Inside Florida’s Illegal Horse Meat Trade: Undercover Footage Shows Racehorse Being Shot & Butchered

A heart-wrenching discovery of illegal horse slaughter has emerged, with video footage exposing the tragic killing of a racehorse named ‘Funny Biz,’ who was shot in the head and butchered for meat.

The story unfolds as Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) stumbled upon a Craigslist ad showcasing animals and meat for sale, accompanied by images and details. The farm promoted its products in the Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, and Brooksville, FL regions. ARM further uncovered that the farm was unlawfully transporting horse meat across county borders.

ARM investigators, posing as potential customers, inquired about having an animal butchered for human consumption. Juan Ortiz, known as “George,” then extended an invitation to the ARM investigator to visit the farm situated at 15064 Vicki Ln, Brooksville, FL 34613.

On October 1st, 2022, the investigator entered the premises and promptly verified that it was an animal slaughter farm. The documented animals included horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, geese, and other birds. Numerous animals were confined in cramped pens, coexisting with carcasses, and lacking access to potable water. Some animals were observed consuming and being fed the remains of other slaughtered animals.

The property is in disarray, with years of accumulated trash and waste strewn across the lot. Freshly slaughtered animal parts, including horse remains, were disposed of in containers, then incinerated and buried in shallow graves.

The farm owner, Juan Ortiz, shockingly supplies animals for ritualistic purposes and illegally sells the meat from the slaughtered animals to the public. The meat is distributed to small markets, butcher shops, restaurants, and catering events. Live animals are also sold to legal slaughterhouses like Musa Slaughter House in Tampa, Florida.

The unsanitary conditions of the entire operation pose a significant public health and safety threat, as potentially diseased and contaminated meat can infiltrate the community’s food supply.

Disturbingly, the farm owners are slaughtering registered and tattooed thoroughbred racehorses for human consumption, even offering meat to the ARM investigator. One of these racehorses, Funny Biz, was brutally killed in front of ARM’s founder, Kudo, during an undercover operation. The individual who carried out the horse’s killing, a Cuban-born man, went by the name “Alberto.”

Investigators purchased horse meat multiple times for testing, promptly dispatching it to the ELISA Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida. Subsequent analysis revealed that all samples tested positive for equine meat.

This illicit animal slaughter business, owned and run by Juan Ortiz and his son Jr., has been engaging in the sale and butchering of animals for human consumption for over four years. Despite its relatively recent inception, the operation has experienced rapid growth.

During the investigation, ARM witnessed, documented, and collected evidence of animals being handled and slaughtered inhumanely, blatantly violating the Humane Slaughter Act. They also recorded numerous felonious acts of animal cruelty leading to death, along with numerous misdemeanor offenses throughout their investigation.

None of the governmental agencies at the city, county, state, or federal level have been monitoring the activities on the farm. The owners are operating without a valid business license and do not have any business insurance in place.

ARM is urging for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the crimes, the closure and investigation of the slaughterhouse by county, state, and federal agencies. According to State of Florida statutes, animals in hazardous conditions must be rescued and placed in a sanctuary. ARM is offering a safe haven for all remaining animals at the slaughter farm.

Please take action to demand justice for ‘Funny Biz,’ the racehorse tragically killed, and all the other horses brutally slaughtered at this heinous farm by signing ARM’s petition HERE!