Friends Of Equines Society

Well needless to say we were somewhat downhearted to learn that some of our camp had flipped on us and causing yet another great divide in the anti-horse slaughter camp, but the division only served to strengthen our resolve and made us all the more determined to go on ever stronger in our NO SUCH THING AS AN UNWANTED HORSE - Anti-Slaughter Campaign, and now The National Black Farmers Association believes it too; with the launching of their WANTED HORSE Campaign on the same June 17th day of our demo!

NBFA / Article link: 

http://www.blackfarmers.org/pdf/announcement_PR_ltrhead.pdf  

All Friends of Equines FOES of Equine Slaughter KNOW there really is no such thing as an unwanted horse, simply because we WANT them all, even the old & the sick. We want the deformed and ugly, the sway-backed, goose-rumped, cow-hocked, hammer-heads, the clubbed foots & pidgeon toed. We want them all, and want the "imperfect" ones even more. Show us an "unwanted" horse and we will tell you WE WANT IT, so it is no longer unwanted. It is only unwanted by the current owner. Dont “our wants” count? .  Just because we do not have the ability to take them and care for them all by ourselves, dosent mean they are "unwanted." Together, we can do it!  We have the people willing to help, and all we need is the $$$ and the facilities, in fact, the backing, to do it,...we cannot do it alone. As we all know, it takes BIG MONEY to keep and take care of so many horses, and its big money and facilities we need to do it,...and its big money and facilities we are going after,..by targeting the BIG TOP 10 promoters and producers of all these so-called "unwanted" horses and holding them to account..

Friends of Equines took that very message to the AHC in DC on June 17, 2008. In front of the Hyatt-Regency Hotel.

Here is the story of that day:

The first thing we did upon our arrival in DC that morning was to put a call into the Washington Post to see if they would be interested in covering the story of our one-woman demo against horse slaughter. We talked to a staff reporter who seemed interested and anxious to cover the story and informed us that she was “on her way.”

At approximately 8:45 a.m. on the beautiful bright and sunny morning of June 17, from the moment “Friends of Equines” set foot on the sidewalk in front of the Hyatt-Regency Hotel, it was apparent that the hotel management as well as the AHC members were not happy at all at the prospect of being “picketed,” that day, even by one solitary protester. They simply DID NOT want us there at all, with our singular but effective one-woman demonstrator pacing back and forth in front of the fancy HiAss Regency Hotel wearing a bloody butchers apron, chain-smoking cigarettes, wearing an “IM NOT PETA” sign in the front and a “Pass HR 503 & S. 311 in back, and holding high and waiving a “HORSE-KILLER CONVENTION INSIDE TODAY” sign with ‘WHAT NEXT, HORSEMEAT ON THE MENU” on the reverse. We also had a sign leaned up against the sally port pole where all the cars and limos were pulling in, and that sign was the first thing anyone saw as the vehicles came in to drop off hotel patrons, it said, “EQUINE INDUSTRY UNFAIR TO HORSES.” It is no wonder they didnt want us Friends there at all! They simply DID NOT know what to make of us, not being Peta and all, and wanted us out of there in the worst way, particularly after they saw how the crowds of people were drawn to us, approached and even embraced us. All asked many questions and were surprised at our answers and all ASKED for more information and brochures,...People WANTED to know more!

The streets in front of the hotel on that particular day were busy, which was a good thing for us. There wasnet a moments time in the SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS we were there walking up and down back and forth, that the streets werent crowded with pedestrians passing by or loading or unloading from the constant flow of tour busses coming and going all day. The valets were busy all day shuttling customers and their cars about from one point to another. Apparently, the valets were used to such shenanigans as we displayed, because they acted as if our little protest demonstration were no big deal, as if it was an everyday thing, but of course, in DC, the land of dissent and protest, it is. There are protesters and then there are protesters protesting protesters in DC all the time,.....its called cross or counter-demonstrations. We, as Friends, havent experienced any of that yet, but would be happy to confront our opposition face to face in open debate to help them air their dirty laundry and hopefully sort out the issues of who is or isnt to blame, and come up with some answers or solutions; Anything BEATS SILENCE and CONTINUATION of status quo.

We had lots of people to educate that day and educate we did. Everyone was happy to have been informed, and happily took some of our brochures, some even promising to help spread the word and to talk to their political representatives about getting S. 311 passed.

