50 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
For horses to be considered pets is
both good and bad. If people understand
their basic needs and requirements,
no worries, but too many people labor
under some startling misconceptions
about what constitutes a good life for
these equines. Animal welfare groups
work tirelessly to help people get a
better understanding of the nature of
horses. Sooner or later you might have
to decide whether to keep your Dobbin
or sell him so you can buy another horse
or pony. A sound performance horse,
even with some age and some special
maintenance needs, can usually fnd
a new home. If you keep your horse
long enough, at some point you face the
tough love decision of how and when
your horse crosses the rainbow bridge.
Start Checking For Facts
If horses are your passion, your hobby
or your livelihood, then you need to know
that the future of horse ownership is in
serious jeopardy. You can pooh-pooh all you want – oh this could
never happen! It can and it will if people remain complacent and
do nothing to stand up for their rights to “personal property” and
that means land, cars and livestock, including horses.
In the last 10 years or so animal rights extremists have gotten
very good at charming blarney when questioned about their
hidden agendas; but every horseperson, amateur or professional,
needs to start questioning their motives.
It’s time to take seriously any statement ever made about
working toward a petless, meatless society. Do a little digging
and fact checking: your research will most likely turn up what
in your opinion may be shocking manifestations of the missions
of HSUS and PETA. The radical rhetoric borders on invective
in their comments when they don’t like what they’re reading on
various blogs, forums and social sites. Documented instances
demonstrate that they will go to extremes to get their point across
or to discredit anyone who dares to oppose them.
Granted, every responsible writer tries to make sure that the
facts are facts and not fctions or fabrications. But how often do
you bother to check at snopes.com or urban legends when one
of your friends sends an alarming email about the latest virus or
scam? Yep, you go with that knee-jerk reaction and fre that email
out to everyone in your contact list and maybe someone bothers
to send you the link so you can see for yourself that the virus or
warning is a hoax.
With so much at stake in the horse world, you can’t believe
everything you see, hear, read and watch (videos). Advances
in digital technology continue to make it ever so easy to doctor
photographs and videos.
Follow the Money Trail
Here are a few sites that can lead you to some revelatory facts
about where the money’s being spent and for what purposes.
You might have to do a little clicking; but it’s worth the effort if
you uncover some truths and a better understanding of everything
that’s at stake.
The Center for Consumer Freedom (consumerfreedom.com) is
a non-proft organization founded in 1996: it works to promote
personal responsibility even as it is devoted to protecting your
consumer choices. They make it very clear: they don’t care what
you think or believe; but they are willing to defend your right to
Another horse whose people fell into bad times; but she was rescued
Photo Courtesy of A Million Horses
make choices about your life and your lifestyle, what you eat, what
you wear: the individual’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness as long as it doesn’t impinge on someone else. This is
where things get tricky, if one faction were to lobby for legislation
based on their personal beliefs.
Consumer Freedom has several offshoots, including
animalscam.com, and humanewatch.com offers an eye-opening
report called “The Humane Society of the United States Doesn’t
Run Your Local Shelter.” You can also check out the fnancial
facts on this non-partisan site called opensecrets.org – subtitled a
“Center for Responsive [sic] Politics.”
Humanewatch.org keeps a watchful eye on the Humane Society
of the United States. The post on Dec. 21 “HSUS’s Claws Are
Out” addressed the recent birth of the Humane Society for Shelter
Pets whose simple message states: If you want to help pets, give
to a local shelter. HSSP is also a great place to fnd where your
local rescues and animal shelters are. After you check out their
site, go there in person to make sure that they really are animal
welfare champions by rescuing and listing adoptable animals on
Petfnder.
What You Can Do To Help Animal Welfare
Volunteer at a local rescue. Often they hold sessions to train
volunteers. Your help will be just as appreciated as money and
supplies. Of course, money and supplies are good, too, and
each rescue or shelter has a list of basic needs that always need
replenishing: bleach, paper towels, kitty litter and food for the
animals. They’ll use great quantities of kibble and canned food,
depending on how many cats and dogs, but sometimes they have
a preference. They might need someone to drive or assist at an
adoption event. Of course, that’s for small animals.
For horse rescues – well, you’re a horse person, you speak
the language: just ask them what they need. If you can’t take
in a horse, maybe you have some time to help with rehab or re-
training. Perhaps you aren’t a horse person (if you’re reading this,
perhaps your interest is about to blossom), talk to them. There
are many different ways to help: from answering the phone to
barn chores. Many horse people would vastly prefer to muck out
stalls than clean house. If that kind of work is too dirty for you, but
you’d like to get up close and personal, ask for a lesson in how to
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