Commentary
Kudos to Sarah McNaughton-Peterson for addressing a volatile topic. As a horse owner, she is grounded in doing the best for her animals. Still she asserts, “there comes a time . . .” Her comment about culling practices is notable.
With welfare issues top of mind, she reminds us that the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 classifies horses as livestock, of growing unwanted horse populations, horses being sent out of the U.S. for slaughter <Link>, cultures that still consume horse meat and more.
Source: Dakota Farmer, May 2, 2025. Link.
At the end of the day, as much as we love our equine companions, they are livestock after all. Setting aside the emotional aspect, why not find an end use for them that both brings a benefit while ensuring them the best welfare possible?”
Related: How wild horses returned to North America after extinction, AnimalsAroundtheGlobe, May 5, 2025. Link. Horses made their return to North America with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, nearly 10,000 years after their extinction. A more significant reintroduction came with the Spanish conquistadors. Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico in 1519 with 16 horse s, which played a crucial role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire.
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