(Scroll to the bottom for information Added later p.m.)
Where have we gone and how did we get there?
We have been in the midst of the humane treatment of horses issue for so long it seems daily we read about abuse. We try to assign blame. We really want to make someone responsible for the climate which would allow terrible things to happen to these animals we value so highly. It depends which side you are on how you distribute the blame.
This was emailed to me a short while ago. I don’t know the people personally but am familiar with the area. This is a part of the country which should not produce psychopaths, young or old. It is where rodeo means something and for many, horses are a way of life. It’s about as rural as one can get.
The horse is the most tragic victim. His owner, not only has her horse suffered so much and may die, but her trust and faith have been damaged to the point of never being the same. Call it innocence lost, however, you wish to term it. The parents of those who did this, I can’t imagine how it must feel to know your children are capable of this.
(Note, names and locations have been removed from the email for legal reasons but I'm sure our good thoughts and prayers will reach them anyway. R.M.)
Hi everyone, need your prayers for ****** and her horse.She was rodeoing this 4th was at **********, done with the rodeo and fireworks were going off.Put ******** in her trailer, got up about midnight, put him in the arena as all yards were taken, saw young people partying but didn't think anything of it, got up at 6am he was gone. Terrified, she went looking for him with the help of many others. Seems the partiers rode him down the main street hard enough to rip his shoes off. Tied him to a tree roped his legs, beat him took his front and back legs with ropes and stretched him out he fell to the ground, tied his legs as you would a calf, roped and beat him. He is cut all over and rope burned on his legs. The dad of the one kid hid him at his place and the kid found him told ***** to get the sheriff and not to go there not to go alone. I am sure they were going to destroy him. They brought him to her his head fell into her arms. She rushed him to vet his legs were swelling and after washing him off, she found it to be even worse. Today his legs broke open and you can see the tendons. If the tendon stays on the bone and if they can keep infection out, he may heal but I don't think he will be the same after something so terrible. ******* is beside herself. There is more but this is enough for you to know the jest of it all. I cannot believe anyone would do such a thing. One kid’s Dad had guts enough to tell the sheriff he wanted ***** phone number. He had deep pockets, he makes rough stock saddles at*******. He seems to think he is above the law of any kind. Don't they hang horse thieves in****** ???
It would appear this is one story of youthful partying gotten out of hand. Alcohol and possibly other drugs had a hand in it I am sure. As a personal survivor of domestic abuse, the incident has more serious undertones. Psychologists recognize cruelty to animals as one of the first indicating signs of abusive personalities. The recognition of personality traits and psychological patterns in abusive personalities doesn’t change the abuse one bit for the victim.
The unwanted horse issue had no bearing on this incident. It can’t be used as ammunition for either side.
Companion animals have long been common victims to juvenile, ritual, and cavalier torture and abuse. I can’t help wonder if horses will slip closer to companion animals in ways we never considered.
RH1
Added by R.H1 and RM -
More emails about the tortured rodeo horse
An interested party contacted PETA, thinking here is a case they could become involved with........their response was, disinterest because of their stand on rodeo........what hypocrites..........they don't condone dog fighting either but sure got involved with the Michael Vick case. Soooo I guess PETA is only interested in the abuse of your animals if they like you or if you have enough money to make it worth their while.
I have to love Google! We didn’t know how much information we should post as far as legalities go. However a little research and bingo I can provide you with a link.
Please keep this Gal and her Horse in your payers or good thoughts.
http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/50424097.html
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
STALLIONS ARE ALL BUSINESS
By Jan Swan Wood –November 17, 2008
The ownership of a stallion is more than just owning the horse. There are many risks and responsibilities involved and very few people are capable and/or willing to do what it takes to manage a stallion safely.
When the stallion is a foal, most don’t act any different than fillies of the same age, though there are those that exhibit very stallion-like behavior at two to three months of age, complete with marking (urinating on) piles of manure left by mares, mounting, teasing mares and being aggressive toward other horses and people. For the most part, though, the pre-weaning age colt is just another foal and doesn’t begin acting like a stallion until he starts developing as a yearling.
The decision to have a stallion on ones property should be given serious thought and many questions should be answered as to the management of that horse. Some of the things to consider are whether the person is capable of handling a stallion safely; are the facilities adequate to keep a stallion, as well as other horses and people, safe; what is the reason for keeping a stallion; and is keeping a stallion financially feasible.
Anyone that handles a stallion should be a knowledgeable horseman with the ability to read horse behavior and know when and how to discipline. If a person’s horses tend to push them around and run the program, that person has no business handling a stallion. If a person is not consistently alert and aware when working with horses, they can get hurt. If that horse is a stallion, it can be serious or even fatal.
The facilities necessary for keeping a stallion are different than for horses in general. The stallion not only needs to be behind a safe barrier, but horses, livestock and people on the other side must be safe as well. Some stallions can tolerate having horses directly across a sturdy fence while others have to have a buffer zone to keep them from kicking or striking the fence and injuring themselves or others. Stallions are generally pretty hard on fences as they do kick and strike at them, so upkeep is a constant concern.
The objectives for keeping a stallion are as varied as the stallions themselves. Those that are in the breeding business will have a stallion that they are using in their program and they have a large enough number of mares to make having a stallion financially viable. These people usually are fairly knowledgeable about stallion behavior, have adequate facilities, and manage the stallion in a business-like fashion.
On the other extreme, we have the horse owner who bought or raised a colt and didn’t geld him. They have a mare or two and decide that they want to raise some foals, so their young stud is kept around to do the breeding. They think he will stay as nice as he is as a yearling or two year old and don’t realize how he is going to change as he matures. As time passes he becomes more aggressive toward the owner, and toward other horses and animals. The facilities aren’t adequate and he becomes a danger to the neighborhood as well.
Stallions are complex animals and their behavior is different than horses of other genders. They are very territorial and want no interlopers in their space. They mark their manure piles by urinating and defecating on them daily, and patrol the perimeter of their enclosure, whether a stall, pen or paddock. They threaten anything they perceive as an intruder, and will attack if they feel that its necessary. The attack can range from a noisy display and posturing, to actually attacking with mouth and feet.
A stallion’s entire focus is on breeding, and during the breeding season, is even more aggressive, agitated and unpredictable due to increased testosterone levels. They are not only very visual but also have a highly developed sense of smell, so can detect scents on or around people that people can’t. The stallion may react in a very aggressive way toward something a person thinks is of no importance.
An example of that would be an experience that Spearfish area breeder, Dick Kellem, who has handled stallions for over 60 years, had with a stallion he had stood for years and was very fond of. He went in to halter the normally gentle stallion and bring him out of the stall and the stallion whirled and kicked him. Dick figures that there was some scent on his clothing that caused the reaction, but he will never know for sure. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured. He also stressed that one needs to be careful when handling more than one stallion as the scent of another stallion can cause aggressive behavior in an otherwise manageable horse.
