Equine Advocates

This autumn, I decided to replace my horses' winter blankets with brand-new ones. We were wondering what to do with the old ones and Betsy Perreten, my stable manager, came up with the perfect solution.  She thought we should donate the blankets to an organization called Equine Advocates, a national nonprofit equine protection organization founded in 1996, promoting equine rescue, retirement, and the humane treatment of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules, located in Chatham, New York. Susan Wagner, the founder and president of this wonderful organization, is very passionate about and proud of what she does. "The mission of Equine Advocates is to rescue, protect, and prevent the abuse of horses through education, investigation, rescue operations, and the dissemination of information to the public," she told Betsy. "The organization deals primarily with five main issues of importance: equine rescue, horse slaughter, wild horse issues, the PMU [pregnant mares' urine] industry, and the prevention of equine abuse."

Lovely rolling hills and paddocks:

The 128-acre center is called Safe Home Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, and welcomes visitors to see the dozens of rescued animals finding shelter there. It's really heart wrenching to learn the sad history of these animals. The center also has an education facility where you can attend seminars dealing with all aspects of horse care and equine issues. Susan is extremely active with many political causes and conducts symposiums and fund-raisers for her mission. Betsy was very inspired by her visit and looks forward to returning again. She and I both feel very good that the horse blankets she delivered that day are keeping five rescued horses warm for the winter.  All photos today were taken by Betsy.

Susan and Betsy holding one of the donated blankets:

Every equine has his or her own story.  This is about Willie and Nelson, two rescued American Mustangs:

This is about Jerry and Jeffrey Mac, two other amazing rescue stories:

Some of the horse stables:

A cute pony:

 

Comments

[MissLane]

Thank you THANK YOU! for this segment on you show! Please help stop horse slaughter and PMU factory's!

[Lisa Leach]

Thank you so much for educating the public with respect to the horse slaughter issue, and the efforts to save horses and give them a second chance.

[Beverly Sweitzer]

Thank you for airing the story about Horse rescue and slaughter.

[Renee Antaya]

Dear Martha,
Thank you so much for doing a segment on horse slaughter in the United States also known as America's Dirty Secret. We need to keep our horses safe from salughter and any kind of horrific, tragic, barbaric acts taken against them.They helped build this country and still do, they help children that are handicapped and adults they make wonderful pets and companions.I work at a horse rescue and have seen very sad things. PMU Premerin Mares, premerine made from the urine of horses. I would suffer first. Again Thank You so much for the exposure we need the American Horse Slaughter Provention Act, S311 and HR503 passed to save the horses of the United States.

[Elizabeth Clark, Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE)]

Thanks for highlighting the fight to help and save horses! People should research and find a local rescue in their area to help with donations of money, goods, time, or resources. MANY organizations are out there and need help. Research and find a reputable one in your area.

[Lee Cado]

Thanks so much for bring the attention of the abuse of these horses to the public.
The more the word spreads, the more likely we can put an end to this horrible situation.

[Beth]

Dear Martha, Susan was great on your show. I have three rescue horses here on my farm in Maine. One of them is a pmu baby that I adopted 5 years ago! We just love her and her stable mates....it was just great that you donated your blankets. Love your show....Beth

[Sharon]

Thank you for bringing these issue of equine welfare to the forefront. Some studiest suggest that 90% of americans are opposed to horse slaughter for human consumption yet we allow horses to cross US borders to Canada and Mexico for this to happen. I am a proud supporter of Saddlebred Rescue www.saddlebredrescue.com and support the efforts of equine welfare everywhere.

[Jenny]

Thankyou so very much Martha for having Susan on your show today.

I pray that through your show more Americans will come to the knowledge of the atrocities being inflicted upon them.
Gracious gentle animals whom are our pets deserve our voices to be heard.

HR 503 / S311 and HR249 are all bills that must pass immediately for their protection and well being. We are their voices and we can make a difference for them.
May never again another American horse find themselves in a slaughter plant or in transport for it.

Thankyou for your help and your support.

[Teresa Chin]

Thank you Martha and Betsy for having Susan on your show! I have always been a big fan of MSL and this was a new high point. The slaughter of American horses is going on in Mexico and Canada. Horsemeat is a high priced delicacy in France and Belgium. Foal meat is prized in Japan. Please call your senators and ask them to sponsor S.311, and call your representatives to sponsor H.R. 503 and support H.R. 249 to end the inhumane transport of horses to the slaughterhouses.

[Joanne Frank]

I really want to thank you Martha and Susan Wagner for getting the message of horse slaughter to the American public. I never heard of this terrible thing until I became involved with the Fans of Barbaro an internet group which originally began with people who followed Barbaro's fight for life and which is now trying to promote Barbaro's legacy which includes ending horse slaughter. People need to know that this horrible practice exists and need to contact their senators and representatives to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed (AHSPA).Only then will our horses be protected from slaughter and the transport to slaughter. Thank you again Marth for caring.

[Debbie Jones]

Martha

Can't thank you enough for speaking out to stop horse slaughter. We need people to call, fax and email there Senators on bill S 311 and the Representatives on bill H R 503

So many American's have no idea our horses are being slaughtered for overseas human consumption.
The USDA reports say 90% of horses slaughtered are healthy and young. It is not the old and sick horses the Pro slaughter wants us to think it is.

I didn't know about horse slaughter until the KY Darby winner Barbaro broke his leg.
In looking for updates on him,I found out. His owners Mr and Mrs Jackson ask a group call the Fan's of Barbaro to help stop horse slaughter.
Now I call and write congress dayly. But we need more callers.
Alex Brown Racing is where you can join in the fight to stop this! Please be the voice of the horses.
Thank you!

