Every day on her drive to and from work, the woman saw the horse, turned out alone in a small paddock by the side of the road. The horse’s ribs and hips were showing; his coat looked matted and muddy. Some days, she even saw the obviously-starving horse gnawing on his wooden fence. Outraged that an animal could be treated this way, she notified the proper authorities, reported the abuse, and was satisfied to see police cars parked at the farm soon after.
I had a couple horses when my kids were young. The biggest problem I had was keeping weight off of them. I saved winter pasture for them and usually didn’t have to feed them until January. I am always amused at people a lot further south putting clothes on their horse in their mild winter. My horses would have 8 inches of snow on their back at 30 below and did just fine.
I’ve rehabbed a few rescue horses, and after the last one. never again. Not only did my vet warn me that if they are seen from the road that I would have the “authorities” called on me, but that they are hard to place afterwards, or useless. You can’t give them away. They have a problem trusting people and become dangerous to ride, or become food hogs and end up having to be “choked” – something done by a vet when a horse bolts his food too fast and it gets stuck. Expensive. Had to call her once, for a horse that I took off his owner that not only starved him once, but again when she lost her job. I had to feed him in increments which took a half hour 3x a day.
Horses can’t put weight on fast, they founder, You can increase their calories without carbs by adding corn oil to their feed, but it’s still a slow process. So they are standing there and they are looking skinny. Besides, most Americans have no concept of good body form. The norm is overweight. Look at most dogs and cats.
The idiots in my area call the cops on the Amish because their buggy horses are standing in the walmart parking lot in the sun with no water. YOu can kill a horse by giving an overheated horse too much water. They have no idea if the horse has been watered or not. The last girl I told this too shut up after I told her she’d kill it if she did that. Besides, if the horse was at home it would be standing out in the pasture – in the same sun -. I don’t think the cops even respond anymore to this. The horse is their mode of transportation, I don’t think they’d try to kill it after spending $3,000 to 4000 for an ex racehorse.
Old horses are even harder to rehab, because as they age (over 20 yrs) their molars are worn down and their food needs to be wetted and they aren’t able to eat hay. Actually, my mule, who is probably upwards in the 30 yrs of age bracket has hardly any back teeth and I feed him hay pellets or cubes that have to be wetted.
People need to mind their own damn business.
Yeah, I see that a lot. The nights get chilly (for an animal with a body temp higher than ours with a thick hide) so they put a jacket on them, but neglect to take it off – and it’s still on during 50 degree or higher temps.
THat’s why I don’t buy feeder cows at fairs anymore. THey baby the crap out of them and they are weak and sickly. Not that they should be ignored but pampering is just as bad. It weakens them.
One thing people forget is the fiasco right here in God fearing Alberta.
Some druggy accused Pat Nixon’s brother of killing horses and the RCMP stormed his camp for reformed drunks/druggies and handcuffed him in front of his kids while on the ground.
Innocent till proven guilty? Nope. There was a $15,000 (I think) reward out for who was killing them.
Animal Rights, the new Gestapo of our increasingly intolerant world.
Same thing happened to a neighbour 2 months ago. Some PETA type out for a Sunday drive called the SPCA about their 28 year old mare. No one came out to see the horse or to find out the situation. The SPCA dudette who phoned said they either had to put the horse down or face charges sight unseen. Utterly clueless AJWs.
PETA jerks say feeding your kid meat is Child Abuse who just proves their strict vegan diets have cuased their brains to shrink prove PETA is STUPID
Peta loves to kill animals.
I have to post this again (whenever I read “PETA”)…
People for the Ethical Regard of Vegetables
• How would you like to be separated from your nether regions, plunged into a boiling cauldron of oil or water and then eaten?
• How would you like to have your genitalia cut off and used to decorate churches, houses and the bosoms of human females?
• How would you like to have your unborn children put in a mill and ground up over the corpses of related species?
• How would you like to have your head cut off so that people can play football on you?
• And it’s a matter of your own health. Do you realise that leguminous vegetables such as peas and beans fix deadly nitrogen from the air, which could give you cancer?
