Horse: Pet or Commodity...

Horse: Pet or Commodity...

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dominobrown

dominobrown

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Due to a flurry of recent posts I pose a question for you...

Horse were and still are in many cases 'working' animals that must earn their keep. Personally I don't have a problem with this.
 
Pets to some, commodity to others :) Either is fine with me :D

I live in Hungary and even not far outside the capital you can see horses pulling carts. Sometimes with foal at foot!!!!! They really do work for a living.
 
Mine are pets but I have no issue with them being a commodity to people. I probably won't keep either of them their whole lives. In fact I'm really quite sure I won't so I suppose they're pets at the moment but they'll become commodities when I need the money from selling them.
 
Intersting, one person thinks horses should be pets...
any others?

I posted this thread because I beleive the pet/commodity discussion is often what some people find upsetting in terms of top riders and their horses. Everyone will have a good rant about the GN or Badminton, but when it comes to why, discussion seems to fall flat on it's face. hmmm...
 
dominobrown said:
Intersting, one person thinks horses should be pets...
any others?

I posted this thread because I beleive the pet/commodity discussion is often what some people find upsetting in terms of top riders and their horses. Everyone will have a good rant about the GN or Badminton, but when it comes to why, discussion seems to fall flat on it's face. hmmm...
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I put that they should be pets, in an ideal world they would be! I do accept though that they are commodities to some although I would prefer them not to be thought of that way!
 
if they were purely pets there wouldnt be the equine hobby/leisure/pleasure industry that there is.

those lobbying for racing to be banned, be careful what you wish for...
 
I like the old fashioned way where on every farm or small holding every animal had to earn it's keep - with a loyal retirement home for the oldies. If we lose sight of the fact they are commodities we're detatching the species from its history & past to a degree, but maybe this is my farming blood speaking.

I'm not sure about keeping an animal as a pet that is young but can't work or be bred from. I've never been in that situation, so can't say what I'd do.

It's a sign of the wealth of the western world whereby we have the luxury of treating them as pets I guess. Probably seems a bit wrong to those who have experienced poverty, the same as the way our cats & dogs are treated is inconceivable to some.
 
I can't afford a horse as a pet!!!!!! I've got a cat for that.

I keep it warm & fed in winter... it wins me a few quid in summer for my sherry. I think that's a good deal between girl & beast...
 
I don't see any difference between one animal and another in the way we should think of them. You either love animals or you don't. (not addressed to anyone in particular).

My horses and dogs are pets.
 
Wagtail said:
I don't see any difference between one animal and another in the way we should think of them. You either love animals or you don't. (not addressed to anyone in particular).

My horses and dogs are pets.
Click to expand...

What about farmers with hundreds of sheep/cows. They can't all be pets surely?
 
tallyho! said:
I can't afford a horse as a pet!!!!!! I've got a cat for that.
Click to expand...

Ditto!
I keep a horse because I like to ride. If I decided to give up riding I would sell as to me horses are too expensive and too much work to keep as a pet.

I don't think the horse cares either way as long as they are well looked after.
 
What about farmers with hundreds of sheep/cows. They can't all be pets surely?


No, but every now and then they get a soft spot for one of them that "they will never sell" or "be on the farm for life" so it's the same with farmers...some are pets and others are commodities!

I personally have a pet...border line field ornament!! Yes he wins a few quid at shows in the summer but I do shows, ride, groom etc to be with him and when he gets too old to do these things then he'll spend his time being pampered in retirement not sold or pts because he's unable to make me money or be ridden anymore!
However, like anything there are people who make money out of horses and that's all they are to them...that's fine as long as they are looked after while they are with them.
 
I have a horse who is a "pet" at the moment in the truest sense of the term. He's nearly two and does nothing but give cuddles in return for his keep. At the moment that's a fair deal. When he's older he will become a commodity as he earns his keep by being ridden. If he turns out to be as good as I think he will be then he will go to a professional eventer. Then he will be a commodity albeit a very pampered one. When he can no longer work he will be a pet for the rest of his days as he owes me nothing and I owe him everything. I don't have a problem thinking of him as a commodity, it doesn't mean I love him any less!
 
I am not a very sentimental person, though my main horse is with me until he pops his clogs, regardless of what happens. I could of sold him and I still plan to compete him etc, though sometimes I have the odd horse I but to sell. To me I will treat it the same as the others but it is a commodity only to me, and because I am selling it I don't feel the same attachment to it. At work a lot of horses come and go and they are still treated well but are commodities. If you look at nearly all racing yards and top riders yards the horses are commodities (with a few exceptions of course). I think this is why they are expected to event/ jump/ race etc at that level, they are not there for the cuddles, and this is what some people have a problem with. Can you run a equine business and think of the horses as pets??

p.s Those who compared it to farming (i think you made so really good points as well)- traditionally horses were working animals and its really quite recent the idea of horses as pets has come about, in the 1920's/30's and even later, horses were not considered pets, but working animals. Obvs this has changed, but is it for the better?
 
My two are currently "pets" and have been for over a year now, due to pregnancy and not being able to ride, as they're a bit tricky and don't fancy falling off here, alone at home with a baby and a phone with no signal!! Hoping to bring them back into work this summer, (as my mum will be off work so can babysit) especially the tb as he loves it and if I can go out and compete again it will be a bonus, but if not I will just potter about on them in my menage (hacking's lethal around here)!! They're with me for life, ridden or not!!
 
I look after and care for my horses like I would any pet, I love them and get attached like I do my dogs.. however keeping horses is purely a hobby and a very expensive one at that so I know chances are the horses I have now wont be with me for the rest of their life. When one is no longer suitable I dont feel bad to sell and get something new.. they are expensive pets to keep so I need to be getting everything I want out of them.

I dont see any problem with them being a commodity providing they are well cared for :)
 
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