1300-pound show horse slaughtered on Florida farm

The horse was found dead and butchered, with large portions of meat cut from it and missing, deputies say.

In this Sunday, October 25, 2015, photo, police tape surrounds the…

A spokesman for the office, Dave Bristow, told local media: “At this time what we have to go on is the fact that someone came onto the property and slaughtered the horse and took the meat”.

If someone is trying to sell the horse’s meat, local horse people and law enforcement caution that horses are filled with drugs to keep them healthy and those drugs are not fit for human consumption.

A Gofundme.com page is well on its way to raising a $US30,000 reward for information that leads to the perpetrator.

Manatee County detectives said the 1,300-pound animal was led from his stall at the 27-acre Imperial Farms between 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 6:45 a.m. Sunday.

It is now illegal in Florida to sell, purchase, distribute, transport or possess horse meat unless “it is clearly stamped, marked, or described as horse meat for human consumption”.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has not named any suspects.

While eating horse meat is generally taboo in the US, it is common in dishes in a few Caribbean and European countries.

It is believed the 12-year-old gelding was slaughtered for his meat.

The page, headed the Centennial Equestrian Reward Fund, said: “It is with very heavy hearts that we confirm today’s tragic events”.

In mid-October, authorities busted three illegal horse slaughter houses in Palm Beach County. “There’s no illusion of humane slaughter”. The ranch is not far from the interstate.

The slaughter of horses is illegal in the state of Florida, and investigators are also treating the crime as grand theft and occupied burglary.

Stephens believes her horse was led out of the stable and brought to a back corner of the farm. Florida is a popular state for show horses, and she wants to protect other animals and owners.