I have some grave reservations about how amazing the regulations and the observance of the regulations are in the case of these horses.
I've observed several times the loading of horses into the crates. First, I've seen crates standing at the Calgary airport for hours and hours at -20°C. I don't know how that fits into animal welfare. When they're loaded into the airplane, which I've seen, it's through the side door. In Japan, they've been unloaded through the front.
We have—I don't know—one or two attendants, and yes, they can walk up and down the aisle. I've accompanied lots of loads of other animals in transport, notably ostriches, which were not easy. All these crates are wrapped in ropes. How could anyone safely access any animals in distress in there?
We're also talking about show horses being transported in there. They're usually plied with food and water, especially at landing or takeoff, to distract them so that they don't really realize what's going on with the change in air pressure. They usually have their legs wrapped, which is my main concern with these other horses. During takeoffs and landings they are trying to keep their balance and all trampling on one another. At the very least, I can't even imagine that horses are transported without their legs being wrapped.
Again, if the standards are so high.... When I ask questions and I forward the information about all of these things, everything is redacted. To measure mortality as our animal welfare basis—the mortality is really low—is setting the bar extremely low, not accounting for dehydration, exhaustion or injuries. If we're saying for animals—and 50% of them are insured—that we have zero per cent mortality, well, that's setting the bar very low for animal welfare. Those are the reports that are not getting to us.