My Speech in Washington DC with Congressman Jim Moran

I know a lot of you have probably be wondering what I said in my speech during the press conference sponsored by Congressman Jim Moran.  We haven't been able to get a copy of the audio or video yet, so I thought I would just put what I said right here for you to read.  I hope you like what I said.  ~Declan

Hi my name is Declan Gregg.  I am 9 years old and I have come from New Hampshire today, to tell you what I think about horse slaughter and why it should stop forever.

At the end of November last year, I saw my mom looking up a lot of things on the computer.  I watched her and asked what she was doing and I was told how horses are being treated badly and inhumanely.  She didn’t say exactly what was happening to them because she was trying to protect me, but over the next few days, I kept asking her what she was reading and why she seemed so sad and upset.  She finally told me that horses were being slaughtered in Mexico and Canada for people to eat in other countries and that President Obama had just signed a Bill, allowing the inspection of horse meat, which means that horses can be slaughtered in our country.

This made me feel really upset and sad.  I wanted to know more about what slaughtering horses meant and how it happens, because I was curious and I really care about horses.  Over the next few weeks, my mom let me research the subject and see some pictures showing what was happening to our horses during their transport to feedlots and slaughterhouses.  She kept asking if I was OK with reading things and seeing pictures and told me it was all up to me how much I wanted to know.  It made me really upset and I cried at first, but I wanted to know what was happening for myself and I felt brave enough to look at a few pictures and read some articles about slaughter.

I have seen arguments from both sides.  The people who are against the slaughter of horses for human consumption, and those who are for it.  I made up my own mind and decided for myself that I think horse slaughter is inhumane, cruel and unnecessary.

I started to ask my mom how I could help save the horses.  What could I do to stop them from being hurt so badly?  It really bothered me knowing that people were doing the kinds of things they were doing to hurt horses.  Treating horses like they don’t matter, like they have no feelings and can feel no pain or suffering.  I couldn’t stop thinking about them and how I wanted to protect and help the horses.

My mom found out about a bill, H.B. 1446, being discussed in our state capital, which was proposed by people who wanted to protect horses too, by having them be exempt from the meat inspection laws in our state.  I asked to go to the hearing and my mom said I could, if I understood it would be like a day at school and I would have to write a report for my teacher about my experience and the things I learned.  I would also need to prepare my testimony so I would be ready if they allowed me to speak at the hearing.  I think she thought that would discourage me from going, but it made me want to go even more knowing that there was a chance I would get to tell the adults who make the laws in our state, what I think about horse slaughter and how it should be banned for good.

I did testify at the hearing, speaking in a room packed full of adults I didn’t know.  I was nervous, but I wanted them to hear what I had to say.  At the end of the hearing, several people came up to thank me for my testimony.  I felt like I had made a difference that day and accomplished something great.

I began doing everything I could think of to help protect horses from being hurt.  I started my own blog, Children 4 Horses, so I could raise awareness about horse slaughter and report on my experiences.  I began actively participating in the Million Horse March’s Children’s Letter Writing Campaign, as a way to help horses and encourage other children to stand up for what they believe in.  I have been invited to speak to children’s groups like the Girls Scouts and Brownies, 4H and the KIND Club at the SPCA, to tell them about what is happening to our horses and let them know about ways they can help end inhumane and cruel treatment of horses.

I have also been interviewed for articles in local newspapers, done a radio interview for our local Clear Channel Radio stations and made a video presentation to reach people all over the country.

I have collected letters from children all over the country, and adults from all over and even Canada, have sent me letters too, telling me how I have inspired them to speak up against horse slaughter.  I am thankful for every letter I receive and take the time to read each one. 

A week ago, I hosted my first Children 4 Horses event and held a Children’s Letter Writing Party, which was sponsored by the New Hampshire SPCA. 

Just because we are children, doesn’t mean we can’t stand up for what we believe in.  We are citizens of this country and decisions made by adults affect us too.  People in 56 countries from all over the world are reading my blog, which makes me feel like my work is making a difference and people care about what is happening to horses.   

There are so many reasons why horse slaughter is wrong, so many reasons why it should be banned for good and why America’s horses should never cross our borders to be slaughtered in Mexico or Canada.  Horses, and in fact all animals, should be treated humanely and be cared for with love and respect.

