Lots of Emotion from Monika, but then the horse problem is a rather emotional topic (I wont comment on her conspiracy theory involving feds and other land managers). I can't say that she's completely wrong as there are horse populations that are somewhat stable . For example, the shackleford ponies on cape lookout national seashore, with their highly regulated contraceptive program, is rather stable. But I know that out west most the herds are over populated and causing significant ecological degradation. It's been described as a crisis by many states and something does need to happen.

I'm a land manager in Arizona and I have seen first hand the devastation caused by the over population of feral horses. I've worked with private, state, federal, and tribal land managers and there is wide agreement that something needs to be done. The academic world also agrees with a rich assortment of scientific articles discussing horse impacts on everything from soil compaction and infiltration rates, erosion and fish habitat, and landscape health. People who truly love horses and understand ecosystem functions, like carrying capacity, want to bring dignity back to the horses by maintaining healthy sustainable populations. How we do that is where the most heated debate occurs. Horse meat is simply one of the options.

The last few decades have brought much havoc and deterioration to many herds of wild horses and burros. Their existence is now at risk as the BLM continues the round ups at the speed of light, treats most mares with infertility drugs, castrates most stallions etc. which caused the herds to diminish to dwindling numbers who can not sustain. I have seen the roundups, they are NO benign affair. They are cruel and unspeakable inhumane tactics cause much suffering to the horses. BLM has since years promised reform, yet it has not been delivered. Progress is slow and recent slaughter scandals of wild horses who are federally protected against this demise have shocked Americans and the public's trust is hampered. I have attended BLM meetings and seen the bureaucracy and empty promises. The program is in dire need of change and a balanced Board. The current Board is not representing any horse ecologists or advocates, but only special interests. The latest appointment of Callie Hendrickson to the BLM Advisory Board, cattle baron and slaughter proponent to represent the public, was yet another detrimental move. She does not represent me or most of Americans.
Craig Downer, a nationally renowned wildlife ecologist, has come up with a new Reserve Design idea, to manage the mustangs in the wild, where they belong by law. His self-sustainable concept would allow for the animals to roam free in their habitat, an assigned area where natural predators, boundaries etc. would be key. Over 22 million acres have been taken from the mustangs, lands assigned to them by Congress, yet gone. The ranchers and special interests have too long monopolized and abused the West, and ran the show. They now are very upset about increased public outrage as they worry to lose control. I have seen round ups and the devastation. We must stop this cruel movement as there are far less horses in the wild than BLM admits. Our fly overs have shown 1/3 of their numbers. Perhaps BLM outdated junk science currently counts tree stumps and rocks as well. Mustangs and burros need our help. Many herds are gone forever. The drought has been cleverly used as a tactic to keep wiping them off their range, evicting them into long term holding, for which we fear the next crisis will be slaughter. Theses horses belong in the wild. Most horses evicted are in perfect body condition. Yet the starvation tales continue and real reform has yet to be seen.
Please read Craig Downer's Reserve Design. He has studied the wild horses for over 40 years and knows the range better than anyone. His views are truly for the preservation of lands and its inhabitants. Wild horses greatly contribute to the balance of the eco-systems, they help prevent wild fires and cause way less damage than the millions of cattle who roam the West. Wild horses have been scape goated since decades and their story can be found in Craig's book "The Wild Horse Conspiracy" which is a compelling read on the history and the negative schemes against them by special interests. Much of what you read in his book has not been told by those responsible for the current crisis and the tragedy of America's mustangs.
Please help us help the mustangs. There are many key experts available to bring a turn around. It is crucial more than ever and we need anyone's help to change the destructive, deceptive path that Salazar has left behind. Our last wild horses are truly at risk of extinction.
http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/11/30/wild-horses-risk

There are numerous reasons why no state should not open horse slaughterhouses: 1) Horse slaughter plants devastate communities in which they are located, economically, environmentally and socially. The consequences of horse slaughter include loss of other business development due to stigmatization of the community; plummeting property values; increased vermin due to rotting flesh; horse blood backing up into bathtubs (horse have 1.76 time more blood per pound than cattle and it cannot be sold any more due to toxins); dramatically increased crime rates. All this happened in Kaufman, Texas where the Belgian-owned Dallas Crown plant was located until Kaufman’s residents managed to close it down, after a protracted fight that lasted 25-years; 2) The meat of American horses is toxic because of substances routinely given to them, such as phenylbutazone (bute), a carcinogen banned by FDA in any meat-producing animals and that can cause aplastic anemia in children even in minute quantities in animal substances; 3) As of July 31, 2013, there will likely be no market for American horse meat as the European Union (which imports 80% of the meat of North American horses) has implemented strict regulations preventing its importation of adulterated horse meat. A “passport” will be required, proving that each horse has never been administered bute or many other substances. Such a passport system would be virtually impossible to implement; 4) As 80% of Americans adamantly oppose horse slaughter (as per the January 2012 poll conducted by Lake Research Partners), any place would suffer devastating economic consequences due to boycotts of its tourist industry and other industries as well; 5) Because of their natural flight instinct, there is no way to “humanely” slaughter horses. These animals are subjected to extreme suffering due to gross violations in a most predatory industry, with much improper conduct by employees and a lack of supervision and code.
See the below FOIA request on Cavel (former plant in DeKalb, IL) that was submitted by Animals' Angels last July. The FOIA contains transport and humane violations. This is a link to the newsletter that contains links to the various reports.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs161/1101655399670/archive/111209017...

P.S. Also, please see this link www.savingamericashorses.org a global award-winning educational documentary that has shed light to the truth and why we must stop this predatory industry once and for all.

A couple of inaccuracies here -

First, the health of horse meat. Since this article is in the U.S., it's important to understand that U.S. horse meat is toxic for human consumption. Why? Horses are not raised in this country as food animals (and won't be, as it's not economically feasible).

As sporting and companion animals, horses are routinely given drugs banned from the food chain and not given to cows, pigs or chickens. These include pesticide dewormers, hormones, steroids, sedatives and powerful NSAIDs, including phenylbutazone, a classified human carcinogen and cause of potentially lethal blood disorders. A single lifetime dose renders an animal unfit for human consumption. A recent survey showed 85% of horse owners use it on their horses.

Secondly, with respect to price, like beef, there are different grades of horse meat. Many sell overseas for the price of veal.

However, we do agree on one thing: Americans and the British have a taboo about eating companion animals like equines, dogs and cats. Horses in particular give their lives in service to humans, and most certainly deserve a humane end, which horse slaughter is most certainly not.