What inexperienced handlers don’t realize is that a stallion is working to be dominant all of the time. He may be a gentle, quiet horse, but he is still pushing all the time to be the one in charge of everything around him. In the wild, a dominant stallion has the most mares and the largest and best territory. It is natural for a stallion to have this same instinct even if he lives in a stall or in a paddock.
Stallions are always “on”. They never take a moment off, so it is imperative that anyone handling them always be alert and never let themselves be distracted. A stallion can “flip the switch” so fast that even an experienced handler can find themselves in a dangerous situation. The stallion may not even be targeting the handler, but can hurt someone who just happens to be in his way.
In wanting to be dominant, a stallion is constantly pressing for the advantage. He is ready to invade a handler’s personal space if the opportunity is offered, and will subtly do so if the handler allows it. A person must be diligent with discipline and never allow the stallion to be pushy or disrespectful. He will remember it the next time and press harder.
At feeding time, a stallion will perceive he is driving a person away from the feed if the person simply feeds the horse and walks away. A better approach is to make the stallion stand back and wait, and then walk the horse away from the feed as the person leaves. All horses benefit from this method, but in stallions, it’s a safety concern to let them believe they have pushed you away. Small behavioral problems escalate into major ones rapidly with stallions. What may not seem like anything at all to a person will be perceived as a sign of weakness to a stallion.
Stallions are also prone to vices, primarily because most aren’t allowed to just be horses. Most stallions are kept separate from other horses to keep the stallion from either getting hurt or hurting something else. Stallions that run out on pasture and with other horses seldom have vices. Those kept in stalls are more prone to developing vices such as weaving, pawing, cribbing, savaging themselves, kicking the walls, etc…to relieve boredom and frustration. A stallion that is worked regularly and has a job besides breeding is generally a happier, more content horse with less pent up energy.
Dr. Scott Cammack, a noted veterinarian from Sturgis, SD, sites an example of a Warmblood stallion that was a high level dressage horse and competed at the top of that discipline successfully. After years of intense training and work, the stallion was retired to the breeding barn where he became so vicious that he was unmanageable. The decision was made to geld him after collecting and freezing a large volume of semen. After a period of time to adjust, he was put back into training with his good nature and work ethic in place once again.
Another difference with stallions is their perception of having their feet and legs handled and having someone above them, as in mounting to ride. When stallions fight, they bite each others legs in an attempt to get the other horse lower than they are. A dominant stallion rears up and places himself above the other horse to not only push him to the ground, but to establish his superiority. When a person proceeds to handle a stallion’s legs, he thinks they are trying to disable him just as he would another horse. Once he understands that that isn’t the handler’s intention, most generally accept having their legs handled just as other horses do, but care should always be taken when doing so.
When a young stallion is first saddled and a person steps up in the stirrup above him he may perceive that the person is attempting to dominate him and will react more violently than a mare or gelding in the same stage of training. Some even react aggressively if they get the person on the ground. Stallion behavior is easy to turn on, but very hard to turn off, so diligence is always the key.
Many stallions are capable saddle horses, dependable partners, are gentle and like people, but can react to other horses in a negative way and get someone hurt. A stallion views other horses either as a threat to his territory or as a mare to be bred. An aggressive response toward either can catch a person in the middle of a dangerous confrontation. It may not even be the stallion that actually causes the injury, but the other horse. Even if their handler isn’t aware that the stallion is there, the other horse will know it and can react in fear or aggression. Jerry Golliher, Spearfish, long time rodeo competitor and horseman, said he has competed extensively on various stallions and that few of them caused him any problems, due to hard work and discipline. However, he found that most people were totally unaware that he was on a stallion and even if they knew it, apparently didn’t know how to act around one and took unnecessary chances. He had to be extra diligent to prevent problems.
He also said that he believes that stallions are aware immediately whether the person handling them is paying attention and can control them. He recalled a time when a young woman was using one of their stallions for cattle cutting and Jerry was using another stallion as a turn back horse. The young woman wasn’t on her guard and the horse she was on lunged at the one Jerry was riding and narrowly missed grabbing Jerry’s leg. He said that he was sure that if his father would have been riding that stud he would never have tried that.
Both Dick Kellem and Jerry Golliher stated that when disciplining a stallion you need to make him think you can kill him, then leave him alone. Don’t pick at him and don’t overdo it. Just do as much as it takes to get the situation under control and then ease up.
A stallion is a terrible adversary when aroused and not easy to stop. In the accompanying photograph, the wound on the gray horse’s hip was caused by a stallion in an attack that lasted less than 30 seconds.
The owner was nearby and yelled at the stallion and the combination of a lifetime of discipline and the fact that the owner was leading a mare, diverted the stallion’s attention from the gelding.
The owner stated that she was certain that the gelding would have been killed if she hadn’t been there when it happened. The wound was all done with one bite with the gelding running and kicking to get away.
The veterinarian who treated the wound was Dr. Scott Cammack, and he explained that the wound was caused by the long canine teeth on the bars of the stallion’s mouth (see photo). The wound was about five inches deep and almost a foot long. Dr. Cammack said that as a safety measure, the canine teeth (some call them bridle teeth) can be cut off at the gum line with a small tooth saw. The teeth cannot be pulled out because of the likelihood of fracturing the root down in the jaw, requiring surgery.
The stallion that attacked this gelding is a gentle, kind, easy to handle horse. He likes people and is used to having other horses across the corral fence from him. He and the gelding have run together in the winter for eight years, and have been hauled and worked together as ranch horses as well. There were no mares near the gelding, and in fact, the stallion had to leave the vicinity of some mares to reach the gelding. The gelding was simply grazing before the attack, so wasn’t doing anything to stimulate the stallion’s aggression. This is a case of a stallion just being a stallion and this behavior, though shocking at the time, isn’t anything unusual.
This incident serves as an illustration of the danger of having a stallion. A similar attack on a human would undoubtedly have been fatal. A stallion doesn’t have to even bite to injure or kill someone either. An experienced horseman from the Black Hills region was killed just over a year ago when the stallion he was handling struck him in the head. This was a horse he had handled a lot and the horse was just “on the muscle” and being a stallion.
People have different reasons for keeping a stallion. Some truly have interest in using the horse as a breeding animal in a legitimate program, others just want the colt to grow up a little before gelding, while others just don’t want to hurt their pet by having them castrated.
The idea of letting the horse mature before gelding him is refuted by the fact that the horse will actually get taller if gelded earlier. A stallion simply gets bulkier, his growth plates harden off sooner, and he becomes more masculine looking with a larger jaw, thick neck and stockier body. He will also exhibit stronger stallion behavior the longer he is left intact.
A colt can be gelded while still a baby nursing his mother. This is the easiest on the horse, as he is small, easy to handle and his testicles are small (about the size of an almond) and easily removed. Most vets simply drug the foal, he is gently eased to the ground, and the procedure done while the foal is unconscious. When he awakens, he is returned to his mother and usually kept in a stall overnight. Most will buck and play on the way back to pasture and exhibit no apparent soreness or discomfort in the following days.
