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Re: [RC] [RC] Canadian Slaughter - Barbara McCrary

Re-read Heidi's last line.  How very true!  And Ed Hauser's post before
hers.  I cringe to think of our society legislating everything that is
unsavory to others.  If it were left up to my opinion, there would be no
tobacco and no liquor.  Do you see how many feet would be stepped on by
legislation of that sort ?  Many of our freedoms are already eroded (ever
tried to secure the right to build yourself a house in CA?); let's not add
to the problem.  People follow popular consensus far better than they follow
laws.  The trick is making breeding of unwanted animals a popular issue.

Barbara

----- Original Message -----
From: "Heidi Smith" <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "terry banister" <terrybanister@xxxxxxxxxxx>;
<seamstob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Canadian Slaughter



I have always wondered  why can't we regulate backyard/irresponsible
breeding? Why can't we require a license to breed and a severe fine for
keeping uncastrated male animals (horses, dogs and cats)?

What constitutes "backyard?"  Who is  to be the judge of that?  In my
experience, most of the truly responsible breeding is being done by
smaller
breeders who take a personal interest in what they do and in the animals
that they produce.  A significant number of unwanted horses come from the
"big" breeders who have a few stellar individuals in the show ring--and
who
have the resources and the callous attitude to throw away a hundred foals
to
get one "stellar" extreme oddball for the show ring.  As for fining those
who keep intact males--it doesn't take very many males to get a large
number
of females in foal.  It is limiting the number of females that reproduce
that controls the population.  Furthermore, once again, it is the smaller
breeder who has done his/her homework who would be impacted by what you
suggest--the ones who try to carefully produce a few quality horses, often
on a pretty tight budget.  And simply eliminating males from the gene pool
is a great way to destroy the diversity of a gene pool as well.  Talk to
some of the knowledgeable equine geneticists about this approach--it
really
curls their hair.

So what would you do with the preservation breeders like me?  I have 12
intact male horses on the place.  I don't breed that many foals in a year.
Furthermore, I know the whereabouts of almost all of the foals I've bred
over the past 30+ years--and a significant number of them are/were loved
riding horses of caring owners.  And I am not unique--many others have
done
their homework and understand the importance of gene conservation and
genetic diversity, many others work hard to ensure quality offspring and
take the responsibility to place them in suitable homes, etc.  Too often
it
is people that simply don't understand what it takes to responsibly breed
good horses/dogs/whatever that want to license/fine breeding out of
existence.  While it is noble to want to adopt rescues, etc., for those
who
want to actually ride or compete with their horses, there simply are not
enough of the "throw-away" variety that have the traits necessary to do
the
job.  Yes, we all have heard of the occasional sterling individual that
has
become a superstar after being rescued--but the reality is that the vast
majority of the horses who go to slaughter are NOT suitable as riding
horses.

Bottom line--you can't legislate morality.

Heidi


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Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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Replies
Re: [RC] [RC] Canadian Slaughter, terry banister
Re: [RC] [RC] Canadian Slaughter, Heidi Smith