CHATHAM, N.Y., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2014 American Equine Summit, which will feature presentations from some of the most prominent equine experts in North America, will be held on Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th at Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary in Chatham, NY.  Horse slaughter was defunded in the U.S. when the 2014 Omnibus Bill was signed by President Obama on January 17th, 2014.

The Summit will focus on how the slaughter of American-bred equines can affect human health and food safety here and abroad and the unavoidable liability concerns with respect to those issues.

Veteran television news journalist, best-selling author and animal advocate Jane Velez-Mitchell will deliver the Keynote Address. Susan Wagner, host of the invitation-only Summit and President & Founder of Equine Advocates, will open the program.

Presentations on Saturday will cover how legal and logical arguments will ultimately prevail in ending the slaughter of America's horses, how the recent horse meat scandal in Europe compromised food safety, the need for federal legislation to ban the use of performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing and how animal journalism is covered.

Sunday will be devoted to the complexities involved over the U.S. wild horse and burro populations, opening with a clip from "Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde", the feature documentary of the rancher, author and conservationist. Other speakers will present on how to humanely manage the U.S. wild horse population, investigations and new information into the BLM's mismanagement of wild horses and burros, responsible horse guardianship, and why the cruel and inhumane Pregnant Mares' Urine (PMU) Industry is making a comeback.

Said Susan Wagner, "It was thanks to the gathering of experts at the first American Equine Summit in 2012 and the vision of Victoria McCullough, who used much of their research to create a convincing case, which ultimately led to horse slaughter being defunded in the U.S.  Our efforts are now focused on a permanent ban and ensuring that no equine from the U.S. can be shipped across our borders into Canada or Mexico for the purpose of slaughter.  This could soon be achieved, and we're hoping to have important news announced at the Summit in support of this goal."

Visit EquineAdvocates.org for the full 2014 American Equine Summit Schedule.

Founded in 1996, Equine Advocates is a nonprofit equine protection organization based in Chatham, NY. Its mission is to rescue, protect and prevent the abuse of equines through education, investigation, rescue operations, the dissemination of information to the public, and the operation of a horse sanctuary for slaughter-bound, abused and neglected equines. For more information on the American Equine Summit contact [email protected] or call 518-245-1599.

PRESS:
Susan Bang/Emily Collins
Bang + Collins PR
Ph: 917-991-9714 / 518-771-3003
[email protected] / [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130327/DC84008LOGO

SOURCE Equine Advocates