How would you like to have your eyes cut out by the person on the truck, which is carrying you to your death and be trampled on while you try to keep your balance on an over-loaded truck?  Then, when you get to your destination, be whipped and beaten into a slaughter house and be slipping in the blood of the horses before you.  Would you then want to be stabbed in the back multiple times like in Mexico or be shot in the head with a captive bolt where they can miss and hit you in the eyes or mouth?  Would you then like to be strung up by your hind leg and have your neck slit and bleed to death while you were still conscious?  How would you feel?!!  Horses are flight animals, and their instinct tells them they should be trying to run away.  They panic and get very scared.

That is what is happening to our horses. If you wouldn't like that to happen to you, how do you think the horses feel?  Horses are not being treated fairly, what did they ever do to you to be killed this way?  When I see pictures and videos of this inhumane way to kill horses I look at their eyes and see the most hurt and scared eyes that I have ever seen!  How would you like to be treated so unfairly?  Our horses should be treated fairly and with respect!

Horses have helped us build our economy and this is how we thank them?  How would you want to be treated after you did so many things to help others?  Kindly.  And that is how our horses should be treated!

How would you like to live in a town with a horse slaughterhouse and have no clean water and have blood and insides from horses in your water system?  How would you like to worry about being hit on the road by a person driving one of the trucks that is sending horses to slaughter because they drive so badly that no other industries are willing to hire them?  

I love horses and I want to see the cruelty towards them end.  Horse slaughter is NOT a humane end of life for a horse.

I feel very happy and honored to be here to speak with you today because I know that I can make a difference and help our horses.  I hope that you agree that horse slaughter should be banned forever as well as the transport of America’s horses to other countries for slaughter.  I hope you agree that our horses deserve more respect than a slaughterhouse.  After all, they helped to build our nation and make it a better place.

Please stop this unnecessary evil for good and support and co-sponsor H.B. 2966 and S.1176, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and ask your fellow Congressmen and Senators to do the same!

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Thank you for listening.

Bettina Eistel is Amazing!

Here's a story about an amazing woman who was born with no arms and her horse, Fabuleaux 5.  She uses her feet and mouth the ride and take care of her horse.  They must have a really good relationship and a strong bond.  Her horse evens lowers his head for her so she can take care of him!  ~Declan

BETTINA EISTEL  (originally posted 12/10 on the "Horse & Man" blog)

The determined Bettina Eistel and her very special horse, Fabuleax 5.

I saw this photo today and it took a while for my brain to register what I was seeing…  Take a look.

Look closely...

Yup.  No arms.  Her name is Bettina Eistel and her horse is Fabuleax 5.

What is even more compelling than the fact that she can brush her horse with her feet, is that she competes, very well, at the Paralympics in dressage.

Bettina didn’t just overcome her disability, she walloped it!

(Kinda makes me feel ridiculous for complaining about anything having to do with just about anything…)

Cantering

WHY NO ARMS?

Thalidomide.  (I wanted to read her book but it isn’t translated into English and I cannot read German.  I wonder if a Kindle could translate it?…)  Anyway, she was born in 1961 in Germany, with no arms due to the drug, Thalidomide.

Her book

What is Thalidomide?  Thalidomide was a drug they gave pregnant women before it was known that it caused birth defects…  Hence, Bettina was born without any arms.

When I was too little to understand manners, I can remember my mother telling me not to stare at kids I would see who had birth defects.   She would shake her head and just whisper, “Thalidomide”.   I remember being very appreciative that I didn’t have that kind of a birth defect.

Saddling

FAST FORWARD

Bettina doesn’t let her disability stop her.  After all, this way of being is all she has ever known…

As an aside, another disabled Olympian was explaining the difference between being born with a disability versus being born “whole” and acquiring the disability.  This concept is an interesting topic.  You probably can come to some of your own conclusions here.

Bridling... look at him drop his head.

Anyway, as a small child, Bettina learned how to use her feet and toes as her hands and fingers.  As a youngster, she started in horseback riding lessons.  (Thank goodness her parents supported her and let go of their fears around this.) She wears riding boots with cut-outs in the toes so she can have ‘hands’ (imagine how cold her toes must get … and how often they clip a branch or a fence board – ouch!).  She can saddle, bridle, hose down, wrap, blanket and do just about anything else that is needed for her horse.  And, she rides by steering with her legs and holding the reins in her mouth.  IN HER MOUTH.  Try that… I tried to hold my brush in my mouth while braiding my girl’s hair and I ended up drooling all over the place in about a minute.  I have no idea how she does it.  Amazing.

Oh, and besides all those horse riding feats, she can text, write and put on mascara with her toes!

Hmmmm.  I’m starting to feel sheepish for complaining about anything…

They say Bettina is a master at hose water fights!

