Friday, April 30, 2010

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?

7 comments:

Cheryl said...

This I don't understand at all. A friend just adopted a horse who was scheduled to die after a long career in steeple chase (forgot to mention that and a couple of other sports in my comment on yesterday's post). I have another friend who lost her horses in a divorce and she's still heartbroken several years later.

I'm with you; I just don't get it.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure that I really get how someone could give up a pet, but everyone is different. People maybe don't consider horses as pets the same way as cats and dogs. I mean, it's not like they live in your house with you. You have to go to them to spend time with them. And there are those with children who don't even feel the same way we do. I don't get how people with time off from work would send their child to daycare anyway! (I get needing some time away here and there when you are a SAHM, but not when you're already spending your days away from them!)Not everyone feels the same attachment to animals as you do. I know I don't feel much attachment to mine anymore sadly. You can't force feelings that aren't there. Isn't it better for the person to give up the horse to someone who would love it better, rather than continue on just barely caring about it???

Jennifer Vanderbeek said...

Actually, I can take the other side of this. A close friend recently sold/re-homed her horse because she didn't have enough time to spend with her (combo of health and her son being born). It was a tough decision and she does miss her but she feels better knowing that Anna is getting plenty of love and attention from her new home, more than she could give her herself.

I get this because I chose to do the same thing with my dog several years ago. She was a gift from my now-ex husband and was, even for a little dog, quite a high-strung handful for one person. Still, had it not been for the fact that I was traveling a lot and that my health was declining during that time, I would have kept her. Instead, the situation was what it was and I interviewed and searched high and low for a better home for her. (I did not sell her, nor would I have taken her to the pound no matter how difficult things were.) Now she's with a nice guy and has a doggy buddy to keep her company during the day when he's at work.

I liken it more to someone giving a child up for adoption so that he or she can have a better life. And, in the case of horses, the financial investment in them is incredibly high so I can understand folks selling them rather than just giving them away.

(Wow...what a way to introduce myself, huh? Stopping by from SITS)

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I live in a world where nobody owns horses, so I can't necessarily relate, but it makes me think of people who buy parakeets and don't realize the intensely long commitment they're signing up for.

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Oh wow...I didn't know that this sort of stuff went on. How sad???? I'm with you. That seems terrible.

Thanks for stopping by and making my SITS day such a wonderful experience. Your time and your words mean the world to me.

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Oh you second born child you, causing the controversy...I'm your lastest follower...

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com

Cyndy Bush said...

I actually know of a lot of people who have done that to both dogs and cats. Personally, I think it sucks!