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Less Is More Horsemanship Forum
Welcome to the Less Is More Forum. This forum is to post questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, principles, concepts and ideas regarding Natural Horsemanship and more importantly, the philosophy of "Less IS More". This is a place where like-minded people can come to throw away all the old traditional ways of training, and riding, and begin to experience a new FREEDOM in their relationship with their equine partners. Whether your goal is to learn more about natural horsemanship, get support for your own personal Less Is More belief, find solutions for problems that are hindering your relationship, begin a journey of discovery or healing, this is your home. Regardless of what the current "fads" are in traditional circles or natural horsemanship circles, I encourage you to think 'outside the box'. Feel free to post a message.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 7) |
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Michael Gonzalez
Mar 2, 08 - 10:56 AM |
throw away horse
Here is a forwarded email that was sent to us...we get these daily...I can't tell you how disappointed we get when we read these. Read the following email sent to me: "Bunny's Dixie May" AQHA Palomino Mare Offering for sale: 22 year old Palomino mare. We are regretfully selling our mare but need a younger horse for the type of riding we are wanting to do in the near future. Easy to moderate trail rides, this mare can go all day. She is very healthy and has a lot of years left in her. Very gentle, loves attention. Her ground manners are perfect, she bathes, clips, stands for the farrier and loads like a dream ! Her down side is she doesn't like horses coming up behind her at a fast pace, or crowding her if she doesn't know them. We have owned this mare for 10 years and she is one of those " been there, done that" horses. She has been to Eminence, MO., Myrtle Beach, SC and the Smokie Mountains and everywhere in between. She will go to an approved home only because she deserves it ! Would make a wonderful mount for a young rider, or an elderly one who doesn't want to ride hard and all day long. Or she'd make a beautiful yard ornament ! We were told she was shown in Western Pleasure in her earlier years, but we have done nothing but trail ride her." What I dislike about this is that here is a horse who has faithfully served the owner for 10 years...10 YEARS! ...and yet, just like that, they are throwing her away. But what is more bothersome to me is the description of the horse... "22 years old...very healthy...can go all day....has lots of years left in her...has a been there and done that attitude...does everything that anyone could ever want perfectly...been to the Smokey Mountains and has been trail ridden in several states...shown Western Pleasure, etc., etc." What bothers me is that the owner is only going o give her to an "approved home because she deserves it" and then goes on to state that "she would make a beautiful lawn ornament." First off, how could someone put so much effort, time, dedication and love into this horse and then throw her away?! This horse has put up with everything that this owner has ever asked of her. Why doesn't the horse owner keep her as the "beautiful lawn ornament"?! If she is truly "very healthy" then she would be an easy keeper of a beautiful lawn ornament, right? Second, they will only let her go to an "approved home because she deserves it"...yes, she DOES deserve it...and it is to bad that the home which she served for 10 years isnt exactly a deserving approved home because they think it is fine to discard her. When I read statements like "only to an approved home because she deserves it", I realize this is a guilt-ridden cop out that the owner has for letting this great horse go. They no longer want her and they know it. They feel guilty and are trying to make themselves feel better by finding a good home so they can be guilt free. Beth and I have never bought, sold or traded horses. We keep our animals for life - theirs or ours. We had two dogs previously. A great little mutt dog who, at age 19, was finally laid to rest. Her heart was as strong as a young dog's, but everythign else had finally started to fail her. We had a 9 1/2 year old german shepherd who died in our living room of massive cancer. Two of our horses are ages 19 and 17 this year...we have two cats who are 18 and 16 this year(believe it or not), and we have other cats, dogs and horses which are all less than 6 years old, and they have a home for life. Good, bad, or ugly...healthy or ill. We dont make rash decisions concerning bringing an animal into our lives and when we do make that decision, they are here for life. They are not old magazines, toys, lawn mowers or cars to be traded off or thrown into the recycle bin. When I "adopted" my