A follow-up on the previous post. I wanted to stress the importance of reading a post thoroughly. I wanted to put it out there, because I not only get comments on here but in other places about what I posted. I noticed that the main point was missed in some cases. It’s hard, I know, to understand what someone else wrote because it can be written clearly in their mind, but to general perception, it’s not. So if the post came out un-clear I apologize and will clarify here. Read it thoroughly and then think about it for a second. If you have any questions or are confused, let me know through a comment below.
When I see a baby being born, for no real important reason it gives me a sometimes sad and disappointing feeling. Like I said, it’s not the babies fault. However that place in which the baby was born to, the place of money and time, could have been given to an in-need horse. Maybe one bound to slaughter, maybe one that the owner could no longer care for. Listen, I understand that it’s not all about breeding, but that’s what brought the foal to the world, un-wanted or otherwise. Responsible breeders have secure plans for their creations, I feel. Breeding IS the core of all the horses, going to slaughter, neglected or in a situation in which they are being treated negatively. The un-wanted, somewhere, were not kept on a straight line in terms of insuring their safety and care in the world. But it started with breeding and someone didn’t stand up and do what they needed to do after the foal hit the ground. Just as it took human action to bring the foal into the world, it also took the same to put that baby in a negative situation.
ONE of my main point was that I don’t understand why people can call themselves horse lovers when they choose not to rescue? Please tell me why? But they choose to continue to breed un-proven horses, for what, money? Maybe? I understand it being the way things happen, but at the same time I don’t understand that action. So maybe you feel that your just one little person and the un-wanted is vast. But helping one life is better than none.
Again I am NOT blaming ALL breeders. If you are responsible and secure with your choices of creating a life, then this is not directed towards you. I’m just saying that you cannot possibly call yourself a horse advocate, horse lover when you feel it’s not your problem what’s going on with all the un-wanted horses in the world and you refuse to rescue even one horse, given time and money. Thus even the fact that some breeders choose to keep breeding without even adding quality to the horse world - Even if those people felt that rescuing wasn’t what they wanted to do, the world is better off having those breeders dis-continue their practice. Again this is my opinion. I don’t expect to suddenly be telling you people what is morally right and wrong and shifting the horse world. I’m just explaining my thoughts on this topic.
Alas if you are frustrated with reading this stuff, maybe you’re insecure in your contribution to the horse world?
This is the photo eloquent pic of the week. Titled "Velvet." Errika!
I was just saying today, that if every horse lover did what they could to rescue, even if it’s just one a year, it would go a long way. And don’t breed indiscriminately.
I think our future economy is going to make things a lot harder. I think we’ll see a lot more horses who need rescuing.
We rescue a few a year and know people who do the same. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Absolutely!
Our economy - I think so too, we’re already seeing it here. Not sure about in your area/state, but I know Joe from TBFriends is getting many more because of the rising cost of hay and general horse costs.
It doesn’t matter how many, you do what you can do, that’s what matters. You’re doing a noble thing as well as your friends.
We’re not all in a position to rescue every horse we see that needs us, but if we work together to help the ones that need us right now, it will make a difference.
My mom and I, are going to try to take in another horse sometime soon, maybe later this year. I’ve never been to an auction, but I think that’s where we’re going to go to get a new addition and hopefully start our own rescue, one horse at a time, as we can appropriately afford it.
ONE of my main point was that I don’t understand why people can call themselves horse lovers when they choose not to rescue?
you made the comment above and I think that you can love a horses and not take on rescues, just like you can love kids and not have them. Rescues require more care than some people are willing to give, they require training that people don’t have the skill to do, they often have trauma which can make for a horse you can never enjoy.
To take on a recue when you are not up to it would not be beneficial to the rescue horse in any way. How many horses get “rescued” and end up in a situation worse than what they were in. It’s more than you would realise. I believe the problem is in the indiscriminate breeders not the rescues. The rescues is just mopping up the problem already caused by breeding, better to manage the breeding.
“Rescues require more care than some people are willing to give, they require training that people don’t have the skill to do, they often have trauma which can make for a horse you can never enjoy. ”
- Good point. But, not all rescue cases are an example of severe neglect and lack of handling.
Not all rescued horses require any more skill than your average horse. But yes I see your point, it’s not the best option in some situations for everyone.
I agree too, that it is the indiscriminate breeders. But while some of us cannot solve the breeding problem alone, we can offer some helping hand to innocent horses currently involved to the best of our ability.
I feel that it’s not just about enjoyment on your part either. When a horse reaches an age of which it’s time to retire, does that mean you stop enjoying it because it can no longer do what you want?
You should enjoy just stepping up and helping one horse. AGAIN to the BEST of your ABILITY. Like you said too, it’s not the best option for EVERYONE. Some people may not have the knowlegde to handle CERTAIN rescue cases, but that is not true in ALL cases.
What is a rescue? There is no true clear answer to this question. I think the journey that leads a horse to rescue organization or sale yard is a very long one. How many hands do they pass through before the end of the road. I know that my 2 boys could have very well ended up at the slaughter house. They are not bred to be champions rather bred by lack of planning. Tonka is a mystery as we have no records of his ancestory and Abu was only registered in hopes of selling him for more money. Hubby and I were lucky enough to find these two gentle giants before they had passed through to many people. Tonka has scars that cannot be explained, Abu has no clue if he is a horse a dog or a human. These two were a few short steps from being a “rescue”. I would urge that more would be horse owners take a chance on the un known. You can only buy so much champion, but you can work can become and champion, Abu and I are living proof of that. With both of these horses we knew in moments that they were ment to spend the rest of thier lives with us.
Thats an awesome point 20metercircle, to me a rescue is a pretty severe case, anytime a horse is in a not ideal situation but not in immediate danger, its an upgrade not a rescue. Every horse I have had has been an upgrade, but even Fred who had a terrible upbringing was an upgrade not a rescue because he wasn’t ’saved’ as such.
See I know I will get flamed for this but my horses for all I love them, they are athletes not pets. I have no problem taking on horses from bad situations as long as physically they are cabable of having a job. I spend a lot of money and care on them and in return they work.
As for retired horses, I don’t see the point in retiring a horse and have it wander around the paddock, bored out of its brain for ten years, as it gets stiffer and stiffer, and deals with problems that come with age. It’s not fair to keep them around because you don’t want to part with them.
20Meters - Great perspective. I see a rescue as a case of physcial neglect (if that makes sense), in any form, but mostly when the body score is a 3 or below or has been in an abusive situation? But I should probably say the “un-wanted” or “in-need” than just “rescue,” if it isn’t a physcially neglected horse. But that is what I am saying, we need to take chances on horses that need us. Not just breed and breed for maybe a winner or to gain profit. Yes the breeding problem needs to be regulated. But there are horses that are already here as a product of such breeding, because of our species and they need the good-hearted horse people to step in for their sake.
Beckz - It’s really not my place, but I just wanted to say I think that there is nothing wrong with your ideals.
As for retiring what I ment was, when a horse gets to an age where it no longer should be jumped or ridden heavily.
I do agree with what you said, you shouldn’t keep them around because you don’t want to part with them. But that’s a whole other topic.