Horse owners in Florida, like Mari Pritchard, live in fear of their beloved equines being stolen and slaughtered for meat. The state is considered the epicenter of the horse meat market in the United States, with tens of thousands of slaughters happening each year due to high demand. Despite efforts by organizations like Animal Recovery Mission, law enforcement often fails to prosecute these crimes, allowing the industry to thrive.

The thefts and slaughters of horses usually follow a pattern, with thieves identifying a horse and returning in the early hours of the morning to kill it. The meat from each horse is worth about $20,000, and buyers are willing to pay a high price for what they consider a delicacy with medical benefits. Despite a Florida law banning horse meat sales, the crimes continue due to lack of enforcement and communication among law enforcement agencies.

State Rep. Meg Weinberger, who has experienced the pain of losing a horse to theft and slaughter, advocates for a statewide task force to address the issue. However, coordination among law enforcement officials is lacking, and the crimes persist. The emotional toll on horse owners like Pritchard is long-lasting, with the pain of losing a beloved horse never truly going away.