Horseback Riding and Animal Rights: Can They Ever Be in Harmony?
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Horseback Riding and Animal Rights:
Can They Ever Be in Harmony?
Comments by: Lisa - 18 Jan 2006

Thanks, all

As to the horse issue, the thing that's been raised on the other list is the use of bits. this is the thing I had never considered, but it does seem cruel now that I think about it. I've pretty much decided I'll never ride (not that I ever do!), due to the use of the bit. I guess I've had my consciousness raised :)

I had friends in Iowa--members of the Humane Society board with me--who truly loved their horses, and traveled all over to seminars on training techniques that were not cruel to the animals (Monty Roberts, Parelli Training, that sort of thing). So I think one can love horses and ride them, but now that I think about the use of bits, it is problematic for me.

But Steve is right. In fact, his mention of farmers who raise chickens humanely hits close to home, because the CSA I belong to includes free-range chickens who are truly free-range (I have to wait for them to move out of the way before I can drive up the lane), and loved by the farmers. One particular hen and I have become friends, and I take her birdseed when I go to get my veggies. To throw these good folks in the same category with those who run factory farms would be needlessly unkind.

And of course, with animal products hidden in so many foods and other items, NO ONE is doing this perfectly, no matter how hard we try. I pointed out on the other list that this isn't a contest to see who can be the most vegan. It's about the animals, not us. If not, we've got a problem.

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