5:51pm Tuesday 7th July 2009
Dear Sirs,
We would like to respond to the comments made by Mrs Hughes and Mrs McLean in the article recently published on your website.
The Horse Trust agrees that the way in which horses destined for the meat trade are bred, treated and then sent to slaughter can be horrific.
We are working hard to improve health and welfare standards within the meat trade. We believe that there are better ways of ending the live export of horses for slaughter than buying horses destined for slaughter. We would encourage people to lobby parliament for a change in the law to stop horses being exported for slaughter and for stricter enforcement of transport regulations, the Animal Welfare Act and the Tripartite Agreement.
By purchasing an animal, people may feel they have saved the horse, but it is unlikely that it will have reduced the actual number of horses going to slaughter.
People are actually ensuring the cycle continues by contributing towards the supply and demand economics of the horse meat business - when farmers realise there is an increased demand for these types of ponies, they will simply breed more of them, and the actual number destined for the meat lorry will be the same.
Regarding the purchase of ponies online, we believe it is vital for people to inspect any pony they purchase to ensure they have the necessary expertise, resources and time to care for that animal.
The decision to purchase any pony should be determined by balancing the needs of the pony with the capabilities and resources of the potential owner. What happens all too often is that the “rescued” pony finds itself in another desperate situation with an owner who is not capable of meeting its needs.
The Horse Trust has recently been contacted by a number of people in this situation, asking us if we can take on the horse they have "rescued" as they are unable to cope with its medical or behavioural problems.
Regards
Susan Lewis, Marketing Manager, The Horse Trust.
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