The older the colt is when gelded, the more stressful it is on him, though with the drugs used now and the methods of gelding, it isn’t a very serious surgery. A stallion can be gelded at any age, even into the teens, and show no adverse effects. A stallion will still be able to impregnate a mare for three to four weeks after castration, so should be kept away from mares for at least that long. Most will change behavior and act like a gelding fairly soon. Some stallion behavior will remain, however, if they have been used as a breeding stallion. They will generally have the thick jaw and neck that a stallion gets as he ages, and will probably exhibit stallion behavior, though in a milder form, when around mares. Some remain aggressive toward geldings and will strive to be the dominant horse, but without the determination that being a stallion provides.
Horses of all disciplines, from the arena to the racetrack, have been gelded to improve their performance. Being a stallion can be very distracting for a horse and it can make it impossible to train them correctly. Some are too aggressive to train, but become very manageable upon gelding. Most horses that are gelded on the racetrack scarcely miss a day of training and some have even won races within weeks of being gelded. What seems like a serious procedure truly benefits the horse in the long run.
Any horse can be a danger to a person, from a mini to a draft horse, but a stallion increases that level of danger dramatically. In view of that, how many people are really qualified to handle a stallion? How many want to have the risk of having a stallion on their premises, and the liability if anything should happen?
The horse owner needs to examine themselves, their circumstances, and their abilities before deciding to have a stallion. With so many good stallions available to breed to, few people really need to have a stallion of their own. Stallion ownership should not be taken lightly. It’s serious business because stallions are all business, all the time.
The ownership of a stallion is more than just owning the horse. There are many risks and responsibilities involved and very few people are capable and/or willing to do what it takes to manage a stallion safely.
When the stallion is a foal, most don’t act any different than fillies of the same age, though there are those that exhibit very stallion-like behavior at two to three months of age, complete with marking (urinating on) piles of manure left by mares, mounting, teasing mares and being aggressive toward other horses and people. For the most part, though, the pre-weaning age colt is just another foal and doesn’t begin acting like a stallion until he starts developing as a yearling.
The decision to have a stallion on ones property should be given serious thought and many questions should be answered as to the management of that horse. Some of the things to consider are whether the person is capable of handling a stallion safely; are the facilities adequate to keep a stallion, as well as other horses and people, safe; what is the reason for keeping a stallion; and is keeping a stallion financially feasible.
Anyone that handles a stallion should be a knowledgeable horseman with the ability to read horse behavior and know when and how to discipline. If a person’s horses tend to push them around and run the program, that person has no business handling a stallion. If a person is not consistently alert and aware when working with horses, they can get hurt. If that horse is a stallion, it can be serious or even fatal.
The facilities necessary for keeping a stallion are different than for horses in general. The stallion not only needs to be behind a safe barrier, but horses, livestock and people on the other side must be safe as well. Some stallions can tolerate having horses directly across a sturdy fence while others have to have a buffer zone to keep them from kicking or striking the fence and injuring themselves or others. Stallions are generally pretty hard on fences as they do kick and strike at them, so upkeep is a constant concern.
The objectives for keeping a stallion are as varied as the stallions themselves. Those that are in the breeding business will have a stallion that they are using in their program and they have a large enough number of mares to make having a stallion financially viable. These people usually are fairly knowledgeable about stallion behavior, have adequate facilities, and manage the stallion in a business-like fashion.
On the other extreme, we have the horse owner who bought or raised a colt and didn’t geld him. They have a mare or two and decide that they want to raise some foals, so their young stud is kept around to do the breeding. They think he will stay as nice as he is as a yearling or two year old and don’t realize how he is going to change as he matures. As time passes he becomes more aggressive toward the owner, and toward other horses and animals. The facilities aren’t adequate and he becomes a danger to the neighborhood as well.
Stallions are complex animals and their behavior is different than horses of other genders. They are very territorial and want no interlopers in their space. They mark their manure piles by urinating and defecating on them daily, and patrol the perimeter of their enclosure, whether a stall, pen or paddock. They threaten anything they perceive as an intruder, and will attack if they feel that its necessary. The attack can range from a noisy display and posturing, to actually attacking with mouth and feet.
A stallion’s entire focus is on breeding, and during the breeding season, is even more aggressive, agitated and unpredictable due to increased testosterone levels. They are not only very visual but also have a highly developed sense of smell, so can detect scents on or around people that people can’t. The stallion may react in a very aggressive way toward something a person thinks is of no importance.
An example of that would be an experience that Spearfish area breeder, Dick Kellem, who has handled stallions for over 60 years, had with a stallion he had stood for years and was very fond of. He went in to halter the normally gentle stallion and bring him out of the stall and the stallion whirled and kicked him. Dick figures that there was some scent on his clothing that caused the reaction, but he will never know for sure. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured. He also stressed that one needs to be careful when handling more than one stallion as the scent of another stallion can cause aggressive behavior in an otherwise manageable horse.
What inexperienced handlers don’t realize is that a stallion is working to be dominant all of the time. He may be a gentle, quiet horse, but he is still pushing all the time to be the one in charge of everything around him. In the wild, a dominant stallion has the most mares and the largest and best territory. It is natural for a stallion to have this same instinct even if he lives in a stall or in a paddock.
Stallions are always “on”. They never take a moment off, so it is imperative that anyone handling them always be alert and never let themselves be distracted. A stallion can “flip the switch” so fast that even an experienced handler can find themselves in a dangerous situation. The stallion may not even be targeting the handler, but can hurt someone who just happens to be in his way.
In wanting to be dominant, a stallion is constantly pressing for the advantage. He is ready to invade a handler’s personal space if the opportunity is offered, and will subtly do so if the handler allows it. A person must be diligent with discipline and never allow the stallion to be pushy or disrespectful. He will remember it the next time and press harder.
At feeding time, a stallion will perceive he is driving a person away from the feed if the person simply feeds the horse and walks away. A better approach is to make the stallion stand back and wait, and then walk the horse away from the feed as the person leaves. All horses benefit from this method, but in stallions, it’s a safety concern to let them believe they have pushed you away. Small behavioral problems escalate into major ones rapidly with stallions. What may not seem like anything at all to a person will be perceived as a sign of weakness to a stallion.
Stallions are also prone to vices, primarily because most aren’t allowed to just be horses. Most stallions are kept separate from other horses to keep the stallion from either getting hurt or hurting something else. Stallions that run out on pasture and with other horses seldom have vices. Those kept in stalls are more prone to developing vices such as weaving, pawing, cribbing, savaging themselves, kicking the walls, etc…to relieve boredom and frustration. A stallion that is worked regularly and has a job besides breeding is generally a happier, more content horse with less pent up energy.
