This is a response to yesterday’s post on horse slaughter.

I have gotten lots of response on this which I expected.  It is great to see people so passionate about what they believe.

I would like to clear up a few things.

I am not judging what anyone else is doing, only giving my thoughts on how I feel.

My main points I wanted to make were these:

• The people in animal agriculture must treat the animals we raise properly and in the way the public wants or we will be regulated.
• To really treat horses the best way possible we must understand what really satisfies the horse, not what the human thinks the horse needs.
• It is necessary for both sides of the issue to understand the change of thinking that has occurred in reference to horse-human relationships in the last thirty years.

I never said I was for or against horse slaughter, but improper handling of any animal in life and death.

I don’t think we are really helping the horse by name calling or getting angry.  The law says no horse slaughter in the U.S.  That is a fact.  It is still a country that if you follow the law, you can do what you want with your own property.  If people want to take their horse to an auction, I believe it is still legal in this country.  I am not taking mine and that’s my right.  If my neighbor wants to take his, that’s his right, and as long as he is not abusive in doing so, there is nothing I or anyone else can do about it.

The main thing in doing what you believe,  please treat the animal right and really think about what you are doing. Do the right thing.

That’s all I have got to say about this.

~ Curt Pate