Not trying to stir the pot, but I received this email and I must say, I do have to give the author points for creativity. Read on and enjoy.

Dear Anita Getaclue,
Thank you for your fervent support of the recent laws that were passed in Illinois and the taco state that effectively ended the closely regulated slaughter of horses in the United States. Thank you for pushing the practice past our borders and out of control of the USDA's standards for humane treatment of food animals. We also appreciate your lobbying to pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act currently in Congress, which will end the transport of unwanted horses to foreign slaughterhouses and keep each and every one of them within the borders of our beautiful nation-alive and well!

You'll be pleased to learn that the "alive and well" part is where you come in! A new organization has been created through the cooperative effort of the numerous horse industry organizations and the USDA, called "Save Horses In Trouble-Help End Abandonment & Death," or SH*THEAD for short. In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, and to alleviate the pressure on existing rescue facilities to take in the thousands of unwanted horses, we have decided to place one unwanted horse under the personal care of each and every person that supported banning horse slaughter in the United States.

As you may know, since the slaughter facilities have closed, not only have rescue facilities and shelters been inundated to the point that they have to close their doors to new arrivals, but many horses have also been neglected, starved to death, or abandoned because of the record high hay prices. Therefore, your participation in this program is mandatory.

We understand that it is your feeling that horses are pets, not livestock, and since most people in the United States do not choose to eat them, therefore no one should, and all horses should live out their lives in an idyllic pastoral setting. We also understand that while your relatively large 40' X 40' suburban backyard isn't exactly Yellowstone, it will just have to do. We are certain you will make the necessary adjustments.

Your unwanted horse is of unknown origin, but is roughly 6 years old (although we can't get close enough to him to tell for sure), weighs approximately 1500 pounds and has a mean streak a mile wide, and has been known to randomly bite, strike, or kick, especially at small children, elderly people, and house pets. We have decided to call him "Satan."

While Satan is capable of physical aggression, unfortunately he is not able to be ridden because of his crooked front legs. He is capable, however, of reproducing, as he is a stallion. This is of special import to you, as your neighbors and fellow members of the "Horses Are Humans With Hooves" group will also be provided with horses through our program, some of which might be mares.

For your information, the $20 you donate annually to the Humane Society of the United States can instead buy you approximately two bales of high-quality hay at the current market rate. Assuming that the bales weigh 100 pounds, and you feed 20 pounds to said beast per day, this will be enough to feed him for ten days. You will be happy to know that the lifespan of a horse averages about 25 years, and therefore Satan can bring you approximately 9,125 days of enjoyment. That is, of course, only if you provide him with the best care possible, which we are absolutely certain that you will. To ensure that Satan is receiving proper care, an inspector will visit your home on a weekly basis.

At your request, we can provide you with contact information for veterinarians, farriers, trainers, equine dental practitioners, whisperers, and tranquilizer gun dealers in your area, as well as the necessary contacts you will need for euthanasia and disposal of Satan's earthly vessel when he crosses over. We foresee that Satan's death will be especially traumatic for you, being the enlightened individual that you are, and counselors are already available at 1-900-NO-SENSE. ($3.99 for the first minute, $1.99 for each additional minute).

Unfortunately, there is no government financial assistance for care and maintenance costs of SH*THEAD horses, as all of the funds allocated for such things are dedicated to the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse program.

Sincerely,
Gene E. Us

I’ve used the Sh!thead acronym before but I apparently didn’t realize the true meaning.

I received a forwarded email today about an irate horse owner going to a registered
horse sell to sell a registered mare and 18 day old colt. The pair sold cheap and the purchaser was only interested in the mare (for resale) and wanted to dump the colt. The e-mail’s tone was on the shock of dumping the colt, and the purchasers as damned for buying the mare and reselling in another sale.

To this I say, “What the hell was the seller thinking????”

Do people NOT know the market? If folks want a good home for their horses think about giving them away. BUT DON”T go to a sale with a mare and 18 day baby and expect a fairytale of the perfect family buying them and happily ever after.

I am sad for the little colt.

If only such organizations as SH*THEAD existed, and were able to enforce the provisions outlined in the email. I've long thought that the pro-horse slaughter advocates should be saddled (pun intended) with those animals they're trying to "save." Methinks it would well change their tune, and they'd likely be introduced real quickly to the sales ring, and the vagaries therein. There's nothing like personal experience to change one's mind, particularly when that mind is set on something with which they have little to no experience.

NW: sent you a PM