Dr. Scott Cammack, a noted veterinarian from Sturgis, SD, sites an example of a Warmblood stallion that was a high level dressage horse and competed at the top of that discipline successfully. After years of intense training and work, the stallion was retired to the breeding barn where he became so vicious that he was unmanageable. The decision was made to geld him after collecting and freezing a large volume of semen. After a period of time to adjust, he was put back into training with his good nature and work ethic in place once again.
Another difference with stallions is their perception of having their feet and legs handled and having someone above them, as in mounting to ride. When stallions fight, they bite each others legs in an attempt to get the other horse lower than they are. A dominant stallion rears up and places himself above the other horse to not only push him to the ground, but to establish his superiority. When a person proceeds to handle a stallion’s legs, he thinks they are trying to disable him just as he would another horse. Once he understands that that isn’t the handler’s intention, most generally accept having their legs handled just as other horses do, but care should always be taken when doing so.
When a young stallion is first saddled and a person steps up in the stirrup above him he may perceive that the person is attempting to dominate him and will react more violently than a mare or gelding in the same stage of training. Some even react aggressively if they get the person on the ground. Stallion behavior is easy to turn on, but very hard to turn off, so diligence is always the key.
Many stallions are capable saddle horses, dependable partners, are gentle and like people, but can react to other horses in a negative way and get someone hurt. A stallion views other horses either as a threat to his territory or as a mare to be bred. An aggressive response toward either can catch a person in the middle of a dangerous confrontation. It may not even be the stallion that actually causes the injury, but the other horse. Even if their handler isn’t aware that the stallion is there, the other horse will know it and can react in fear or aggression. Jerry Golliher, Spearfish, long time rodeo competitor and horseman, said he has competed extensively on various stallions and that few of them caused him any problems, due to hard work and discipline. However, he found that most people were totally unaware that he was on a stallion and even if they knew it, apparently didn’t know how to act around one and took unnecessary chances. He had to be extra diligent to prevent problems.
He also said that he believes that stallions are aware immediately whether the person handling them is paying attention and can control them. He recalled a time when a young woman was using one of their stallions for cattle cutting and Jerry was using another stallion as a turn back horse. The young woman wasn’t on her guard and the horse she was on lunged at the one Jerry was riding and narrowly missed grabbing Jerry’s leg. He said that he was sure that if his father would have been riding that stud he would never have tried that.
Both Dick Kellem and Jerry Golliher stated that when disciplining a stallion you need to make him think you can kill him, then leave him alone. Don’t pick at him and don’t overdo it. Just do as much as it takes to get the situation under control and then ease up.
A stallion is a terrible adversary when aroused and not easy to stop. In the accompanying photograph, the wound on the gray horse’s hip was caused by a stallion in an attack that lasted less than 30 seconds.
The owner was nearby and yelled at the stallion and the combination of a lifetime of discipline and the fact that the owner was leading a mare, diverted the stallion’s attention from the gelding.
The owner stated that she was certain that the gelding would have been killed if she hadn’t been there when it happened. The wound was all done with one bite with the gelding running and kicking to get away.
The veterinarian who treated the wound was Dr. Scott Cammack, and he explained that the wound was caused by the long canine teeth on the bars of the stallion’s mouth (see photo). The wound was about five inches deep and almost a foot long. Dr. Cammack said that as a safety measure, the canine teeth (some call them bridle teeth) can be cut off at the gum line with a small tooth saw. The teeth cannot be pulled out because of the likelihood of fracturing the root down in the jaw, requiring surgery.
The stallion that attacked this gelding is a gentle, kind, easy to handle horse. He likes people and is used to having other horses across the corral fence from him. He and the gelding have run together in the winter for eight years, and have been hauled and worked together as ranch horses as well. There were no mares near the gelding, and in fact, the stallion had to leave the vicinity of some mares to reach the gelding. The gelding was simply grazing before the attack, so wasn’t doing anything to stimulate the stallion’s aggression. This is a case of a stallion just being a stallion and this behavior, though shocking at the time, isn’t anything unusual.
This incident serves as an illustration of the danger of having a stallion. A similar attack on a human would undoubtedly have been fatal. A stallion doesn’t have to even bite to injure or kill someone either. An experienced horseman from the Black Hills region was killed just over a year ago when the stallion he was handling struck him in the head. This was a horse he had handled a lot and the horse was just “on the muscle” and being a stallion.
People have different reasons for keeping a stallion. Some truly have interest in using the horse as a breeding animal in a legitimate program, others just want the colt to grow up a little before gelding, while others just don’t want to hurt their pet by having them castrated.
The idea of letting the horse mature before gelding him is refuted by the fact that the horse will actually get taller if gelded earlier. A stallion simply gets bulkier, his growth plates harden off sooner, and he becomes more masculine looking with a larger jaw, thick neck and stockier body. He will also exhibit stronger stallion behavior the longer he is left intact.
A colt can be gelded while still a baby nursing his mother. This is the easiest on the horse, as he is small, easy to handle and his testicles are small (about the size of an almond) and easily removed. Most vets simply drug the foal, he is gently eased to the ground, and the procedure done while the foal is unconscious. When he awakens, he is returned to his mother and usually kept in a stall overnight. Most will buck and play on the way back to pasture and exhibit no apparent soreness or discomfort in the following days.
The older the colt is when gelded, the more stressful it is on him, though with the drugs used now and the methods of gelding, it isn’t a very serious surgery. A stallion can be gelded at any age, even into the teens, and show no adverse effects. A stallion will still be able to impregnate a mare for three to four weeks after castration, so should be kept away from mares for at least that long. Most will change behavior and act like a gelding fairly soon. Some stallion behavior will remain, however, if they have been used as a breeding stallion. They will generally have the thick jaw and neck that a stallion gets as he ages, and will probably exhibit stallion behavior, though in a milder form, when around mares. Some remain aggressive toward geldings and will strive to be the dominant horse, but without the determination that being a stallion provides.
Horses of all disciplines, from the arena to the racetrack, have been gelded to improve their performance. Being a stallion can be very distracting for a horse and it can make it impossible to train them correctly. Some are too aggressive to train, but become very manageable upon gelding. Most horses that are gelded on the racetrack scarcely miss a day of training and some have even won races within weeks of being gelded. What seems like a serious procedure truly benefits the horse in the long run.
Any horse can be a danger to a person, from a mini to a draft horse, but a stallion increases that level of danger dramatically. In view of that, how many people are really qualified to handle a stallion? How many want to have the risk of having a stallion on their premises, and the liability if anything should happen?
The horse owner needs to examine themselves, their circumstances, and their abilities before deciding to have a stallion. With so many good stallions available to breed to, few people really need to have a stallion of their own. Stallion ownership should not be taken lightly. It’s serious business because stallions are all business, all the time.
Written by Jan Swan-Wood
For more articles by Jan
Monday, July 13, 2009
Some information to Support Saturday's satire-
OOPS Sorry Folks, I meant to post this on Sunday when it was emailed to me. Better Late than never.
http://www.aqha.com/aqharacing.com/news/09stories/09unwantedhorsesurvey.html
July 9, 2009 - The findings from the Unwanted Horse Coalition’s Study on Contributing Factors Surrounding the Unwanted Horse Issue are now available at http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/.