“After highschool in 1979, Bettina studied the History of Art, Archaeology and Ethnology in Hamburg, followed by an eight-year study of psychology. During her psychology studies, she  participated in a project with Hamburg’s home for children. In 1989 she completed her studies with a diploma and has since worked as a graduate psychologist in a Hamburg counseling center for children and family therapy.”

PARALYMPICS

I really couldn’t find much information on her coaching (Her coach Franz-Martin Stankus) or how she learned to ride.  But, I did find out that she:

“Eistel was formerly Vice-Europe and Vice World Champion (two silver and bronze at the European Championships in Portugal in 2002 and three silver at the World Championships in Belgium in 2003) and won two silver and one bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens , she won also three times the German championship.  As the most recent successes are the bronze medal in the required tasks of the individual competition and the silver medal in the team standings at the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong.”

Not bad even for a girl WITH arms…

With her dressage medal

HER HORSE

You have to really think about the kind of horse who would let this kind of a rider be his partner.  Really… what temperament is needed to perform at high level dressage as well as take care of a disabled rider?  Wow.  I wish I knew if they looked high and low for him… or if they simply trained a good horse to understand this rider?  (I need to read her book.)  I mean, did they find a horse and say to him that this is the way we are going to do it now?  Or, does the Fabuleax 5 ‘know’?  I often hear that certain horses are much more gracious with disabled riders than with regular riders.  I know that my Gwen is much nicer to children than to me… I wonder how that happens?  Is it the horse or the quality/feel/spirit of the disabled rider/child that effects the horse?  Dunno.

Taking a treat from Mom

Bettina says she trained her horse via voice commands, head movement and leg aids.  Funny, I bet hardly any of us would think it was even possible to ride a horse without arms.

From where I sit, I would like to be in the presence of  the wonderful Fabuleax 5.  He is a saint in my book.  Fabuleax lets Bettina ride him in the only way she can… with the reins in her teeth and the other set of reins between her toes.  And, he does his job.  Simple.  Gosh.  Impressive.

If you notice in the photos, he lowers his head to be 

bridled and to be brushed.  Atta boy!

Beautiful boy

TELEVISION HOST

Bettina also landed a gig as a Talk Show Host.  With a weekly show on German TV station ZDF, Bettina is something of a media star.  They say her popularity is because of her engaging and optimistic personality… but one cannot ignore her amazing ability to do everything, literally everything, with her feet..

Bettina as talk show host

HER WEBSITE

Her website (linked here)  is in German… Babelfsh can translate for you.  On her home page, on the bottom right corner is a word “Kontakt” which mean Contact.  You can email her there.

AFTERTHOUGHT

I wanted to bring this story to you because I think sometimes we give up too easily.  Or maybe it is just me… maybe I think I give up too easily or don’t push through my/my horse’s issues or don’t get over myself/my fears or don’t put as much effort/time into training my horses as I could.  Reading about Bettina was a good shot in the arm for me…

I sure don’t feel like making any excuses or complaining…

I cannot even imagine folding the laundry with my feet, let alone living 24 hours without my hands.  Wow.  Very inspirational.

What a great team!

STOP the Round-Ups of America's Wild Horses!

This is an example of a wild horse going to slaughter.  His BLM brand has been burned over to disguise it.  (From Simone Netherlands - Respect 4 Horses)

Seeing this picture makes me feel like the BLM is cheating people to get the horses sold to slaughter so they can make money.  The mustangs are supposed to be protected by their brand, so I don't understand how this is happening and I want to know who is burning off their brands so they can be sent to slaughter.

Here are two pictures of round-ups of wild mustangs.  Does this look humane to you?  I don't think it does.  The first picture shows how the horse is falling while the helicopter is still chasing right behind them.  In the second picture you can see the helicopter actually hitting the horse!!

Below is a post from R.T. Fitch's blog about how the BLM is about to attack Cloud's herd.  There is some really good information for you including how to help and where to send appeals to help Cloud's herd. 

PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THE ROUND-UPS STOP!!  ~Declan

BLM Officially Confirms Attack on Cloud’s Herd is Imminent

Posted: April 5, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Tags: BLM, Bureau of Land Management, cloud, pryor mountain, The Cloud Foundation, Wild Horse

Unedited direct post of BLM Press Release

BLM Releases Environmental Assessment and Decision on Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Non-Helicopter Gather

Release Date: 04/04/12
Kristen Lenhardt: 406-896-5228

Cloud behind BLM bars in 2009 ~ photo by Terry Fitch

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Billings Field Office today released the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Decision Record for a 2012 non-helicopter gather of wild horses within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR). A 30-day appeal period will begin today and end on May 3, 2012. The EA analyzed the effects of the decision to conduct a non-helicopter gather to remove excess wild horses within the PMWHR. The field office received about 1,000 individual comment letters and 63 unique comments on the preliminary EA, and considered those in making the final decision.

