Animal Advocates Watchdog

Meat Market Looms For BC Horses: Must be rehomed by July 26 *PIC*

http://www.theprovince.com/Meat+market+looms+horses/3316298/story.html

Meat market looms for B.C. horses
Rescuer has until Monday to find homes for eight thoroughbreds
By Cheryl Chan, The Province July 24, 2010 7:56

"Night of the Galyx", a 18-year-old stallion, is one of several horses that hasn't been placed in a new home since his breeder has been forced to sell his herd. Photograph by: Chris Adderson, www.Forthehorse.com

A herd of thoroughbred horses in the B.C. Interior might be headed to the slaughterhouse Monday because their owner can't afford to keep them.

Lee Oakford of T-Bar Ranch in Chase is losing his farm and has no choice but to sell his 30 horses for meat for $500 a head, supporters say.

“The man is devastated it has come to this,” says horse rescuer Craig Lundgren, one of many horse-lovers who have mobilized to raise funds to rescue the horses. “My heart goes out to the man.”

The animals — ranging in age from two to 20 years old — are well-bred and in good health, but they will be trucked to a slaughterhouse in Fort Macleod, Alta., on Monday unless Oakford can find a home for them.

Chris Adderson, who runs a horse-rescue and rehab centre in Chase, found out about Oakford’s plight Thursday and was distressed to hear about the herd’s gruesome fate.

“We didn’t want to see horses that had come into this world to have that destiny,” she said. “They’re very nice horses, very beautiful, with top breeding.”

Adderson posted a plea for buyers or donors on her website Forthehorse.com, and it spread like wildfire on Facebook and online discussion forums.

By Friday, 22 out of the 30 horses had been sold for $500 each and placed in new homes.

“For the quality of these horses, that is next to nothing,” said Adderson, who has known Oakford for at least 10 years. “He’s giving them away.”

Oakford didn’t want to talk to media for fear of a public backlash against his decision to sell his horses for meat, Lundgren said.

“When people fall on hard times, sometimes they don’t have many options,” he said, adding that it’s a tough time for North American horse breeders because the market is oversaturated, and most rescue organizations are at maximum capacity and unable to afford the upkeep of more horses.

“The only other option left is to send them to auction, where they’ll be purchased by kill buyers for $200 to $300 [and then resold] to meat markets for $500,” said Lundgren.

The meat is exported to Europe and Asia, where there is a market for horse meat.

Eight more horses from Oakford’s herd — including two bay mares, a two-year-old bay filly with a hernia, and an 18-year-old stallion — are still awaiting buyers.

For more information, visit www.Forthehorse.com

chchan@theprovince.com

twitter.com/cherylchan

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Meat+market+looms+horses/3316298/story.html#ixzz0ucMCns8e

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