The September 19th Valley Auction in Armstrong British Columbia was a success by all accounts – reportedly ALL horses found homes and no horses went to kill buyers. Many rescuers came home with multiple horses and this is merely one account of a very lucky mare (and foal!) who was purchased merely ONE DAY before she foaled.
Lady’s rescuer was a 15 year-old girl named Keira, who went to the auction on her own. No information about Lady was available to any prospective purchasers, and it was unknown that she was close to parturition – she delivered her foal, subsequently named Chance, the very next day after the rescue. If she had been purchased by a kill buyer she would have delivered her foal either on a lot somewhere or while in transport to slaughter.
It’s clear from viewing the National Farm Animal Codes of Practice decision tree for transportation, that the mare should not have been transported to the auction.
Conditions under which horses should not be transported:
- Fracture or any other severe injury such as gaping wounds, profuse bleeding, severe head injuries, and severe laminitis etc.
- Sick or diseased – strangles, herpes, virus, pheumonia
- Fever due to illness
- Acute frostbite
- Recent major surgery
- In shock or dying
- Likely to give birth within 48 hours
- Suspected or confirmed nervous disorder
- Uterine, vaginal or rectal prolapse
- Laboured breathing