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MEP
and International Show Jumper Support Slaughter Horse Awareness
Ride
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Roger
Helmer MEP for the East Midlands, and Tim Stockdale, international
show jumper, of Roade, Northants are both turning out in support
of an awareness raising Ride as it journeys through Derbyshire,
Leicestershire and into Northants on its way toWestminster.
The ILPH (International League for the Protection of Horses) staff
and their horses will be continuing their journey from Scotland
south when they leave from the Swan Inn,
Milton, Derbyshire on Saturday 17th August.
Everybody who is concerned about the long distance transport of
live horses across Europe for slaughter, whether a rider or not,
is invited to show their support by joining
the Ride or attending at the start on one of the days that it is
in their local area.
Roger Helmer MEP comments, "I have a keen interest in horses
and animal welfare and I know this reflects the views of my constituents
because I get a large number of
letters from them on the subject.
" I fully support the ILPH in the wonderful work that they
are doing to help the slaughter horses on their journey across Europe."
Adds Tim Stockdale, "My horses and I are travelling throughout
the year to competitions both at home and abroad, so I know the
stresses that they can endure en route - and they travel first class
compared to the slaughter horses !
"The horses destined for slaughter within the EU have to travel
hundreds and hundreds of miles in desperately cramped conditions,
through extreme temperatures without the chance of rest, food or
water. In this day and age I cannot comprehend whythey have to be
moved such vast distances across Europe for slaughter.
"I wholeheartedly support the work of ILPH and their aim to
eventually see the trade in live horses stopped."
An evening talk by Jeremy James, ILPH Transportation Consultant,
at Brooksby Melton College, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
on Saturday 17th August at 7.30 pm will let people know more about
the slaughter horse transportation issue and how they can help the
ILPH. More details about the evening can be obtained by calling
Kim Knightley, on 01664 424280.
Those wishing to join the Ride at any phase of its journey, or those
wanting more information, should call 0870 908 1927 where they will
be able to leave a message.
Full details about the Ride, its route, the start and finish points
each day and the transportation of live horses across Europe for
slaughter can be found on the ILPH
website at www.ilph.org
| Slaughter
Horse Transportation Awareness Ride 2002
A
host of celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and horse
sports have pledged their support to a long distance charity
ride this summer.
The ILPH (International League for the Protection of Horses)
Transportation Awareness Ride will start from the Border Union
Show at Kelso, on Saturday 27th July and will finish in Westminster,
London in early September.
The objective of the Ride is to raise awareness of the hundreds
of thousands of horses, ponies and donkeys that travel for
days in lorries across Europe, in appalling conditions, often
without rest, food, or water (from as far afield as Bellarus,
Lithuania, and Romania) for slaughter within the European
Union.
Comments HRH The Princess Royal, ILPH President, "Most
of the very valuable work that the ILPH does towards the welfare
of horses transported across Europe for slaughter is not visible
- it is 'behind the scenes' working with the European Commission
and Governments as well in source countries at a grass roots
level.
"I am extremely pleased that, through its Transportation
Awareness Ride this summer and in its 75th Anniversary year,
the ILPH will be raising public awareness not only to the
plight of these poor horses, but to the admirable work the
ILPH is doing to help alleviate the suffering in the short
term with the long term aim of stopping the traffic altogether."
Jeremy James, ILPH Transportation Consultant, will be giving
public talks in towns/villages along the Ride route about
work that the ILPH is doing to improve slaughter horse welfare
and about his fact finding journeys through Europe. He is
no stranger to long distance rides - he rode from Turkey to
Wales in 1987, and in 1990 during the collapse of communism
he rode from Bulgaria, through Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia
(as it was then), Poland, East Germany to arrive in Berlin
on Unification Day.
Says Pam St. Clement, well known TV personality and animal
lover, "The traffic in horses and donkeys across mainland
Europe for slaughter is horrific - it is inconceivable that
in the 21st century this is allowed to happen. I fully support
the work that the ILPH is doing and their efforts to improve
the welfare of these suffering equines. I hope that they achieve
their eventual goal of stopping such unnecessary cruelty altogether."
Equine clubs and societies, horselovers and all those concerned
about the traffic in live horses for slaughter are invited
to join the Ride when it's in their area. The route will be
off road as much as possible.
Those wishing to offer their support in any way can call a
dedicated phoneline 0870 908 1927 where they will be able
to leave a message. Full details about the Ride can be obtained
by calling 0870 366 6910. Both of these lines will be operational
from 10 May. Additional information can be found on the ILPH
website at www.ilph.org,
in the Horse and Hound, or in local news media.
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www.ilph.org
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