The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has added the welfare of unwanted horses in the United States to its priority list for the foreseeable future, according to AAEP leaders during the annual convention Dec. 5-8, 2004, in Denver, Colo.

While the AAEP’s stand against the national bill that bans slaughter of horses has been seen as a negative by many horse owners, the AAEP is not pro-slaughter, but pro-horse, said incoming president Scott Palmer, VMD. The AAEP sees their role as stewards of the horse, and they see the current bill as only a Band-Aid for a small cut in the otherwise gaping wound that is equine welfare in this country.

The AAEP, in conjunction with other groups, will host a national industry summit on the unwanted horse in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2005, during the American Horse Council conference. In fact, the AAEP is so serious about the plight of the unwanted horse that it held a session on that topic that was very well-attended during its annual convention.

In the AAEP unwanted horse seminar, Tom Lenz, DVM, a former AAEP president, discussed acceptable euthanasia procedures, carcass disposal, and equine slaughter