The Equine Welfare Alliance has condemned a passing of a resolution by the board of the United States Arabian Horse Association (AHA) in support of slaughter.
The alliance said the resolution attempted to mitigate the decision and "ease the ultimate betrayal of their breed" by voicing support for equine rescue and responsible horse ownership.
"EWA questions how the AHA can promote slaughter and responsible ownership since they contradict each other," said alliance representatives John Holland and Vicki Tobin.
The AHA did not name any rescues or programmes supported or planned by the AHA in support of their breed, they said.
The alliance said reports suggested the move was prompted by the elevation of AHA president Lance Walters to the American Horse Council board.
Walters stated: "Since Arabian horses are involved in racing, showing, competition, and recreation, our owners and events are greatly affected by federal actions."
Walters did not describe how horse slaughter comes into play with racing, showing, competition and recreation events, Tobin and Holland said.
"The AHA foal count was only 6500 in 2008 - a commendable example of responsible breeding, and AHA bloggers have recently been discussing how well Arabian prices are holding up in the sagging economy."
Given that, the alliance wondered at the motivation behind the resolution, which was first reported in Arabian Horse World.
Scores of AHA members have told the alliance they planned to discontinue membership in their breed association because the stance.
"Both the Arabian Association president and his board are far out of the mainstream of American's opinion where more than 70 per cent consistently say in polls that they are opposed to horse slaughter," Holland and Tobin said.
The alliance called for the AHA membership list in order to commission polling by an outside agency to determine whether Arabian owners really support slaughter.
Holland, himself a proud owner of Arabians, said of the action, "It is high time the members of these organisations let their management know just who they work for!"
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