The Bottom Line
Horse slaughter is a sad reality, even in America where horses are not part of the "food chain". Exceller and Ferdinand are but two examples of popular, stakes-winning horses who have met this sad fate after unsuccessful careers at stud. Every horse fan, racing or otherwise, should read this book to understand he seriousness of the issue, and hopefully get enticed to join the fight against this most heinous treatment of these beautiful animals.
Pros
- Does not pull any punches in a strategic attack on horse slaughter in America
- Opens the horse lover's eyes to the reality of how horses are killed for food
- Encourages the reader to take up the fight and support the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
- An excellent tribute to the many organizations who save retired, unwanted, injured horses
Cons
- Certain groups continue to support horse slaughter as "euthanasia"
- The battle appears to be an uphill one with no end in sight
- Graphic descriptions may be disturbing, but necessary to get the message out
Description
- In North America, the horse is a creature we admire and respect.
- We use them in practical applications as well as for entertainment such as racing and dressage.
- In places such as France and Japan, however, horse meat is a delicacy and horses are killed for food
- This was the fate of two great Thoroughbreds, Exceller and Ferdinand, who were failures at stud.
- Although they were slaughtered overseas, many are killed in America at foreign-owned slaughterhouses
- Horse slaughter is illegal in Texas but authorities turn a blind eye to a slaughterhouse near Dallas
- Horses are killed using a captive bolt often at the hands of unskilled employees.
- This is a far cry from the euthanasia practised by veterinarians at racetracks and farms.
- Amazingly, two powerful veterinarian associations actually condone this most inhumane practice.
Guide Review - Review : After the Finish Line: The Race to End Horse Slaughter in America
The highly publicized deaths of champions Exceller and Ferdinand at foreign slaughterhouses quickly brought the issue of horse slaughter to the forefront. In his latest book, After the Finish Line, turfwriter Bill Heller exposes the harsh reality of this issue, focusing on racehorses and the slaughter industry in America. Hundreds of horses are transported uncomfortably in trucks designed for cattle, to meet their ultimate fate at one of 3 foreign-owned slaughterhouses, 2 in Illinois and the other in Texas, a state where horse slaughter has been illegal for years. This has proven to be a profitable business, as these operations buy horses privately from owners or at rock-bottom prices at auctions, kill them, and then resell the meat in Europe, where horse is a delicacy, at a substantial markup.In response, some politicians introduced the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which, despite bipartisan support, has been stalled indefinitely by high-profile groups who believe horse slaughter is humane. After reading Heller's gruesome detail of what happens in the slaughterhouses when the captive bolt is used, one cannot understand how this can be equated with "euthanasia."
Heller promotes the many great people who have made it their mission to rescue unwanted horses, finding uses for them such as pleasure riding or prisoner rehab. If the Act ever passes, these organizations will be needed more than ever, as hundreds of horses that would have died will suddenly need new homes.