The study is the first of its kind to assess the causes and magnitude of the unwanted horse population in the United States.
Results indicate that the problem of unwanted horses is perceived to be growing on many fronts. More than 90 percent of participants believe the number of unwanted horses, as well as those neglected and abused, is increasing, and 87 percent of the participants indicate that in the past year, the issue of unwanted horses has become “a big problem,” compared with only 22 percent who said the problem was important three years ago. Respondents also report that the number of horses being euthanized is increasing.In light of one of the worst economic downturns in U.S. history, the economy is considered to be a significant contributor to the unwanted horse problem. The closing of the nation’s processing facilities, changes in breed demand/indiscriminate breeding, as well as the high costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal are also cited by respondents as major contributors.Regarding placement options for unwanted horses, 63 percent of equine rescue/retirement facilities polled report they are at near or full capacity and, on average, turn away 38 percent of the horses brought to them. Capacity is clearly the issue in that as many horses stay for life at the facilities as are adopted out.Survey respondents believe the top solutions for solving the problem of unwanted horses are to educate owners to purchase and own responsibly, increase the ability of private rescue and retirement facilities to care for unwanted horses, reopen the U.S. processing plants, and increase options and resources for euthanizing and disposing of unwanted horses.“One of the highlights of the survey is the willingness by all respondents to resolve the unwanted horse problem,” said Tom R. Lenz, DVM, chair of the UHC. “We believe these findings will be useful in identifying common ground for all interested groups and aid us in developing solutions that will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of unwanted horses and the horse industry at large.”The survey was conducted from November 2008 to January 2009 by an independent market research company. More than 23,000 horse owners, equine industry stakeholders and nonhorse owners participated. For more information, contact Julia Andersen, UHC director, at (202) 296-4031.
http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/
Added opinion or "my ponderings" -
"Regarding placement options for unwanted horses, 63 percent of equine rescue/retirement facilities polled report they are at near or full capacity and, on average, turn away 38 percent of the horses brought to them. Capacity is clearly the issue in that as many horses stay for life at the facilities as are adopted out."
OK that was 63%. Are the other 37% places like "Three Strikes Rescue" needing to be rescued themselves and are now facing prosecution? or are they way over capacity because of the mentality of "whats one more" or "we'll make room if we have to" so the horses do not get all that good care. hmmmm?
http://www.aqha.com/aqharacing.com/news/09stories/09unwantedhorsesurvey.html
July 9, 2009 - The findings from the Unwanted Horse Coalition’s Study on Contributing Factors Surrounding the Unwanted Horse Issue are now available at http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/.
The study is the first of its kind to assess the causes and magnitude of the unwanted horse population in the United States.
Results indicate that the problem of unwanted horses is perceived to be growing on many fronts. More than 90 percent of participants believe the number of unwanted horses, as well as those neglected and abused, is increasing, and 87 percent of the participants indicate that in the past year, the issue of unwanted horses has become “a big problem,” compared with only 22 percent who said the problem was important three years ago. Respondents also report that the number of horses being euthanized is increasing.In light of one of the worst economic downturns in U.S. history, the economy is considered to be a significant contributor to the unwanted horse problem. The closing of the nation’s processing facilities, changes in breed demand/indiscriminate breeding, as well as the high costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal are also cited by respondents as major contributors.Regarding placement options for unwanted horses, 63 percent of equine rescue/retirement facilities polled report they are at near or full capacity and, on average, turn away 38 percent of the horses brought to them. Capacity is clearly the issue in that as many horses stay for life at the facilities as are adopted out.Survey respondents believe the top solutions for solving the problem of unwanted horses are to educate owners to purchase and own responsibly, increase the ability of private rescue and retirement facilities to care for unwanted horses, reopen the U.S. processing plants, and increase options and resources for euthanizing and disposing of unwanted horses.“One of the highlights of the survey is the willingness by all respondents to resolve the unwanted horse problem,” said Tom R. Lenz, DVM, chair of the UHC. “We believe these findings will be useful in identifying common ground for all interested groups and aid us in developing solutions that will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of unwanted horses and the horse industry at large.”The survey was conducted from November 2008 to January 2009 by an independent market research company. More than 23,000 horse owners, equine industry stakeholders and nonhorse owners participated. For more information, contact Julia Andersen, UHC director, at (202) 296-4031.
http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/
Added opinion or "my ponderings" -
"Regarding placement options for unwanted horses, 63 percent of equine rescue/retirement facilities polled report they are at near or full capacity and, on average, turn away 38 percent of the horses brought to them. Capacity is clearly the issue in that as many horses stay for life at the facilities as are adopted out."
OK that was 63%. Are the other 37% places like "Three Strikes Rescue" needing to be rescued themselves and are now facing prosecution? or are they way over capacity because of the mentality of "whats one more" or "we'll make room if we have to" so the horses do not get all that good care. hmmmm?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
What to do with the unwanted horses?
What to do with "unwanted" horses? And we thought they didn’t have any answers??? First they have to agree they actually exist…..
If we are able to determine that there are unwanted horses and estimate the numbers, we are then in a better position to develop solutions for this problem that allow us to think beyond slaughter. Slaughter accounts for one in eight horses that die each year. Thus we need to increase our capacity to humanely end our horses' lives by less than 15%. If they have yet been unable to agree on the actual existence or numbers of unwanted horses, how did they arrive at that figure? But it does sound good doesn’t it?
If and when slaughter is ended, there can be no doubt that the price of horses sold at "loose horse" and low-end auctions will at least temporarily adjust downward. It will adjust to 0 and this adjustment will be permanent. This in turn will increase the afford ability to some buyers and will provide a disincentive to over breeding. Does this mean everyone can have a horse so no one will want to raise them anymore? Or does this mean we can all breed them so there will be no need for anyone to buy one? Really, what does that sentence mean? So the supply of "unwanted" horses will diminish as it did in the 1990s. What?????? The largest numbers of horses slaughtered in this country statistically were killed in the late 80s and very early 90s. The supply of unwanted horses dwindled in the 90s because of this massive liquidation not because everyone could have 6 of them for free. I also have a hunch .90 butcher horses also had something to do with it.
A four-pronged approach appears appropriate. First we need to develop a robust humane euthanasia and disposal solution on a state-by-state basis. Humane euthanasia programs can be in place at horse auctions as well as horse rescues. Hmmm, horses being destroyed in a public place (strange place to a horse) by people they don’t know, most likely in a restrained situation, and by someone who would rather not be doing it. Does that somehow sound familiar to you in anyway? Second, we need to identify additional resources to create incentives for horse rescues to absorb more horses that can either be retired or rehabilitated. Can you say taxpayer funded??!! Third, we need to attack the demand for horse meat with a marketing campaign that illustrates that horses are not fit for human consumption, according to the drugs that each horse has been administered over its lifetime (you can simply read the label on a commonly used worming product). I doubt we will change the eating habits of other countries with even the most aggressive program.
