Horse slaughter supporters rally at Capitol

A week ago, opponents rallied against horse slaughter plants, but today it was the supporters' turn.

Today's rally was led by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau among other groups.

Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling believes most of the people who are opposed to slaughter plants don't even own horses.

"And y'know, have no understanding of what happens to horses when an overpopulation becomes neglected, abused, and abandoned," Spradling said.

He said in those cases, a slaughter plant is a much more humane option.

"And I want to stress, this is an option, not a mandate," he said.  "Many of the individuals that, y'know, either can't afford to put a horse down or do not have the property in place to bury a horse, this is an option."

He also pointed out that, even if the slaughter plants are legalized, the human consumption of horse meat in the United States would still be banned.

It could however be exported to other countries.

Slaughter plants have been banned in Oklahoma for the past 50 years.