Guest guest Posted December 1, 2001 Report Share Posted December 1, 2001 I've always wanted to do horse riding, but somehow it has only JUST registered in my head that as a vegan, I should not ride horses... Just wanted to hear from all of you, what do you think? I love working with non-humans, but then again, to love them means not to exploit them...and I guess it would be fair to say that horse riding DOES exploit horses... Welcoming all opinions, including those that would harshly ask me, " And you call yourself vegan???!!! " Thanks! Honor _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2001 Report Share Posted December 2, 2001 > I've always wanted to do horse riding, but somehow it has only JUST > registered in my head that as a vegan, I should not ride horses... Just > wanted to hear from all of you, what do you think? I love working with > non-humans, but then again, to love them means not to exploit them...and I > guess it would be fair to say that horse riding DOES exploit horses... I rode horses for about six years, before I was vegan (I was vegetarian at the time though). I think you'll end up running into more difficulties than just the theoretical aspects -- meaning, what are you going to use for tack? Most saddles, bridles, crops, everything, are made from leather or have leather parts. There may be non-leather equipment out there, but it'll be hard to come across. Then again, you may be okay with using other people's saddles/bridles etc. or buying used ones. It's up to you. :] I own a car made in 1985, bought it used, and it has a leather interior. While I'd prefer it doesn't, I don't feel like less of a vegan or anything when I drive to work in the morning. I'd never buy one new that has leather though. (I also can't afford a new NEW car, so I doubt I'll ever have to worry about it.. ) Horse riding can be dangerous and cruel to the horse, so you'll need to visit plenty of barns and find one that you feel comfortable in. There may also be a horse rescue near you that needs people to exercise the animals. That may not be an option for you until you've more experience, but it's something to keep in mind. And now my own rambling opinion. I have very, very strong feelings about horse *racing*. It's curious how most people look down on greyhound racing, yet thoroughbred racing is still acceptable. PETA has an article on that subject here: http://www.peta.org/mc/facts/fsent5.html Granted, sometimes PETA's facts are accused of being biased, but the number of horses who break their legs while racing is atrocious. Being a big horse geek in my younger days, I know just how common it is, and it's one of those injuries that horses are euthanized for, because recovery is difficult and expensive, and it completely ends the horse's racing career (no more money for the owner). Steeplechasing has many of the same risks, and I guess I don't even need to go into fox hunting. Fox hunting has improved in many places where the fox is now no longer killed at the end of the hunt. Still, that's no reason to go chasing him or her about the woods, the fox doesn't know s/he'll still be alive if the hounds catch up. Gah. People. They do this stuff for fun... I used to ride Saddleseat, which is probably the lowest-impact competitive riding one can do. Saddlebred horses (which I rode) have had a history of cruelty. " Soring " , which is now illegal in the US, though still used, is the practice of putting shoes or chemicals on a horse that cause each step to be painful, which causes the horse to lift their legs higher and produce an exaggerated version of the breed's natural movements. It's a problem with Tennesee Walking horses as well. http://www.ipwhr.org/artsE.html I sure can type a lot. Zounds. I've probably scared you or something. :] That's not my point. I just want you to know what you may encounter. I loved riding horses, and I know some of the horses loved it just as much. Riding can be a wonderful experience. I don't know if I could find a barn now that I'd want to ride at. This may seem really picky, but I just don't like how most horses are kept in stalls for most of the day. They're herd animals who need a lot of space to roam, and keeping them penned up in 10 x 10 stalls or smaller... It just seems mean. Like keeping a dog in a crate and just taking him or her out to exercise. (Which is, um, what animal shelters do, but that's for a different reason.) I guess my advice is to visit lots and lots of stables, talk to the owners about your concerns and see if you can find a place that you like. Most stable owners or horse trainers do care very deeply about their animals, and they should be willing to discuss the aspects of their care with you. - Cheryl, who has probably gone on far too long and in a rather unorganized manner :] ..................................... http://www.pickleflick.com/bean http://www.livejournal.com/~ratties AIM: triceratops bean " I'm melting! Melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2001 Report Share Posted December 3, 2001 sorry to mention this Honor ... but weren't you the one asking about how to lose weight just a wee while ago. i gently suggest, do you think the horse riding could wait until you did? there is always swimming with dolphins instead. > it depends on the pressure the horse is under.... if it was William Shatner, i'd say it was quite a lot of pressure. poor guy really put on the pounds as he got older. beam me up, suprised no one mention RIP George Harrison, if he was not 100% vegan he was real close to it. the cooks for when he was in the studio used to come around to the wholefood shop i worked in to shop. i get the credit for a buckwheat terrine on his last album. [ actually, that was a gross exaggeration to the point of a lie but, hey, it was close to a Beatle as i ever got ]. I cant think of one person more responsible for bring in our way of life to the west with the influences he brought from the east. he stuck with the spiritual/alternative stuff right to the end. makes you wonder how we would have been living if those 4 guys had not done their thing in the 60s. the music was almost secondary. john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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