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We Can Make a Difference
 With hay prices sky-rocketing this year, especially in some of our eastern provinces, many more horses are at risk of being shipped to feed lots due to horse owners not being able to afford these high prices. Even in our beautiful Lower Mainland area of British Columbia, drastic measures have been taken into account for the lack of funds available to maintain our horse population. More and more sound and serviceable horses are finding themselves at auctions while the biggest buyer today of these horses are the “meat buyers”. Recently, an incident in Langley, B.C. involving an emaciated horse hooked up to a car and expected to pull it out of a ditch, has got horse lovers and other concerned citizens outraged. Let me ask; is it not yet time that we put a stop to this insufferable care and neglect of our horses?
Dec 23, 2008, two horses were rescued by means of a human digging chain up in the McBride area of British Columbia. It took several days to dig them out but ultimately they were not meant to be left to die, from the hands of the owner who did not care what would happen to them over the long and cold winter months ahead. Horses are speaking up loud and clearly to us today and many are hearing the message! The compassion of those that dug for many hours endlessly because there hearts were called to do so, to save the lives of two horses, even when to some it did not seem worth the effort. There is definetly something going on here and I dare to call it Global Horse Warming! Not long ago I came across a situation that proved to have a solution to help a number of horses that no longer were able to be provided for. Within just one week, all of these horses had either been sold or adopted out to new and loving homes. Networking with people within friend and family circles saved all of them from going to the auction. Most horse owners I tend to believe, want the very best they can provide for their horses and often sacrifice other things to make this possible. But what about someone else who is in a position where they can no longer sacrifice and are struggling to pay the bills for the feed and board on their horse, that is also very much loved? Perhaps they have had no other choice but to take them to the auction with the hope that some kind person will take them home, which more than likely in many cases would not happen today. Having witnessed the power first hand of a few compassionate people networking to avoid these horses from going to the auction is part of the answer on how we can help make a difference for our equine friends, one horse at a time.
We have so much to be proud of on the beautiful west coast of our province. We are known to be the Horse Capital of British Columbia as we have over 400 farms in our area that have produced well over 5000 horses. There are more horses in the Fraser Valley than in any other community in B.C! To keep up this strong reputation I would ask individuals that are interested in making a difference for horses at risk, what it is that they could do to help. Perhaps it is to volunteer at a horse rescue center or even take the required training to become a volunteer for a disabled riding association. If you are an experienced equine therapist, your skills would be welcomed with open arms. Have you ever enjoyed horse racing? Consider sponsoring a horse or supporting one of the several retirement foundations we have in the Fraser Valley for ex-rachorses, both standardbred and thoroughbreds. These horses worked very hard but broke down because their bodies could not endure the heavy training and racing. Often times these fine athletes are retired at an age where they are not even yet fully matured as a horse! It should not mean that their lives are over because they can no longer fill someone’s pocket book. Perhaps you are able to take in a horse that is in need of a new home. Another way you can help our horses is if you do see a mal-nourished and or neglected horse, report this to the SPCA and let them determine the situation for the horse. Do not let it continue to suffer further. The options are many. We must remember that the horse has enhanced many lives and not just for those that have enjoyed equestrian events either as a spectator or a rider. There are also many children for example that are now reaping the benefits that are autistic. Working with horses has proved to help both children and adults overcome their physical and mental disabilities through the gentle and unspoken language of the horse. Horses today have become valuable assets and teachers in equine facilitated therapies, even in the corporate world! And of course we will all recall the recent Canadian Gold and Silver medals won at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong that both Ian Millar and Lauren Barwick brought home. This shows the ultimate in teamwork between horse and rider and much more.
 Take a moment and remember Seabiscuit, the little race horse that rocked the hearts of so many in the midst of a depression. The joy and hope he brought to so many is the same joy and hope that our horses of today, wish to bring to us. I believe it to be a worthy question to ask ourselves why the horse would even accept the sometimes almost insane living conditions that we provide for them, which they interestingly enough have quite easily adapted to. They would never choose this lifestyle as a wild horse. They have proven over and over to us they want to be with us, giving us whole-hearted their unconditional trust and want very much only to please us, while asking for very little in return. Is it not yet the time to give back to these humbling animals that have already suffered and sacrificed so much? I know we can’t save them all but whatever it is YOU can do to help, you can be sure that our most faithful and trusted equine companions will be forever thankful, for helping out some of their own kind, in their time of desperate need! For more information on how you can make a difference please visit the voiceforthehorse.com web site.
Yvonne Allen
Voice for the Horse
www.voiceforthehorse.com
Please Note: While the writer has focused on making contributions in her community; the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, she is appealing to others in their own communities to also put thought into how they too can make a difference, in B.C and other provinces across Canada. |
