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Quite frankly, Kate, after the hazing, crap, and insults that I went through to rescue one of my own from the "rescuers," I'm not sure I'd do it again, either.  The entire experience was nerve-wracking, insulting, and put-offish.  All these people yammer about being anti-slaughter, and wanting to do right by the horse, and wishing that breeders would take responsibility for their own.  Well, when I did just that, I was metaphorically spit upon, kicked around, and in general treated like dirt.  I came away from the distinct impression that although these zealots CLAIM that they want breeders to be "responsible," when breeders actually step up to the plate and ARE responsible, it takes a plank out of their precious political platform. 

 

If I sound bitter, I am.  And I don't blame breeders one bit for not wanting to go through what I was put through to simply "stand by one of my own."  Word gets around.

 

I would also add that horses are not interchangeable, nor are breeders.  I am well aware that overbreeding goes on--but don't condemn those breeders who sweat blood to carve a niche for their horses in the world to ensure that they CAN find caring homes, and then breed horses of a quality to fit that niche.  Put the blame where it belongs--on the "producers" who want to ride on the coattails of the breeders who DO "do right" by their horses and their programs, and think that they can sell horses without paying attention to whether or not they are capable of doing the job, or without making a place for their horses in the riding community by getting out and showing what they can do.

 

As a breeder, a horse in the slaughter yard does me not one whit of good.  I (and others like me) work our tails off to get horses into situations where they are seen succeeding by other riders--in other words, in the hands of riders that will do right by them.  And quite frankly, I get more than a little bit pissed off being painted with the same brush as people who just produce foals and try to coast on the reputations of others.

 

Heidi

You are one of the very very very few then...  as I sit and watch, just receiving an e mail this morning about a 3 year old Arabian gelding heading to slaughter and listening to so so many folks just up and breeding and being excited about adding to the population!

 

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From: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 10:35 AM
To: Kearby Kate G Civ 748 CBSG/OM
Cc: 'ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [RC] Slaughter/Breeding

 

Don't EVEN get me started on this one!  As a breeder who has had the nasty experience of trying to be "responsible" and fighting like crazy to get a rescue agency to let me take a horse THAT I BRED that fell into their clutches (you should have seen my phone bill) and then finally leaping into my truck and driving over 1000 miles in the dead of winter to pick him up when they finally wavered and said that I could come get him, before they could change their minds and call me back and renege, I've seen a whole different side to this. 

 

We pour money into our horses as it is.  The vast majority of my own horses have either gone into riding homes or are still here.  The BREEDERS cannot help what happens when the people who buy them dumps them.  Had a nasty experience with THAT one, too--when I sold a group of horses to a seemingly serious endurance family that wanted to breed a few as well.  It was sickening to find out that THEY had dumped a group of them--although I think all have ended up in homes, thanks to some astute people in the area who snapped them up at auction. 

 

Sorry, Kate--but "that dog don't hunt."  The responsible breeders DO NOT need the burden of cleaning up other people's messes. 

 

Heidi 

 

We've come up with an idea, kind of like the 'disposal' tax you pay on tires when you buy them.  When you are involved in breeding a horse you should be required to give $100 to a general rescue organization and when you register a horse $100 to the breed specific rescue organization.....  This would help take care of the horses displaced by over breeding and perhaps slow down over breeding.  Feed and care for those otherwise who have the only options of neglect, starvation or slaughter....   Closing the slaughter plants in the U.S.  only results in more torture for those bound there.  Either transport out of country to uncontrolled plants in mexico and Canada or neglect and starvation.  Slow down the over breeding and charge breeders a 'disposal' tax.  !!!

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