If a horse can no longer be cared for, the owner has the responsibility to find someone who can. If you can’t find someone to buy it, why wouldn’t you call a local rescue? There are three in my area and we are always willing to take in horses. None of us have been full yet… If you send to the stockyard or auction to essentially go to slaughter, why wouldn’t you call a rescue and save a life? It is better for the horse to be put in the hands of people that can care for it. And the slow and painful death is the slaughter… it is not a quick death. Most horses do not die right away and are left half-conscious while going through the slaughter process. You tell me which is worse.