I feel strongly (against) horse slaughter, but facing reality here....horse slaughter does have a place in this world - and I am a horse lover.

Horse slaughter will not go away until backyard breeders quit breeding their inferior animals. People aren't going to sacrifice more expensive animals - the well bred horse that is worth $5000 isn't going to be sold for slaughter - the killer buyers can't pay that much.

Horses are expensive to keep, and people who buy a horse and later it goes lame, or they can't ride it because it has behavioral problems and they don't want to pay for professional training - they end up selling those horses for whatever they can get for them because they can't afford the monthly upkeep - those horses will go to slaughter.

Is it better for a horse to go to slaughter, or be neglected, slowly starving or dying of sickness because the owners can't be bothered to get vet care?

No, I would never eat horse. But then again, I have never bred my mare either - even though I'd love a foal, because of some issues with her conformation. She's a nice horse, but not of the quality that should be breeding.