Most approached us asking, “Whats going on? Whats all the fuss about? Who is killing our horses?” Of course, we were glad to fill them in. We were quick to point fingers at a crowd of Council members and industry men who had gathered about milling in the front doorways of the hotel and the windows of their rooms above where they were gazing out curiously to see the singular, bloody “NOT PETA” protester person outside waiving a big sign saying HORSEKILLER CONVENTION INSIDE TODAY. We pointed up to them accusingly, .... “They are the ones killing our horses, the industry,....the equine industry! Show horse breeders, racing breeders, breed specific breeders, sport horse breeders, etc., all of them, we told them,...“and we are going after the BIG TOP TEN. We gave them MORE INFORMATION and facts, as in our brochures, and NOT surprisingly, EVERY one to the last person we spoke with on this subject was SHOCKED and APPALLED to learn when we told them these things:

1. That the United States is the WORLDS LARGEST exporter of horses for human consumption abroad.

2. That the horses going to slaughter are not old, lame or sick and dying anyways, but that most of them are sound young healthy horses that could otherwise still be enjoyed by someone.

3. That the meat would not be used to feed the poor but would be sold in high-end European restaurants and stores for up to $20 USD per pound.

4. That over half of all horses being sent to needless slaughter were Registered American Quarter-Horses and ex-racehorses.

5. That the USDA had a secret agenda of adding “horsemeat” to their list of “official” US “food-chain” animals; see:

http://www.igha.org/USDA.html

6. That our US Government has a secret agenda of eradicating all the wild horses off of federal lands (even sending them to slaughter if needs be!) See:

http://www.freewebs.com/saveourwildhorses/actionalert.htm

and has plans to replace them with BIG GAME so they could make BIG BUCKS selling BIG GAME hunting permits for LOTS & LOTS of $$$. Friends told them that they could check our facts by looking into the “Rangeland Repair Act” that just recently passed; See:

http://www.freewebs.com/saveourwildhorses/therepairact.htm

and then we told them to look into the alliance that King George recently created with BIG HORN UNLIMTED in Nevada to also help validate our claims that our country is about to exterminate our wild horse herds in favor of big game hunting. See:

7. That our federal government is giving million dollar tax breaks to the equine industrialists in the Farm Bill that recently passed, and also is giving the equine industry lucrative breeding incentives in its Economic Stimulus Act, but informing them also that neither the Farm Bill or the Stimulus Act had any safety net provision for the industry's’ unwanted cast-offs. So in effect, OUR OWN GOVERNMENT is in the breeding incentive business now. See:

http://www.freewebs.com/friendsofequines/questionstalkingpoints.htm

8. That “Horse-Meat Farms” and Equine Slaughterhouses are Springing Up all Over in other countries, and the U.S. is their chief supplier, and that is “A-OK“ with the USDA.

Canada has built and continues to build dozens of new equine slaughter-houses to corner (in partnership with the US) the world market on horsemeat exportation. See below a pic of a Canadian Horse Meat Farm & Feedlot where horses are raised & kept solely for human consumption;

The people were shocked and appalled to learn all of this information,. Many looked over to where we were pointing at the offenders, the industrialists who supply the horsemeat industry with their equine industry cast-offs, with looks of loathing and distain on their faces, ...grimacing at the industrialists, making ugly faces so there would be no mistaking they WERE NOT happy with the thought of America being the #1 Exporter of Horses for Human Consumption, sending race-horses (or any) horses to slaughter OR at the mere thought of eating horsemeat. How do you think that went over with the BIG TOP 10 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCERS looking on? John & Jane Q Public making ugly faces at the TOP 10 INDUSTRYMEN because of all the slaughter they are causing is NOT a good thing for them but IS a VERY GOOD thing for us. SUCCESS comes in many guises. This is one of them. Some of the industry men could not even look us in the eyes, but cast their glance away when we looked upon them.  

