Hobbie Horse Stables, nationally recognized equine education and rescue farm in Bowling Green announced today a new partnership with the non-profit equine organization, Speak Up For Horses, Inc.

Craig Lundgren of Hobbie Horse Stables has been a passionate horse advocate for many years.  The 2004 truck wreck near Lawrenceburg Indiana of a double decker cattle trailer loaded with 51 horses led him to the equine rescue and community education efforts of Paula Drake of Cincinnati Ohio, Shelly Price of Falmouth Kentucky, and Ginger Rood of Union Kentucky.  They too are life-long horse enthusiasts and owners. It was the wreck that united their equine advocacy efforts.

"Last year more than 90,000 horses were slaughtered at the three foreign owned horse slaughterhouses in the United States: two in Texas and one in Illinois.  Thousands of those slaughtered came from right here in Ohio, and our neighboring states of Kentucky and Indiana.  Every week healthy horses are inhumanely hauled across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana highways on their way to slaughter in double decker cattle trucks" explained Craig Lundgren.

  "Horse Slaughter is one of America's dirty little secrets.  These horses, many former family pets, some race horses, broodmares, work horses, and even horses stolen out of pastures are hauled across the United States and slaughtered so foreigners can dine on American horse steaks in gourmet restaurants overseas.  The story of the old horse being turned into glue or dog food is a myth" added Shelly Price.

In September the United States House of Representatives passed its version of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.  The bill awaits action by the Senate.  Both Speak Up For Horses and Hobbie Horse Stables are among the thousands of equine groups joined by horse owners and animal welfare organizations working for the passage of this bill.  Both the ASPCA and HSUS have endorsed the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. 

 And while the American public has been educated in the plight of unwanted dogs and cats, many Americans are unaware of the plight of the discarded horse.

 Hobbie Horse Stables, along with Speak Up for Horses, aims to change that here in Ohio and in neighboring Kentucky and Indiana, by doing just that:  speaking up for horses.  Rescuing discarded horses that would otherwise be slaughtered is just part of the mission.  Just as important, if not more important, is teaching area young people and their parents the importance of responsible ownership.

"Our work is driven by the belief that education seeds compassion, a life-long commitment to our horses and a respect for life - not just for the lives of these magnificent animals, but also a respect for all life" Paula Drake said. "The plight of these discarded horses knows no state boundaries.  This partnership with Hobbie Horse Stables, emphasizing both education and rescue, will help us expand our work more effectively throughout the region," she added.

Currently, the Bowling Green farm serves as the rescue and re-homing facility for their combined efforts.  Together the two organizations are raising money to expand their work into Southern Ohio, Southeastern Indiana and Kentucky by acquiring a historic farm in Northern Kentucky.  This farm will serve as an equine education center and rescue facility where the regional community can experience horses through seminars, horse shows, breed exhibitions, therapeutic riding and other hands-on horse events.  The center would also support area law enforcement in neglect and abuse cases involving horses. 

"We are available to speak to both youth and adult organizations about horse slaughter, horse rescue and responsible horse ownership.  We are also collecting horse books like Black Beauty and Seabiscuit which speak to responsible ownership for donation to public and school libraries" explained Mr. Lundgren.

 According to the American Horse Council there are 9 million horses in the United States, a $40 billion direct economic impact industry.  Kentucky ranks fifth in the country in number of horses per state, Ohio close behind in sixth place, and Indiana in fifteenth for a tri-state total in excess of 825,000 horses. Nationally more than 6 million horses are used recreationally as pleasure companions and show horses.

 Ginger Rood adds, "We have a responsibility to speak up for horses.  They have carried us into battle, worked our fields, pulled our wagons westward, and now thrill us in competitions, pull carriages, provide invaluable therapy to special needs children and adults, pose for pictures with our children at birthday parties, and show us the beauty of nature on trail rides.  Don't we owe our American horses a respectful quality of life for all they do for us?"