Spirit of the Horse
I am Horse, Gift of Creator, Wind given form.
I am not Cat, I am not Dog,
I am my own Nature.
I cannot speak your words.
If you would know me,
Ask me, and I shall teach you.
Respect me. Learn my Ways, and I shall be your sharer of burdens.
Wind shall dance around us, and laugh in our hearts, When we ride.
Love me, and I will return that love many fold.
Disrespect me, And my Spirit shall leave.
My body may serve you, but there will be no Heart.
Wind will be cold in your face when you ride.
Do not Fear me, for I am what Creator made me to be.
I can only speak to the Spirits that listen.
I will test you, For that is my nature,
To see that you remember my Words, And know my Nature.
Tell me your secrets, and I will keep them safe.
And carry them to Creator.
I am not as long lived as you, For my Fire burns brightly,
And in the fullness of Time, I shall return to Creator.
If I am injured or ill beyond Healing, Let me go with dignity,
and my Spirit will give thanks.
Do not weep, Look in your heart, I am there.
You will feel me when Wind touches your face.
When it is your time to join Creator,
I will meet you at the beginning of His land,
And my spirit will carry you to Him, And we will run with Wind.
Together.
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Support Our Euthanasia Fund
Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary's Humane Euthanasia Fund
Our euthanasia fund has been set up to help subsidize individuals who cannot afford to humanely euthanize their horses. Donna Rice, our first donor recipient euthanized her two quarter horses after battling health problems.
Our mission is to educate the public about the difference between humane euthanasia vs. horse slaughter. For more information on humane euthanasia vs. horse slaughter log on to www.vetsforequinewelfare.org
Please help us by supporting this very important fund, and help us help others make the right decision on behalf of their beloved equines. Your donations are desperately needed and appreciated!
Donate on-line:
Donate through a secure internet transaction with a credit card.
Click on the button below.
Humane Euthanasia vs. Slaughter
Some pro-horse slaughter opponents of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act like to equate horse slaughter with humane euthanasia. Nothing could be further from the truth. Horse slaughter is a horrific process that involves immense cruelty and animal suffering. It is not humane euthanasia. To quote Veterinarians for Equine Welfare:
"It is the united opinion of VEW that horse slaughter is inhumane, and that it is an unacceptable way to end a horse’s life under any circumstance. One need only observe horse slaughter to see that it is a far cry from genuine humane euthanasia. From the transport of horses on inappropriate conveyances for long periods of time without food, water of rest to the very ugly slaughter process in which horses react with pain and fear, no evidence exists to support the claim that horse slaughter is a form of humane euthanasia. Rather, it is a brutal process that results in very tangible and easily observable equine suffering.
It is worth noting that the suffering of horses in slaughter is accentuated by the very fact that they are not raised for slaughter. Horses going to slaughter have largely been accustomed to close human contact whether through racing, ranch work, pleasure riding, rodeo or any of the other ways in which horses are used in this country. While some are purposely sold into slaughter by their owners most end up at the abattoir through pure bad luck: they were sold at auction and the winning bidder was a ‘killer-buyer’ working for one of the slaughter plants. To suddenly be treated as pure livestock must be disorienting and frightful, and can only compound their suffering as they proceed to slaughter.
We believe that it is an unethical and dangerous practice for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to attempt to equate horse slaughter with humane euthanasia."
From "Horse Slaughter – Its Ethical Impact and Subsequent Response of the Veterinary Profession", by Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (2008)
Veterinarian-administered euthanasia via chemical injection, on the other hand, brings a peaceful end to life. Normally, a veterinarian can come to the horse’s home so that the animal can be in familiar surroundings with loving caretakers there or nearby. Some vets will pre-sedate the horse before administering a lethal dose of Sodium Pentobarbital, which brings a quick, painless death. After death, the horse’s carcass can be buried (ordinances permitting), transferred to a landfill, rendered or – increasingly – cremated. While cremation can be expensive, the average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized by a veterinarian and its body disposed of is approximately $225 – a virtual drop in the bucket when it comes to the overall expense of keeping a horse. This cost is simply a part of responsible horse ownership.
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