Heart For The Horse: Standing Up

Here in Saskatchewan, many things go on in rural areas that really shouldn't. Building codes are over looked, fires are lit where they shouldn't be, underage drinking, etc, but the worst thing by far is the animal abuse and neglect that is unchecked and rampant. In small towns, everyone knows everyone, and when people are neglecting their animals, no one says anything. They don't want to be looked down on by the community. But there comes a time when we have to stand up.

When I go on the bus on my way to school, I'm always on the lookout for animals. I notice the several different groups of horses that are around, and try to see if they're doing okay and are well looked after.

None of the horses are in perfect conditions, but lately, I've noticed that one group of horses are in a particularily bad situation. 5 draft horses and one foal are living in a 2 acre barbed wire pasture. There were several sad looking hay bales that were thrown in over the winter, but they're long gone. Now all the grass is eaten down, and lately they've been stripping the bark and eating the leaves off of the trees, because they have nothing else. At least they have a pond to drink out of and a barn for shelter.

I've been kind of turning a blind eye on these horses, thinking "what can I do, I'm only 15." But I realized there is a lot I can do. I can report these horses, and try to make their life better. So, today, I went and took pictures for evidence, and I will be calling the SPCA tomorrow, as they only have Mon-Fri 9-5 hours.

I was shocked at how skinny they were once I was up close, and now I feel horrible about not intervening sooner. I also found that the barbed wire fence was down at one part, and two of the horses were out. They were fat from eating from the ditches, which makes me think that perhaps they were out for a while. As soon as the horses in the pasture saw us, they came right up, looking for food I think. One of the horses that was out ran back into the pasture, and got it's foot caught in the barbed wire, but thankfully got out. I termporarily fixed the fence to keep the horses from being caught in it. There was no one at the house, except for a poorly looking dog.

Hopefully the SPCA can help these horses, and if not, I will continue giving them hay (I threw in a couple of my horse's square bales after I took pictures). How hypocritical of me is it to say I have a heart for horses if I do nothing to help those that are in need? No longer will I stand by when I can be doing something to help them.