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The last time I rode I got dumped off a barn-sour mare onto a big pointy rock and displaced the joint between the ischium and the illium (a common "broken pelvis" and one that got treated by a week's bed rest, and set me up for sciatic pain for the rest of my life). I have more cow-related injuries: my first shoulder dislocation was from a big holstein in the show ring. Of course my worst all-body damage was from a wooden corral panel falling on me, and I partially dislocated my left hip this winter due to a bad combination of a frozen watering trough and a random loop of barbed wire, but both of those stories need hand gestures to tell properly.
No matter how domesticated they are, they are and will always be dangerous.
is absolutely true, although I'm also with CR about the necessity and humanity of culling particularly mean or especially stupid animals: when the tamest and most intelligent ones can do so much damage by rare accident, there's no reason to keep the ones that try to hurt you a'purpose, or are always freaking out at the smallest breeze. I don't ever go into the field in the summer without knowing exactly where the bull is and how I can get away from him if I need to; I don't approach a new calf if its mother is at all nervous about me doing so. When I get my weaned wether lamb late next month or early July, he's not getting a drop of water nor a bit of food for at least a week which is not from my hands or lead to on a lead I hold (which will mean a whole lot of personal contact and getting up very early) because over the years we've determined that the best relationship between us and our animals is mutual respect and gratitude, along with a good dose of caution on the human's part.
Which is why, when the rooster crowed right behind me on Sunday morning, my first thought was "oh, dear, I didn't bring any chicken treats."
Oh I agree 100% that sme animals are not to be trusted at all! Ive dealt with my fair share of rank horses, and I do mean rank. See a person attack said person, no matter what. There are just some that do not need to be kept around. Wether dangerous, or kept around just because you can afford to keep them...
Like the situation I was in last fall. I took in two 30+ year old mares from a local rescue, both had severe medical issues requiring meds that costed over $200 a month. Gave them a comfortable last couple months of their lives, then did what the rescue and previous owners would not do. I lovingly let them go. Just because you can afford to keep a horse around, doesnt mean you should.
That is a very honorable and decient thing to do!! And what an old horse needs when it's time! I have an old man (horse he...he...
) that I absolutely LOVE I am so afraid one day I will walk out and he will be gone, it makes me tear up just thinking about it, he is such a good horse a rescue of course and an Arab and he has been the best guy, ( jeez I can't even see to write!!) I hate getting old!
he was my first Arab, and like a lot of QH people, I thought uh oh!!! but, I believe he is Polish or a cross, cause he has a brain, knows how to use it and keeps going till he just can't! AWESOME horse!! Good for you Cheryl!
