High-fear

Vet says neither Viande Rischelieu Inc. nor Bouvry Exports up to horse-slaughter standards.

Horses were whipped, struck across the head and poked with electrical prods at the Quebec plant. And some of the horses that were hung to bleed at the Alberta plant showed signs of consciousness, Dr. Zimmerman said.

In addition, she said, the footage shows instances at both facilities when it took more than one shot to take a horse down.

Horses are high-fear flight animals, Dr. Zimmerman said. “What sets them off is anything that is unusual to them, or a sudden noise. As well, they will have great anxiety when they feel they are trapped in a small space.” When they panic, it is difficult to get off a clean shot.