America's Effort to End Horse Slaughter
Part Five of a Series

S.1915, the Virgie S. Arden American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) introduced a bill to make slaughter of horses for human consumption illegal. Senator Ensign had previously introduced a similar bill however at the time the American public was not as tuned in to the issues. The Burns stealth rider, the behind closed doors manipulation of anti-slaughter language in the House-Senate Conference Committee and other maneuvers by a few powerful legislators to thwart the majority will of Congress has drawn particular public criticism.

It became clear that a straight-forward bill that could not be easily disemboweled in the infamous "smoke filled room" or in Conference Committee was necessary to protect horses from slaughter once and for all. Senator Ensign took the bold step to confront the powerful clique and submit such a straightforward bill.

Key elements of the Bill.

The following are key elements of S.1915, that amends the American Horse Protection Act.

• The bill defines slaughter for human consumption.

• The bill includes all equines (horses, mules, donkeys and associated hybrids.)

• The bill establishes that horses are not bred and raised for human consumption and that private citizens selling horses are often not aware that their animals are being purchased for slaughter.

• The bill bans use of double deck trailers to ship horses.

• The bill identifies the "movement, showing, exhibition, or sale of sore ⁽¹⁾ horses."

• The bill allows for the detaining, inspection and taking of evidence of any horses for which there is probably cause to believe are sore or are being shipped in violation of other provisions of the Act (e.g., to slaughter).

Footnote 1. “Soring” is defined as the application of any chemical or mechanical agent used on any limb of a horse or any practice inflicted upon the horse that can be expected to cause it physical pain or distress when moving. The soring of horses is aimed at producing an exaggerated gait similar to that obtained by conventional training methods but over a shorter period of time. - USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Reasons as to why the horse slaughter issue needs to be addressed are presented in Part Six.