IATA Live Animal Regulations Violated and Ailing Horse

March, 2024

Supporters of the notorious industry that whisks live draft horses to their
deaths in Japan are quick to claim that Canadian practices are in
compliance with, or even exceed, requirements listed in IATA (International
Air Transport Association) Live Animal Regulations. However, this claim
was debunked on a recent study of Access to Information documents
regarding a January 16, 2024 flight out of Edmonton, Alberta.

IATA requirements state: “Groups of 4 horses may be shipped together
in a crate with a minimum 7 m2 of available floor space provided
individual horse weight does not exceed 800 kg and total crate weight
does not exceed 2903 kg.”  

The flight in question included an overextended crate that weighed 3164 kg. with 3 horses weighing over 800 kg.

Considering the dire suffering endured by horses during these flights,
including food, water and rest deprivation for up to 28 hours or more, we
recapitulate that any additional burdens placed on their well-being are
simply not acceptable.

We have long spoken about the inhumanity of these death flights and now
expose another example of callous disregard heaped on these innocent
animals by industry and government. 

This report also describes the plight of two horses “sitting down” in crates.
Horses do not typically “sit down” in any normal situation. One of these
horses was eventually removed and returned to the feedlot. Their fate is
unknown.

January 16 flight

This flight was originally scheduled to depart on January 15 but was postponed due to it being a statutory holiday in the United States.

In the evening of Monday, January 15 th , six tractor trailers transported ninety-nine young draft-type horses destined for slaughter in Japan from an Alberta feedlot to the Edmonton International Airport. Their breed was identified as “Grade”, all were born in 2021 and had an average weight of 877.47 kg (1934 lbs.). They are classed as ‘’feeders’’ on the Humane Transportation of Animals form.
One horse was removed from one of the crates and returned to the feedlot.

Several problems were encountered with this ‘’shipment’’.

Crate Exceeds Weight Limit

After loading, it was discovered that one of the crates was slightly overweight,
weighing 3164 kg, which is above the allowed 2900 kg limit. The crate was
returned to the handling pen where several unsuccessful attempts were made to
unload the horses. Because the horses were becoming agitated and there were
concerns about risk of injury to the exporter or the horses, they were assessed
while still in the crate and appeared to be comfortable so it was decided to load
the overweight crate ‘’as is”. The exporter stated that, for ‘’animal welfare’’
reasons, the horses had not been weighed individually due to extreme cold, the
temperature being -54°C with wind chill. He claimed that they always follow the
weight limitations and that this had never been an issue before.

Horse Returned to Feedlot

Before the crates were loaded on the aircraft, one horse was found to be ‘’sitting’’
in one of the crates. The exporter returned the crate to the handling pen where
the horses were unloaded. No problems were found and the horses were loaded
back into the crate. However, at the time of loading, a horse was found to be in
the sitting position in another crate. This crate was returned to the handling pen,
the horse was unloaded then reloaded into the crate. The horse sat again. “Out of
an abundance of caution” the horse was removed from the shipment and
returned to the feedlot.

According to documents obtained through Access to Information, the horses last
had access to food and water at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 15th when they
were loaded on trailers at the feedlot. The trucks reportedly arrived at the
Edmonton Airport at 8:45 p.m. where three horses were loaded into each of the
thirty-three wood crates.

Not long after, a half-ton truck pulling a horse trailer was seen arriving at the
airport, presumably to transport the horse, who had gone down, back to the
feedlot.

The loading of the crates onto Korean Air Cargo flight 8214 was completed at
approximately 3:50 a.m. the next morning, and the aircraft departed at 4:17
a.m. The flight included a refueling stop at the Ted Stevens Anchorage
International Airport before the horses began the final leg of their long and
grueling journey to Japan.

According to internal government documents horses on these flights frequently
fall during takeoff and landing as they struggle to maintain their footing and
balance.

This flight took place during a period of extreme cold in Alberta. Documents record
the temperature as being -22°C at 9 p.m., the approximate time the trucks arrived at the airport on Monday, January 15 th . It would be a cold trailer ride.

Upon landing in Japan the horses had already been confined without food, water
and rest for almost 24 hours; if known, the length of time it took for unloading the
horses from crates into trucks and ground transport time to the quarantine
facility in Japan was not provided.

Correction letters were issued as horse #339 was not included on the pull letter
listing horses not going to Japan and black horse #369 had been identified as a
gelding instead of female on the Veterinary Health Certificate.