Act now! Send a large cheque to the Number Watch Cayman Island account to become a member of PERV. In return you will receive a free catalogue of synthesized proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and fibre (no fat, of course) with price list. Leave the flowers where they are in the field. You know it makes scents.
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/2002%20February.htm
THere is only one cure for intrusive idiots.
A Tax on All Do-Gooders.
Wether it be 150% of their gross income or a knuckle sandwich, purge your immediate area of these fools and bandits.
People Eating Tasty Animals are just more evidence of how advanced the Gang Green is in our society.
Anything this swollen and stinky needs separated from the body.
“THere is only one cure for intrusive idiots.”
Sue them for damages so hard their children will hurt when they sit down.
Horses, like many people become emaciated when they get REALLY old. We are fortunate to be able to retire horses on our property when they no longer can perform(jumpers)And we have been reported for cruelty. Fortunately the people who investigated knew the difference between an old skinny horse and an underfed one.
We have also reported people who have underfed horses and seen them improve.Again, fortunately, we can tell the difference.
There is a poem about a horse where it says in return for being looked after it will devote itself unfailing to you. And it trusts that when it no longer has any quality of life and is suffering you will do the right thing. It is always a VERY sad day when we have to put a horse down.
I will never forget the day we had to put down my daughters first horse. She didn’t want to be here when it happened. But then she realized how important it was to the horse that she be with it to the end.
THE ARTILLERY HORSE’S PRAYER
“To thee, my master, I offer my prayer.
“Treat me as a living being, not as a machine.
“Feed me, water and care for me, and when the day’s work is done, groom me carefully so that my circulation may act well, for remember: a good grooming is equivalent to half a feed. Clean my feet and legs and keep them in good condition, for they are the most important parts of my body.
“Pet me sometimes, be always gentle to me so that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you.
“Do not jerk the reins, do not whip me when I am going up-hill. Do not force me out of the regular gait or you will not have my strength when you want it. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you mean, but give me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is not wrong with my harness or feet.
“Don’t draw the straps too tight: give me freedom to move my head. Don’t make my load too heavy, and oh! I pray thee, have me well shod every month.
“Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may have some teeth too long or I may have an ulcerated tooth and that, you know, is very painful. Do not tie my head in an unnatural position or take away my best defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off my tail.
“I cannot, alas, tell you when I am thirsty, so give me pure, cold water frequently. Do all you can to protect me from the sun; and throw a cover over me-not when I am working, but when I am standing in the cold.
“I always try to do cheerfully the work you require of me: and day and night I stand for hours patiently waiting for you.
“In this war, like any other soldier, I will do my best without hope of any war-cross, content to serve my country and you, and, if need be, I will die calm and dignified on the battlefield; therefore, oh! my master, treat me in the kindest way and your God will reward you here and hereafter.
“I am not irreverent if I ask this, my prayer, in the name of Him who was born in a stable.”
* NOTE-Written by Captain De Condenbove, French Army, during the World War.
The above appeared in Field Artillery Manual, Vol. I, by Arthur R. Wilson, Capt., Field Artillery, U.S. Army, published 1926. – this web copy is the direct transcription from the original.
There are few things in this life I have come to HATE…but Busy Body intrusive useless Sacks of Human excrement…fit the bill. (I have a neighbour that fills that description – keeps a copy of the Calgary Bylaws handy while she rolls here medical pot). One day she will go too far and find a a D8 in her living room….I may well drive said D8 there…with a stupid smile on my face as it goes through her front wall. Miserable beotch…(kinda looks like the old witch crone from the wizard of Oz…seriously – bent back and all).
and the maddening thing is that there is ZERO Recourse to these kind of antics these (_i_)HOLES pull …
PETA, Eco-Zombies and the marxist progressives of our society are not far behind.
PETA kills peoples Pets now taking a families dog from their property and killing it in fact two PETA wanks were arrested after they tooka hunters dog and claimed they had found it but they had removed the raidio tracking collar it wore PETA hypocracy speak compassion use it in their stupid protests and ads as well as junk mail drives then kills the animals then used ETHICAL in their stupid name
Very true, Horny Toad. You need to know the difference between underfed and simply old age.
And as the old saying goes, “Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.”
A horse is a horse! Of course, of course!