Love/Hate Mail
A happy ending for one horse
I'm sitting here in my office in tears: I just picked up the Scene while I was out to lunch and read the article re: neglected/abused horses ("All the Starving Horses," March 11). I am affiliated with the Volunteer Equine Advocates, just a simple member with one rescued foster horse, my first ever rescue. I added to my family's herd of four healthy horses back in August '09. I really felt compelled to thank you. There are some really special folks who do horse rescue. I personally have heard the horrors from the VEA board members. These men and women spend every extra minute of time they have going to farms and saving these animals. There is a special place in heaven for these folks.
No matter what the politicians do, what the laws say, no matter what these "horse traders" say, if you love horses, you don't let this happen to these beautiful animals. I wanted to share with you a success story — mine and Whiskey's success story. I probably should not mention which rescue my horse came from, I can't formally adopt him until the former owner's trial is over. But there are happy endings for so many rescue horses. I trail ride with some of them on a regular basis.
I have attached some photos, a couple from the first days at our farm, and a couple more of Whiskey as he's progressed into a beautiful, forever grateful member of my family and trail horse. I was amazed how this nearly starved-to-death, abused horse could come back to life before my very eyes. My friends are his saving angels. They removed him from a terrible situation, and Whiskey and I chose each other in the paddock of a vet's office where he was quarantined for four weeks.
Horse people are a special breed, and when you love the animal, they are so much more than "livestock." Your article in this week's Scene was very touching. I'm new to rescue, but my heart belongs to the horses. So thank you again for making this topic your cover story.
Cindy Gray — Nashville
HSUS to the rescue
Thank you for presenting the article "All the Starving Horses," in the Nashville Scene (March 11). When this case came into the public, I was shocked, and disturbed that people could treat their animals this way. I am so happy that the HSUS stepped in and got the support they needed to help these creatures, and thank you for making it even more public, as I know that the Nashville Scene is read by many.
Again, I just wanted to say thank you for doing such a great job, and I hope that it will open many people's eyes up to the pain and suffering of all living creatures.
Anna VanEaton — Nashville
A special message for the Farm Bureau
I'm writing in regards to the story by Christine Kreyling ("All the Starving Horses," March 11). When I first saw this report on the news it made me absolutely sick to my stomach. I know this happens all over the world on any given day but this year, in Tennessee it's happened quite often. I don't know what individuals can do to help in support of the Sontany / Ketron bill but please don't let this fall from your radar. I live in the Sylvan Park area of town and have a neighbor who chains his dog to a tree and never, ever attends to him. The dog barks constantly and never has food or water. I've called Metro several times and not once have they done anything.
I don't understand people sometimes. The cruelty and abuse that they project onto their animals is inexcusable, and pardon my language but F the Farm Bureau. I would love to give Mr. Upchurch a piece of my mind. He and his band of soulless bureaucrats should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. I implore you once more ... stay on top of this story.
Chris DiCroce — Nashville
Mild disagreement
I read with interest the recent article named above — your reporter did a great job laying out all the issues with respect to a topic (horse welfare) I am very interested in ("All the Starving Horses," March 11). I do have two points of clarification I would like to make about the article.
1. Slaughter of horses for human consumption is NOT illegal in the U.S. It does not occur now because a) the USDA removed funding for their inspectors, without which no meat can legally be sold, and b) the existing plants closed when it appeared that the USDA ban would stick, and their owners expanded their operations across the border(s). (Much to the relief of the communities where the horse slaughter plants were located, because they had seriously polluted the land, air and water in the vicinity.)
2. Aged horses do NOT have to be ribby and swaybacked; that is a myth. If an old horse is thin nowadays, it is because it is not getting good enough care. Aged horses do need attention to their teeth and their specific nutrition, but there is no reason old horses can't be round and robust. My 33-year-old horse was in very good flesh till the day he died — because I took good care of him (I'm not rich, either — it is a matter of paying attention and making appropriate choices). As for swaybacks, that's not connected with poor feeding, just hard work of certain types performed over time by an animal that is genetically predisposed to developing the condition. It's not necessarily painful, either.
Again, thank you for this article, and I wish you success with your publication.
Judith Vanderkay — Brookline, Mass.
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