Horse origins unknown

Thank you for your editorial "They eat horses, don't they?" (Sept. 19).

In addition to being a "favored animal" in the United States, our horses are not raised and regulated as are food-producing animals. They routinely receive medications both by veterinarians and horse owners that are banned from food-producing animals and are labeled "Do not use in horses intended for food." No American horses are intended for food, but many are unfortunate enough to end up as food.

Horses that arrive at the three foreign-owned horse slaughterhouses do not come with background information or medical records, they come from every state in the country and their specific origins are unknown. Every horse slaughtered would need to be tested for illegal drug residues in order to protect the health of overseas consumers.

Terry Watt

Lake Havasu City, Ariz.