Through Access to Information (ATI), the CHDC has recently received and is making available Owner/Shipper forms of horses entering Canada from the United States for immediate slaughter, at the Point Edward (Sarnia), Ontario and Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec ports of entry, from January 1 to July 31, 2019.  These horses were destined for Viande Richelieu Meats horse slaughter plant in Massueville, Quebec.

The CHDC is occasionally contacted by individuals seeking information on the whereabouts of horses they have lost track of.  As some forms we receive include brands and tattoo numbers, it is our hope that making these documents public will assist some in their search.

Unfortunately, a number of horses are recorded as having a lip tattoo, but numbers were not provided and may be another breed, such as Thoroughbred.

“Horses must be sent directly from the Canadian port of entry, in a sealed truck and under licence to destination, to a slaughter plant approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) immediately after entering Canada. They must be slaughtered within four days of arriving at the plant.”

See: Import Conditions for Horses From the United States for Immediate Slaughter

Breeds identified in the documents included Standardbred, Quarter Horse, Haflinger, Paint, Belgian, Appaloosa, Mule, Percheron, Arab and Morgan. Remarks indicated some horses were blind in one eye, had swollen legs, growths, were lame or “Off”.

Brands provided on documents included tattoo numbers for some Standardbreds and, where possible, we have endeavoured to learn their names. We realize that some may have been misread, resulting in the wrong number being entered on the form and our identifying the wrong horse.  If you are aware of any such instance we hope you will let us know by emailing us at info@canadianhorsedefencecoalition.org .

 While searching tattoo numbers on the USTA’s website, we discovered three horses on the list who had been enrolled in the Full Circle Program and two others with registrations converted to Pleasure.

 Full Circle is a USTA (United States Trotting Association) program ”that connects two or more people with a shared concern for a horse for the purpose of assisting that horse if/when it is needed”.

More information on these programs may be found here.

Although some horses were not registered and could not be identified, the fact they died a cruel death in a Canadian slaughter plant makes it no less tragic.

It seems especially appalling that horses bred for human profit through racing, are not afforded a safe existence by the people and the industry that exploits them.  It’s important to remember as well, that racing horses are regularly administered drugs that are banned for life from entering the human food chain.

These ATI reports are a sad reminder of the individual horses that make up the list of the thousands of horses that are slaughtered every year in Canada.

You may wonder about the breed associations’ positions regarding horse slaughter.  While many are publicly silent on the issue, several have posted statements on their websites:

American Morgan Horse Association

AMHA Horse Slaughter Position Statement

AMHA is not pro-slaughter, and we believe that it is not the most desirable option for addressing the problem of unwanted horses; however, we understand that the slaughter of unwanted horses at a processing facility may be the only alternative for a horse rather than to continue a life of suffering, inadequate care, or abandonment when other alternatives are unavailable to the owner.

https://www.morganhorse.com/about/who-we-are/supporting-documents/

United States Trotting Association

The United States Trotting Association announced on April 10, 2020  that it has endorsed the passage of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act of 2019 (H. R. 961), which states that “the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption is hereby prohibited.”

The passage of the legislation effectively would ban horse slaughter in the United States by making it illegal for the transportation and export of horses for slaughter domestically or in other countries. The bill emphasizes that, unlike other livestock, horses are not raised for human consumption.  http://ustrottingnews.com/usta-announces-support-for-safe-act-of-2019/

Standardbred Canada

Use of Horses in the Food Chain

Standardbred Canada is aware of the diverse nature of the equine industry and the vital role horses play in a sustainable agricultural economy at the provincial, national and international levels.

Standardbred Canada supports agricultural initiatives and recognizes that Canada’s equine meat producers must adhere to industry standards with respect to transportation, feed lots and humane slaughter.

Standardbred Canada acknowledges that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates the use of horse meat as part of the human and animal food chain.

https://standardbredcanada.ca/content/horse-welfare-statement.html

American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)

Horse Processing

AQHA believes it’s the owner’s responsibility and, ultimately, their choice regarding decisions concerning the welfare of their horse(s). The Association encourages responsible ownership practices and management that will reduce the number of unwanted horses. AQHA recognizes that the processing of unwanted horses is currently a necessary aspect of the equine industry, because it provides a humane euthanasia alternative for horses that might otherwise continue a life of discomfort and pain, or inadequate care or abandonment. AQHA has actively supported legislation to ensure the safe and humane transportation of horses that are bound for processing facilities and backed guidelines for how horses must be treated at the facilities,

https://www.aqha.com/aqha-advocacy

Please note that some of these associations use the term “processing” rather than the true term “slaughter”.

The Standardbred horses we were able to match to tattoo numbers ranged in age from 5 years to 25 years. Their names are listed below.

