Documentary - “What About the Horse?” Questions Public Awareness

Voluntary Instinct Productions’ documentary entitled “What About the Horse?” explores Land Development and the fate and exploitation of wild and domestic Horses in North America.

New York, NY (Web.com/PRWEB ) January 23, 2008 — Voluntary Instinct Productions - To recap on a long standing issue; ‘NPR’s All Things Considered’ reported Oct.16, 2007 that approximately 60,000 horses were slaughtered annually at the Belgian-owned Carvel International Horse Slaughter plant in Dekalb, Illinois. Carvel was the third and final of three foreign owned horse slaughter plants to be closed in the US in fall 2007, somewhat affecting this $20,000,000 export business. This is a sore subject in the equine circles, but why has it primarily remained there? Voluntary Instinct’s three part documentary series entitled “What About the Horse?” http://www.voluntaryinstinct.org/index.html, will explore the fate and exploitation of our wild and domestic horses, to unveil the core issues of how this situation has gotten so out of hand and why so few people know anything about it.

Despite legislation obtained by the Humane Society lobbying to ban horse slaughter within the US, we continue to export horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, and onto Europe and Asia for consumption. The export business continues, but unfortunately the horses don’t fair as well with the live transport. The conditions are very difficult and cruel to the animals. Some are transported by aircraft, but usually traveling days overseas in uncommonly tight quarters, without food or water, in a mad rush to their immediate demise. The fear and abuse these animals withstand is immense. Compounded by the brutal conditions in which they are now slaughtered (without FDA regulations). Sometimes selling for less 15 cent per pound. Race and Show horses, former pets and protected wild horses among others are bought very inexpensively at auctions, unbeknownst to the seller, specifically for slaughter purposes.American’s don’t typically eat horse meat. This could be associated with the connotation that US freedom was built on the backs of these creatures. Wars were fought, livestock managed, transportation provided, hunting accelerated, mail delivered, sports enhanced, races won and ponies given to little girls while emotional attachments were made for life.Yet the current economic mantra appears to be that few things are sacred and everything has a price. Therefore, why shouldn’t the very animal that this country’s freedom was built on the backs of, be sold for consumption over seas? Have horses completely served their purpose since the advent of the automobile and impending demise of the cowboy? Are they now just an economic drain? Perhaps any other purpose is purely sport and human indulgence?Adding to the problem, agricultural areas are being sold and over developed, with little regard to grazing and roaming needs for wild and domestic horses among other animals. And these resources are only further stressed by over zealous horse breeders.But still, Wythe Pharmaceuticals of New Jersey continues to reproduce horses at an alarming rate in Canada since PMU farms were banned in the US in 2002. These PMU farms are apparently necessary to produce Premarin, in order to keep the hormonal nightmare of Menopause at bay. Unfortunately many Premarin users have no idea how this drug is produced or the long suffering inflicted upon the equine.Just as most manufacturing companies aren’t interested in accommodating the bi-products of their productivity, we now have a surplus of unwanted foals, with most going on to slaughter.        However, there is an upside to all this equine drama. In some countries these American horses obviously bring a pretty penny and look very nice on a plate with a sprig of parsley. Could this equine export be just another necessary bi- product of capitalism, which we have somehow managed to exploit even further? Read the full article at http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Art_And_Entertainment/177338.html 

Boro explores idea of training facility on fort land BY JENNA O’DONNELL Staff Writer 

Oceanport officials are considering a thoroughbred horse training facility as part of plans for the reuse of Fort Monmouth acreage.

Mayor Michael Mahon introduced the subject of a training facility at the Feb. 7 Borough Council meeting during which Councilman Gerald “Jay” Briscione was designated as the council liaison to Monmouth Park racetrack.

According to Briscione, Dennis Drazin, of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, had approached him to ask if there was land in the borough to house a training facility.

Briscione cited concerns that the association was losing many horses to out-of-state racetracks and/or facilities as the reason a center might be needed and should be included in the borough’s plans for Oceanport’s Fort Monmouth plans.

“It wasn’t ever part of the plan. Something like this had never been brought up,” Briscione said. “The need for this has come about because of the increased competition from other states. There is no place for New Jersey horsemen to go after Monmouth Park closes for the season. So they talked to the state about opening a training facility.”

Oceanport would be a logical site for such a facility because it is equidistant to many of the racetracks that the trainers would send horses to race at aside from Monmouth Park, Briscione said.

“[The proposed facility] would probably be similar to something you’d see along Route 537 in Colts Neck,” Briscione said. “It would probably be a barn or a number of barns with a training track and a lot of paddocks for the horses to be turned out. [Drazin] asked if we had the land for that.”