One well-to-do looking middle-aged couple came out to talk to us at least three times during the course of the day. The lady approached us saying, “Ya know, if you werent wearing that IM NOT PETA SIGN I wouldnt have stopped to talk to you, I hate Peta.” So you see, even our NOT PETA sign worked! Soon we had learned that this couple was not affiliated in any way with the AHC, but came to stay at the Regency to attend a big-whig republican party or convention of some sort which was going on at the hotel that same day. As it turns out, this couple was from out west someplace and actually owned a wild horse that they had adopted from the BLM several years ago. Still, they still had no clue about the realities of horse slaughter, particularly with the wild ones. They were appalled to know that mustangs were being sent to slaughter and that our government was out to eradicate them from our federal lands and replace them with big game, the lady saying, “Well, they made us sign adoption papers.” Well then we had to explain about the Burns Rider and all that setting the WH&B Protection Act back 30 years or more, and then about how our government was giving them away by the dozens even offering free delivery if you ordered 10 or more, and how that most of those “bargain” horses went to cattlemen who are the very one that want them off the land, and that most of them bought by the cattlemen were taken by them right to slaughter where the cattlemen made hundreds of dollars off of each horse sent. Naturally, they were shocked, appalled and sad, as were most all whom we had “enlightened” that day. This couple asked for about 100 brochures to take back with them into the Republican Convention to distribute to their friends. Wifey also gave us a great big hug before she left. Hubby shook our hands. So here we have another not so small victory: “FRIENDS OF EQUINES INFILTRATES GOP”

A pair of young black women strolling along pushing their babies in carriages before them, stopped to ask what we were protesting about,...when we told them they made faces (like yuck!) and were, like everyone else, appalled when we told them what was happening to our nations horses and our governments plan to get into the horsemeat business . One of them, confessing that she didnt necessarily have a problem with slaughtering and eating animals, per se, did impart her thought to us in saying, “ But Gee, do we have to eat everything that moves?” We think she has a good point there.

Then there was the woman whom we had spotted from about a half-a block away, walking casually towards us with her hand extended outward towards us, moving ever closer with outstretched hand, until finally she was upon us and clasped our leaders hand and warmly shook it and said simply, “Thank you.“ By the look in her tear-filled eyes we knew she meant it. We offered her some brochures but she quickly walked away, covering her eyes, as if she didnt need to know, as if she already knew. Touching this person so and her heartfelt thanks was another small victory that motivates us to go on.

Well it was about this time we got word from our peeps on the ground floor that frustrations on the inside were mounting. Management was not happy at all about our HORSEMEAT ON THE MENU SIGN, claiming that it “was bad” for their restaurant business. Imagine that! The very thought of horsemeat on the menu considered a turn-off! Isnt that wonderful!

Word also came back that the industrialists were also not happy either with our presence there at all, alleging that we were “harassing the public,” and “making them look bad” in the public eye. So you see what a success our little demo was? Many people educated, MUCH support found, and TWO very unhappy & upset targets. Another measure of success. Unfortunate that the good name of the “innocent” Regency had to be dragged into the fray, but perhaps they will think twice before they book another HORSE-KILLER CONVENTION where they know Friends of Equines will come. We have showed them that contrary to alienating ourselves from people by making such a public display of ourselves, we have proved to the opposition and their supporters that we are EMBRACED by the people and that our facts and arguments are INDISPUTABLE, that we tell only the TRUTH and we are thinking perhaps that is why the public embraced us so. Most people want to know. Most people want the truth of matters. Education IS the key!

We also learned that management called the police on us, early on in the day, in hopes of having us removed. However, the good folks at DC metro informed them of our rights pursuant to the 1st amendment of the US Constitution to be there, and in fact, backed us up by telling them that our permits were all in order - Thank you DC Metro! So Regency & Guests get a great BIG lesson in the BASIC laws of FREEDOM in the LAND OF THE FREE which thank ALL THAT IS GOOD that it is still in effect AT ALL.

Along about 1pm or so we began to wonder where our reporter was from the Washington Post, so we decided to give a call back and see what happened. The voice of the gal on the phone was not that of the friendly reporter we had spoken to earlier who had promised us coverage, but apparently was of someone in higher authority who informed us very curtly, that the Post would not be covering “that issue” “today” and *click* hung up. Well we thought the idea of reporting news was to report it as it was happening, not to wait for a certain day. So be it. Our guess is that The Washington Post does not want to report anything anti-slaughter. Have they ever?

