Dear HH,
I am shocked to find a Pro-slaughter article on your web site! That article [“Slaughter Legislation Impacts Unwanted Horses” in February 9 eNews] leaves out the FACT that unwanted horses of late are due to THE ECONOMY!
Animal Welfare Council is an industry-funded lobbying group for the rodeos and agriculture groups. Animal Welfare Council-SourceWatch
The slaughter of America's horse does not exist because there are "unwanted horses," slaughter of America's horses for human consumption exists because of the demand for horsemeat overseas and the desire of companies like Cavel and Dallas Crown to make a profit.
If you would like to become better informed about this subject I suggest you go here and also visit: www.alexbrownracing.com
Jan Snodgrass
TTEAM and TTouch Training
LightHeart Farm, Marshall, VA
Dear HH,
I just saw the acupuncture article today in [February/March Holistic Horse, pp 22-23] and wanted to thank you for doing such a great job with it. The layout is beautiful, and it came together so nicely. I wanted to pass along positive feedback and a big thanks. Would you be able to send me some extra copies to pass out at my barn?
Joanna Robson, DVM, CVSMT, CMP, CVA, SFT
President, Inspiritus Equine, Inc.
www.RecognizingtheHorseinPain.com
Dear HH,
My horse has turned mean! We got 2 horses about 4 months ago from an elderly couple that couldn't ride them any longer. The couple said how well mannered both of them are; up until the last month I believed it myself. Camino, my 6-year-old horse, gets chased away from his own food by Raspberry, the 9-year-old. When I go to feed, Raspberry walks up and down the fence row so Camino can't get up to the fence where their feeding area is. I have to feed Raspberry first then Camino. They used to be able to stand next to one another while eating; now I have to separate them far enough so Raspberry doesn't kick or bite Camino.
I cannot touch Raspberry to pet him or talk to him without his ears lying flat back and acting like he's going to charge at me if it weren't for the fence between us. He never used to be like this but now it’s to the point that we do not want to go in the pasture for fear he will hurt us. I would love to brush both horses and spend time with them but with the way Raspberry is we can't enjoy either horse. The 2 horses have been inseparable for 4 to 5 years and the last owners said they were very attached to one another. For about a month we did have a female in our pasture and Raspberry followed her around most of the time. Could this be part of the reason? The mare's been gone now for almost a month. I'm not sure what I should do at this point and am looking for any suggestions or/and answers.
Thank you,
Heather Stewart
ANITA CURTIS’ RESPONSE
[see Anita’s “Why are some horses mean?” on p28 of the December 2009/January 2010 edition of Holistic Horse]
Hi Heather,
Thank you for your question.
When any animal becomes mean I look for several things. First I check for pain. It does not sound like this is a problem with your horse, but I can't tell. Next I check to see if there has been a change in his routine. It sounds like this is a possibility since the dynamics of the herd changed.
I have two mares. Cordy is quite timid and BB sometimes becomes dominant and nasty. The other day, while I was thinking about your question I had the perfect opportunity to check my theory out.
My horses have free access to the pasture from their stalls. At feeding time BB selects a stall and Cordy obediently goes in the other one. I was in the stall with Cordy and had not fed yet when she got nervous and stood near the door. I knew BB had announced that she was going to come in and take over Cordy's stall, so I stood near the door, but out of sight. Sure enough, BB came marching up to the door and I stepped out in front of her. My posture was assertive, shoulders back and standing tall. BB took one look at me, turned around and went in the other stall. She waited quietly until I gave her dinner.
I became the lead mare and protected Cordy. BB respected my position and it was over. She will forget in time, she always does, and I will have to protect Cordy again as I have for the last four years. That's okay. It always works.
BE CAREFUL. Never put yourself in harm’s way. I know BB will not kick or bite me -- at least she never has, but you do not want to get in the middle of two horses kicking at each other. Choose your "battle" carefully.
Good luck,
Anita