If the barometer for animal welfare is how many horses are dead at the end—that is the measure we look at—that is shameful. I would be embarrassed to cite that publicly, because that suggests a total disconnect from an understanding of animal welfare. Of course, there are many other parameters to animal welfare beyond whether a horse or other animal lives or dies. I would be embarrassed to cite low mortality rates as some sort of justification for any kind of conduct related to export or anything else.
On March 21st, 2024. See this statement in context.