Equine Legislative Issues of Interest
to Wisconsin Horse Owners

Fellow State Horse Council Presidents:

The horse industry needs your help.

Due to a technical issue in HSUS's motions before the US Supreme Court, we have been extended the golden opportunity to file an Amicus Brief, as a friend of the court, in the matter deciding whether Illinois' prohibition on equine slaughter was constitutional and should stand or be overturned. We all have first-hand knowledge of the blight this legislative effort has brought upon the horse market, the forced and often inhumane transportation to less regulated processing facilities in both Canada and Mexico and the increase in the volume of horse dockets being investigated by our respective Departments of Agriculture.

The cost for preparing, publishing and distributing the brief to the US Supreme Court is estimated to be $20k. We have been able to secure a $5k commitment from AQHA to help in the presentation. This is also where we need your assistance. Due to the forced cancellation of the 2008 Illinois Horse Fair by the Governor of Illinois, acting thru his Director of Agriculture, and the associated loss of revenue and no recourse for our upfront expenses, the Horsemen's Council of Illinois cannot afford to participate in this effort. I am asking for your association's participation on behalf of the horses. Please consider your association's ability to lend a hand to this necessary effort.

We recognize that none of us want horses to go to slaughter. But, unless our respective legislatures see fit to provide the necessary funding for required facility improvements, feed and veterinary care at our state and local animal shelters, we all know that horses will continue to go unwanted, be neglected and continue to suffer because of this prohibition.

Questions and more information on the Amicus Brief and required funding can be addressed either to me, or directly to Yvonne Ocrant Esq. at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP who is working on our behalf. Yvonne can be contacted at 312/704-3080 or YOcrant@hinshawlaw.com

Please help! ASAP! The clock is ticking.

Frank Bowman, President

Horsemen's Council of Illinois

P.O. Box 1605

Springfield, IL 62705

217-585-1600

www.horsemenscouncil.org