what purpose does it serve?

It serves basically the same purpose as euthanizing shelter dogs/cats. Here's a link to the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) page about horse slaughter.

link

Horse slaughter is actually supported by several horse breed associations and the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). And I used to be a horse owner (had to euthanize her in September...she was 29) and I support REGULATED slaughter.

As long as it's done humanely.

I really don't know anything about this and I am quite surprised there even is a debate. Could anyone tell me what the controversy is?

Yes, I'm wondering as well. Because I don't see why we shouldn't slaughter horses for food; we do it to pigs, so it would be pretty hypocritical to say that it's not ok with horses.
But this debate seems to be going into a whole different direction. Maybe me and Sappp missed something because we're not American?

In America it's considered taboo to consume horse meat. Horses are considered more of a companion animal rather than a livestock animal. So I think alot of the opposition for horse slaughter comes from "horse lovers" that mean well, but perhaps haven't fully considered what the alternative is. Without some way to dispose of unwanted horses, wild herds will overgraze their territories, unwanted pets will likely be neglected or abused (I've even heard of people just turning their horses loose in the woods to fend for themselves), and there just simply won't be a market for them.

It should be legal because most breeders and horse associations support it. If it was made legal than laws could be made to make it humane. As of now breeders are going out of business because there are too many horses and the selling price has plummited.

I am an equestrian and hear this non-stop. For me, it is a necessary evil. I only support it when it is done humanely (and I do not mean unconscious from a bolt pistol, hung upside done, slashed down the neck). Considering the USA does not use horses for meat (which the previous method is more understandable), I do not see why they have not developed more humane methods. Even so, I would rather horses be "humanely" slaughtered, than kept in a backyard to starve/abused because the owner does not want them.

Of course! Why shouldn't it be?

"Humanely Slaughtered"? You do realize who wrong that sounds right? The people that do this do not "humanely slaughter" these poor animals. They just slaughter them. The definition of slaughter is, the brutal or violent killing of a person or massacre. Tell me then how do you do that humanely? I just blows my mind how COLD and MEAN some people can be, that they think its just OK to MURDER innocent horses just because they feel like eating horse meat that day. It makes me sick that there are people so cruel out there.

^ I agree.

italiangirl976: the definition you gave is one of the definitions of slaughter. The other one is:' The killing of animals especially for food'. This says nothing about wether or not it could be done humanely.
(from the free dictionary link)

Just think about it "humanely slaughter". That doesn't sound wrong to you?! They MURDER these beautiful animals and your just OK with that? Usually when they say something has been slaughtered they don't mean it in a nice way. If it was humanely they would not be called slaughter houses. What do you think they do? Make them comfortable then inject them with medication that will make them "sleep" like they do at the vets office? No. They shoot them, they slit their throats, and do other sick and cruel things to them. Its beyond me how anyone can support this. Or just say "why not?". Its SICK! And anyone who supports this is sick!

And I really don't care about the other definition of slaughter. Why do you need horse meat? Do you know what a grocery store is? You know, the place where you buy food! Without torturing it! I know shocking that there is such a place!

'Humane Slaughter'? There's no such thing. I agree with putting a Horse down when they're old or sick, but Horse Slaughter is something I can't understand.

You don't care about other definitions? But the definition I gave is the one that is important in this scenario. Slaughter for food can been done humanely OR inhumanely.

Humanely slaughtered, such as done with cows or sheep, can include the use of carbonmonoxide to make the animal unconscious or the use of a bolt stunner to make the animal unconscious before they are killed.

I wonder if you are also against the slaughter of cows, sheep, goats etc.

I have been around horses all my life all my family owns multiple horses. We compete on them and they are our pets. We have one that I got when I was 8 he is now almost 30 (that is REALLY old for a horse) and he is pretty much like a dog he just runs around the place and does what he wants.

Now in saying all that horse slaughter is a necessary evil just like angria said!

I agree with Sapp many cultures eat horses but it depends on where you come from. I would never eat horse but I am fine with people doing it. I eat every other type of meat.

Italiangirl976 so what do you say we do with the horses that would normally go to slaughter houses? Shutting down slaughter houses kills the horse market now horses are sold much cheaper and its harder to sell horses. There is no where for people to take horses when they are old and cant take care of them. Now horses are starving and suffering even worse. They even get sent to Mexico and Canada. Have you watch the video of how they slaughter horses in Mexico? We did it nicer when they were in the US. Not saying that was the way to do it. We need to legalize horse slaughter and have regulations on it just like we do with everything else.

Also you said go to the grocery store and buy food. Do you relies that food comes from a meat packing plant. Hmm what do you think they do there??? Slaughter beef!

I understand now that is a taboo in the USA but this pick has also made me realise that horse slaughter is a necessary evil in the USA. Even is the meat is not eaten in the USA, it can be exported to Europe or elsewhere where people do eat horse meat.

Like with any animal that is used for comsumption I am in favour of humane slaughtering.

Why do I need horse meat? I do not need it any more then I need beef, lamb or chicken. But in the Netherlands eating horse if quite normal, though you'll not eat it every day because it is a little bit more expensive. You'll not find it in the supermarkter, but butchers sell it.

I understand why it needs to be done, but the animal lover in me cannot be okay with the way they "humanely" slaughter horses. I cannot be okay with slaughtering an animal simply because it's owner decided that it didn't want it any more. It's the same issue I have with cats and dogs - killing off the "extra" animals isn't going to fix the problem. It's not going to make people realize that horses aren't mice and hamsters and goldfish that die after a few years, that you can shove off in a corner and pay attention to for five minutes every day.

If the meat was used (even if it was shipped out) and it was done humanely, then I'd feel a little differently. I'd still be angry, but at least there was some purpose.

I'll say this in the calmest way I can....HELL no. :)

bri-marie: you seem to be arguing against some specific details of slaughter, rather than whether slaughter itself should be legal. The question is: should horse slaughter be legal in the United States? Your answer seems to go both ways: it shouldn't be legal because of the way it is performed now, but it might be OK if it was done differently...which position do you want to argue?

I'm not okay with the reasons it's done or the way it's done (majority of the time). There were people implying that, even if it was done humanely or for food they would still be against it. I don't share that view, so I said IF (and only if) the reasons and methods were different, I would feel different.

I'm not really going both ways, as I don't agree with the way it's currently done here in the U.S.

Animal cruelty will be prevented under its own laws, but I don't see why slaughter itself should be different for a horse than it is a pig or cow.