Speak Up For Horses, Inc.

We Speak Up for Horses bound for slaughter and those neglected, abused, or discarded by rescuing and rehoming these horses. We also educate the public about horse slaughter, horse welfare laws, and what it means to be a responsible horse owner. Our work is driven by the belief that education seeds compassion, a life-long commitment to our horses and a respect for all life.

Speak Up For Horses (founded in 2006) is a 501c3 registered non profit with the primary mission to educate the public on the plight caused by an unknowing public, by inadequate horse welfare laws, and by the woeful enforcement of existing laws at the federal, state, and local levels.

Our name says it all: Speak Up For Horses!

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ONGOING PROJECTS

1) Education: Speak Up For Horses has an ongoing interest in developing and offering educational programs about responsible horse ownership, abuse and neglect prevention, and horse slaughter awareness. With your help, we one day want to acquire a farm that will serve as an equine educational facility for a variety of publics.

2) Bundles of Books: To address the dual problem of lack of funding for books in both school and public libraries, as well as the lack of horse oriented books in many libraries, Speak Up For Horses donates horse-oriented books to underfunded libraries in an attempt to encourage a love of horses in children of all ages.

3) Rescue: Speak Up For Horses will act to rescue horses from problematic situations when funding and resources permit.

4) Legislation: Speak Up For Horses is committed to supporting and promoting legislation at the federal, state, and local level for better humane enforcement laws as well as The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

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LUCKY 48

This case of animal neglect started in March of 2008. Yes, 2008. When it was brought to the public's attention, certain KY entities assured us the situation had been taken care of and horses were improving. Over the summer, the horses were able to recover with an abundance of pasture.

However, in February of 2009, these horses once again made the headlines. Over the winter 11 horses had died of starvation and the remaining herd was in deplorable condition. Finally, the owner was charged with animal neglect and in the summer she was found guilty in a jury trial. No animals were seized or removed.

Since the herd consisted of mares and free running stallions most, if not all, mares were pregnant. Approximately eight foals died during birth or shortly thereafter. The authorities still did not intervene.

This case has been dragged out over the summer and finally last week came to an end with the judge's order to remove all the horses from the property which had since been sold due to foreclosure.

Months after months we had been in contact with the county offering them to find homes for these horses IF they were ever taken away from the owner. Now that the order of removal was official, we were hopeful to finally bring this situation to a peaceful end.

This story turned from bad to ugly when the county official put in charge of the removal, contacted a KY KB to run these (mostly unhandled) horses through his auction, well aware of the KB's intention to purchase each and everyone of them.

Speak Up For Horses and some wonderful individuals gave up their Thanksgiving to work behind the scenes to rectify this disgusting situation.

Yesterday, as the first horses were being loaded to be transported to the auction yard, the judge executive ( who we tracked down on vacation - thank you God and thank you to the person who had his cell phone number) made the call that saved them. All 48 horses were signed over to Speak Up For Horses.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=43207.40

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HAPS IRISH PUB

Winning Thoroughbred Found Starving

Former Champion Race Rescued Fox 19 WXIX Cincinnati

Rescued Race Horse Doing Better Fox 19 WXIX Cincinnati

Update on Rescued Race Horse Hap's Irish Pub Fox 19 WXIX Cincinnati

Rescue Horse's Story Illustrates Importance of Estate Planning The Horse 7/5/08

The initial story and updates

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HARRISON COUNTY NEGLECT CASE

Harrison County Kentucky Cruelty Case: History and Updates

Last October, Speak Up For Horses was contacted by a group of concerned citizens about 40 or so shockingly emaciated horses near Cynthiana Kentucky. Unfortunately, the local authorities had been unwilling to do anything about these horses at that time.

The neighbors told us they had been purchasing hay to feed them, but the drought had made hay hard to come by and too expensive. So we purchased some hay and started feeding the horses at the fence. The owners knew we were feeding them and allowed us to do so. Since we were unable to get local animal control to get involved, we went to the Kentucky State Police. While they were not particularly inclined to investigate since our concerns involved horses not people, eventually they did do a thorough investigation. Our photographs and one incredibly passionate officer made our case and in early November the owners were charged with eight counts of animal cruelty.