Pondside Digital Media Inc.
Are you a horse lover who wants to achieve equine goals faster, communicate better, develop better personal and leadership skills through learning more about horses? This newsletter is for you!
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Hey Reader! This is a serious question! *sigh* If you think it couldn't happen, read on and think about how horse-friendly habitats seem to disappear. Example 1 Quite a few years ago now, there seemed to be challenges to carriage-driving businesses in cities ...everywhere! I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty but I think at least one of the carriage tour operators was successfully shut down, and not because the horses were being mistreated. The organisation, 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) has been bent on getting rid of tour operators anywhere and everywhere. The type of horses that pull carriages are generally draft horses (large breeds), very well-equipped to pull carriages. Anyone doubting that should go watch heavy horse pull contests and see how much these horses love to pull and how easily they can pull enormous weights even though they are not on wheels. Here's the thing. If these draft horses no longer have a job, they have no way of earning their keep. They are expensive to feed and maintain so what will happen to them? ...well, people might wind up visiting them in a museum some day π€·π»ββοΈ Example 2 There's a controversy playing out in my home province of Alberta in Canada, at the moment. Fish and Wildlife is trying to cull the wild horses of Alberta not only by rounding some of them up, but by putting birth control into play for others. With only 1400 or so wild horses left, plans could reduce the population to roughly 750, and apex predators could take that down even more. In 2015, a range health report was completed by biologist Wayne McCrory who found most damage came from clear-cut logging, off-road vehicles, and cattle. He's unsure why they are trying to reduce the wild horses as they are not the problem. If you want to read more, start with this news article: Group rallies against Alberta Government plans for wild horsesβ Example 3 In the USA, in Kitsap County, in the state of Washington, horse people are suddenly realising there is a rezoning taking place that will eliminate many barns currently in operation! Here's what one resident, in a forum, said: "I just found out that my county (Kitsap, WA) is proposing massive changes to the zoning related to horses, specifically commercial facilities that would result in many barns being shut down if it gets passed as written. I have heard of this happening in other areas. Do you think there could be some group lobbying for these changes across the country? Where else has this happened?" There is a lot of discussion in this forum. (I will add a link below.) However, this is one reply someone made and it bears some thought: "Builders and real estate are often drivers for land use changes, that may be part of it. Also talk to the conservation district, which may or may not be in bed with money makers. The term "private landowners " doesnβt necessarily mean non-commercial." You can read more about the above by following this link to the online forum on The Chronicle of the Horse site. You may recall that I have mentioned in past emails, about two tracts of horse land disappearing in the past. It's very upsetting. If we don't increase awareness of horses and their use and how they can be instrumental in personal and professional development and trauma and PTSD recovery, we are all at real risk of having them slowly disappear! We must be advocates for horses by making sure we care for ours well, and by educating others about the importance of horses! If ever you want to chat about anything, just reply to this email and let me know! ...until I hear from you, stay well and take care... Remember, if youβve missed previous emails (the public ones, at least), you can go here to read them.β -Sylvia (equine advocate) Schneider PS - Here are some handy links to information:
Need the 'Easy Button'? If you have a pressing concern regarding a horse or equine related matter, and you need help NOW, you might want to consult about it using this link as your 'Easy Button'. |
Pondside Digital Media Inc.
Are you a horse lover who wants to achieve equine goals faster, communicate better, develop better personal and leadership skills through learning more about horses? This newsletter is for you!