[Terri Czarski]

Thank you so much for shining much needed light on the issues facing America's horses. Susan, and rescuers like her, work so hard with so few resources to protect the horses from horrible fates. They are true heroes and angels to the horses. By so generously providing a forum to talk about this issue on your show, you are increasing awareness for the millions who don't know what can happen to perfectly good , young , healthy horses . Thank you again.

[Sharon Crumb]

Hi Martha,

Thank you so much for being the voice of the horses that are brutally slaughtered each day for overseas human consumption while we wait for Congress to pass H.R. 503/S. 311 that will stop the transport and slaughter of American horses.

Thank you for encouraging your audience and America to be involved in saving these precious young and healthy horses.

Susan Wagner was fantastic, thank you for giving her some time on your show to wake America up to the reality.

[Carole Bailis]

Thank you so much, Martha, for publicizing the horrific fact of horse slaughter for human consumption. I hope you will continue to address this issue until S311/HR503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, is passed.

[Carleen Sova]

Martha,
Thank you so much for having Susan Wagner on your show. Letting the American public know what fate to many of our equine family have is so important.
Thank you again.
Carleen Sova

[Nancy Goss]

Thanks so much for allowing Susan Wagner airtime to bring the horrific issue of horse slaughter before your viewing public! Anyone who is interested in the passage of S311/HR503 will find friends on AlexBrownRacing.com, which began as a site for people who wanted to follow Barbaro's progress following his Preakness injury, and continues to honor his life and legacy by rescuing more that 1,900 horses to date and campaigning daily for the passage of the AHSPA...truly a "grass roots" organization!

[Joyce Jacobson]

Martha, I am in tears! I am a very active member of the anti-slaughter community and it is so wonderful to see this presented to such a wide audience. As Susan mentioned, more than 70% of Americans are opposed to horse slaughter for human consumption but we need much broader education and many more calls to action. You have given us the opportunity to make this happen and I cannot thank you enough.
Congress reconvenes on January 22. It is our hope that the Senators and Representatives will be flooded with calls, emails and faxes demanding that S311/HR503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act be a priority and passed as quickly as possible; each day that passes sees an increase in the number of horses enduring unimaginable deaths in Mexico and Canada. It must be stopped.

[jonna skehan]

If everyone with the considerable clout of Martha Stewart would put their weight behind passage of S311 and HR503, we'd have this wretched business ended this year. I have always though that with power comes responsibility, and we all thank you so very much for helping Equine Advocates' message out to the world.

I remember seeing pix of your Fresians in an issue of Vanity Fair, and loved that she grazes them at night, to keep their lustrous black coats from going red in the sun...

Thank you, thank you so very much for being another strong voice for the horse. (BTW: we just worked with a rescue group in Belgium to help remove a starving Fresian brood who is pregnant from her terrible circumstances..)

[Margaret Smith]

Martha, thank you so very much for helping us get the word out about horse slaughter and PMU foals. Please everyone, urge you congress person to vote for S311 and/or HR503.

[Shelley Abrams]

Martha,
I can't thank you enough for bringing the issue of horse slaughter to a national audience. To many people just don't know about the brutal end of life that awaits so many of our beloved horses. Many think slaughter is euthanathia....it is not. It is brutal and terrifying as is the transportation to slaughter.
You have done a remarkable thing by bringing this to the forefront. I hope you will stay involved in helping us pass this legislation. We need more voices like yours to pass S311 in the Senate and HR503 in the House of Representatives.
And many thanks to Susan and all of those rescues that work so hard and give their heart and soul to helping the horses.

[Lisa Gordon~Frog Pond Farm Drafts]

First and formost I have to thank Martha Stewart for allowing Susan to bring the plight of our American Horses to the public awareness. We loose thousands of precious souls to slaughter every week. This practice has to stop.

Next I have to thank Susan for being so informative and stepping up so these voices are heard. You represented not only all those lost souls....but you represented us as rescuers...and you did an excellent job!

And finally to Betsy Perreten...THANK YOU for thinking of the rescued horses. Without your knowledge of Equine Advocates this wouldnt have happened!

[Laura Boothby]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Martha Thank You from South Florida!!! What a fantastic segment. I work in the horse industry and am a full time volunteer for Pure thoughts, Inc Horse and Foal Rescue in Palm Beach County Florida, and I am so grateful you gave Equine Advocates a platform to speak up for our National Herd!!! Fantastic Job!!!!!

[Peggi Loveless]

Thank you, Martha, for bringing the practice of horse slaughter for human consumption to the attention of the general public. Please, everyone...contact your elected officials in Washington and let your voices be heard. They do not believe that 70% of the American public wants S.311 and H.R.503 passed.

[Edie]

Martha,

Thank you for having Susan from Equine Advocates on your show to talk about horse slaughter and The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

Horse slaughter is a national issue and one that many people are unaware of. This was an extremely kind, brave and gracious gesture on your part to inform a lot of people about this evil practice.

As Susan mentioned, HR503 was passed in the House in 2006, but by year's end nothing was done in the Senate about it. The bill had to be reintroduced this year.

The Senate bill S311 is identical to the House bill HR503. They must be passed this year so that horse slaughter and the transport of horses to slaughter will finally stop.

In addition, HR249 (passed in the House now languishing in the Senate) must also pass this year so that our wild horses and burros are also protected from this atrocity.

Thanks.
Edie