Trip To Europe Yields Some Disturbing Anti-Horse OwningTrends

My recent trip to Europe yielded some disturbing news - there is a sincere anti-horse owning trend taking hold. As a horse owner on this side of the pond I took particular note of the issue. I was aghast at TV reports, and comments among friends and acquaintances when I inquired further as to what they had heard on the topic. It seems that the general public, pushed along by organizations' spread of propaganda ( the notable P.E.T.A. being a key player), are listening to these so called humane societies advocating that riding horses is cruel and should be reviewed and stopped.

The iconic Olympian Isabell Werth, touches on this topic in the last chapter of her recent book, Four Legs Move Me. To paraphrase, she remarks that if this attitude against horse ownership takes hold, we will be visiting horses as exhibitions of the species in a zoo and all horse ownership as we know it will cease.

Armed with ridiculously biased reporting, these organizations are already 'credited' with causing the banning of horse sales on Facebook. Whether that is true or fake news I cannot ascertain. However, their activities in Europe are most likely to be encouraged here by the ever present equine deaths at sporting events.

To single out horse racing as a culprit for bad press would be easy to do, but all types of riding disciplines and horse shows are under fire. The Ocala Equestrian Center was quickly targeted for not having turnout for every stall space on social media. In Europe there are suggestions of putting into law the notion that every horse must have access to free turnout at all times. Eventing shows sadly see a fair number of human and equine injuries and death, even our local HITS Saugerties showground has experienced a death at the main arena of an accomplished young female equestrian. 

The fellowship and history of the horse in our society is well documented and our partnership with the horse, care and concern for its well-being should always be foremost in our ownership and riding/driving of our equine buddy.But we must also regard our position within the entire community with diligence. 

We must educate the non-horsey public about the benefits that horses provide to everyone: the therapeutic benefits for humans, the Wounded Warrior project, the PATH programs, the para-programs. When a neighbor complains about the smell of manure we should take note and make an effort not to be antagonistic or inflame the situation, but seek to resolve the matter equitably. 

When industry experts attempt to mitigate cruel practices such as long haul transportation for slaughter and social media posts of live horses being crowded onto planes to Japan pop up we should take note. Black market horse meat, horses being apparently randomly shot in fields, stolen from paddocks, and discussions of best methods to euthanize horses by implementing ownership fees to cover veterinary administration of euthanasia for the horse, are all topics we should listen to carefully. When the Chinese slaughter donkeys for supposed 'medicine' and fairs in Spain exhibit abuse of donkeys and horses we should pay attention and do something concrete to stop it now.

It is wise not to take this attack on our beloved horses and their ownership by us for granted. If we do not take methods to self-regulate the horse industry others will be all too happy to seize the chance to do it their way. Speak up!