Partner "Desi" the previous owner had this open-house type of weekend where all sorts of potential adoptees came to see her. When they decided to approve me, they demanded that if we ever wanted to give her up, that she HAD to go back to them. She was adamant about us not selling her or giving her away without first giving her the opportnity to get her back. We assured her that we were not going to give her back, however we agreed. Desi was 5 1/2 months old then, she is six years old now. You have all seen her here on my website. Just this week, I saw posted on a message board, and received an email, that Desi's mom was being sold by the owner. The very same owner who gave me the long passionate speech about making sure that I gave Desi back to her. Des's mom is 14 years old. The description of her in the email was even better than the one I just posted above. Most of us chose a horse because they were the dream horse we had been looking for all our lives. But the vision of that dream horse faded away like the newness of a toy two weeks after Christmas. It saddens us that we see grace and beauty of our dream horse, turn to rust. |
connie
Mar 2nd, 2008 - 4:03 PM |
Re: throw away horse
Like you Michael, I don't understand it. The only thing I can think of is, 1 the owner dosen't want the responsibility of an older horse,2 they want or think there is a better horse out there,not relising that if they would spend a little more time with the horse they would have a great partner.  Connie Poco turns 20 this May, and is going strong, and will all ways be in my herd. |
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Maggie
Mar 2nd, 2008 - 6:40 PM |
Re: throw away horse
That's horrible! Though it happens every day. Its how I ended up with my old gelding. He was deemed 'useless' for the club and they were going to sell him to anyone that'd take him. I just bought a 3yo Arab colt yesterday from an absolutely lovely couple. I'll keep him until the day he dies. |
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Wendy
Mar 30th, 2008 - 11:00 PM |
Re: throw away horse
When you get a horse it is like getting married. A relationship w/ a commitment. It dosn't suprise me in todays world, if people don't get what they want out of a marriage they dump thier spouse and get a younger model or just the fact that getting someone better or fits "me". It's all about "ME" attitude that is prevalent in our society. So what is the big suprise. 
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Wendy
Mar 31st, 2008 - 6:31 PM |
Re: throw away horse
Another aspect you have to take into consideration. Alot of people get horses just to ride for their owners pleasure. There isn't an emotional conection and most the time they do not spend time with the horses. Just a horse to occasionaly ride and a status thing to just be a horse owner(here in the west Eastern Washington-its a cowboy status thing), they use them like a recreation vehicle-put them away, throw them a big round bale once a week. I know alot of those in our area. Sad but true. |
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Sheila
Apr 8th, 2008 - 10:06 AM |
Re: throw away horse
I will agree with all of you that some people just don't care, but just because someone wants too or has too get rid of a horse doesn't mean they are all bad people. I might be in that same predicament soon. My husband and I are looking to build a house in a nice rural sub-divsion where I will not be able to keep my horse. At this time in my life with my kids going here and there I just don't have the time for her. I feel that I am neglecting her at times, not that I don't feed her, get her shots or farrier work. I do all of that, I would like to find someone who would give her the attention that I could and once did give her and enjoy her. I also have a girlfriend down south that is having to get rid of her horse in order to put shoes on her kids. We love our animals enough to know that we just can't keep them any more. Thanks for listening Sheila |
saddlechariot
 Apr 19th, 2008 - 8:11 AM |
Re: throw away horse
It is the lawn ornament that gets to me. I drive a 10.1hh Shetland X who has a magic time as a well loved, well used, member of the family. As a lawn ornament he would be a trifle depressing as within a couple of months he would be dead of laminitis/founder if he hadn't died of boredom, or been sold as nasty and vicious because he was bored. Standing in a field 24/7/12 is boring. if you don't believe me, do it. And Michael, like the website, like the attitude, which is why I am here, and will be back. But the last comment was also valid. Things do change and if you can no longer give your horse/pony/mule/donkey what it needs, finding another home may be the kindest action, but not so you can just go out and buy this years model/colour whatever. Simon |
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