A Question for Horse Owners

Since I already picked on horse farm owners (see yesterday’s post), I thought I would pick on people who consider themselves horse lovers.

For the record, I have never been ONE of those girls. You know the type – the girls who had horse posters on their walls, hung out in stables and begged their parents for riding lessons.

In fact, it was my younger brother who spent his time mucking out stables, taking riding lessons and going to horse camps and winning ribbons.

However, I appreciate the beauty and strength of horses. I think they are magnificent looking creatures, with soft muzzles and understanding eyes.

What I don’t understand is the behaviour of people who own horses.

If you love horses and they are considered your pet, how come you are willing to sell them when you no longer have time for them?

I realize horses live a long time – on average between 25 to 30 years. It’s a huge commitment when you purchase a horse, however, it’s your pet, your child and, as you would tell a child, if you make a commitment, you have to stick it out.

So how come some people are so willing to sell their pets?

Now, I am not talking about the people who have to sell their horses because of financial hardship. That is a totally different situation. I have a friend who thinks about the horse she was forced to give up all the time.

However, it’s not uncommon to hear about people giving up a horse because they are tired of it, because they don’t want to be bothered looking after it any more or they don’t have time for it.

And that poor horse is sold to another person and then another until, hopefully, it finds a retirement home rather than being put down.

Could you imagine doing that to a dog or a cat?

So what’s the difference?