Awareness of the practice of horse slaughter in the United States for the purpose of human consumption is low in Virginia (64% are unaware), though a majority of the population is opposed to the practice.

Three-fourths (74%) of likely Virginia voters agree that “horses are an important part of Virginia’s history and heritage, and we owe horses better treatment at the end of their life than abusing them and slaughtering them for human consumption.” Specifically, 76% of agricultural households and 74% of horse owners agree with this statement.

Overall, two-thirds (67%) of likely voters agree that “the conditions under which horses are shipped on trucks and the way they are treated in slaughterhouses are cruel and inhumane. We should stop this practice.” Among agricultural households and horse owners, 81% and 76% are in agreement, respectively.

Two-thirds (67%) disagree that “selling horses for slaughter is often the only way many people can afford to give horses a humane way to end their lives.”

Just over half (55%) disagree that “slaughterhouse practices are supervised and slaughtering horses is no different than slaughtering any other type of animal. If we stop the slaughter of horses then people will want to stop the slaughter of pigs, chickens and cows.”