The EA identifies a range of alternatives, including the Proposed Action, Alternative A and a No Action alternative. The final decision after conducting the EA states the BLM will move forward with the Proposed Action that recommends a combination of bait trapping, water trapping, and some herding. The gather will be conducted by BLM personnel and is not associated with recent news regarding a BLM solicitation for bait trapping contracts. Since bait trapping can occur year-round, the gather is anticipated to take place at any point during the 2012 calendar year, after June 4.

The gather is designed to manage for the appropriate number of wild horses so that rangelands and horses can be healthy and productive for years to come. The current population is approximately 170 wild horses, exceeding the established Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 90-120 horses, excluding the current year foals.

The Decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA), Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia, 22203.  The appeal must also be filed with the Authorized Officer, BLM, Billings Field Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101. If you wish to file a petition for stay of the EA during the pendency of your appeal before the IBLA, the petition for stay must accompany your notice of appeal. If a petition for stay is submitted with the notice of appeal, a copy of the notice of appeal and petition for stay must be served on the IBLA at the same time it is filed with the State Director.

The PMWHR is located in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings, along the Montana-Wyoming border and encompasses approximately 38,000 acres of BLM, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service managed land.

To view the Decision Record, FONSI and EA, please visit: http://blm.gov/08jd

Day Three of My DC Trip

By the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol Building

When I woke up on Wednesday, I was really excited to meet with Emily Lynch from Senator Ayotte's office!  After my mom and I had breakfast, we went to Senator Ayotte's office to meet Emily and talk.  When we got there, I met Emily and she said that she was proud of what I was doing and was impressed by everything I was doing for the horses.  

Me in front of Senator Ayotte's office

Signing in at Senator Ayotte's office

Emily talked with me and my Mom about what is happening to our horses and took down notes that she said she would pass on to the Senator.  My mom directly asked her why Senator Ayotte was not a co-sponsor of S.1176 and Emily said because they need to have a plan of what to do with all the unwanted horses.  My mom politely answered that there is no such thing as an unwanted horse and that kill buyers actually out bid people who would buy the horses and give them good homes.  My mom and Emily talked for awhile about a lot of the myths around horse slaughter and I was surprised that there was so much she didn't know about the business. 

Emily Lynch and I at Senator Ayotte's office

Emily asked me how I started fighting for the horses and I told her about how I saw my Mom researching something on the computer and that she was upset and sad, so I asked her what she was so upset about.  My mom told me about what is happening to our horses and I wanted to help make it stop.  My Mom also gave her some information about horse slaughter and how it is done and why it should be banned and said we would be sending her more information.  

After our meeting,  my mom and I went to the botanical gardens for a little while before our flight home!  The flowers, bushes, and trees were so cool and amazing!  They had a kid's garden and I planted a flower and watered it.  I wonder if it will be there when I go back someday? 

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in front of the Capitol Building

We walked around Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. a lot the three days my mom and I were there and we saw lots of statues and pictures of horses.  We even saw paintings with horses in them right inside the Capitol building!  It was so cool!  Seeing all the horses showed me how much America loves horses and that they aren't food to us, but are our companions.

Statue in front of the Library of Congress

After we landed in Boston, I went to meet the Captain of our plane.  The Co-pilot was there this time too and they both told me I was very brave for going to DC to stand up for the horses and to keep going and not give up.

I would like you to still send me letters, which I will bring to Congressmen and Senators.  I will not be giving up and my mom and I will call all the people we met in D.C. to keep talking with them about why horse slaughter should be banned forever.  I would also like to go to Washington D.C. again and do more things to help save the horses!  Please spread the word about what is happening and do your best to make horse slaughter stop forever!  I even have stop slaughtering horses written on my hand!  Thank you everyone who wants this evil to stop and BOOOO to the people who want this evil to go on.  

Send letters to me at:

Declan Gregg

C/O Children 4 Horses

PO Box 614

Greenland, NH 03840

HORSE SLAUGHTER SHOULD BE BANNED FOR GOOD!!!!!!  
80 PERCENT OF AMERICANS REALLY WANT THIS TO STOP SO MAKE IT STOP NOW!!!!!  

I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SO CAN YOU!!!!!!!

~Declan

Day Two in Washington D.C!!!!!!

