BBC2 HORSE PEOPLE - PLEASE RING THE BBC AND COMPLAIN

I don't believe for one minute the entire slaughter ritual was shown; it was obviously editted and almost certainly took a lot longer than the few minutes shown. We used to have some pretty barbaric traditions involving horses and through education and learning have evolved. It is a shame people whose living depends on horses don't show some respect when despatching them. Absolutely horrible. Why anyone would want to congratulate or condemn the BBC is beyond me, although if showing this gets these men to change their slaughter methods, I might thank the BBC.
 
I agree with Lucretia and I didn't see the programme but there does seem to be a trend on these documentaries of being as shocking as they can and pushing the boundaries. I don't see the need at all. I don't see why they would have felt it was necessary to show the horse being killed in what sounds like an horrific way (again, glad I didn't see it).

I certainly would not want to see the one about bullfighting at all. Tradition or not, it is not necessary as entertainment these days and I don't see how they can justify killing an animal in the name of 'fun'!
 
I did read your comments properly, I haven't had a go at you nor replied directly to you so why you think I'm targetting you in particular I don't know.
My beef is with the idea that we should complain because we don't like something and that it should be censored - complain about what, exactly? That we didn't like graphic scenes depicting an actual event? You didn't have to watch the whole thing, you were able to turn over. I don't think it was portrayed that graphically; the angle was from behind the horse and not directly in front of her. If they wanted to, they could have filmed the front of the horse and shown the axe hitting her from there, which would have been much more graphic. As it was, I thought they did it quite well, you could see what was happening but not close up and there was no blood or anything else visible.
I never said you had a problem with another people's culture, either
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You are the one now resorting to snide comments at me, when I haven't replied to you in particular nor made any personal comments about you or anyone myself.
 
Eh? The animal was killed because it was to be eaten, not for fun. The documentary was far from sensational; it showed it like it is. Animal welfare is low on the agenda where extreme poverty and a hard life are the norm; they snared hares and trapped foxes, too. I am glad they showed such a terrible end to the horse's life, because now maybe someone will show these people, who clearly care about horses, that there may be alternative ways that are not so horrific.
 
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Eh? The animal was killed because it was to be eaten, not for fun. The documentary was far from sensational; it showed it like it is. Animal welfare is low on the agenda where extreme poverty and a hard life are the norm; they snared hares and trapped foxes, too. I am glad they showed such a terrible end to the horse's life, because now maybe someone will show these people, who clearly care about horses, that there may be alternative ways that are not so horrific.

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well said Sooty
 
I didn't see this programme but your description alone made me sick to my stomach and if an outcry does anything to change the way these people dispatch their animals it can only be a good thing.

I do fear though that animal welfare is never going to improve, even views from some on here are tolerant to cruelty just because its a different cultural way of doing things. Maybe we should club together and buy them a bl@@dy gun.

I mean the Brook are changing the mindset of others in different countries and clearly there is work to be done.
 
I cried my eyes out and felt awful, i know its how they live and they have to make money to live, that the horses are well cared for etc but i honestly thought the horse was going to be shot, even my hubby had tears in his eyes watching it and i had to look away, it really upset me, i did hear the warning at the beginning but i kinda 'had' to watch it because i wanted to know how they live etc.
the other thing that i was wondering about was the fact that they kill horses before they get old, i wonder what old is to them???
 
Sooty, am not sure if you 'fun' comment was directed back at me but if so then I was not connecting that with this programme but one of the instalments in the series is covering bullfighting which, as far as I am aware is still carried out due to tradition and for entertainment and is not necessary to the survival of those who take part.

I am well aware in the programme shown last night the horse was killed to effectively make full use of it - ie meat and skin. However, I do not see the need to show graphic details of it's death and, from what people have said you did see a fair bit.

I think maybe some education for these people could help as it has in other countries where horses and donkeys are a means to a family's livelihood. Maybe a more effective and less seeimngly barbaric method of slaughter could be taught?
 
Im sorry its utterly ridiculous for anyone who didnt see this DOCUMENTARY to comment.

Lets get clinical....

WILD horse, well fed and protected in return for producing meat foals.
After 4 barren years she is chosen as a meat horse.
She is corraled (and escapes once) re corraled and lassoed around the neck at great danger to those within the coral.
She is posted which results in her airway being cut off, she does struggle but succumbs to unconsciousness.
She is priested (JUST AS THOUSANDS OF FISH ARE DAILY BY RECREATIONAL ANGLERS IN THE UK) and then has her heart stopped with a knife.

