I am once again attempting to use this blog for a forum of good, not evil. This time I have set my sights a little higher than getting my little brother a college scholarship.
In November of 2011 President Obama signed an agricultural bill that lifted the ban on horse slaughter in the US. The signing of this bill reversed the 2006 decision to end the slaughter of horses in the US for their meat.
I don’t know if you’ve ever met me or not, but if you have, you know that I LOVE HORSES. Some people have amazing connections with their dogs, or their cats, and while I do like dogs and cats (especially puppies and kittens) I have always been horse hearted.
I have always been enthralled by the horse’s spirit and personality. They are the most intelligent creatures I have ever encountered, and like dogs, I have found them to be extremely loyal to their people. I have had a love of horses since the day I was born (it runs in the family, although I am the only one in my immediately family who really got the horse bug) and have been riding since I could walk. Every Christmas, my letter to Santa contained only one item: A horse. Right now I am trying desperately to convince my boss to buy an office pony (we’re a dog friendly office, so I figure pony friendly office is practically the same thing). I really think I’m starting to wear him down.
I have had the extreme honor of owning two horses in my life, Paris Panther (Paris) and Regal Regatta (Kabuki). Unlike owning a dog or cat, horse ownership is on a whole other level. Not only is it much more labor intensive and time consuming, but you truly build a partnership with your equine. Every time you get in the saddle you are putting your life in their hands (hoofs?), which is something that is impossible to do with out building up a certain level of trust in each other.
The day my parents gave me Paris (it was christmas morning) was one of the happiest days in my life. I loved (love) this horse with my entire heart and soul, and now he was mine, all mine. Mine to ride, to take care of, to support, the spend my days with, and most of all, mine to love. I cried hysterically . Unfortunately my sophomore year of college we had to sell Paris. It wasn’t fair of me to keep him while I was in college, I was never home and never got to see him. Plus a little girl had fallen in love with him and I wanted her to have the opportunity at the same happiness I had with him.
After college I was given the opportunity to purchase a horse straight off the racetrack (seriously we picked him up at Suffolk Downs). Racehorses have the reputation of being hot headed and temperamental, difficult to control. They are bred that way, it gives them an edge on the track. But Kabuki was the biggest teddy bear I had ever met, and his owner was selling him because he didn’t enjoy running. I loved him instantly.
The horse is a timeless symbol of the spirit of America. For each and every cowboy that “won the west” there was a horse along side him. Horses are the backbone of our country, from working on farms, to competing for our country’s glory in each Olympic games.
The horse is a kind, intelligent, and honest creature, with out who our country would not be the same. We need to stand up, stand together, and fight for the animal who cannot fight for itself. I believe the slaughtering of any animal is wrong, however each time you kill a horse, you kill a part of America’s history and soul.
Horses have served in our military and police forces. They have sowed the fields that provide us with nutrition. THey have competed for glory in the name of our country. They have starred in movies along side the most famous celebrities of our day. They have raced for our entertainment and our affection.
Please consider taking the time to sign the petition I have written that will be delivered directly to President Obama asking him to endorse S1176:American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011, making the slaughter of horses illegal once again.
The petition can be found here:
Animals Petition: President Obama: Reinstitute the ban on horse slaughter | Change.org.
And you can read more about S1176 here:
S. 1176: American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 (GovTrack.us).
Thank you so much for taking the time to consider signing this petition to reinstitute the ban on horse slaughter. Paris, Kabuki, and I all thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thanks for reading! xo Whitney
