Take Care of

Our Horses

Commercial

Transportation of

Equines to Slaughter

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Animal and 

Plant Health 

Inspection 

Service

Program Aid 

Number 1682

Special Circumstances

In the event a horse becomes incapable of walking

en route, the owner or shipper must have the animal

euthanized by an equine veterinarian. If a horse

dies en route, the owner or shipper must contact the

nearest APHIS office as soon as possible. If a

Federal veterinarian is not available, the owner or

shipper should contact an equine veterinarian in that

vicinity.

Delivery Outside the United States, 

e.g., Canada

Canadian inspectors at the border will examine each

owner/shipper certificate. However, the document

will be provided at the slaughter plant only to the

Canadian Food Inspection Agency representative. If

there are any discrepancies between a particular

horse and the information about it on the certificate,

the discrepancies will be noted and the animal will

be returned to USDA for followup.

Civil Penalty

Initial violation of the final rule is subject to a fine of

up to $5,000 per horse. For example, if there are

three violations in one trailer on three horses, the

fine could be as much as $45,000.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of

race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,

political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director,

Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued January 2002

For Additional Information

If you have questions or need more information,

contact

Dr. Timothy R. Cordes, USDA Slaughter Horse

Program Leader, (301) 734–3279

Betsy J. Sillers, USDA Slaughter Horse Program

Specialist, (301) 734–8711
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has

established regulations for the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter. This action fulfills

APHIS’ responsibility under the 1996 farm bill to regulate the commercial transportation of horses for

slaughter within the United States. The language

was included in the bill after Congress determined

that horses being transported to slaughter have

unique and special needs. The intent of this leaflet

is to focus on those sections of the regulations that

will affect you, the owner or shipper.

The Regulations

These regulations establish minimum standards to

ensure the humane treatment of horses by requiring

the owner or shipper to take certain precautions in

loading and transporting them for slaughter. The

owner or shipper must also ensure that all vehicles

used for commercial transportation of horses for

slaughter meet specific requirements.

The use of commercial vehicles considered

unsuitable to carry equines is prohibited as is the

use of electric prods. The final rule on humane

transport of horses to slaughter was published in the

Federal Register (Docket No. 98–074–2) on

December 7, 2001. Five years from that date, the

use of double-deck trailers will be prohibited. This

rule also stipulates that food, water, and rest must

be provided for each animal prior to shipment to the

slaughter plant.

■ Certify that each horse is able to bear weight on

all four limbs, is not blind in both eyes, is able to

walk unassisted, is not a mare that is likely to foal

during the trip, is older than 6 months, and has

had access to food, water, and rest for 6 consecutive hours before being loaded into a vehicle.

■ Document identifying marks (brands, tattoos,

scars, etc.).

■ Document breed, color, and sex.

■ Document any preexisting condition of the animal

prior to shipment to prove the condition did not

occur during transport.

Falsification of any certificate or document is a

criminal offense and may result in a fine of up to

$10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years,

or both.

Requirements at the Slaughter Plant

The driver must not leave the slaughter plant

premises until the equines have been examined by

a USDA representative. If the driver arrives at the

plant outside of regular business hours, he or she

can leave the premises but must return to meet the

USDA representative during regular business hours.

For example, if the truck arrives on Sunday night,

the driver must return Monday morning to meet a

USDA inspector and provide the signed owner/shipper certificate(s). The Government inspector will

collect each certificate, examine each equine, and

match the certificate(s) with the equine and its 

backtag.

Scope of the Rule

The rule governs how equines must be commercially

transported to slaughter and affects not only the

owner or shipper of the horses but also the vehicle

driver. The rule covers what must be done prior to

the actual transport from the sale barn or feedlot in

terms of feeding and watering the animals. It deals

with segregation of the animals (e.g., stallions and

aggressive mares who kick and bite other, less

aggressive animals) as well as the amount of time

an equine can be confined without food and water.

The rule also covers certain documents that must be

issued before the journey begins and what happens

when the delivery is made at the slaughtering plant.

Finally, the rule addresses civil penalties for failure to

comply with the regulations.

Requirements for Transport

Prior to the commercial transportation of horses to a

slaughtering facility, the owner or shipper must:

■ Give each horse an opportunity to eat and drink

for a period of not less than 6 consecutive hours

immediately before loading the animal in the 

vehicle.

■ Apply a USDA backtag to each horse in the shipment with a bar code and a production date.

(Backtags are available at recognized slaughtering establishments or from APHIS personnel.)

■ Complete and sign an owner/shipper certificate

that includes the name, address, and phone 

number of the shipper and receiver (slaughter

plant) and the transporting vehicle’s license and

registration number.