ridecamp@endurance.net: 03:ridecamp-d Digest V97 #449

03:ridecamp-d Digest V97 #449

ridecamp-d-request@endurance.net
17 Jul 97 17:36:52 +0100

> for
> NBC, I know THEY will listen) - then where will our reputation and
> marketing go??..."

I believe I once stated that this is precisely what we need to help the
horses. Although I was only partially serious at the time, I have been
thinking about possibilities if this type of activity is made public.
There has been a long discussion on the Foxhunters List concerning PETA
and their "goal:" of eliminating the use of animals by people. Initially
PETA will protest the obvious abuses and cruelties toward animals and
then step by step work toward its goal. Whether or not this is true (and
certainly individual members of organizations like PETA do not all
subscribe to such goals), can you imagine what will happen if PETA and
similar organizations decide to campaign against the Arabian horse
industry, the show industry, the keeping of horses for human pleasure ,
RIDING (gasp!) horses. PETA and similar organizations could certainly
discourage the recreational public from even considering an
involvement in horses. Sound far-fetched? The general population is
inclined to believe that horse ownership is elitist and doesn't
concern them. They do not understand the horse-human relationship and
many would be pleased to see such a classist hobby come to an end. The
success of the anti-foxhunting campaign is proof that determination can
achieve this. Regardless of how one may feel about hunting, the public's
willingness to outlaw or limit a traditional horse sport and
traditional rural country pursuits is a reminder of what can happen
when the public is moved by a determined agenda.
I shudder to think what could happen if the show world's dirty little
secrets hit the airwaves. I'm still getting fall out from the "sand
man" horse killings. I can just see someone in PETA planning a course of
attack: "We must ban horse shows because of - Tennessee walking horses,
hunter/jumpers, Arabians..."
ugly scenario. We'd better clean up this up before someone else takes a
bash- then keeps going.


> >>
FOLKS, This came over another list and I thought you should be aware of this.
Considering the impact of loss of public support for riding trails, etc., I
think we should each me moved to do what we can NOW to weed out abuse where
we see it, since these people have already been on the backs of endurance
riders before.
san

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