Mission
Hundreds of thousands of American horses are in crisis and millions of people around the world who consume American equine meat risk being exposed to toxic substances that have infiltrated the human food chain.
The American Horse Project is a registered 501(c)3 that was founded to provide an innovative, comprehensive, and solutions-based approach to the protection of American horses, donkeys, mules, and burros (equines) within U.S. borders. Through the latest technological innovations and digital media strategies, we are determined to drive awareness that American equine meat is toxic for human consumption and end the inhumane treatment and slaughter of America’s equine population.
The time to Act is NOW.
Initiatives
- General Awareness, Marketing, public relations, and communication campaigns and education
- Transportation, Support and grow coalition partner, Fleet of Angels™, a network of 10K+ trailer owners who provide transportation and lifesaving assistance for at-risk equines
- Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) Programs, Autism, Special Needs, Wounded Warriors, and PTSD
- Equine Training & Retraining for Second Careers
- Affordable Gelding & Humane Euthanasia Clinics, Education and Financing
- National Directories, Education and Information Resources for Fostering, Rehoming, Rescuing, Adopting, and Purchasing
American equine meat is highly toxic for human consumption.
Executive Summary
Each year approximately 150,000 American horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and burros (equines) are shipped across the borders to Mexico and Canada where they are slaughtered in a brutal process that is egregiously inhumane and their meat (made toxic by previously ingested chemicals) enters into the human food chain. Due to extreme overbreeding, the throw-away mentality of the racing and show horse industries and the desire of many to avoid end of life expenses for aging or infirm animals, horses fall prey to 'America's Dirty Little Secret' and pose a world health issue.
There are more than thirty-two countries that eat horse meat with the majority of consumers in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. Japan is the only country that imports live shipments of draft horses from Canada (stuffed into small containers without food, water, and movement during the flight which is approximately 16-18+ hours) for consumption of (basashi or sakura niku) raw horse meat.
American equines are not raised to be eaten. More than 110 medications are given to horses over their lifetimes that the USDA and European Union deem illegal to administer to animals raised for human consumption. Therefore, it is unethical to allow their toxic meat (which equals approximately 90,000 tons, yearly) into the human food chain. Now, more than ever this is critical because our food is no longer being labeled with a country of origin. In addition, there are no regulations that require the sharing of information about substances previously ingested by a horse up for auction (where horses are often purchased by “Kill” Buyers with the intent on sending them to slaughter).
Currently, the Safeguard American Foods Act (H.R. 113), a bipartisan legislation that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is up for vote in Congress. This Act would ban the knowing sale or transport of equines and equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of human consumption. The ban is based on the use of unsafe additives and drugs for humans in equine health regimes.
The American Horse Project (AHP) and its coalition partners have identified strategic programs and services that are needed to aid at-risk equines and the people who eat their meat. These programs include an international general awareness campaign, transportation and disaster evacuation services, rehoming, retraining, and equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) programs. In addition, a comprehensive directory of equine rescues and their adoptable equines, a directory of at-risk equines (priced at $1k or less) available through multiple sources, and establishing a network of euthanasia and gelding clinics to assist in those much-needed services are in development.
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