An Aussie girl says we need to change how we think....

by Kirsty
(South Australia)

I live in Australia and we have slaughtering of horses in the state that I live in. The meat is used in dog food and also packaged and shipped overseas for human consumption. My partner and I are saddened that this practice occurs and have begun rescuing horses that have been mistreated, starved or are marked for slaughter. We have 8 horses on our property that are rescues or senior equine citizens who need special care...But we face the fact everyday that we can't save them all...just one at a time when we can.

We recognize that until the Horse people and Horse Industry get their act together in reducing the ridiculous number of horses bred for racing when only a small percentage are retained, or bred for the show ring only to be gotten rid of when the ribbons stop coming in or the horse gets a little too old to perform ...and until horses become a valued member of the family who (like your own children) you would starve yourself to ensure they had enough to eat, then this fact of life will never change. If it is going to continue we have a responsibility, as with all animals, to ensure the practice is carried out humanely.

We have 16 horses - 8 of our own (including 4 seniors who will live their life out with us)& 8 rescues.

So I hearten myself with my favorite quote "To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived...this is to have succeeded!" Ralph Waldo Emmerson