Horse slaughter involves long-distance transport under stressful conditions and slaughter methods that raise significant welfare concerns in North America and internationally.
Horses transported for slaughter experience long journeys in inappropriate vehicles, without adequate feed, water, or space. Horses that fall during transport are trampled. Pre-slaughter lairage conditions are often inadequate for the highly social and stress-sensitive nature of horses. Stunning failures — horses entering slaughter while conscious — occur at documented rates in some facilities. The transport distance from US origin points to Canadian or Mexican slaughter facilities can exceed 1,000 miles in some cases.