by Glenn Wilson ©
WARNING! Some people reading this article may think I’m taking an unfair swipe at various aspects of the horse world and those people who are involved with horses in one way or another.
My only intention in writing this piece was to have a good, hard look at “what is” and compare that with the now outlawed, and rightly so, the industry of human slavery; then ask you, the reader, if you can help the horse.
Once it was considered ‘right’ to own another human being and to have them do all manner of things as slaves. This allowed the owners to further themselves in financial, material, or aesthetic ways. The law then allowed such arrangements and indeed entrenched attitudes and regulations that today we are only legally allowed to apply to our animals.
Aspects that usually go hand in hand with slavery are abuse, cruelty, denial of rights, and denial of natural justice. Of course, there were many examples of slavery where these things did not occur, but the concept and reality of slavery are well associated with atrocities of all types.
Over time, slavery was abolished. This, I feel, was a great step forward to a fairer, more understanding, and compassionate humanity. Civilization is on a journey. We are generally moving forward. We demonstrate time and time again the goodness that exists, that can exist and that is capable of being created, especially in times of need.
However, if we closely examine what how, and why we do the things we do to our animals, especially in this case our horses, such scrutiny may reveal that, sadly, horses do, often and regularly, suffer in their enslaved relationship with humans even today.
The horse community now has a great opportunity to ‘free the horse’, or at least make an acknowledgment that they are indeed enslaved to us, and if that overall situation of enslavement isn’t going to change then alter the conditions of that enslavement to give the horse dignity and a life that meets its natural horse needs.
I’m doing all I can Glenn. Ref: “A Few Words from the Horse.”
Hello as much as i agree with your article i find the comparaison with human slaves over the top. It can be offensive for many people to be compared to a horse, you’re then loosing supporters.
Wild horses have lost their predators, they overgraze and unfotunatly have to be contoled, a better management of these herds is needed.
After reading your article… should we own horses at all?
I have a herd of 15 horses (One stalion , mares…) who live in and out as much as possible on around 15 acres. In order for me to give them a life as close to their natural requirements (i still need to feed them, vet…)we do nature rides which pay some of the bills. A horse wil have 2 days of rest a week and only work max 2 hours a day and obviously naturalhorsemanship. we start slowly riding when the horse is 4 years.
I would like to come back as one of my horses.
Best,
Katia
Uganda Africa
Well done, great article!
Its up to US to help make the change!