Posted 2011-03-25 7:07 AM (#132099 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Location: Central Arkansas
I'm dropping off some hay replacer & vitamin/mineral supplements today to some starved TB's that a friend has rescued. Horses starving is widespread. And what is so scary is the fact that what some people call on the thin side, in reality, is hide draped over bones!
I don't like to see horses starved, but neither do I like to see us claim that fat is pretty. I see a whole lot more fat horses, than thin ones. Fat is not pretty. Fat is life shortening and just as cruel as starving, maybe even more so.
The picture above is obese, but I dare say the owner would claim, the horse is well cared for. Yes, well cared for and miserable.
Perhaps these obese horses should be taken from their owners also. One is just as cruel as the other.
I think every obese horse owner should see an autopsy of a thin horse. Horses carry a lot of internal fat. If they get to looking like the horse in this picture they have a abundance of internal fat. That much fat is true cruelty.
Point being, before we start knocking horses that are a bit in the thin side(probably just about right), we need to take care of our obese horses.
Posted 2011-03-25 11:01 AM (#132117 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
To me, the horse in that picture does look a little on the heavy side. But judging by the picture alone, it does not look obese. It looks like it needs to be worked, just my 2 cents.
Posted 2011-03-25 7:41 PM (#132141 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
It's impossible to judge the true body condition of a horse by just a picture. You have to put your hands on them and feel for areas of fat. While that horse is in good flesh, I wouldn't call it obese without physically touching it! I have actually seen and touched much worse! And yes, this is how I make my living!
Posted 2011-03-28 12:02 PM (#132263 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Veteran
Posts: 219 Location: Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
My sister told me that she heard that one farmer had to kill two of his horses since he ran out of food for them and went to jail for it. He told the judge he went to neighbors and everyone but no one would or could help him. He said it was a choice of watching them starve to death or kill them. He is serving time for each animal he killed. I wish I had more details.
Posted 2011-03-28 5:00 PM (#132277 - in reply to #132263) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
If that is true, our justice system is totally out of whack. Animals do not have a sole, shooting them is far better than starving to death. No different than shoot for sport.
Posted 2011-03-29 11:47 AM (#132310 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Veteran
Posts: 184 Location: Indiana
Animals "may not" have a "soul" - but I disagree about the statement saying shooting horses (or any domestic animal) is no different than shooting for sport
Posted 2011-03-29 9:31 PM (#132347 - in reply to #132310) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Other than how we humans get attached to non soul bearing creatures, how is the justice department to differentiate one non soul bearing deer from a horse? Legally speaking are not they the same. Or if someone has made a pet out of a deer, does that make that one deer illegal to shoot. Now if we made the shooting of all mammals illegal, then that's a horse of another color, but to date, I do not believe that has been done.
Someone may not agree with the laws, but until they are changed, I do believe we are all obligated to obey them. And the justice department is likewise obligated to administer them according to the letter of the law, and not there personal believes.
Posted 2011-05-27 11:07 AM (#134378 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
In my opinion, personality equates soul. Some people have good souls and some people have bad souls. The horse mentioned in the above picture is out of condition but definitely NOT obese.
Posted 2011-05-27 3:28 PM (#134388 - in reply to #132117) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Expert
Posts: 2614
I agree with you.Some bloodlines of certain breeds,particularly QH lines,are built this stocky.SOme of the foxtrotter bloodlines are,also.
I think that some people that favor gaited horses tend to think of them as being in shape if they are narrow because that's what they've been used to seeing,especially some TWH,but,I've seen people riding foxtrotters that are narrow and almost pencil necked.That's not what I like representing my personal horses,or,the breed itself.
Posted 2011-05-28 3:13 PM (#134403 - in reply to #131809) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
The horse in that pic is not obese at all. Good weight. Besides, you can see that he is sporting a winter hair as well. I would not want to see any more weight on him though. But he looks great. See how the stomach line is not dropped? ( No hay belly, no fat pockets around the tail or shoulder. This is a strong horse.
Posted 2011-05-29 2:24 PM (#134411 - in reply to #132277) Subject: RE: Horses Starving
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
bbfmg? Animals do not have a sole? or, more correctly, a SOUL... neither do most of these thunmpers here in Missouri, Who says they don't have a soul?? *the Freewill Baptist God???? anyway, they shouldn't be starved.
Horses Starving
