Bo Derek is the spokesperson for the National Horse Protection Coalition. This is a picture of her at this year's Kentucky Derby. What's OK for some, is not OK for others. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this. She's so against horse slaughter, yet it's ok to abuse them and start them too young for the sake of the almighty dollar and prestige. As Jess said in her comment,
"This is what really bothers me. BO DEREK! She was there to support the winner of the race and to once again get in her plug about ending slaughter in the U.S. What about another race horse dying tragically on the race track. What about all the horses that are run to DEATH so that people can gamble. Talk about a hypocrite, oh wait, they weren't going to eat her so it's OK. It broke my heart when Ruffian was put down. I watched that race and remember it like it happened yesterday. People with as much money as it takes to be involved in this sport consider the horses disposable. I'm not saying all, there are many caring owners, they are the minority."
And with this, I'll not say anything more........for now.
20 comments:
She really is contradicting herself isn't she?!?!?! Horse slaughter is wrong, but hey lets go bet and support the industry that pushes these young horses way too hard and to a early death!! I really do understand these people and there way of thinking!!
KDW,I have to say that Jess's comment says it all......
Celebrities are often such hypocrites. It more about staying in the limelight than having any "hands on" conviction for the causes they say they champion. Okay, she is against horse slaughter. Does she have/own any rescues in her barn? Last I read she owns Andalusian horses. Hmm, no TB/slaughter rescues there. If anyone else knows more facts about the extent of her involvement, please share!
Welcome, Solitairemare, And yes I have to agree with you on that. I think you are right. I'll have to look at that a little closer.
I don't know her and I am not sure anything about her. And there is a two sided story to the horse slaughter story. I agree that it is cruel how some horses are treated, but it's kinda a needed evil. You know as well as I know that there are some really crazy horses out there. Those horses that are dangerous, and no matter how many "natural horseman" work with it, it should just be put down. And as much as people want horses to be like dogs, they are not, they are livestock. Plus they use a lot of the by products in dog food. How many people feed dog food? I know I do. And then there are people over seas who eat horses. I know it's so not right to send horses that are perfectly healthy or have just been abandonded, but there are cases where it is best for a horse to be put down. And if it can donate it's "organs" then maybe it's okay.
Maybe that famous lady just doesn't know that race horses end up in the slaughter house???? Nobody said that just because you own horses mean that you know anything about them. She might pay her helper and barn manager to do everything.
I am not normally the one who disagrees with everything, sorry! But again just my opinion.
And Callie, thanks for adding me! :) I will try to not be so two sided :) I do love horses, we have 20 and two on the way next year! So, I am not some heartless person.
Andrea, It's cool, You're actually not disagreeing. That's the point. Bo Derek led the rally to close the slaughter houses. You've got to read some of the posts from this time last year, girl. And you're not being so two-sided. You're being yourself and I personally appreciate it. That's what I ask for--everyone's opinion. So don't hold back and personally I had issue and still do with the closure of the slaughter houses and in saying that I also have issue with the backyard breeders that send the horses there that shouldn't be there. Always remember, I don't get pissed at other's opinions. I welcome them. :)
Andrea, horse meat and horse by products have not been used in pet food in the US in years. Also, very few zoos still use horse meat. You are correct about having a horse put down. But that does not mean butchering him. If a horse is dangerous, the owner should call the vet and him humanely euthanized. Horse slaughter is not a “needed” evil. It exists for one reason, money. It is a foreign owned business that buys horses based on the demand for meat for European elite diners. They are not providing a service. They are not ridding us of “unwanted” horses by rounding them up. They are buying them. The only service horse slaughter provides is perpetuating the breed and dump cycle by irresponsible breeders and irresponsible owners that don’t want to take responsibility for horses they made a conscious decision to buy or breed. These people keep breeding and breeding and when they can’t sell them, they want to dump them. If they can’t afford to care for a horse they bring into the world, they should quit breeding. The economy is bad and if they can’t afford to care for what they have, why on earth do they keep breeding? Those are the folks complaining the most about ending horse slaughter. The responsible owners and breeders are behind the anti slaughter efforts and doing everything they can to shut this despicable industry down, once and for all.
Animals are slaughtered for food. Our horses are not raised or bred for food. They are raised as companion, sport and work animals. That does not meet the criteria for livestock. They are given drugs from birth that are prohibited for food animals. Even the pro slaughter AVMA classifies them as companion animals.
Bo Derek has done much in furthering anti slaughter awareness. Just because someone attends the derby, does not make them a hypocrite or any less genuine about campaigning to end horse slaughter. Why aren’t you bashing the AQHA? The majority horses going to slaughter are quarter horses. Don’t you think there is an over breeding problem there? There are far more quarter horses going to slaughter than thoroughbreds. The foal counts for QHs are over 100,000 more than TBs.
