[pocahontas]

Originally Posted by Beau

The fact is that although you may think that they did, horses did not "pave our way" into America. It was cattle, actually. They pulled the wagons, and broke the ground, provided milk, and sometimes meat. No one on here seems to see anything wrong with the slaughter of cattle, so why horses?

It's a long thread, but I remember reading some posts were come people have a hard time with cattle being slaughtered too.

I think some Europians brought horses over a little bit after we came, which helped pull the wagons, ect?

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by pocahontas

Humans are emotional beings. Emotions are part of us. Emotions can be a part of solutions and/or discussions. Done productlivly, emotions along side logic can be very productive and beneficial.

But emotion does not equal an answer.

You say: "But I feel it is wrong." (emotion)
I say: "Why" (need facts)

You say: "I hate that horses are used for food." (emotion)
I say: "Why" (need facts)

You say: "It is inhumane" (emotion)
I say: "Why" (need facts)

See, this is why emotion is not conducive to a good argument/debate. Solutions are not found through emotion, they are found through logic researched because of emotion.

[Sandra-A1]

While I will agree that the horse has a place in this countries past...I do feel that it has been over romanticized. That is not to say that horses did not play a part in the USA's history....only that that part was not as big as that of the other animals.
For example... Oxen pulled more wagons and plows and were more useful than the horse. Yet, even though the reality is that Oxen were found to work best....most of the movies and TV shows you see have horses in the harness.

What animal would pull the emigrant's covered wagons? That question was hotly debated among the Oregon-bound pioneers.
Horses were quickly rejected because they could not live off prairie grasses along the way. As a result, most of the emigrants decided on oxen. They were strong; could live off grass or sage; and were less-expensive.

Farmers often castrated their bull calves and trained them for field work. Stronger than horses in terms of pulling strength, oxen were also more resistant to disease and consumed less grain, at least according to some farmers.

Oxen were a common sight along the Santa Fe Trail. The depiction of these large beasts trudging across the plains is synonymous with western life and our transcontinental legacy.

The early Spanish settlers of the Southwest had brought with them long horned cattle, descendants of Moorish cattle once bred upon the pampas of North Africa and Andalusia. Later, the Americans would introduce northern European blood into these herds.

Now as for the Pony Express:

Most people believe the Pony Express lasted a long time but it was only in operation for a short 19 months 2 weeks and 3 days -- April 3,1860 to November 20, 1861.

As for Wars....

We all know about canines, those in uniforms, as war dogs or search dogs who rescued hundreds and their mascot cousins, but there were many other animals, who also served!

Everything from horses, mules, donkeys, pigeons, elephants, camels, oxens, cows, reindeers, mice, even the lowly spider were drafted into the military of both the allies and axis powers during World War II.

[Blistering Winds]

Yep.....my husband's grandmother has journals from her ancestors from coming across the plains.

They did have horses. None made it through the treck. They died for some reason or another. Injury, illness, starved. They just couldn't hack it. Last time we were up to see his grandmother, I was flipping through them. I keep telling her she needs to donate them to a museum. She said when she's dead and gone, we can if we wanted to.

The oxen pulled the heavy wagons, much more reliable and lasted longer overall.

Even right now, here in the panhandle....cattle will outlast the horses on the poor pastures. My neighbor just hauled off 3 of his horses that were pastured on 3000 acres. All because there isn't enough to eat. Cattle, for some reason, are still kickin. Not very well, but they can live off of DIRT I swear!

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by pocahontas

Humans are emotional beings. Emotions are part of us. Emotions can be a part of solutions and/or discussions. Done productlivly, emotions along side logic can be very productive and beneficial.

Or, as in this case, they can be destructive and hindering.

[i_luv_moth]

Originally Posted by Lou3

They've never missed that I have seen or heard.

Me either. But i've only been there once or twice and just heard the gun. My instructor told me to "f" off unless i wanted to see it(hard man he is!lol).

I'm not sure if they use the captive bolt gun. Like i said,i've only heard of the gun and only been there when they used the gun.

[BornToRide]

when you go online and find bull**** videos they are trying to make people feel bad about what is happening if your going to complain about it i suggest you actually go and see it. they put things on websites to make it look the worst do you know how easily a movie can be minipulated or how easy people can pay to make videos that discusting ? and for the letters you have written the last one is not better then the frist. your wasting your time. i highly doubt they even read the leters. nothings going to get done about it. its something that needs to be done

[pocahontas]

Originally Posted by Lou3

Or, as in this case, they can be destructive and hindering.

Yes, but I have met some real great caring, emotional and nonselfish people who are picking up the pieces from destructive people in this area of topic.

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by pocahontas

Yes, but I have met some real great caring, emotional and nonselfish people who are picking up the pieces from destructive people in this area of topic.

The destructive people ARE the ones injecting emotion into the topic. Its difficult for anyone to get across actual facts when someone is just saying "dont kill the pretty horsies its mean and nasty" as has been the case for a good part of this thread.

[Equine_Harmony]

Originally Posted by Lou3

Oh please they CHARGE you to dispose of your horse at the hunt kennels so no-one istrying to make money. I_luv_moth is absolutely right, you know NOTHING about the situation. You consistantly say that the captive bolt gun is not humane when it is MORE humane than euthanasia by barbituate overdose. If you dont know the facts dont jump down the throat of those that do.

Lou3,

Your studing to be a Vetenarain? Your client's would bring in pets and such to be Euthanized, so I was wondering how you would deal with this? I asume you wanting to take on this as a career, you must love animals...Just a Q here, nothing more to it. I have had pets put to sleep throughout my life, nothing ever went wronmg, thiough I don't doubt people when they seen this first hand , gone wrong. I did get to my Uncle who is a Veternarain, it it is done right, all should be fine. He is for slaughter of the horse too, feels that it is humane, I did ask him what is more humane he said Euthanaisa, but that is his out look as well as dealing for 32 years in practice.


I would like to add that I should not have fed this thread with raw, realism from what I was told, it did nothing but fed the people's hearts who are againsts this, for that I am sorry. I am sorry for my last post too. I wished that this animal did not have to be slaughtered, yes I know that from all I have been told, he as too, and this is something that I am torn about.

With respect,
Tammy