1. I personally know Michelle and Tracy and have known of their story. As an FOB I am very much involved in banning horse slaughter, donating to rescue horses & foals from slaughter and donating for laminitis research. I have gone from being very ignorant of the treatment of the horses in this country to outraged that the treatment is still going on.

I am going to adopt a horse myself in the very near future. It's the very least any of us can do to help save these beautiful and wonderful creations of nature.

Posted at 1:51PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Dale Jones

2. What a GREAT story! Sunny looks awesome and look at those dapples. What a stunning looking girl. Her and Rally look so happy :)
THANK YOU Pure Thoughts(Jen & Tracy) - the FOB's and Michelle another lucky horse!!

Posted at 2:13PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Beth

3. Michelle is our team captain for Team Barbaro. We rescue nursemare foals by donating to Pure Thoughts Rescue and working with the Last Chance Corral. What a great captain she is! Sunny is such a beautiful horse with such a happy ending to her story. I wish I lived in a place where I could keep a couple of horses. What a cute pair Sunny and Rally make!

Posted at 4:56PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Joanne Frank

4. Sunny's story is a personal one for me and my family, because Sunny now belongs to our family!

When we (and others) admire Sunny's youth....her great beauty... her sweet, loving disposition... and we can see she still has so much life ahead of her... we are struck by the cruelty of what Sunny endured on her planned "one-way trip" to the slaughter house...Thank goodness she was saved. Sunny is a prime example of the type of horses (normal, young, healthy, PREGNANT) that are shipped to be butchered alive, and ONLY because of a foreign demand for horsemeat...There is NO other reason.

There are many "ugly" truths about horse slaughter the American public is now aware of, with the top one being that it even happens here in our country!

There are also many "myths" circulating about the need to have horse slaughter continue, such as the "unwanted horses" theory and "slippery slope" theory...Both of these so-called concerns have been proven completely false! They are strategic moves by the high-paid pro-slaughter lobbyists, also known as a pro-slaughter "spin."

There is a great deal of factual information that is available and can be shared with anyone who wants to know more about horse slaughter and why it exists (example: Horse slaughter in America is foreign-owned business with all profits going overseas, and it is an economic "drain").

If you would like more information that will provide you with the "truth" so you be fully informed about our beautiful American equines, please contact the author of this article and she can obtain this information for you quickly.

Posted at 4:57PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Michelle Tolley

5. I am so happy Sunny and the other horses were saved that day and will now have a chance at a good life. The sad thing is this happens far too often (100,000 x's to often last year) and most Americans are not aware that this very un-American thing called horse slaughter is going on right under their noses. It is the most horrific abuse and down right torture of the American horse. The horses purchased at auction by the kill buyers that are there on behalf of the slaughter houses with a quota to fill are treated horribly. Some are injured in the pen with mares, pregnant mares, yearlings, stallions you name it they are all crammed in there together. If they are injured they are prodded and yelled at to move. A horse with a broken leg is prodded to walk. These people are the most pathetic people and I hate to even think they are human.

Google horse slaughter there is plenty of information there for Americans to learn of this down right disgusting practice. There are so many people that have no idea their young, viable and healthy horse can and will end up at a slaughter house when they take them to the auction. Please visit hsus.org and click on horses in the top right corner. Ask your legislators to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act S 311 and HR 503. It is the American thing to do.

Posted at 7:06PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Lucille Matte

6. I have 2 feedlot mares myself. One of them is the most LOVING horse I have ever met! I bought her off a feedlot in WA. Please, if you can, rescue and save a feedlot horse! There is NOTHING wrong with either mare, yet they were abandoned, alone, and afraid, at a strange place to possibly end up slaughtered. WHY? Nobody knows. There is no reason for either of them to have such a cruel fate.

I am so glad that Sunny has a new home. She is very pretty. Sadly, there are many more "Sunnys" out there on feeedlots and at auctions every week.

Posted at 8:39PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Annie Knisley

7. Wow! I mean WOW! WOW! WOW! Sunny is an absolutely stunning horse. On top of that, the picture of Rally, the glowing chestnut, with beautiful Sunny is amazing. How people could send such beautiful horses to auction and slaughter is beyond me. Yes, we definately need to work on passing HR. 503 and S. 311. However, we also need to work on finding ways owners can keep their horses out of auctions, such as Hay Hotlines and grain assistance as in Kentucky, low-cost euthanasia and supporting your local rescue. Rather than dividing the horse community into pro/anti slaughter until it splinters beyond repair, thinking of ways to help owners with their horses may find both groups working together. While I am and always will be anti-slaughter, I know people who are pro-slaughter that love their horses, rescue horses, support rescues etc. The constant bickering and name calling needs to end. We need to agree to disagree and move on. America's horses need everyone's help. Most people are willing to give it.

Posted at 8:49PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Lauren

8. I am not a member of peta or any group saving any animals, I am an individual and I do love animals, all of them, period. When I see pictures of animals like these, and read about those who kill these animals for profit, I find it hard to control myself. I face the fact that I know I am capable of actions I never thought possible in me. The Michael Vick story was the last straw. I truly believe now that there are truly people in our country, who are evil and beyond redemption.

Posted at 8:08PM on Aug 5th 2007 by Roy Grider

9. Frances.
It is heart-warming to know that there are folks out here who care and who, like Michelle, save horses from an untimely and painful end. Your love is being returned ten-fold.

While the President's stance on the "Ag" bill is to veto it, we can take action by writing to him, calling the White House, or however we decide to contact his office, we can let our voices be heard. Perhaps if enough people who care take this action, he might be influenced by our feelings.

Let's not just stand by and let him take action without letting him know our thoughts. The email address is:
comments@whitehouse.gov
or
president@whitehouse.gov

Take care, and enjoy your horses!

Jo
PetsMiou

Posted at 7:23AM on Aug 6th 2007 by PetsMiou

10. Sunny abd Rally are beautiful horses! I'm overjoyed to hear that they were saved.

Three of my horses were auction rescues or bought from abusive owners. It took months, but all of them have turned into lovely, friendly and stunning four-legged friends! I only wish I could rescue more.

It is sad that the House Bill to stop slaughter inspections, thus stop slaughter of horses will be vetoed. Sad statement about man's expanding inhumanity!

Posted at 5:38PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Frances Morton, Winlock, WA

11. Check out what Pure Thoughts Rescue is up to now, they saved 82 horses from slaughter at an auction in Sugarcreek, OH. They went on the day after Thanksgiving 11-23-07 and the story is still unfolding today. Jennifer from PT is just home this week after a lengthly hospital stay for one of the rescues.Please pass the word of this great group.

Posted at 6:57PM on Dec 8th 2007 by Carol Stefancin