Kid Heroes for Animals - Wise Words from a Teenager About Horse Ownership

Kid Heroes for Animals - Wise Words from a Teenager About Horse Ownership

Alder has some really great advice and wise words about horse ownership and that makes her my next "Kid Heroes for Animals" story!  ~ Declan

Teen Essay: For those who never gave up wanting a pony

• BY ALDER JAKOVAC, 13 

  MENDOCINO K-8 SCHOOL

  March 12, 2015, 4:11PM 

  As posted on The Press Democrat
  
  
  Many of us go through that “I want a pony!” phase. For a lot of us, that dream is never fulfilled. However, there are many horses out in the world who are considered “unwanted” or “extra.” Many of these are perfectly sound, healthy horses. 

  When looking for a horse to buy, many good options are not even considered. Rescue horses are most commonly overlooked. This is because rescue horses are usually believed to have problems. These problems could include the horse not being perfectly sound, having small health problems. The horse could even have trust issues or be spooked easily due to neglect from past owners. Their owners may have been unable to give them proper care, and so they gave them up. There’s a chance that the horse just wasn’t able to perform in the discipline their owner rides in. Sadly, even a small problem like this causes careless owners to send their horses away. 

  Eighty percent of first-time horse owners reportedly get rid of their horse within 5 years. Many of these horses are sent to auctions, and some are purchased by buyers who intend to kill them. Often such buyers can outbid those interested in giving a horse a good home.

  Horses can be saved from such a tragic fate, however. Horse rescues across the United States work hard to save these animals from being slaughtered. Lots of rescue horses are available to adopt for a reasonable price, and it only takes a little research on the Internet to find one near you.

  When considering a horse, you first have to decide if you are ready to take on the responsibility. Owning a horse is a lot of work, but by taking that work on, you gain an amazing friend and companion. Aside from that, you save the life of an innocent animal. 

  Next you have to decide where the animal will stay: on your own property or boarded at a nearby stable. Wherever your new family member is living, make sure to clear up some time in your schedule to spend time with the horse and gain its trust. Depending on the horse’s past and what information the rescue center provides, you may be able to ride the horse after he or she settles in. Even if a horse is not rideable, it is still a great companion for anyone. Just spending time with horses is shown to help people relax and may even lower blood pressure, improving overall health and mood.

  Horses that are not rescued usually end up in the slaughterhouse. Even though horse slaughter has been illegal in the United States since 2008, many horses are sent across the borders to Mexico and Canada, where slaughter is legal. Any horse can be sent to slaughter. Ferdinand, a famous racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby, was sent to Japan in hopes of having better luck in breeding. When only eight of his 247 foals in the United States became stakes winners, he was sent to Japan. 

  What happened to him there is a mystery.

Kid Heroes For Animals- Kind Boy Saves Horse From Slaughter

Kid Heroes For Animals - Kind Boy Saves Horse From Slaughter

Here's another GREAT story for you about a kid hero!  Brandon Heyman saved a horse's life.

I'm so glad another boy cares about the issue of horse slaughter!  ~Declan

Horse saved from slaughter

Kingston, ON, Canada / CKWS TV

CKWS Newswatch

March 06, 2015 06:04 pm

IT’S A 9TH BIRTHDAY BRANDON HEYMAN WILL NEVER FORGET.

IT’S A 9TH BIRTHDAY BRANDON HEYMAN WILL NEVER FORGET. AS NEWSWATCH’S JONNA SEMPLE EXPLAINS, THE KINGSTON-AREA BOY DECIDED TO USE HIS BIRTHDAY MONEY TO MAKE A MIRACULOUS RESCUE.

IT’S EASY TO SEE THE BOND BETWEEN 9 YEAR OLD BRANDON HEYMAN AND HIS HORSE KARAZAN.
HEYMAN HAS GROWN UP AROUND HORSES SO WHEN HE SAW HIS MOM LOOKING AT A HORSE RESCUE WEBSITE, DESIGNED TO SAVE THEM FROM SLAUGHTER, HE HAD AN IDEA.

“I TOLD HIM ABOUT KARAZAN AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE HORSES WHEN THEY DON’T GET A HOME. HE WAS QUITE CONCERNED WITH IT AND I COULD SEE IT WAS WORRYING HIM AND THEN HE JUST KIND OF CAME OUT AND SAID MOMMY YOU CAN USE MY BIRTHDAY MONEY TO PUT TOWARD THE HORSE.”

THE NINE YEAR OLD SAYS IT WAS AN EASY DECISION TO DONATE HIS BIRTHDAY FUNDS TO SAVE THE EX RACE HORSE.

“WELL SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS AN AWESOME GIRL ON THE CAMERA SO I WANTED TO GET HER AND BECAUSE SHE HAS THE SAME COLOUR HAIR AS ME ALMOST.”

“BRANDON’S MOM MJ SAYS THAT IF IT WASN’T FOR HIS GENEROSITY KARAZAN PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE PART OF THEIR FAMILY.”

“SHE WAS THE LAST ONE THAT DIDN’T HAVE A HOME AND SHE PROBABLY HAD ABOUT 15 HOURS LEFT BEFORE SHE WAS GOING OFF TO SHIP AND WHEN HE SPOKE UP AND SAID MOMMY I REALLY, REALLY WANT HER I HAD TO SHUFFLE QUITE QUICKLY TO GET THE FUNDS TOGETHER.”

HEYMAN SAYS HE LOVES TAKING CARE OF KARAZAN AND LOOKS FORWARD TO THE WARMER WEATHER WHEN HE CAN START RIDING HER MORE.  HE’S ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO HELP MORE HORSES IN THE FUTURE.

“IF I GET ENOUGH MONEY I’LL MAKE MY OWN FARM AND GET TONS OF HORSES FROM THE SLAUGHTER AND IF I COULD I WOULD GET MOSTLY EVERYTHING THAT’S IN THE SLAUGHTER SO THAT THEY WOULDN’T DIE.”

A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR A LITTLE BOY, AND A NEW LEASE ON LIFE FOR ONE LUCKY HORSE.  JONNA SEMPLE, CKWS NEWSWATCH – HARROWSMITH.