Untoward the afternoon, we were visited by several members of the AHC who came out into the streets on that beautiful day, to debate the issues with us or just to pick up some brochures and have a chat. One young couple professed to us to be horse-breeders “of the highest caliber” and started telling us all about their top stallions bloodlines but it soon became apparent to them that we didnt give a dang about bloodlines, just horses, so they quit that line of conversation. The next question they posed to us was this: How do we feel about abortion? Well, our first response was to say, what does that have to do with the issue of horse slaughter? We think we know where he was going with this, trying to trap us off somehow on the “pro-choice or pro-life” thing, but we just confined our answer into imparting our belief in the sanctity of ALL life, and had to admit that yes, if we could look at a pregnant mare and see her as with new life in her body then I guess we would also have to look at a pregnant woman in the same way, with a new life in her body also; why not? lol Life is life no matter whos womb it was sitting in and NO we do not believe in needless, senseless killing of ANYTHING, human or animal, period. We let them know that we believe in the sanctity of ALL life, period, and that was precisely why we were here this day. To plead with the powers that be (PTB), the TOP 10 INDUSTRIALIST / PROMOTER & PRODUCERS, for the sanctity of the horses lives, ALL horses, EVERY horse.

The next question we were asked of by this breeding couple was, “How many of my unwanted horses do you want to take off my hands for me?” Friends responded, “Well now, that depends. How much money or land do you want to give us so we will be able to take care of your horses for you?” "How far do you want to go to help us to take care of them for you?" Well, that went over like a lead balloon and the man started getting visibly upset & shaking almost spilling his martooni, and the veins in his head starting to pop out and become more apparent. He began to argue, .. “Why should I have to give you anything to take care of my horses? Im giving them to you free and they arent worthless, you know.“ Guess he had to think about that statement a little more cause he gave up debating with us as his wife guided him away from the conversation. As they were moving away down the street, departing our presence, he shouted back at us, as if to have the last word, “....well, I take care of my own, anyway, no need to give them away..” We yelled after him, “Well, if everyone would do that we wouldnt have an unwanted horse problem now would we.” Without looking, his back to us walking away, the breeder man gave us a BIG thumbs up, and wifey turned around and blew us a kiss. Agreement, especially among “enemy camps, is a wonderful thing, called Progress! More success.

Next up was another Council member, a trainer, also "of the highest caiber," who approached us pointing to our "HORSEKILLER CONVENTION" sign and saying, "Thats not true, you know, AHC is neutral." Well we told him that YES we know thats what they are telling everyone, but, we asked, how are we to know for sure if they arent telling who is or who aint? And we asked, "Do you know, offhand, how many members are anti-slaughter, if any?" Well he said he just didnt know. We mentioned the idea of taking a poll of all AHC members to see just what was what, to see who was for or against, and this council-member AGREED with us that a poll would be an excellent idea, furthermore, he promiced to bring it up at the next council meeting! Another not-so-small victory!

On the other hand, we had ONLY ONE heckler approach us. A man walked by with is wife, and was rubbing his belly (looking dead at us) and saying, “Yummm, horsemeat is good.” Well we responded in kind; “And we suppose you would eat dog and catmeat also?” By the stupefied look on his face, he apparently had no comeback for that, as if the comparison had never crossed his mind before, and he had to “mull it over.” His wife, however, grimaced at the thought, and pulled him quickly away, ... no “stomach” for further debate, we guessed.

Well along towards the end of the business day, after SEVEN FULL HOURS of walking back & forth in front of the hotel, (the last two or three spent creeping along with a cane) our lone protesters' feet finally gave out and we had to call it a day,.......but a GRAND DAY it was for us!  We said our goodbyes to the cab drivers and the valets that "stood with us" all day, and were very friendly to us throughout it all, and told us to "come back real soon," and we cant wait to go back in the fall!

As we turned to cross the street we noticed something that we hadent seen before but were told, had been there ALL DAY. Directly across the street from the fancy HiAss Regency Hotel, not 50’ kitty-corner from the place, in an abandoned liquor store parking lot, in broad daylight, a “downed” human form lay sleeping, or passed out, or even dead, on the hard ground of the concrete parking lot floor. Just another of DC's many homeless, in dire need of a place to sleep. Nobody bothers them as they lay “where they fall,” not even the police...

For all is grandor and wealth, DC has the highest poverty & crime rates in the Nation, and it shows, everywhere you go in that town; another National Disgrace.

End of Report

Click here to see “Friends of Equines” next actions;

http://www.freewebs.com/friendsofequines/newstratigies.htm

And remember always......dont believe the lie!