Its not nice but one heck of a lot quicker and safer than trying to kill her with a gun, a bolt or a slit to the throat all of which would be nigh on IMPOSSIBLE in a wild animal.

You may not like it but its the way it is.

Now if reality is not your thing - dont watch documentaries with warnings on them.
 
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Sorry I don't see where this comment was addressed to you
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Open public forum.

I'll post what I like thanks
 
Well we appear to have watched different documentaries, because the horse I saw having its head chopped at with a axe was perfectly conscious, and the dreadful noise it made as it struggled for breath was horrific. Just because it happens to fish too doesn't make it right! If they can get to her head with an axe, they can get to it with a bolt.
 
You posted a comment under my user name saying you resented my comment therefore I am making the point that it wasn't addressed to you, as I am also entitled to do.

I think you need to take a chill pill, I'm not gonna carry on this silliness.
 
In my view it was semi conscious. However if totally conscious theres no way I would want to stand close enough to it for long enough to line up a bolt or a bullet!

Given the circumstances of life out there I really cant see a safer alternative to the way this is done. I know its a bit odd but I actually found the sight of those hares hanging in snares more shocking.
 
No the death was not great, but compared to some of the slaughter house deaths that are on video, it was far more humane. Prior to this the horse was well cared for, not travelled miles in terrible conditons and then penned up waiting to be shoved into a tight hole and then badly stunned and its throat cut as happens in some of the Mexican horror places.

Whilst some people have said about shooting the horse, they would still have had to rope and then secure her. To attempt to shoot a horse that is not kept still would be far more cruel than the method used.

A crush is just as distressing to a wild animal - remember the recent video of the sanctuary deaths - personally I found that far more distressing than the roping. Whilst strangulation is not nice to watch, at least she was still and not totally aware of her surroundings when the axe was applied so it was done as cleanly as possible. The axe was also quicker than slitting her throat.

I feel the film gave enough information but did not show the actual axe hitting her head which would have been too much.

Personally I feel the film was well balanced but I have shot and butchered birds and animals to eat so maybe am more used to seeing death and butchering.

I wonder if we had seen a wild horse put in a crush and held down to be shot/injected with it rearing and damaging itself, we would have been as offended as the method shown?
 
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OK, I've just watched this and thought it was an excellent program that showed all sides of their life. It was truly touching how close they are to their horses.

As for the scene where the mare is killed, no its not very nice but given their circumstances and how remote they are I think they do it the humanest way they can. And it wasn't actually graphic. You didn't actually see them hitting the horses head and by that time it was practically unconcious. Yes it was graphic afterwards where they were butchering it.... but it was already dead then.

I think a complaint to the BBC would be wholely inappropriate. A really interesting and inciteful piece of TV that wasn't affraid to show all sides to a very different culture.

PS: is it sad that I thought it was really sweet when they were looking at the heads of the old horses that had been their favourites and the guy was saying that he doesn't miss them because they''re not really gone?
 
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You posted a comment under my user name saying you resented my comment therefore I am making the point that it wasn't addressed to you, as I am also entitled to do.


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Sorry but as your post was posted on a PUBLIC FORUM I am entitled to post a reply arent I?

I just cannot understand why you are so up in arms about the programme and you havent even watched it!! Kinda baffles me!
 
Why complain to the BBC if you feel strongly send a petition to the Embassy in London.

Do you buy NZ rugs made in China where they skin dogs alive, cage bears for their bile and support stallion fighting?
 
Well said spaniel. And as far as buying them a gun or showing them a better way to kill their animal, i think their way is a hell of a lot more humane than the way we kill horses for meat-line them up in pens in a totally alien environment and have them panic for however long while they hear the ones infront being shot. Also in this country there are plenty who get neglected before getting to this point. Personaly i think we should sort out our own problems before criticizing traditional methods of other countries. I thought the documentry was great, found it very hard to watch but i chose to watch it and would have been disapointed if i had been rapped up in cotten wool and just shown the carcas-then for all i would have known it could have been ten times worse.
 
Just because something is traditional doesn't make it right, just as two wrongs don't make a right. There is indeed a lot to be said for putting our house in order, but that doesn't mean we should turn a blind eye to other countries' practices.
 
I agree totally Sooty and thats one of the reasons Im really glad I didnt avert my eyes or give up altogether when it became apparent what was coming next.
 
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Im sorry its utterly ridiculous for anyone who didnt see this DOCUMENTARY to comment.

