Horses rejoice. Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to sign a proposal approved in both chambers this session that increases penalties for horse abuse and illegal sale or marketing of horse meat, as well as bans temporary employees who have been convicted of animal cruelty from working on horses.

_Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, proposed the legislation, writing it with the help of Palm Beach Equine Clinic veterinarian Scott Swerdlin.

“This is truly a Palm Beach home town bill,” Abruzzo said. “The horse community made me aware of some of the abuses occurring and I was disgusted by it.”

The bill (HB 765) is named after Victoria McCullough and Ivonne Rodriguez. McCullough is a horse advocate in Wellington and owner of Triumph Project stables.

Abruzzo said Rodriguez is the owner of a horse in Miami-Dade County that was viciously slaughtered, likely for its meat.

Under the legislation, it is unlawful for any person to transport, distribute, sell, purchase or possess horsemeat for human consumption that is not clearly stamped, marked, and described as horsemeat for human consumption or horsemeat that is not acquired from a licensed slaughterhouse.

Anyone in violation of the provision, will face a minimum mandatory fine of $3,500 and a minimum mandatory sentence of one year incarceration. The same holds true for anyone convicted of abusing a horse.

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