From: rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca (Ruth Vale)
Subject: Four draft horses condemned in will, was Re: sentementality
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 13:29:18 GMT

In article <Bvnt2A.3pC@knot.ccs.queensu.ca> woit@qucis.queensu.ca (Denise Woit) writes:
>In article <1992O> GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan) writes:
>
>This brings to mind an article I just read in the paper. The headlines said
>something about a guy stipulating in his will that his horses be shot when
>he died. Apparently its been a year since the man died, and the RCMP haven't 
>killed the horses yet, and don't really want to. My first reaction was "good 
>for them", but after reading the article, I saw that it wasn't so clear-cut.
>The following info is from the article.
>
>They are percheron horses. They were used, as apparently most percherons are
>in Newfoundland, to compete in pulling contests. Some believe these contests

Just to bring you up to date.  This happened in New Brunswick, this year.
The judge came down with the final ruling in late August or early Sept.

The RCMP refused to shoot the horses as stipulated in his will.  Said one
officer "We ride horses, we don't shoot them."  Because that condition
couldn't be fulfilled the judge was asked for a ruling on euthanasia.
Because of the outpouring of support from that small community and 
by petition and letter from across Canada, the judge ruled that portion
of the will invalid.

>are cruel, because the horse is hitched to heavier and heavier weights, and
>whipped until they're so exhausted that they can't pull anymore. They win 
>based on weight pulled per pound of horse; thus, it is supposed to be a 
>common practice for people to try to starve weight off a horse before a 
>competition (I know this sounds stupid, but that's what they said.) 

It was this kind of life that the now deceased owner rescued these horses
from.  I can understand his concern although euthanizing four now healthy
young draft horses was overkill, if you'll pardon an awful pun.  They are
currently being looked after and worked very lightly by a neighbour
with support from the nearby village.  (I do wonder how this story
would have come out if the press hadn't got hold of it!)

According to the last news reports read this weekend, the horses are 
owned by the executors.  They want to give them to a nearby historical
village where they will be used in the tourist program.  The village
wants to keep them in the pasture as pets, claiming that they'll be
overworked again.  The manager of the Fredericton historical village
protests, and citing his vet, claims they'll be working about 4-5 hours,
4 days a week, with an hour off at lunch.  The rest of the time, they'll
be in the pasture, the lake :-) or the barn.  

Keep in mind these are four young draft horses.  I agree with the manager
who says that they need to work in order to keep up their health and
prevent boredom and associated vices.  Pasture time needs to be set off
against some human attention and physical effort.  And also, I can't
imagine horses being used as tourist transport being mistreated - there
isn't an operator who would dare risk having a knowledgeable horsey
tourist recognizing poor care and feeding habits.

That's IMHO.

Ruth




-- 
=============================================================================
  I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am
    not sure you realize that what you understand is not what I meant.
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