 Read the full article at http://hub.gmnews.com/news/2008/0221/Front_Page/002.html 

Posted by The Republican Newsroom February 10, 2008 12:24PM

By JOHN APPLETONjappleton@repub.comBELCHERTOWN - After focusing mostly on farms in town during its first year, the Agricultural Commission is devoting attention this year on those who own horse stables and provide services to the many people in Belchertown who own horses. ”I see it as the next step,” said Grace M. Adzima, who is co-chair of the commission established in 2006 by the Town Meeting. ”There are several commercial operations and there are well over 100 people who own horses in Belchertown. We still have enough land that people can have a horse in their back yard,” Adzima said. Last year, the Agricultural Commission published a directory of farms in town and came up with different ways to bring farmers together to talk about steps that could be taken to help them survive and prosper at a time when economic difficulties and development are wiping out many small farms, particularly in the Northeast. Adzima said the commission will continue doing what it can with those who raise crops and livestock on their farms but will branch out to work with two other major groups, focusing on those who own stables and horses this year and reaching out more to those in the logging business next year. The commission will conduct a gathering of people who own horses or run equine businesses Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. It will feature a discussion of winter horse care and serve as a forum for learning more about the needs and goals of those involved, much as the January meetings of farmers have the past two years.  Read the full article at http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/towns_focuses_on_horse_service.html 

By Julie Bryant

Feb 4, 2008, 10:42 

College Station, Texas - February 1, 2008 Over the past few weeks there has been more and more talk about the odds of a recession in the United States. Economist’s opinions are mixed as to whether we will have a recession, but all agree that, at the least, the economy is slowing and headed towards slower growth.

Whether an economic slowdown or an actual recession, both have implications for the broader horse industry that are worth considering, says David P. Anderson, PhD, Texas AgriLife Extension Economist at Texas A&M University.

Recession

Recessions are defined as negative economic activity, as measured by GDP, lasting more than a few months, spread across the economy. That means that the economy actually shrinks in size during a recession. The last recession took place in 2001.

Annual GDP growth has averaged about 5 percent, in current dollars, annually, over the last decade. This growth has been fueled by rising worker productivity, stable prices, a lack of inflationary pressure, falling real prices for some goods, and the expansion of new technologies and new products.

“This economic slowdown can be traced, probably first and foremost, to the rapid rise in energy prices,” Anderson said. “Over the last 3 years, oil prices have more than doubled to $100 per barrel. Gasoline and diesel prices have risen from $1.00 to over $3.00 per gallon. That increase in price has the effect of reducing the amount of money consumers have to spend on other items.” Since consumer spending is, roughly, 70 percent of GDP the resulting change in spending should be expected to have an effect on economic growth. In addition, nearly everything we buy is transported to its final destination, sold in stores lit by electricity, and is produced using higher cost energy.

Read the full article at http://www.bridleandbit.com/artman/publish/article_21030.shtml 

Westin resort would be open in time for Equestrian GamesBy Alex Davis  alexdavis@courier-journal.comThe Courier-Journal 

Plans for a 267-room hotel at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington are “back on track” after months of delays, state officials said yesterday.

In a preliminary vote, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority agreed to issue bonds for the project on behalf of the hotel’s developers. The state won’t be obligated to pay the debt, but issuance by a state agency will allow investors to avoid Kentucky income tax on the bonds’ interest.

State documents show that the hotel, a Westin, would have a stucco and limestone exterior, a shale roof, an outdoor swimming pool and about 300,000 square feet of overall space. It would open in time for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Horse Park. 

The resort project will cost an estimated $88 million, said Brad Burgess, one of the developers. The average room would cost $184 a night, he said, and the hotel would have a 74 percent overall occupancy rate.

A groundbreaking had been scheduled for December, but state officials said the project’s financing was delayed because of problems related to the national subprime mortgage crisis.

If a financing package falls into place in the coming weeks, construction could begin early next month. When the resort is completed, it will be turned over to a nonprofit group, the Bluegrass Equine & Tourism Foundation, with Gov. Steve Beshear appointing a majority of the foundation’s board members.

The foundation will own the hotel, and any profits after debt service are to go to the state’s equine and tourism industries. The resort’s day-to-day operations will be run by Dallas-based Prism Hotels, according to documents submitted to the state.

The documents also show that the resort would feature an art gallery, a specialty grocery, a day camp for children and a network of walking trails accented with sculptures by local artists.

Creating the nonprofit group was the only way to make the project viable, Burgess said, adding that without tax-exempt status, the venture wouldn’t generate enough profit to attract private investors.

Burgess also will serve on the nonprofit’s board, as will Phil Osborne of the Preston-Osborne public relations firm. The governor initially wasn’t involved in making appointments to the foundation board, and Osborne said the new structure will allow for more checks and balances.

Read the full article at  http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/BUSINESS/802010379/1024/NEWS0101

Governor Rendell Announces Improvements to Horse and Harness Racing Administration

By Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

 HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 15 –”Thanks, in part, to the hard work of each of the commissions and their staffs, two of the new racetracks authorized in Act 71 are up and running and the third is under construction,” said Governor Rendell. “The Sire Stakes and Breeders Funds for both commissions are providing unprecedented support for the future of Pennsylvania’s equine industry, and the addition of gaming to racetracks is bringing more racing fans to the state than ever before.”

