I have a beef with the idea that IF you ever take possession of a horse that you are NOW AND FOREVER responsible for that animal. Obviously I think this is a stupid concept since MANY people who own horses BOUGHT them from someone NOT bred them ourselves; the concept is a little Eutopian at best.
However, the idea that once you let go of the lead rope YOUR CONTROL is over does need to be driven home.
Unfortunately, even hunting down the best home for a horse can end up badly. This is WHY I personally don't think ANYONE can ever be held responsible for a horse ending up in a bad situation other than the last person to possess that horse. It is unreasonable and unfair to hold the breeder (reputable or otherwise) responsible for a horse ending up in a home 17 yrs later where the horse is being starved to death. I will ALWAYS argue this point, especially given what happened last week.
I may post the whole story at a later time but the bottom line goes something like this:
An adopted BLM mustang drops a surprise foal 6 months after arriving; adopter can’t handle it as a long yearling and didn’t opt for a baby so she gives it away. Reputable trainer takes horse and rides it for 2 yrs. Sells it to a local man, checks out the home, even has a buy back contract drawn up. Guy who buys horse likes it but only until they can’t afford the horse anymore. Calls trainer and asks for trainer to buy the horse back but wants FIVE TIMES what the trainer sold the horse for. Oh, and the horse has developed some vices that she was NOT sold with. Trainer cannot spend that kind of money. Horse is sold to a novice owner and is now standing without food and water. She has not had clean water in a week (drinking from a dirty water hole) and only gets hay when it can be stolen from the farm next door.
Who is responsible for this horse now? If you apply the logic that whomever brought the horse into the world is, I guess it’s Mother Nature or God. I don’t know about you but I am not calling either and ripping them a new one for not taking care of the horse they bred.
Ok---all sarcasm aside. I would really like someone to explain to me how breeders are being raked over the coals for situations much like this one. How is it the breeder’s responsibility to know what COULD happen to a horse---they are not mind readers.
I know, I know---STOP BREEDING right? That’s a stupid, unrealistic thing to say since we are talking about horses that are already here. I just cannot see how anyone can be held responsible OUTSIDE OF THE LAST OWNER. (Not talking about people who have legitimately rescued a horse, they are not responsible for the condition but THAT is a totally different issue)
Let's break down the parties in this case to see the logical progression of who is the responsible party:
The BLM is not responsible for this horse----hell, they WANT to implement sterilization programs and are being blocked at every angle.
The adopter is not responsible. She realized she was in over her head and sought help.
The money hungry trainer, right?? This is her fault. How so? She sold a horse, a practice that MOST people who own a horse they did not personally breed for engage in. She had all her ducks in a row with that buy back contract too. The fact she was unwilling to buy a horse back that was in need of retraining AND 5x----5x what she sold it for does not make her evil or irresponsible. It makes me think someone sees money when they look at her.
Man who owned horse for just a year, let it get vicey and then refused to honor the buy back contract? Yeah, I would put some blame on him. Why not honor the contract? Why not make sure the horse was kept up? But, in all fairness, he has the right to sell his horse to whomever he chooses. Once he took the money, the horse was not his.
However, when push comes to shove, the person who now has physical possession of the horse is to blame for it standing without food and water. It does not matter if they are novice horse owners, anyone over the age of 10 knows that animals need clean water and daily food.
Yet, somehow, IF this horse gets confiscated or starves to death and the story gets out with names and details, I would bet you a million dollars SOMEONE would point fingers at the “industry” or “the trainer”. Why am I so sure? You see it all over the internet every dang day. People are up in arms over a horse being thin or starving and how could this breeder or that trainer ALLOW something like this to happen.
Make no mistake, the breeders, the industry, professional trainers, etc are NOT behind the abuse, neglect, and cruelty any individual horse suffers. The person who beat the horse, starved the horse, or turned it loose in the wild is.
It’s ALL about personal responsibility. Or, the lack thereof.
Now---back to the original idea that once you let go of a lead rope of a horse, you have lost control of what happens to that horse. If YOU don't want to worry every day for the rest of your life, don't sell the horse. Its that plain. It's that simple. (Please don't whine about life situations that force the sell---we all know they exist and if that happens, let go. Just let go and enjoy the memories)
Don't let go of the rope, if you are going to let "what ifs" crawl into your brain. Then, NO ONE but you can ever be blamed or held responsible for a horse you once owned-----
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