Whether it is the anonymity of the internet or the corrosive effects of talk radio, communication in all veins of American society is corroding rapidly. The ultimate irony is that the internet makes it possible to learn real horsemanship faster than has been possible since the first human mounted a horse.
It has also become a vehicle for the prevention of learning real horsemanship by the perpetuation of old myths and beliefs that have been leavened with the pure vitriol that passes for debate in society today.
It is appalling to find blogs that showcase such language and attitudes that are viewed by the misguided as authoritative voices on horsemanship. What drives people to spew hatred and call it horsemanship?
Perhaps a significant contributing factor is the lack of accountability that the anonymity of the internet provides. At Mill Swamp Indian Horses we promote the preservation of the rarest of Americas historic horse breeds, the Spanish mustangs of Corolla. We teach natural horsemanship to children as young as five years old. We teach children how to train wild horses and colts. We teach and practice natural horse care which means no stables, no barns, no sugary feeds, no horse shoes, no pasture blankets, and no following of the latest fads in horse care. (The result is perhaps the healthiest and happiest herd of horses in the region.) We ride ponies. We ride them long and we ride them hard. We forcefully advocate against practices that unnecessarily boost the cost of horse ownership beyond the means of working families. We oppose horse slaughter. We support programs that encourage kids to spend more time on their horses and less time preparing for or participating in horse shows.
In short, our entire program is fodder for a wide range of haters who masquerade as caring horseman. We hear from those people, occasionally in language not appropriate for a third grader often used to prop up arguments and beliefs too shallow and simplistic to be believed by a third grader.
We seek the sympathy of no one for being the brunt of such comments. Instead, I am learning to have sympathy for those critics. They challenge my deeply held hope that spending time with horses can make us all better people.
(Lucy, shown above, does not hate anybody, but on the other hand only one of her parents was a donkey.)
2 comments:
Interesting that you mention feeling sympathy for the perverse, haters because I have been self analyzing that exact issue of late. (Yikes!)
You are a better person for it. I used to truly "feel" for others that were so discontented and wrongheaded. Hopefully, I will find my way back.
However, I am "trending" towards feeling less for those I previously viewed as victims. And I think it is precisely because of my new life with horses. For many of the haters have choices - unlike the beautiful, soulful Lucy when she was neglected or the exploited horse going back to a stall without a blue.
Wendy
Well said, Sir. I wish you the best. Unfortunately, the money (greed), stupidity and/or ignorance with a ton of arrogance horse hater crowd is in charge in America. Maybe someday they will find a conscience and treat all living things better than they do now. Until then, we must persevere and be there to clean up the mess that they leave for the planet. Thank you for your efforts. Denise in Virginia...God Bless the equines because they certainly bless us!
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