Thanks, Vicki, for your input. I think rather than argue pro-slaughter or anti-slaughter, because the arguement will remain as long as there are horses, the two groups should come together rather than fight and try and do something about the issue at hand. In saying that, I know that is more than likely wishful thinking. Again, I value everyone's opinion who comes to visit and I'm glad you stated yours. One thing I would like to remind future commentors is that "please comment on the post and make no personal attacks."
Duh!! But look at my big hat, it keeps my brains from falling out!
LOL, GHM, LOL
Don't get me started on this subject. I'm really sick of celebrities and their ideas of how my life should be. Enough said.
Hi, Callie. I agree. If the two sides could compromise, we could make headway. Unfortunately, it will never happen because the fuel behind each side doesn’t mix. Those of us opposing slaughter do so because of equine welfare. The fuel behind the pro side, is the cattle industry and money. Ag is in fear if horse slaughter is banned, the cattle are next. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. Beef is an accepted food source in this country and those of us against horse slaughter have no intention of going after the beef industry. That is just plain ridiculous. Many of the pro slaughter orgs, like the AVMA have ties to the kill house owners. And my favorite, calling butchering a horse that is fully conscious, humane euthanasia. The kill houses are shut down. They’re not going to reopen. Two states have tried for referendums, sneaking in amendments on other bills and new bills to overturn laws and they’ve been struck down before the ink was dry. The majority of American’s are against slaughter. All that is left is to close the borders. The horses are suffering terrible deaths in Mexico. We’re trying to stop it and they fight us. I’m not sure how you could bring the two sides together!
BTW-be sure to watch HBO on Monday night (10p eastern). Bryant Gumbel (Real Sports) is running an in-depth piece on horse slaughter. Three people from our group are highlighted – it is sure to bring horse slaughter front and center. Believe it or not, there are still folks that don’t know about America’s dirty little secret. The reporter was very careful to verify and recheck all facts, figures and information being presented. It will be interesting to hear the pro folks response after the piece runs.
Callie, forgot to mention one other important legislative action. The kill houses just lost another one in Texas. State Rep Warren Chisum has been trying to get an opinion issued by the attorney general to allow the kill houses to ship horse meat through DFW. He got his wish but it didn’t go his way. The opinion was NO. This was yet another attempt to end-run the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision upholding the Texas Agriculture Code’s ban on the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. They will not be allowed to ship any horse meat through Texas. Apparently, it’s too expensive to ship from Mexico and they have been trying to get Texas to let them ship through DFW. Don’t you wonder why Representative Chisum is so concerned with the profitability of Mexican horse slaughter plants?
Mikael, ditto........
Vicki, I appreciate your passion about this topic. As far as I can see, there will never be a viable solution to either side's point. On one hand, slaughter of horses is thought to have been cruel here in the states. On the other hand, shipping them long distances to an even crueler fait in Canada or Mexico. Perhaps that should have been the starting point. On one hand they are pets. On the other hand, they are livestock. Where does it end? In the end, to those of us who own horses, they are our way of life and it would be nice if each individual owner would take resposibility for their horses, unfortunately there are too many people who see as a way to make big money and don't care about what happens to the overbred, badly conformed, unwanted horses they seem to think they can sell. In saying this, I know I have to live with myself. I can only hope that the horses I sold and weren't suitable for me went to good homes and the two that I currrently own will stay with me until the end of their time and when their time comes it will be a peaceful one without suffering and in my arms.
Funny (ironic, not laughing), but I have never liked Bo Derek... even when I was a little kid. She just rubbed me wrong, now I've got a better reason. ;)
Joan, yeah, she's always rubbed me the wrong way too!
I was building a soapbox for my rant on the same subject. Glad to see I have company.
These Easter Parade people at the race tracks have no clue what is happening behind the scenes. They should be forced to watch a few videos of what happens after the party is over.
And for Bo Derek to even attend is Show-Biz at its worst.
Now, as for horse racing babies ... I'm working on another much bigger rant for that one.
Is Bo Derek still a celebrity? Oh dear. Methinks she's trying to hang onto fame by her hat.... And the horse slaughter cause.
I remember some celebrity (not Bo Derek) who was out stumping for some peculiar cause. When asked why she had chosen this charity, she said, "Because all the good diseases were taken."
It's really difficult not to be ferociously mean here (because I'm so good at it) but why should we care what someone thinks when there is little evidence of thinking going on?
Sorry to come over to your blog to rant.
Marvel, I'm looking forward to reading that rant! ;)
Anne,No problem, you can rant here anytime. I like that question/statement.
Post a Comment