Potential Solutions

As we've seen in the Mustang Dilemma, wild horses are a victim of their own success. There are several options available, and individuals as well as lawmakers can play a part in determining the best of these. We could do nothing and let disease and possible slaughter on the highway reduce their numbers. Or we could explore slaughter, adoption, population control, and sanctuary.

"Today, an average of over 100,000 American horses are slaughtered annually at U.S. and Canadian plants."

Slaughter as a Solution
Since 1980, well over 4 million American horses have been slaughtered in the U.S. and Canada and their meat exported to Europe and Japan for human consumption.

Today, an average of over 100,000 American horses are slaughtered annually at U.S. and Canadian plants. It is estimated that more than a third of all slaughter-bound horses in the U.S. are bred for racing (11-21-99 article from Lincoln Journal Newspaper). They are either no longer competitive or just don't make the grade. Others include: camp, show, "backyard", rental and Amish horses, urban carriage horses, PMU mares and foals, and unwanted pregnant mares and barren broodmares.