GAO Set to Begin Hasty and Brief Horse Industry Audit

Horseback Magazine

GAO Set to Begin Hasty and Brief Horse Industry Audit

WASHINGTON DC, (AHC) In January, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will begin a study of the status of horse welfare in the US as it relates to the closing of the slaughter plants.  The report is to be completed by March 1, 2010.  GAO will be studying how the horse industry has responded to the plant closings in terms of horse sales, exports, adoptions and abandonments.  In addition, GAO is instructed to review the impact that the closures have had on farm income and state and local government organizations.

It is important that the horse industry provide whatever information it has so that the GAO can do a complete study.  We want to be sure that the GAO is aware of all that the industry has done over the last few years to deal with the horses that may have gone to slaughter if the plants had been operating. 

The AHC is compiling information on this issue and the industry’s response to this problem; it will be provided to GAO.  It is important that you assign this task to someone at your organization who can compile this information and make it available to the AHC within the next few weeks. 

The study was requested by Congress.  The GAO is an independent federal agency that Congress often turns to for reports and analysis of important issues.  GAO evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other data to help Congress make informed policy, and funding decisions on issues before it.

Specifically, GAO is directed to study the following issues:

• How the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments;
• The implications these changes have had on farm income and trade;
• The extent to which horses in the United States are slaughtered for any purpose;
• Any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations;
• How the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico;
• The manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and
• General conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption.

While GAO will look to others, like USDA, state and local governments, and horse care organizations, for some of this information, the horse industry has an opportunity and obligation to provide some of it.  For example, the horse industry can provide the following information to GAO:

• Information on what has been done by your organization, facility, or event to deal with these unwanted horses.  This would include educational efforts, such as articles in you magazines or periodicals (provide copies), retraining programs, fundraising efforts, associating with equine care or use facilities, etc;

• The effect of unwanted horses on sales and auctions of your horses, on income to your members, on foreign trade;

• Copies of any articles or reports you have from national or local newspapers or news programs or your members or others on unwanted horses, abandoned or neglected horses, etc.;

• Any stories you have regarding successes in caring for or finding new homes or activities for these horses;

• Any programs your organization has instituted to help ensure that no horse becomes unwanted; information about horses in need on your website; any resources you have made available to help owners with their horses; any means you have instituted to allow owners to track their horses so they can be returned for care if necessary; any programs you have to provide direct assistance, like feed or funding, to help owners; any programs to assist in population control, like gelding programs;

• In sum, any information that will illustrate the efforts that the industry has made to deal with this problem of unwanted horses and any information on the effects of closing the plants.