NameTattooFoaling Place
AJ BROWN2B722MARENGO, OH
ALBERTOFCAMLOYISTXM247ODESSA, ON
ALTON JOHN9A730ALLENTOWN, NJ
ASTOUNDING HANOVER3DE14HANOVER, PA
AWESOME CHARGERVD224LAGRANGE, IN
BAD BARBARA2FA90CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
BADLANDS BELLEZ3939CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
BEGIN TO HOPE0C932GEORGETOWN, KY
BENEATH THE RADAR5A021SUNFIELD, MI
BEVERLY SPUR5B797MILLERSBURG, IN
BIG JOE NICO2DP54ST IRENEE, QC
BIG RED ONEVF034SUNBURY, OH
BIG TEXAS MANXP286HIGH RIVER, AB
BORROWED HEARTSW1247BROOKLYN, MI
BOSTON BLAZES2044DELEON SPRINGS, FL
BROAD AND WILD3L407CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
BROOKLETS NOBIX2282URBANA, IN
BROTHER WOLF1B055TOPEKA, IN
BROWNEYED SENORITAWC498LIMA, OH
BRYANS DIAMOND7BF23BLOOMINGBURG, OH
BULLY OF THE BEACHW5570GEORGETOWN, KY
C U CUMINTE866NORTH RIDGEVILLE, OH
CALL TO COURTV1489LEXINGTON, KY
CAROLINA BUDDYV7542FOUNTAIN INN, SC
CLASSICAL PRINCESSX2414DURHAMVILLE, NY
COLD DUDE5J503CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
CONNECT THE DARTSZ1701BLOOMINGBURG, OH
CRACKLING ROSEZ6540BERNE, IN
CREDIT OR DEBIT4A247WALLKILL, NY
CUT TO THE CHASE7E725DONOVAN, IL
DAGON DRAGONT3492CANONSBURG, PA
DANDY DAVE1C306BLOOMINGBURG, OH
DEJARMBRO’S YANKEE1M079NEW HAVEN, IN
DELIGHTFUL FIVE3G664WALLKILL, NY
DELMITA0CA25VERONA, NY
DEWEY SOAKUM N HOWEX8937WILLARD, OH
DOJEA LR3F542WOLCOTTVILLE, IN
DOMINOESZ2531DONOVAN, IL
DRIVERS EDDYT0242WATSEKA, IL
EAGLE KLAW2B972INGLEWOOD, ON
EDDIE’S ELDORADOW1301SUGARCREEK, OH
EDEN SPECIAL FI FIX9290MILLERSBURG, IN
EJECTABLE4B879CREAM RIDGE, NJ
EMAILITXC506LOOGOOTEE, IN
ESPOIRVT958ST THOMAS DE JOLIETTE, QC
EXCITING STORYXH161APPLECREEK, OH
EYES ON GOLD3C223LOOGOOTEE, IN
FACE FOR RADIO8CN40SARNIA, ON
FINANCE HYLIGHT7BF92ODON, IN
FITNESS EDGE9A901PENNINGTON, NJ
FLY FLY BUCKEYEZ0835APPLECREEK, OH
FOREVER FRISKIE7L227BERNE, IN
FORT GREENEXF967WALLKILL, NY
FOUND IN THE MIST1F009MOUNT AIRY, NC
FOX VALLEY TEMPEST2BE39SHERMAN, IL
FRIDAY’S MIRACLE3C190SUNFIELD, MI
GHOST DANCER6DD73DURAND, MI
GORKIJ’S GRACE2FE79EATON, NH
GRAND JURGYT1306SUNFIELD, MI
GRITTY FISH8DP11LINWOOD, ON
HERE’S THE SIGN3D999WILLIAMSBURG, KY
HOOSIER ROSANNAX3855MONTGOMERY, IN
HOWDY DEWEY5H647LEXINGTON, KY
ITS ALL HALO0D233WILLMINGTON, OH
JAKES SEVEN SEVENZ4737HARVARD, IL
JAMES HAROLD0B398BALTIC, OH
JAYPORT ICONVP02WOODSTOCK, ON
JAZZY JUNIOR5HM13ST CATHERINES, ON
JENNY ROCWL359ST PAUL ABBOTSFORD, QC
JET ATTITUDE2A283FINDLAY, OH
JET PACK1HA23WILKINSON, IN
JOE BROWN5BE14GRINNEL, IA
JORDONS JET5AH32FARWELL,  MI
JUMPIN JOEY PX0261STEDMAN, NY
JUST NAPPINGXH587BERNE, IN
KASHITINZA421BIG ROCK, IL
KEYSTONE BRITTANYVA241WALLKILL, NY
KICK EM UP KATEVC080CARMEL, IN
LA BONITAWA519TRIVOLI, IL
LADY WYNN1B221SHERMAN, IL
LAMP SHADE7A040MECHANICSBURG, PA
LAR’S PANDEMONIUMZ6572HANOVER, PA
LARJON ERICZP659WINGHAM, ON
LITTLE JAMMER3CF16MARENGO, IL
LOVE N NUKEW9441ERIE, IL
LUKES DANNIELLE2AN66WILLIAMSTOWN, ON
LUST FOR VICTORY0DG44DELEVAN, NY
LW STARTREK9C325WOLCOTTVILLE, IN
LYNDALE SCOTXE283KINROSS, PEI
MAGNUM CROWN7FA69MARENGO, OH
MAJESTICJAKEQUAKE2FE38ALEXIS, IL
MAKE US FAMOUSZ7165MACON, MS
