The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), which has hundreds of thousands of members, has reiterated its position on euthanasia and horse slaughter in the wake of an accusatory Blue Horse Charities letter that was disseminated to the racing industry in early November (see article #4801).

The letter, signed by Ward Stutz, director of member services and public policy for the AQHA, said the unsigned Blue Horse Charities letter contained “several misleading, incomplete, and false claims” about the AQHA. The AQHA has a position on euthanasia that was drafted with assistance by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association, both of which were accused by Blue Horse Charities of joining with the AQHA to thwart passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act