ESPN Features PETA's Undercover Investigation of Horse Slaughter in Japan

Written by PETA

Posted 06-11-2009

28 Comments

Our recent undercover investigation, which revealed exactly what happens to horses abandoned by the coldhearted racing industry, has been picked up by a variety of news outlets, but we were particularly glad to see this piece featured on ESPN's Outside the Lines:

Maybe now more sports fans will recognize that horse racing is anything but sporting—especially for the thousands of horses who meet tragic ends every year—and perhaps they'll join us in calling for an end to these abuses.

Written by Jeff Mackey

Tags:

slaughter, horse racing, investigation, undercover, The Exorcist, ESPN, cashews, pistachios, MLA, Shahid Kapoor, Lina van de Mars, Thomas D., Outside the Lines

Recent Comments

Kari commented:

4-26-2011 9:26 AM

My family owns a horse magazine for Saddle Seat and we all think that horse racing is horrible. World class horses have been sent to slaughter house so many times its rediculous. Horse slaughter houses are horrible for the horses and need to be shut down!
Autumn commented:

3-24-2011 11:11 AM

i dont think that horse racing should go on o much longer it wears horse out and makes them die sooner i jut do trail riding and hopfuly can try jumping but not be in compitions just for fun once in a while!
Autumn commented:

3-24-2011 11:08 AM

I do not think horse sluaghter i right i want them to atleast cut how many hores thy kill a year it is not fair to horses nor to the people that love them me and my friend are going to all horse slaughter websites and posting this we can be heard all aroud the world but if we all work together we can mke a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Renee commented:

2-7-2011 1:00 PM

Hurray for PETA and ESPN to have the guts to expose the ugly truth.

Stop Shipping Horses to Slaughter Inc, a not for profit corporation, has been working to end the abuse and the slaughter of horses to satisfy the industry that capitalizes on this travesty. As our community grows we will have a united voice to be heard. Please consider becoming a member at stopslaughteringhorses.org
mary commented:

11-9-2010 9:18 PM

I saw the 6pm news today and it broke my heart.How could anyone slaughter an animal.I always put myself in the animals feet. this really needs to be stopped. It's so disturbing to think that so many have died this way.I'm glad they showed this to make people aware and to tell you the truth I hope everyone of those people that do this evil pratice suffer in the same way they do these horses when their time come race horse or not they are all the same and don't deserve it.
Jana commented:

5-30-2010 9:30 AM

Majella brings up an important point.Quater horses out number all other breeds when it comes to slaughter.While there is cruelty in horse racing the typical rodeowesterncowpoke attitude is to send them to slaughter after they are no longer 'usefull'.A horse works the range but awaits a dreadful future.Many in horse racing are now taking responsibilty for their horses well being after racing.
Syd commented:

1-31-2010 12:51 PM

ok then Laurie Allen how do you soppose we get this funding? Ya its all fine and good to talk about it but last i checked we where all IN DEBT!!!
Colleen commented:

1-31-2010 12:46 PM

PETA pulls on the heart strings of uninformed people. I do agree that horse raceing is crule but horse slaughter is not. A captive bullet is a quick and painless death. This is how cows are slaughtered. Because of the ban 100000's of horses have been shiped across the border in to mexico to be killed. Mexico had no regulations. In Mexico horses are killed by MULTIPUL blows to the spine with a large knife with out being knocked out first. You choose Painless death here or mutilation down there.
Laurie Allen commented:

1-10-2010 6:25 AM

The practice of slaughtering horses is in ALL aspects of the equine industry from pleasure to ponies and everything in between. The ownersbreederstrainers NEED to step up and do the right thing by cutting back on breeding when the market is already to capacity and then some STOP selling any American horse overseas for any purpose WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR OWN PERIOD CHANGE THE LAWS HAVE THE HORSES THAT MAKE INCOMES BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT LIKE AN EQUINE SOCIAL SECURITY. SUPPORT THE EQUINE RESCUES THROUGH FUNDING OF AGRICULTURAL GRANTS AN THE EQUINE COMMUNITY SHOULD PAY TAXES INTO A FUND TO TAKE CARE OF THE SURPLUS ANIMALS THEN MAYBE PEOPLE WILL START TO RETHINK BREEDING MORE ANIMALS THAT ARE UNWANTED!!!!!!!!!!!! PS WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THE LIVESTOCK AUCTION HOUSES IN THESE RINKY DINK TOWNS THAT RUN HORSES THROUGH IT AND END UP IN EQUINE HELL IN NEW HOLLAND PA !!!!!! FORGET THE BREEDING INCENTIVES THAT IS NOT WORKING START A RETIREMENT INCENTIVE.
dana christie commented:

12-31-2009 1:33 AM

hi my family is in the harness racing industry and i for one can tell you our horses are treated with the utmost respect and the drivers are not allowed to use whips this is not the jockey on the back kinda horse racing they haul a very lightweight cart and i have even run around the track pulling it just to see for myself and when they're racing days are done we usually bring them home to live out a very good life untill they getb that age where its time to let them go humanely and i have not heard of any owners selling there old horses to slaughterhouses.

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