Unwanted Horses: Kentucky, land of the thoroughbred, is swamped with them

STAFFORDSVILLE, Ky. - The bidding for the black pony started at $500, then took a nosedive. There were no takers at $300, $200, even $100. With a high bid of just $75, the auctioneer gave the seller the choice of taking the animal off the auction block. But the seller said no. &#8220I can't feed a horse,” the man said. &#8220I can't even feed myself.” Kentucky, the horse capital of the world, famous for its sleek thoroughbreds, is being overrun with thousands of horses no one wants - some of them perfectly healthy, but many of them starving, broken-down nags. Other parts of the country are overwhelmed, too. The reason: growing opposition in the United States to the slaughter of horses for human consumption overseas. With new laws making it