Breaking investigation by Animal Equality uncovers horses beaten, slaughtered for meat in Spain

More than ten years after exposing the horse meat industry in Spain, Animal Equality and award-winning photojournalist Aitor Garmendia returned for another investigation.

Between November 2023 and May 2024, investigators captured the following at a slaughterhouse in Asturias:

• A worker beating a horse with a stick, forcing them to walk.
• Horses lined up behind a small stall, where they were slaughtered in front of each other.
• A horse attempting to escape the slaughter area after witnessing the death of a companion.
• Horses improperly stunned and conscious at the time of slaughter, with several bleeding to death, writhing in pain, or showing other signs of life.

We have been denouncing this industry for years and conducting investigations both in Spain and abroad. We can assure you that animal abuse is all too common. Consumers need to know the truth behind horse meat.

Javier Moreno, co-founder of Animal Equality

Despite its decreasing consumption of horse meat, Spain remains the largest horse meat producer in the European Union. Much of this is exported to Italy and France, where horse meat consumption is much more common.

Exposing a deadly industry

Animal Equality’s global campaign against horse slaughter has resulted in almost 300,000 petition signatures. Over 130,000 petition signatures have been obtained in the U.S. alone.

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Although horse meat consumption is effectively banned in the United States, over 20,000 horses are still exported to Mexico and Canada for slaughter each year. To shed light on this issue, Animal Equality released a two-part investigation into Mexico’s horse meat industry in 2022.

In the first part of this investigation, investigators documented American horses held at a slaughterhouse in Zacatecas, Mexico. One horse was identified by his USDA sticker, with his origins confirmed by a veterinarian.

Many horses at this slaughterhouse had been transported from an auction in Bowie, Texas. After lives spent in breeding, horse riding, and other activities, these horses endured a grueling 17-hour journey in overcrowded trucks, leading to injuries and aggression.

During the second part of the investigation, Animal Equality filmed a slaughterhouse in Arriaga, Chiapas. Here, investigators found gross violations of the Mexican Official Standard, which aims to reduce unnecessary suffering for animals. Animals were hung by chains and suffocated while conscious, beaten with sticks, and ineffectively stunned before slaughter.

Animal Equality’s ongoing campaign continues to expose the horse meat industry, pushing for stronger protections and an end to its cruelty.

You can guarantee the protection of all animals

While these noble and sensitive animals continue to suffer for meat, Animal Equality’s investigations have shown that pigs, cows, chickens, sheep, and other animals endure a similar fate behind factory farm doors.

By subscribing to the Love Veg newsletter, you’ll find out why millions are choosing plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs to end this cruelty. Encourage your loved ones to sign up alongside you to widen this circle of compassion.

After downloading your digital Love Veg cookbook, you can take immediate action for animals by becoming a supporter of Animal Equality. This support could empower our investigators to keep exposing cruelty, launch campaigns against corporate abuse, and advocate for stronger animal protection laws.