Lets get clinical....

WILD horse, well fed and protected in return for producing meat foals.
After 4 barren years she is chosen as a meat horse.
She is corraled (and escapes once) re corraled and lassoed around the neck at great danger to those within the coral.
She is posted which results in her airway being cut off, she does struggle but succumbs to unconsciousness.
She is priested (JUST AS THOUSANDS OF FISH ARE DAILY BY RECREATIONAL ANGLERS IN THE UK) and then has her heart stopped with a knife.

Its not nice but one heck of a lot quicker and safer than trying to kill her with a gun, a bolt or a slit to the throat all of which would be nigh on IMPOSSIBLE in a wild animal.

You may not like it but its the way it is.

Now if reality is not your thing - dont watch documentaries with warnings on them.

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Well said!
 
I have tried to bite my tongue on this but have to say that I am more apalled by the total ignorance shown in many of the posts relating to the program than anything I witnessed watching it!
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Not sure I can add any more than what has been said by Spaniel (and some others). Fwiw I watched the whole thing start to end - while eating my tea - and remained glued to the tv throughout. I found it fascinating, educational and I wouldn't hesistate to watch another similar program. How people can turn around and say "we need to educate them" when they are to ignorant to be educated themselves on a totally different culture and way of life in extremely difficult conditions is beyond me - fgs, grow up!
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It is possible to shoot wild animals safely. Just look at Africa/USA and any other country that does game shooting - they can bring down deer that are bigger than a horse. Might take a bit longer to get in the right position - but so much safer.

I still think that if they have a nce truck, satalite TV etc then they can afford a gun. The way that they do it know is so dangerous to themselves, it would be very easy for one of them to get seriously injured - which would work out far more expensive than a gun and bullets.
 
I watched the programme and was disturbed by some of what I saw, but that's the way these people survive.

I certainly don't feel compelled to ring the beeb and complain on your behalf. What would be the point of it? If you don't like what you see or hear on TV, just switch the programme off.

I was fascinated to watch an interesting programme and think the programme makers should be praised for producing something out of the ordinary. There are far too many run-of-the-mill repeats on the beeb these days and this was well filmed with good commentary.

Would you rather that they just hadn't shown the horse killing? It would still go on whether you know about it or not. Would you rather live ignorant to the facts about how these people live? Are You personally going to do something to stop these men from living their lives that way? Are you going to send them a herd of cattle and tell them how they must kill them humanely instead of butchering ponies?

btw I also was lying in bed shuddering at the thought of those hooves being dropped into the pan to cook.
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No the death was not great, but compared to some of the slaughter house deaths that are on video, it was far more humane. Prior to this the horse was well cared for, not travelled miles in terrible conditons and then penned up waiting to be shoved into a tight hole and then badly stunned and its throat cut as happens in some of the Mexican horror places.

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Lets not forget that this is completely normal for much of the poultry etc that we eat too....
 
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I have tried to bite my tongue on this but have to say that I am more apalled by the total ignorance shown in many of the posts relating to the program than anything I witnessed watching it!
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Not sure I can add any more than what has been said by Spaniel (and some others). Fwiw I watched the whole thing start to end - while eating my tea - and remained glued to the tv throughout. I found it fascinating, educational and I wouldn't hesistate to watch another similar program. How people can turn around and say "we need to educate them" when they are to ignorant to be educated themselves on a totally different culture and way of life in extremely difficult conditions is beyond me - fgs, grow up!
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Thank you!! This is what I have been trying to say!!
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Short answer. No. Don't complain.
I have only managed to watch portions of the show, because I can't get it to stream properly, and a storm means my connection keeps dying. I am going to try to see the whole thing, buts it's difficult.

I live a few hours drive from the region, and have a Yakut pony. I have met men, similar to those shown, who spend most of the lives living out in the wilderness, looking after their horses, just because it is the only way for them to make money. I have not yet managed to sewe the 'death scene', but if the rest of the show is anything to go by, it is true to life, and true to the culture.

Having one English parent, and one Russian, I am pesonally more sickened by the treatment of English chickens and poultry, than foals, who, lets face it, might die in a brutal way, but live and die in a better way that those in other countries, who have to travel for days and cramped lorries with little food or water. Atleast, IMO, these horses are treated with love and respect.

Until you meet peole like this, and live in the harsh conditions, I don' think you can judge. How far would you go to make money and survive?
 
Sorry i didn't realise a post had already been entered about this in Latest News. I have put a post in New Lounge about this programme too. x
 
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