 Pennsylvania is home to three standardbred racetracks - the Meadows in Washington County, Pocono Downs in Luzerne County and Harrah’s Chester Downs in Delaware County - and three thoroughbred tracks - Philadelphia Park, Penn National in Dauphin County and Presque Isle Downs in Erie. A fourth harness track was recently licensed in Lawrence County.The reorganization does not affect the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, which tests at random and for all winning racehorses to ensure that the horses are racing on their own ability and the skill of their jockeys and drivers.The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

Developers build equestrian communities

By Margaret Jackson 

The Denver Post

Article Launched: 01/15/2008 01:00:00 AM MST

Lone Tree developer Robert Gray is marketing High Prairie International Polo Club, which features 60 homes, a 100,000-square-foot equestrian facility, a 60-stall horse barn and a show arena. It also will have three polo fields and a training area for riders and horses. (Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post )

In the world of residential development, horses are the new golf.With nearly 2 million horse owners in the United States, branded equestrian developments are popping up across the country, including in Colorado, which ranks 10th nationally in number of horses. There are about 250 equestrian communities nationwide.Industry experts say the developments have strong similarities to golf-course developments in terms of approach and demographic draw.Lone Tree developer Robert Gray recently started site work on a 1,300-acre equestrian community adjacent to the Colorado Horse Park in Parker. The 60 homes at High Prairie International Polo Club will start at $1.5 million. Lot sizes range from 2.5 to 10 acres.The focal point of the community, which will have a relationship with the Colorado Horse Park, will be a 100,000-square-foot equestrian facility with a 60-stall horse barn and a 150-by-300-foot arena. The project also will include three polo fields and a field for training riders and horses in other types of equestrian competition.“Our biggest market will be people who show at the horse park,” said Gray, who’s been in the development business for 30 years and also is a polo player. “But we think there’s a lot of other folks who will appreciate the mountain views and the open space.”Fewer than 30 percent of people who buy homes in golf communities actually play golf, said Jennifer Donovan, co-founder of Charlottesville, Va.-based Equestrian Services LLC, which is working on 10 horse-oriented communities. The balance buy their homes so they can enjoy the open space.Similarly, “horses are a great draw for people who ride, but they’re also a huge hit for what we call the passive enthusiast,” Donovan said. “They don’t ride, but they love the idea of looking out their window and seeing horses galloping across the field.”Equestrian Services promotes equestrian sports by connecting its projects with celebrity riders in the way golf courses boast the Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer brand.The company is working with Olympic equestrian athletes Karen and David O’Con nor and plans to launch a branded community this year with internationally recognized trainer John Lyons, a Parachute native known as “America’s Most Trusted Horseman.”“We’re in negotiations with several sites in the West, including Colorado, to see who ends up landing the inaugural community,” Donovan said.Read the full article at  http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7971835

New Jersey’s background:
They have a state lottery and casino gambling, but The Atlantic City Racetrack has suffered from declining audiences and fewer race days. Simulcasting is the suspected cause. NJ faces competition from surrounding states and “Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York already have either slot machines or video lottery terminals installed at tracks or they have recently passed legislation permitting them. These efforts are attracting larger racetrack audiences and enhancing revenues.”

New Jersey’s equine has 81,000 acres of farmland with a breeding stock value of at least $600 million and the industry contributes $672 million to the annual economy. Their Department of Agriculture is said to be a leader in West Nile Virus research.

Additionally, “since 2003 a new breeder program has been advertised for standardbreds and work is continuing toward a thoroughbred-breeding program. The Equine Science center continued its research, and the NJ Equine Advisory Board continued its efforts to bolster promotion and education efforts to stimulate interest, attract new owners, and create career opportunities in the equine industry.”

Some of the strategies are to continue current programs to promote the industry and to continue to invest in improvements for Monmouth Park, which is the location of the 2007 thoroughbred Breeder’s Cup.

Here are some of the specific strategies listed:

8.0 EQUINE STRATEGIES

8.1 Ensure Horse Health
71) STRATEGY - Work with horse owners to assure awareness of disease threats and animal safety. Continue working to protect the health of horses from the immediate threat of devastating and economically damaging diseases.

72) STRATEGY – Work with Rutgers University’s Cook College to continue development of a state-of-the-art research facility for its Equine Science Center. The Center is developing cost-effective techniques for nutrient and waste management to ensure the compatible co-existence of horse farms in urban and suburban environments.

73) STRATEGY - Work to implement the recommendations of the Department’s “Focus on New Jersey’s Horse Racing Industry” report and seek to augment purse values, increase track attendance, and improve the industry’s supportive infrastructure.

8.3 Promote the Industry
74) STRATEGY – Continue working with the Horse Park to explore the possibility of hosting future Olympic equestrian events and other prestige events.

For more information, please visit the New Jersey Government website at  http://www.njintouch.state.nj.us/agriculture/conventions/2006/equine.html