Me speaking at the press conference with Congressman Jim Moran

On Tuesday, when I woke up in the morning, I was really anxious to go testify during the press conference at noon.  I couldn't wait to go and practiced my speech a few times in our hotel room.  My mom also told me that I had an email from Senator Mary Landrieu's (GA) office, asking to meet me.  I couldn't believe that a Senator asked to meet me!  I went swimming in the hotel pool for a little while and it was all I could think about.

In front of Congressman Jim Moran's office

When my mom and I got to Congressman Jim Moran's office, we talked with the Congressman along with a representative from the EWA (Equine Welfare Alliance), Vicki Tobin as well as R.T. Fitch and his wife Terry, who were all there to support the Million Horse March Campaign and me.  Meeting R.T. Fitch was really cool because I was really excited to meet him since he's been helping me so much and is another man who is fighting to save the horses.  R.T. gave me a cowboy hat that I REALLY like!  I wore it every chance I got even to the airport and on the plane home.  He also gave me a signed copy of his book, "Straight from the Horses Heart", with a message that says, "Declan, May the Force of the Horse be With You." 

Ma and Congressman Jim Moran 

After we talked, we all went outside to the House Triangle, with some of the Congressman's Aides to get ready for the press conference.  When I went up to testify, I felt like I could make a difference and tell people about horse slaughter and why it is wrong.  People kept walking up to hear me from all over and most of them came up when I said "horse slaughter" and had confused expressions on their faces.  That showed me that a lot of people don't even know it happens to America's horses.  After the press conference I talked to R.T. Fitch and we did an interview where he asked me questions and I answered them and he recorded it and automatically posted it on his blog!  Then I talked to other people at the press conference who congratulated me, including representatives from the ASPCA.  Kayla and Emma from Congressman Guinta's office where there to support me too!  It was really awesome!

At Congressman Jack Kingston's office

Signing in at Congressman Kingston's office

After some lunch, my mom and I went to Congressman Jack Kingston's office with some of the children's letters.  He wasn't available, so I left them with one of women in his office who tad me she would be sure to get them the letters to him and tell him about the Million Horse March Letter Writing Campaign.

Painting of George Washington inside the Capitol Dome

Next, we went back to Congressman Guinta's office where I met all the legislative assistants, collected their business cards, and one of them, even gave me his cell phone number for me to keep in touch!  Then one of the interns, took my mom and I on a special tour of the Capitol.  Since we were with staff, we got to go a few places other people weren't allowed.  The Capitol building was awesome and just amazing!  We saw artwork everywhere with horses in it and I took tons of pictures of everything.  

John Stark

Daniel Webster

There were statues everywhere - at least one from every state.  Kayla from Congressman Guinta's office had challenged me to find the two statues of people from New Hampshire and when I found them, I was really excited and took pictures of them.   They are John Stark, who was a Major General in the American Revolution and Daniel Webster, who was a lawyer and a New Hampshire Congressman. 

King Kamehameha I

A lot of the statues were really cool and I took a lot of pictures of them.  I even found one from Hawaii of King Kamehameha I, which I had my mom take a picture of me by because I am working on a big report about Hawaii for school.

Looking straight up inside the Capitol Dome

Kayla also challenged me to walk into the Capitol Dome and look straight up and tell her who I saw.  When I did, I saw George Washington.

Me with Wayne Pacelle, President/CEO of HSUS

After my Capitol tour, we were invited to go to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Washington DC headquarters to meet with Wayne Pacelle, who is the President and CEO of the HSUS and Jessica Fiengold-Liberson, federal lobbyist on horse slaughter.  We talked about ways the HSUS is helping to save the horses from slaughter and Mr. Pacelle asked me to keep working to raise awareness about horse slaughter.  He told me that he thinks what I have been doing is really great and to keep being such a great advocate for the horses.  We also talked about how there is a Faith Outreach  Program, which really interested me because we are Christians and I believe that God gave us the Earth and the animals to protect them and take good care of them.   He also told me that the "Genesis Awards" are named after the first great animal rescue - Noah's Ark.  I really like that Mr. Pacelle gave me two books, one on horse care and a signed copy of his book, "The Bond, Our Kinship with Animals, Our call to Defend Them" with a message that says, "Declan, I'm so glad you love animals and you're fighting to protect them!  Keep it up.  We're with you!"   He also gave me some other information to read about the HSUS's work to save and protect all animals and a cool horse poster.  It was really cool!  

This was a great day and I felt like I made a big difference and now more people know about what is happening to our horses.  I went to bed really tired after a long and awesome day.  ~Declan

My new hat!!