Finally, we need to create an educational program for breeders and horse owners for more responsible horse management. This is the biggest oxymoron of the whole anti-slaughter debate. The breeders in this thing to produce good horses at a profit are the ones you need to get your education from. Again it is always someone else causing the problem….Of course, these solutions require funding. Sources of funding can include:
- Breed programs can attach a surcharge when a horse is registered to the breed. This would not be unique to the horse industry. Another industry with a disposal problem, the tire industry, adds a surcharge for each new tire sold in order to pay for recycling the tire when it is not longer useful. Now I have to admit this is a reach that impressed me. Junk tires/unwanted horses, not a connection I would have made. Who knew???Such a program will be economically insignificant compared to the $US39 billion a year ($US102 billion indirectly) that the horse industry generates. Funny how a lot of little insignificant things add up isn’t it??
- A surcharge can be applied each time a horse changes ownership and this change is registered with the horse's breed registry. Racehorses that are claimed are more likely to be at risk of slaughter, but can generate more revenue for retirement under this scenario. What this really means is the further a horse is run into the ground, the further he drops in class, the more times he changes hands, the more revenue for the “cause” this also ran is worth. Kind of heartwarming picture isn’t it????
- Racetracks can develop programs that support their athletes. There are already examples of this occurring (Fingerlakes, Philadelphia Park and Woodbine). Racinos which have additional revenue via their Casino contracts are in an even better position to support their athletes. Racing at most of the “racinos” I am familiar with is hanging on by thin thread anyway. I am in the mid-west so we are probably a bit behind progressively. The greater return on the gambling dollar is in pulling the handle and the casinos are getting tired of footing the bill to keep racing in the black. I don’t think one more black eye for the racing industry is going make them all that happy to anti up.
- Racing jurisdictions can develop programs for the retirement of horses that ran within their state. California is an example - .3% of purses distributed in California are earmarked for horse retirement and rehabilitation. This money is distributed by California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). Yes, California, the land of milk and honey. California has been used as an example of how well this would work all along. There has been mention of “black market slaughter trade in California”. The trade isn’t really all that black market horses leave California with health papers and a non-slaughter destination, change hands or purpose across the border, nothing black market nothing illegal and come to think of it did work out that way for a national level too…Wait a minute we’re working on a new law……..
The infrastructure is already in place to deal with a horse industry without slaughter. Another if it was working already we wouldn’t have a problem hmmm…..Horses can still go to auction houses whose business included horses going to slaughter. Rather than being bid on by kill buyers, rescues and private buyers, the horses will be bid on by rescues and private buyers. If they were being bid on by rescues and private buyers they wouldn’t be “unwanted” in the first place now would they??? Only those horses with no bids can then be humanely euthanized or returned to their current owner. Again who is going to foot the bill? Do we expect the auction owner to become the grim reaper? Ain’t their ball game…..Who is going to pay for the prosecution of the abandonment by “current owners” remember this animal has ceased to be an asset in any form and is now a definite liability? Do you see his loving owner jumping up to take him back????
As we move to this scenario, it will be important that auction houses and horse dealers receive the same compensation as they do now in order to incentivise them to participate in a post slaughter era. What the f***** does that mean or is it even a word? Assuming it is a word who is going to pay for, regulate, and distribute this incentivising???? Horses are increasingly being sold on Internet sites; those with no bids can be shipped to their local rescue or horse auction for humane euthanasia. Can’t sell Flicka over the Internet, ship her to the local auction and then to the humane euthanasia station. Did I mention I see a strong resemblance between euthanasia station and slaughterhouse in both purpose and situation????? Oh yeah, I did didn’t I???
Funds that are raised can be redistributed to auction houses for each horse that is euthanized. Money raised to support horse rescues can be redistributed via grants based on the number of horses rescued, the number of horses adopted out and the number of horses humanely euthanized. Yet another similarity between the rescue/euthanasia stations, death at profit…..the more you kill the bigger your grant. Grant and redistribute are also synonyms for Tax dollar and Donation dollar skimming…..I’m sorry the politically correct term is administrator’s salary…..
It should also be noted that a marketplace without slaughter will enable rescues to be more aggressive with adopting out the horses they rehabilitate. One of the significant risks of adopting out a horse, and therefore losing direct control over the horse, is that the horse will return to the slaughter supply chain. This risk will be eliminated. It’s not all that well monitored now so I assume this means nothing will change there. Whew, I was getting tired of all that change!!!!
Ease of adoption will allow rescues to expand their adopter pools. This is fundamentally important to the expansion of the rescue industry. This really means since they know you can’t sell the thing anymore if you can walk in the door chances are you’re a new horse owner. That is if you can pay more than the per head value the grant allow them to charge to kill him..
We need to change the mindset that slaughter is necessary. No we need to produce a better product with a future. Good horsemanship and stewardship of the horse, and good stewardship of the horse industry, is necessary. I believe that’s what producing a better horse (product) with a future means????
