Photo of Kashi by Paloma Ianes.
Tragically, the number of American horses exported for slaughter is on pace to reach the highest total in at least four years.
The export total is up more than 8% despite not including the month of December or trade figures for Canada for September-November, which are lagging because of the government shutdown.
Through November, at least 21,529 equines had been shipped to Mexico and Canada — compared to 19,915 in all of 2024, the lowest number in at least 45 years.
The last month of this year for which export figures for both countries are available is August, through which slaughter exports reached 14,146, up 23% from the same period a year earlier.
These needless deaths in inhumane conditions could have been prevented.
Until Congress passes the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, a small number of kill buyers will profit from buying horses at auction, then trucking them to Mexican or Canadian slaughterhouses.
The SAFE Act would ban the export of equines for slaughter and impose a lasting ban on slaughter here at home. The number of bipartisan SAFE cosponsors in the House is up to 205.
We’re also lobbying for the same anti-slaughter language to be added to the Farm Bill.
It’s unclear exactly what’s driving the export increase, though the costs of horse ownership are clearly up, especially in regions affected by drought. Tariffs have raised the cost of feed, tack and equipment.
The last domestic horse slaughterhouse closed in 2007. We and other advocates have lobbied successfully for annual federal funding bill language that’s kept new slaughterhouses from opening inside the country.
After reaching a peak of 166,572 in 2012, the number of equines shipped to slaughter has fallen, thanks to increased public awareness of the issue and a greater number of retirement programs and sanctuaries.