Money, Money, Money

Sometimes, I hate the horse industry...

We've had a few ups and downs at work as is commonly the joys of the breeding season with horses, and every year through talk with friends, it becomes more apparent that people are in this 'game' because they have enough money to own a horse or two. Pity that it's seen as a hobby, sport or financial game rather than an animal's life and they don't have enough money to continue it's life if it's not considered worth it.

There always seems to be an incidence where something has happened to a horse, affecting it's ability to race and although it is healthy enough to live (after an operation and thousands of dollars later); the situation is assessed, the animal isn't 'worth' the amount of money it costs to operate and consequently, it is put down. Some 'game' that is!

Ideal world for this not to happen - I know; but when I have my own property, I can't wait to each year invest in an animal that would be in such a condition that due to money, it runs the risk of losing it's life. It'll be amazing to teach children the value of someone's life and have them help treat, feed and nurse the said horse back to health and more ideally, into a future riding pony. Oh for the funds, time and experience to do so now!

Got the funds? Consider:
http://www.horserescue.com.au/sponsor.htm
http://www.equinerescue.info/
http://www.jolenehorserescue.com/
http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/

"All I need to know in life, I learnt from my horse: Follow the herd, that way you can't be singled out to take the blame."

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch

Currently, the most rewarding thing about horses is the fact that you will always learn about them.

It's impossible to know everything about them. I hope that in the future, the most rewarding thing for me will be teaching others all I have learnt and am learning about this gorgeous animal and nursing back to health neglected equines.

There are so many people that own and work with horses that have a terrible ignorance and it almost seems that we should have a license to be able to work with or own any animal. Some are so badly neglected, I'm always asking if the person that let them get in that state meant well, but just didn't know enough. It appears to be the same way with children at times, too.

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch is a property run by Kim Meeder and her husband Troy. The pair work together to influence abused and neglected children while at the same time nursing back to health horses in the same condition. Thanks to an ever alert mother, I was given a copy of Kim's book - Hope Rising and loved the stories between the pages.

What better cause can one give to than a child or animal's life being restored?

"Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child's soul." - Kim Meeder, Hope Rising.

http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/