Read this article and others like it at http://www.alexbrownracing.com/news/2009/04/barbaro_updates_811.php
On a personal note, I truly believe the thoroughbred industry distancing itself from slaughter is slightly reminiscent of an elephant trying to hide behind a flag pole. Of course there is lots of room to point fingers around either side of said pole.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Internet Knowledge
I spend some of my free time online simply because it never ceases to amaze me. The wealth of information, or misinformation taken as truth, the personalities involved, and dramatics of some of the forums are better than any afternoon soap opera! And while there are many, many, areas I could address, I think one of my favorite subjects would have to be equine savvy, or lack thereof.We have "educated" horse owners who seem unaware that a well trained horse is not only a happier horse, but a horse with a better chance at a good home should, God forbid, something happen to their current owner. When an owner states on more than one occasion her unwillingness to subject her horse to sedation for hoof trims because the horse would come "crashing to the ground" and not one of her knowledgeable horse buddies says a word to the contrary, I become a little concerned. Having had a horse that needed sedation for hoof trimming due to an injury, I, as a knowledgeable horse owner know that the horse does, in fact remain on all four feet during the entire process....although the mental picture of a prone horse with a farrier trying to work on his feet IS kind of interesting:). Yet anyone reading this person's comments and not knowing better would be led to believe that this is true.Then we have those who tolerate unsafe, dominant equine behavior because they have mistakenly bestowed human traits on their horses. As a parent, if my child ever came up and gave me a swift kick or bite, my reaction would be quick, firm, and deliberate. It would not be abusive, but the child would know this is not acceptable behavior. This is how we create boundaries, and in the equine world, those with a basic knowledge understand that boundaries create security. Knowing who the boss is allows the horse to be who HE is. Allowing a 1000+ animal to "be himself" by acting in a dominant manner is not only unsafe, but just plain ignorant. If you spend a bit of time watching horses in a pasture, you'll see that horses can express themselves to a certain extent until the herd boss puts a stop to it. And the horses don't cry, or show hurt feelings.....They understand the pecking order, and know they've gone too far. If you, as the human wish to be in charge, you have to take the same position as "boss". Your horse won't dislike you, in fact, I think you'll find your horse a bit happier and secure knowing his place in the world.Also how about "companionship"? I read a statement to the effect that the majority of horses in America are now serving that role. Could that be indeed true? I sure hope not!!!! Horses are not pets, and the sooner we can all come to that realization, the better off
we, and the horses will be. There are plenty of horses I know of that are still doing jobs.....working farms, doing mounted police work, packing 4-H kids around, showing in different disciplines, providing service as therapy mounts, and working ranches for example. The horses with a job seem happier. My old boy at 21 is happier when he has something to do from time to time. He doesn't do as much as he once did, but he gets out for a ride, and he get ground work so he doesn't feel useless. I don't want to think of life without him. But when I bought him, I knew I was buying a horse, and I educated myself on what that entailed. I think we are both happier for that.But those "knowledgeable" in the horses' feelings and emotions will tell us that they are happiest just being around us, getting hugs and kisses, and being our "friends".I've owned my horse since he was 8 years old, and he's well fed, well cared for, and a pretty happy guy. But he weighs 1000 pounds, and I'm the boss. He has manners, and he knows what's expected of him.I'm not saying horses can't serve a role as companions to humans, because in some aspect, they do. But that is not their sole purpose, nor should it be. There used to be a market for the aged horse, who after working has earned a good retirement home. The movement now seems to be for all horses to become retirees no matter what the age. I don't know that it's such a good idea to make pasture pets out of every horse.I do know one thing, though.....These are often the very same horses that will have an awfully hard time finding a new home, should the situation arise. You'd be surprised at how what is considered cute, funny, and adorable by those who look upon their horses as overgrown puppy dogs is often viewed as stubborn, dominant, and pig headed by someone who has taken the time to teach their horse how to act like one. Well, maybe you wouldn't be, if you've educated yourself on some of the most basic factual information concerning horses. And it's available right here online, if you know or care where to look.
Written by R.H. 2
we, and the horses will be. There are plenty of horses I know of that are still doing jobs.....working farms, doing mounted police work, packing 4-H kids around, showing in different disciplines, providing service as therapy mounts, and working ranches for example. The horses with a job seem happier. My old boy at 21 is happier when he has something to do from time to time. He doesn't do as much as he once did, but he gets out for a ride, and he get ground work so he doesn't feel useless. I don't want to think of life without him. But when I bought him, I knew I was buying a horse, and I educated myself on what that entailed. I think we are both happier for that.But those "knowledgeable" in the horses' feelings and emotions will tell us that they are happiest just being around us, getting hugs and kisses, and being our "friends".I've owned my horse since he was 8 years old, and he's well fed, well cared for, and a pretty happy guy. But he weighs 1000 pounds, and I'm the boss. He has manners, and he knows what's expected of him.I'm not saying horses can't serve a role as companions to humans, because in some aspect, they do. But that is not their sole purpose, nor should it be. There used to be a market for the aged horse, who after working has earned a good retirement home. The movement now seems to be for all horses to become retirees no matter what the age. I don't know that it's such a good idea to make pasture pets out of every horse.I do know one thing, though.....These are often the very same horses that will have an awfully hard time finding a new home, should the situation arise. You'd be surprised at how what is considered cute, funny, and adorable by those who look upon their horses as overgrown puppy dogs is often viewed as stubborn, dominant, and pig headed by someone who has taken the time to teach their horse how to act like one. Well, maybe you wouldn't be, if you've educated yourself on some of the most basic factual information concerning horses. And it's available right here online, if you know or care where to look.
Written by R.H. 2
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Two of the good ones, Silent Cash Dasher and Gary Earp.
Every once in a while I read something that really has an impact on me. Sometimes this is something annoying. Sometimes it’s something tragic. This time it’s an article about a horse and a man I wish I could meet. I am not sure where to “put” this column, featured articles, someone you should know, Monday opinion column, or……. So I think I will file it under “how cool is that?” And let you decide.
The timing couldn't be better. The racing industry and the AQHA have both been under a lot of fire in the disposable horse debate.
I read about Gary Earp, a retired heavy equipment operator and Silent Cash Dasher in America’s Horse. I started writing this and trying to find a photo to post. I typed Silent Cash Dasher into the search engines. Seems the betting, racing, and even general sports Internet have all noticed them. I wanted the picture because it looks to me like this horse could have been useful in many events had he not loved being a racehorse.
I have a feeling Gary Earp and Silent Cash Dasher don’t give much thought to proving a point, timing, or anything other than doing what they do. They have been doing it since 1997. Silent Cash Dasher is a 16-year-old gelding still racing sound in Oklahoma after 12 years of campaigning. His owner Gary Earp trains him right there on his farm. He tried to retire him when he was ten but the horse moped around the pasture until Gary decided to bring him back to the track as a pony horse. Silent Cash Dasher didn’t like that either. Statistics say he is the oldest Quarter Horse to ever start on a pari-mutuel track in the U.S. Last year, at 15, he was the oldest quarter horse to win a race. He actually won three. Statistically the old horse has had 83 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, and 11 thirds to earn $160,255.
“Bubby’s as nice a horse as you’ll ever fool with. He’s got a good disposition; your grandkids could fool with him. The older he gets the better he runs. He acts like a 4 year old, playin’ and broncin’ around. He’s never had nothing done to him, never bled, never operated on. I think that’s because we didn’t start him too early. We didn’t start him until he was 4 years old,” that’s how his owner describes his horse in the interview quoted in the article. He also says he will never run him for a tag (claiming race).
The horse is a nice horse, not a run-away winner that set the racing world on fire, but a nice honest hard working racehorse whom keeps paying his way. Allowance and grade 3 stakes races or as his owner puts it “he run out $160,000 and he’s done it the hard way”. This horse/owner combination is a perfect example of the good horses/good people you can’t pass laws to produce.
We don’t hear about these individuals often enough. We seem to live in a culture of extremes. We read about cloning Royal Blue Boon and Scamper. We are lectured morally by “Friends of Barboro”. The couching staff rings their hands and debates on whether Eight Belles jockey could have saved her. We speculate on if there will be a Triple Crown Winner. We rush to buy sons and daughters of world champions for more than Silent Cash Dasher has earned in his lifetime. The only reason Gary Earp and Silent Cash Dasher are of any note to the public is the horse’s age. I think that dismisses how special being good at what you do and being consistent can really be. They were probably a pretty good team even when they were both eight years younger. It’s good to have them in the spotlight, whatever the reason.
How cool is that?
