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October 2008 
Beautiful Dallas morning
Posted on Mar 9th, 2006
by 
Harmony
Harmony
Woke up this morning to the beautiful clear sky of a Dallas morning. The birds are loud and happy, my birds are singing along. The dogs have been spying a squirrel, and my optimism is coming through. Tonight we go to support the City of Kaufman to help kick one of the slaughterhouses out. Horses are supposed to be enjoying the great outdoors and riding, not being MEAT.
Keep me in your thoughts. If there is any idea you can think of about how to educate the current horse owners and help them be more accountable for their charges - let me know.
Access: Public
My prayers are with you. Thank you for being there Harmony.
We’ve actually been discussing a similar topic over at SixthSense’s blog (I suspect you know him :-) It might take some pretty commited souls going to horse races, auctions, rodeos, etc. and educating others in a way in which people will listen while at the same time offering alternatives to slaughter (that’s where I come in).
Let’s keep this conversation going. It is important. When they are available, I will offer up a forum for horseslaughter in the projects podz. If we get enough people together, we can make a difference.
Shelly, thank you. I believe that things are looking up. The American people would not eat horse meat, I am sure. However, they believe that horse slaughter is “humane way to end their lives.” We know it is wrong, but the industry is thriving on knowing that most people just don’t care.
HOw do you propose we educate others? Like SixthSense says - we need to educate the younger generation.
I know we CAN make a difference.
Love what you do, Tajana
It is getting better and quite possibly will be over, at least for a year in the near future. We just have to keep giving energy to those who are supporting the cause, as you have been.
Hmmmm? In case there is a need (if the plants don’t shut down) you’ve got me thinking of a childrens book. And also a way to introduce the topic gently and compassionately in schools. I know that ASPCA and PETA and HSUS have school programs in place for other issues. I wonder if they address horse slaughter? I’ll find that out and get back to it.
A “humane way to end a horses life” is to euthanize it…. not load it on a truck and send it thousands of miles away to be killed while half awake (if they make it there alive). I feel this is just a cop-out from owners and industry to use in defense of the slaughterhouses. The truth being that they prefer to get payed to send the horse away, rather than pay to have it humanely euthanized. It is an easy route out.
I personally don’t find euthanizing humane except in cases of severe injury, but I find it more humane that the torture they sustain in the slaughter process. It breaks my heart to think of how scared they must feel to be sent away from their loved ones and loaded on a truck, being kicked and trampled….. ugh…. enough giving focus to that tragedy.
Back to the education. I really feel that a great start is for someone that is not biased to begin writing about the topic in major equine publications. So far, what I read in The Horse, Equus, etc. are completely biased by the industry to whom they compose. Hmmm, again Tajana, you inspire me. You have made me think that I may be the one to address this issue in written form. It was my intension to attend an auction simply to understand better what is happening. I am now feeling called to write about it. You are amazing at this!
After the slaughter houses are shut down, it will be absolutely necessary to find alternate ways to eliminate over breeding and care for the excess that still exists. This is where i really see the children coming in. Bringing them together with horses and educating them about proper care and “life commitment” when taking an animal into our lives will be key. My answer to this are places like Light Heart Ranch. (I will blog about LHR soon so others may understand the mission) There are also wonderful facilites that already exist that are doing this. LHR’s twist is that it will be holistic and fully sustainable…. something I am not seening anywhere else but feel is very important so it serves the land as well as the animals.
Whew, I get long winded talking to you girl! My fingers are cramping. Will check back in a while.
Love what you do too! Thanks for being you.
Shelly
Well, well….great compassionate souls I see in here once again. Thanx for speaking up on this issue here in Zaadz I hope pods are coming soon so we ll can leave thoughts and links and exchange ideas in a more organized manner (blogs are fun, too;)
Wish love was easier to inspire than fear…in adults at least. Children still have unspoiled soul and are able to develop compassion. However, we must help take the struggle for our animal friendz to all earz, eyez and mindz. A picture speaks louder than words…in emails, on flyers, anywhere. Music, too.
All of your ideas are great!
Shelly, there is a man in South Texas who has been writing about animals. He rides around on his ranch and hundreds of acres on his horse, and he writes children's books. I will try to remember his name, as I was thinking that it might be a great way of approaching the horse subject myself. The children are are our first line of defense and awakening. Most women and men in corporate America have been developing senselesness, as it is encouraged amongst “corporate America”. It is really hard to approach them, if it is not through their valets.
Let's write something ourselves. Take kids on field trips to local farms. Make sure old people are on our side…what else can we do? That should be a lot. That would bring more people to appreciate nature and appreciate the Horse. Texas has horses as its symbol, the Wild West was right here in Texas, and people were riding horseback as long as they were trying to conquer the new frontier…horse shuold be protected. Love, Harmony
I agree with you about touching the kids Harmony. I co-taught a farm camp for children a few summers back and it was really amazing to watch the children with the animals. It was their responsibilty to care for the animals as part of the camp and each child chose one animal as their own project of care and compassion. While they were there, we also had nature outings, recycling lessons, gardening lessons, non-violent horsemanship, etc. I was there to teach to Junior Vet program to teens that thought they might want to be veterinarians when they grew up. It was one of the best times of my life watching those kids leave every day so happy and fulfilled. On Fridays we would have the parents out and each child would share with the group what they had learned.
I greatly encourage you to get involved in something involving the horses if it is in your heart to do so. There is no more fulfilling work than bringing children and animals together. Writing books would be a great legacy to leave as well. I wish i could clone myself and get involved with more things like this but at this time, The Lightheart Ranch project is more than this girl can handle. Eventually though, I intend to bring several people together to have all these things available at the ranch. Step-by-step we'll get there.
Let me know if I can help you with connections in any way. That is one thing I can do right now….send lots of love and energy in support of your project too.