KHRC Latest to Take Action on Cargo Ship Travel
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Photo: Courtesy Confederacion Hipica
A 40-foot cargo container housing horses headed to Puerto Rico are loaded onto a Tote Maritime vessel
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission issued a warning Oct. 14 to licensees regarding recent reports of inhumane, dangerous, and sometimes lethal practices used in transporting horses internationally, via cargo ship, from the United States.
Overcrowding horses in makeshift containers has reportedly led to numerous deaths and injuries. These cargo shipping practices are alarming, abusive, and will not be tolerated in Kentucky.
The KHRC will take immediate licensure action against any licensee who knowingly or willfully directs or participates in activities that abuse, neglect, or harm horses. The Commission also urges Kentucky's racing associations and training facilities to take immediate steps to ensure that horses are protected from these practices.