I have a feeling Gary Earp and Silent Cash Dasher don’t give much thought to proving a point, timing, or anything other than doing what they do. They have been doing it since 1997. Silent Cash Dasher is a 16-year-old gelding still racing sound in Oklahoma after 12 years of campaigning. His owner Gary Earp trains him right there on his farm. He tried to retire him when he was ten but the horse moped around the pasture until Gary decided to bring him back to the track as a pony horse. Silent Cash Dasher didn’t like that either. Statistics say he is the oldest Quarter Horse to ever start on a pari-mutuel track in the U.S. Last year, at 15, he was the oldest quarter horse to win a race. He actually won three. Statistically the old horse has had 83 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, and 11 thirds to earn $160,255.
“Bubby’s as nice a horse as you’ll ever fool with. He’s got a good disposition; your grandkids could fool with him. The older he gets the better he runs. He acts like a 4 year old, playin’ and broncin’ around. He’s never had nothing done to him, never bled, never operated on. I think that’s because we didn’t start him too early. We didn’t start him until he was 4 years old,” that’s how his owner describes his horse in the interview quoted in the article. He also says he will never run him for a tag (claiming race).
The horse is a nice horse, not a run-away winner that set the racing world on fire, but a nice honest hard working racehorse whom keeps paying his way. Allowance and grade 3 stakes races or as his owner puts it “he run out $160,000 and he’s done it the hard way”. This horse/owner combination is a perfect example of the good horses/good people you can’t pass laws to produce.
We don’t hear about these individuals often enough. We seem to live in a culture of extremes. We read about cloning Royal Blue Boon and Scamper. We are lectured morally by “Friends of Barboro”. The couching staff rings their hands and debates on whether Eight Belles jockey could have saved her. We speculate on if there will be a Triple Crown Winner. We rush to buy sons and daughters of world champions for more than Silent Cash Dasher has earned in his lifetime. The only reason Gary Earp and Silent Cash Dasher are of any note to the public is the horse’s age. I think that dismisses how special being good at what you do and being consistent can really be. They were probably a pretty good team even when they were both eight years younger. It’s good to have them in the spotlight, whatever the reason.
How cool is that?
R.H1
Monday, July 6, 2009
In my ever so humble opinion.....
Sometimes in the middle of a heated debate or even an interesting conversation someone says or types something that makes me go “WHAT the Hell?!”. Yes, the “wth what is that all about” moments actually happen pretty regularly. I’m talking about the rendering me speechless for a few minutes and in my head I am screaming... WHAT THE HELL moment. I had one of those moments a few weeks ago while reading on a horse forum. It was a slaughter debate that I was reading and there were the usual heart felt emotional and horribly miss spelled “ all horsie’s are special” posts and of course the ones where the people who disagree with the ban on horse slaughter in the USA are called all sorts of names from greedy and stupid to murderers.
Now I have always had a pretty strong opinion about what horses are more likely to end up in a slaughter plant. I have always taught my children and my 4-H children, their parents, and other students who have ears and an interest in horses that you can be the cause of the problem or not. We prefer NOT. I teach them to not create the type of horse that often ends up with only one place to go. Certainly if you are against slaughter then do not create a product for that market.
My Opinion is that a well trained, amicable horse has a better chance of keeping a job and home. I also feel strongly that an ill-conformed horse has a higher chance of being a cripple with one last market value in front of him. I also have a strong opinion about genetic diseases. We read that the highest number of horses going to kill is the quarter horse. I often wonder to myself, ”how many of those were shipped due to HYPP? How many horses in all the breeds are shipped to sale or slaughter because they have severe enough symptoms of one of the many genetic diseases that have been bred into them? HYPP is usually the first one on my list of BAAAAD genes to breed simply because it only takes one positive to cause problems. I also have a lot of experience with HYPP affected horses as I worked in a research barn full of symptomatic horses for a while shortly after the test became available.
I’m never shocked to hear about breeders that breed for hypp pos. horses, I knew one some years ago. However, here I was reading through this thread and came across a post from an anti slaughter, anti horse auction advocate who shows halter only and she says that Hypp horses are the only ones that win, that's all she owns and all she will buy! I was astonished that a person who purports themselves to be “the biggest horse advocate we’ll meet” would promote the breeding of horses who may and often do suffer and die from this genetic mutation. She was called out on that by another member of the forum, she quickly denied that she promotes such a thing.... ummm really? WTH?! She also could not understand why her purchasing these horses from the breeder was in any way promoting the breeding of hypp horses. AGAIN WTH!?
I’m sorry but I just don’t get the stupidity of some people and I sure don’t understand how a person so against horse slaughter or selling a horse at auction due to the cruelty and greed of it can think that continuing the breeding of HYPP positive horses is not a problem. Yep, no greed or cruelty there folks.
So, in my ever so humble opinion, If you are too stupid to understand that you can’t be part of the solution if you are part of the problem then you should probably not be a horse owner at all!
Now I have always had a pretty strong opinion about what horses are more likely to end up in a slaughter plant. I have always taught my children and my 4-H children, their parents, and other students who have ears and an interest in horses that you can be the cause of the problem or not. We prefer NOT. I teach them to not create the type of horse that often ends up with only one place to go. Certainly if you are against slaughter then do not create a product for that market.
My Opinion is that a well trained, amicable horse has a better chance of keeping a job and home. I also feel strongly that an ill-conformed horse has a higher chance of being a cripple with one last market value in front of him. I also have a strong opinion about genetic diseases. We read that the highest number of horses going to kill is the quarter horse. I often wonder to myself, ”how many of those were shipped due to HYPP? How many horses in all the breeds are shipped to sale or slaughter because they have severe enough symptoms of one of the many genetic diseases that have been bred into them? HYPP is usually the first one on my list of BAAAAD genes to breed simply because it only takes one positive to cause problems. I also have a lot of experience with HYPP affected horses as I worked in a research barn full of symptomatic horses for a while shortly after the test became available.
I’m never shocked to hear about breeders that breed for hypp pos. horses, I knew one some years ago. However, here I was reading through this thread and came across a post from an anti slaughter, anti horse auction advocate who shows halter only and she says that Hypp horses are the only ones that win, that's all she owns and all she will buy! I was astonished that a person who purports themselves to be “the biggest horse advocate we’ll meet” would promote the breeding of horses who may and often do suffer and die from this genetic mutation. She was called out on that by another member of the forum, she quickly denied that she promotes such a thing.... ummm really? WTH?! She also could not understand why her purchasing these horses from the breeder was in any way promoting the breeding of hypp horses. AGAIN WTH!?
I’m sorry but I just don’t get the stupidity of some people and I sure don’t understand how a person so against horse slaughter or selling a horse at auction due to the cruelty and greed of it can think that continuing the breeding of HYPP positive horses is not a problem. Yep, no greed or cruelty there folks.
So, in my ever so humble opinion, If you are too stupid to understand that you can’t be part of the solution if you are part of the problem then you should probably not be a horse owner at all!
R.M.
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/hypp.php
http://www.bringinglighttohypp.org/
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