According to USDA data through 2006, about 70,000 horses per year were slaughtered in the United States.  25,000 a year were shipped to Canada and 7,500 a year were sent to Mexico, whose number jumped to 40,000 a year last year with the closure of USA slaughterhouses.

Approximately 17% of the 70,000 horses slaughtered each year in America are Thoroughbred's--nearly 12,000 horses every year.  Aside from the horrors of the slaughter process, designed for cattle and not the long neck of horses, the transportation to the slaughterhouses is largely unregulated, with long hauls of mares, foals and stallions mixed together, without food or water.

Approximately 3000 Thoroughbreds are retired from racing each year.  When considering adopting a new horse, for the many post-ractrack career options there are, consider adopting a horse from one of our annually accredited non-profits.  Please use your browser and go to "Groups we Support".