all over the country where they spend hours and sometimes even days in overcrowded pens, often without access to food and water.
Horse Transport: After being bought by a "kill buyer" they are loaded onto a single deck trailer and transported to their final destination, one of the slaughter plants in Canada or Mexico. Animals' Angels has documented transport times of more than 35 hours - and at no time were the horses ever given food or water, or provided a chance to rest.
Arrival at Plant: Upon their arrival at the slaughter plant, some of them are already “down," unable to rise, due to exhaustion, dehydration or injuries. These horses are supposed to be euthanized immediately. However, our investigations and research show that this is usually not the case. Federal law requires that horses must be rendered unconscious prior to slaughter, usually by a captive bolt. However, due to horses’ natural aversion of anything approaching their foreheads, some horses, even after multiple attempts, are improperly stunned. They remain conscious as they are hung up by their rear leg and their throat is cut.
Horse slaughter is a cruel and predatory business and it needs to stop.
What can be done?
On February 27th 2025, the SAFE Act (H.R. 1661/S. 775) was reintroduced in Congress to end the slaughter of American horses. Sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the SAFE Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act—which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill—to extend protections to equines as well.
IPlease visit www.safeact.org for more information. This great site also offers an easy and convenient way to contact your representatives and to tell them to support this important legislation.