KOTA Territory NewsRanchers react to deferment of horse slaughter bill

Ranchers react to deferment of horse slaughter bill

At the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo ranchers say they love their horses, but can't keep them forever.

It can cost $300-400 a year to care for a sick, old or unmanageable horse. That's why so many ranchers are in favor of having a horse slaughter plant established in the United States.

"The horses that are being turned lose, starving to death along the roads, that's not humane treatment of horses," said Howard Huxtable, a Ranch Rodeo participant.

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee agrees a horse slaughter facility is needed, but says the $100,000 used to study the issue could instead be used to benefit schools. So on Tuesday, the bill was deferred until the end of the legislative session, essentially killing it.

"I think it's a lot of typical Washington lobbyist bureaucrats you know trying to control everything," said Chad Mackaben, a Ranch Rodeo participant.

Horse owners say lawmakers are dragging their feet and favor animal rights groups. Those groups argue that horses sent to slaughter are still in good condition.

Currently, horse owners have to haul their animals to Canada or Mexico to have them slaughtered.