Issue link: http://kathy-ralph.uberflip.com/i/497737
My farm is truly blessed © Kathy Ralph 2011 Animals are God's Pets I used to love horse racing, Trotting too? You bet! Until, I finally woke up and commenced my close relationship with horses. Who are these fine animals that do man's bidding and run tirelessly for golden coins? As I looked deeply into their beautiful brown eyes I saw a soul that should be free. I thought their hearts must surely ache to do just what horses do. So, I decided that I would try to free my two from the slavery they had been born into. That is, free them as much as one can these days within the constraints of the 21st century. People ask me if I ride my horses. When I reply that I don't any more, I am often asked "Then what are they for?" All I can say is "I'm looking after God's Pets until he comes for them. Would you like to help me? Come on, we'll get some carrots and go say hello." They are now retired on my farm and spend their days grazing and playing together as horses like to do. There is no regime to follow, no straps upon their backs. Well, they are as free as I can make them without abandoning them. Oh yes, they still like to be brushed and fed twice every day. Unfortunately one can't entirely take away all the habits of living in captivity. Call me a softy or anything else you wish, but I couldn't help wondering how Lulu felt when taken from her stall, saddled up, an unknown tiger mounted upon her back and whipped to run faster than she either could or wanted to. As for Buddy I attempted to imagine what it must have been like to be shackled with chaffing leather, forced to choose an unnatural gait and then run faster than he could or wanted to. When these animals can't keep up the pace they are cast off, or sent to another master often tougher than the first. Worse still, some are sent for dog food. How these kind and gentle animals haven't revolted against us I have no idea. When we do these things to humans it's called torture. When we incarcerate another person it's called prison. When we take a person from their families it's called kidnapping, or violation of human rights. When we put them to work with no payment for their labour, it's called slavery. Not so for the noble horse. Horses are herd animals, and are built to graze all day. They become stressed if they