Our most recent YouTube video discussed a bill that has been passed around Congress. The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475 and S. 2037) is a bipartisan bill that permanently bans horse slaughter in the United States and prohibits the exportation of horses for slaughter.
The link below is to a petition that I started on change.org to bring awareness to this bill that needs to be passed.
Every year, thousands of horses are shipped out of their home country to meet a brutal end in foreign slaughterhouses. These intelligent and sensitive creatures often endure long, stressful journeys only to face a terrifying death, all in the name of profit. Yet, these animals that we hold so dear deserve respect and compassion, not such a devastating fate.
On May 24, 2007, the last slaughterhouse in the United States producing horsemeat for human consumption was closed by State statute, but owners and companies still ship horses across borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. The USDA currently allows kill buyers or kill pens to export horses to Mexico or Canada for the purpose of slaughter. The USDA puts out a monthly report on this practice but does nothing to stop the export of these horses that could still have a good life in the hands of proper owners.
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Every day, a kill buyer loads trailers with dozens of horses (most times over-filled) with no regard to the horses well-being. The horses are transported over hundreds of miles across the border into Canada or Mexico, without food or water, for the sole purpose of being slaughtered. These horses face horrible treatment being packed into tight quarters on trailers, suffering injuries and sometimes even death on those trailers. Yet, nothing is done to regulate or enforce laws on the ethical treatment of these precious lives!
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The process of sending them over the border is long and grueling. The Freedom of Information Act documents report horses and foals experiencing dismemberment, compound fractured limbs and backs, crushed skulls, and being trampled to death while in transit. Other reports and investigations confirm significantly injured, sick, non-ambulatory, and dead horses at auctions and assembly points.
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Due to horses physiology, it is impossible to slaughter horses humanely without sedatives. Once they arrive at the slaughterhouses, the horses are forced through narrow passageways and are hit repeatedly with a penetrating captive bolt gun until they fall unconscious. Once unconscious, they are dismembered. The horses are not euthanized before being dismembered. In some cases, the horses may even still be conscious during dismemberment due to the failure of the bolt successfully knocking them out.
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Not only is the process of getting horse meat cruel and inhumane, but the actual horse meat itself is unhealthy for human consumption. Unlike other livestock, American horses are not raised for food. They are routinely treated with medications that the FDA bans for use in animals intended for human consumption. Their meat is unsafe to eat. Even individuals who choose not to eat horse meat can be exposed to these banned medications because of horse slaughter byproducts contaminating our groundwater.
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The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475 and S. 2037) is a bipartisan bill that permanently bans horse slaughter in the United States and prohibits the exportation of equines for slaughter. This bill will close the loophole and will permanently prohibit the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.)
Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly
~ slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or
~ shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced it to the 118th Congress (2023 - 2024). To become law, the SAFE Act needs to pass in the House of Representatives, and then in the Senate. But this is not a quick—or easy—process. Congressional and organizational outreach efforts are more important than ever. In addition to signing this petition, reach out to your state representatives and tell them to pass the SAFE Act NOW!
Your signature is much appreciated.
Find your Representatives by State and District
Reach out to your representatives in both the House and the Senate.
​To become law, the SAFE Act needs to pass in the House of Representatives, and then in the Senate. But this is not a quick—or easy—process. Congressional and organizational outreach efforts are more important than ever.
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Tell your senators and representatives to pass the SAFE Act. Give them a call and send a personalized email or letter. State that you are a constituent and share why passing the SAFE Act is important to you.
I have been told that all emails and phone calls are logged and given to the representative on a weekly basis. The more attention we can bring to this bill the more likely we will help to get it passed!
Meet the Fletcher Family
Welcome to Fletcher Farms Amarillo!
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We started our farm by purchasing 43 acres just outside the city limits of Amarillo, Texas in February of 2022. Fletcher Farms Amarillo is a Woman Owned Small Business in the Texas Panhandle. When we started out we had no idea what our farm was going to be and it had grown into what we always dreamed it would be.
Our new farm commenced by adopting a donkey named Jack. Knowing that Jack needed a pasture pal, we found a Jenny donkey with her one week old baby at a livestock yard in Bowie, Texas. Ellie and Mable would be the second and third additions to the farm.
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While visiting the new mom and baby donkey at the livestock yard, we found out they just received Six Belgian Draft horses from a farm in Kentucky. They were scheduled to be shipped to slaughter after being neglected. We decided they needed to stay together as a family and we rescued all six of them! In March 2022, we rescued another Belgian Draft Horse, Freya, from a kill pen in Tennessee.
And Again...in August 2022 we rescued Anna. Out of all the horses she was by far in the worst condition. She was dumped at a kill pen in Kemp, Texas after being starved and neglected. There was something about Freya and Anna that spoke to us and we knew without our help their fate would be much different. ​
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With a love for all creatures big and small our farm also has chickens, goats, dogs and cats.
Fletcher Farms Amarillo offers a variety of services since opening, see below for everything we offer!
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Check back often to keep up to date with all the NEW adventures at Fletcher Farms Amarillo.
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Since we couldn't rescue all these horses on our own without additional financial support we have started the Big Hoof Foundation 501c3 non profit organization.
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Please visit bighooffoundation.org
Everything We Offer
Meesha Bars
Made with milk straight from our goat, Meesha.
Head over to our online store to see everything available. Soaps are available in a variety of scents and we are always adding something new!
Farm Fresh Non-GMO Eggs from our
Buff Orpington, Lavender Orpington, Copper Maran and Easter Egger Chickens.
At Fletcher Farms Amarillo we are lovers of ALL animals big and small. We believe in raising our animals with the love and care they deserve. That also includes what we feed them!
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Although we are not certified as an organic farm, we follow the USDA's guidelines in raising our animals.
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Per USDA guidelines, our animals have
~ mandatory outdoor access for all species when weather is suitable
~ 100% organic feed and approved feed supplements
~ no antibiotics, growth hormones, or GMOs
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Cory and I are particular in what we put on and in our bodies. We have followed that belief and concepts with everything we raise on our farm which including the products we sell!