MALOHAW9409CREAM RIDGE, NJ
MAN I’M HOT3E414URBANA, OH
MARDI1AW37KING CITY, ON
MARK’S ARTW5190MONROE, IN
MATSUI0B568CLARKE LAKE, MI
MISS BRITTANYV2794CARDINGTON, OH
MISTER KOSMOSTJ727SALEM, IN
MISTER MEANER0HC89SHELBYVILLE, IN
MISTY BILMAC2E402BERNE, IN
MJ’S TRIPX6269SHERMAN, IL
MJS PACING MACHINEW5212BERNE, IN
MOLSON LAVECVN639MT PLEASANT, ON
MOM’S PLACE8G592MONDOVI, WI
MONTANA DURUISSEAUXL620DUNHAM, QC
MUSICAL DRAGONV9151CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
MUTINEER YANKEE5DR58WILLIAMSTOWN, ON
MY AND YOURSW9968HENDRICKS CAMP POINT, IL
MYSTICAL MELODY2HN91PARIS, KY
NIGHTS WHEELER2AD23SEVEN VALLEYS, PA
NOBLE EMMA3BP21ROCKWOOD, ON
OH JOY0D613BELLEVILLE, OH
ON TOP OF THE WORLD6D310BENSON, VT
OUR MCLOVIN7EL19LUCAN, ON
OUTASIGHTOUTAMINDWN338ELGIN, ON
PETALAWG690KALAMAZOO, MI
PICASSOS DREAM1BF98BALTIC, OH
POTATOES SON5ER10ST PASCAL, ON
R HAPPY HORSEODNO1GRAND BLANE, MI
RAMBO KANDUZ3511BIRCH RUN, MI
RASCAN BRUTON2GC50CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
RED ROCK EE BALBOA1HM57UPTON, MA
ROOGY RELLIM6B774MIDDLEBURG, IN
ROSE RUN CHAMPTG902SUGARCREEK, OH
RUSTY DREAM8CV03ST HUGUES, QC
S F ENDURE9A031RIVES JUNCTION, MI
S T C PVC037TAMAQUA, PA
SAND SPIDERWE254VINCENT, OH
SANDS CASINO4B648FINDLAY, OH
SAVE MY DRAGON8H995UTICA, OH
SHEER HOSEN0028LEXINGTON, KY
SHENANDOAH SHAG7B708UNION BRIDGE, MD
SHIMMIES IMAGEV4184MCARTHUR, OH
SIR TROTCELOT2AE37ANDERSON, IN
SNEAKY SPEEDZ1888NEW HOPE, PA
SOARING SPURTF260ELWOOD, IN
ST LADS YAKKETYYAKXN732RUSCOM, ON
STRICTLY BUSINESSXM174MARTINSVILLE, IL
SUE SPARTANZ4240SUNFIELD, MI
SUPER STAR TAN K7CC52WORTHINGTON, PA
SUPER ZIP7D305MIDDLEBURY, IN
TALENTED SAMANTHAV5568SUGARCREEK, OH
TAURUS SEELSTER3JL90LUCAN, ON
TECHMASTERXH558CHRISTIANA, PA
TERGIN8BB95ALEXIS, IL
THE FISCO KIDWE783ELKGROVE, CA
THE QUEENS CHOICE2AC59SCOTTVILLE, MI
TINYDANCER0AP76LYNDEN, ON
TITANIC FORCEX3812TRAVERSE CITY, MI
TJ’S LITTLE BUNNY1B445FINDLAY, OH
TOLLING CHIMESVC320TOPEKA, IN
TROT ERNIE TROT7D687PORTLAND, MI
TROT ME RIGHTVG722COLUMBIANA, OH
TW ROBINVD838DELMAR, MD
TWO PEARLS5A148UTICA, OH
VERNON CAN TAB5K939SHIPSHEWANA, IN
VILLEFRENCHE0GP84PUSLINCH, ON
VINTAGE FENOM1E599NEW HOPE, PA
WHAT AN IMPRESSION7E559FAREWELL, MI
WILD BALLV4944CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
WILLINGTON T9G547WINSLOW, ME
XGAMESZ8253CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD
ZIZI’S JEWELT5240APPLE CREEK, OH

The documents that these tattoo numbers appear on are the documents that actually travel with the horses to the slaughterhouse.  A horse appearing on them is gone, forever.

All documents may be viewed as received by the CHDC.  Redacted portions have been exempted under sections 17 and 19 (1) of the Access to Information Act.

Please note that the files are large and have been split in two. Depending on your internet provider, it may take a few minutes to download each part.

Part 1

Part 2

Note:  The tattoo for Astounding Hanover, the horse in the title photo, is seen on Page 66 of the report.

Astounding Hanover had over a half million dollars in lifetime earnings.

This horse shows, once again, that No Horse is Safe.