Killing a horse is not murder!

Equi

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2010
Messages
13,376
Visit site
Because "murder" is an emotive word. It has certain connotations associated with it (violent, harrowing, undignified etc).

The killing of livestock, be it for whatever reason, is not murder. You can call it "slaughter" or "destruction" if you want to use emotive terminology; though "culling" would probably be more correct.

Personally slaughter is more emotive to me than murder. Even in news the word slaughter trumps murder.
 

Rhodders

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2013
Messages
491
Location
Wales
Visit site
perhaps murder was the wrong word to use, but to me a life is a life, and to even consider euthanasia as a method of solving an issue of an unwanted foal before all other avenues have been investigated is a bit shocking. In all honesty it's not so much the pts of the foal but the poor mares grief that upsets me
 

FionaM12

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 August 2011
Messages
7,357
Visit site
perhaps murder was the wrong word to use, but to me a life is a life, and to even consider euthanasia as a method of solving an issue of an unwanted foal before all other avenues have been investigated is a bit shocking. In all honesty it's not so much the pts of the foal but the poor mares grief that upsets me

If "a life is a life" to you, does that mean you never eat meat or dairy products, or use leather goods? Or for that matter kill insects or parasites? I'll bet you discriminate between which lives it's morally okay to take. ;)

But I still think the OP's point is about language, not morals. :)
 

cptrayes

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 March 2008
Messages
14,749
Visit site
perhaps murder was the wrong word to use, but to me a life is a life, and to even consider euthanasia as a method of solving an issue of an unwanted foal before all other avenues have been investigated is a bit shocking. In all honesty it's not so much the pts of the foal but the poor mares grief that upsets me

I absolutely take your point about the mare's grief, but the reality is that as far as the foal goes, saving one unwanted foal just means that another one somewhere else will be going to an abattoir.
 

_GG_

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 August 2012
Messages
9,037
Location
Gloucester
Visit site
I absolutely take your point about the mare's grief, but the reality is that as far as the foal goes, saving one unwanted foal just means that another one somewhere else will be going to an abattoir.

If it's lucky...which most aren't because some doo gooder "rescues" it for a tenner at the sales. There are far far worse fates than death.
 

ridefast

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 June 2010
Messages
1,826
Visit site
The mares grief having a foal pts would be no more than having a stillborn, providing the mare is allowed to see the body and determine that the foal is dead.
 

Pinkvboots

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2010
Messages
21,917
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
I absolutely take your point about the mare's grief, but the reality is that as far as the foal goes, saving one unwanted foal just means that another one somewhere else will be going to an abattoir.

Sad but true:( going back to subject your not a murderer if you choose to have a horse pts for whatever reason, people might not like it but you cant go round calling them murderers its crazy.
 

Annagain

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 December 2008
Messages
15,590
Visit site
Legally , killing a horse - not PTS I hasten to add but killing, much like the poor horse who was (allegedly) shot by the livery owner, is criminal damage so it's certainly not murder in the eyes of the law.
 

Rhodders

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2013
Messages
491
Location
Wales
Visit site
If "a life is a life" to you, does that mean you never eat meat or dairy products, or use leather goods? Or for that matter kill insects or parasites? I'll bet you discriminate between which lives it's morally okay to take. ;)

But I still think the OP's point is about language, not morals. :)

grow up. I just don't think because I'm human I have more rights than anyone else and I would never squish a bug, why would I, what would give me the right to do that.
 
Last edited:

Rhodders

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2013
Messages
491
Location
Wales
Visit site
Sad but true:( going back to subject your not a murderer if you choose to have a horse pts for whatever reason, people might not like it but you cant go round calling them murderers its crazy.

Of course it's crazy - of course horses, dogs, cats etc need to get pts all the time, this was originally a post having a dig at me because I used the wrong word to describe having a not yet born foal pts because it was a bogof and not wanted
 

FionaM12

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 August 2011
Messages
7,357
Visit site
Of course it's crazy - of course horses, dogs, cats etc need to get pts all the time, this was originally a post having a dig at me because I used the wrong word to describe having a not yet born foal pts because it was a bogof and not wanted

It's not "crazy" because animals need to be pts. It's crazy because even if they were cruelly and illegally killed, murder is the wrong word....
 

FionaM12

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 August 2011
Messages
7,357
Visit site
Rhodders, I was making a perfectly sensible, polite and mature point. But I give up. Never mind, at least your response gave me a laugh. :D
 

Rhodders

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2013
Messages
491
Location
Wales
Visit site
It's not "crazy" because animals need to be pts. It's crazy because even if they were cruelly and illegally killed, murder is the wrong word....

yee gods everyones getting the wrong end of the stick, I give up, of course I agree with putting a suffering animal to sleep
 

*hic*

village idiot :D
Joined
3 March 2007
Messages
13,989
Visit site
grow up. I just don't think because I'm human I have more rights than anyone else and I would never squish a bug, why would I, what would give me the right to do that.

yee gods everyones getting the wrong end of the stick, I give up, of course I agree with putting a suffering animal to sleep

Soooo, if a mosquito bit you you'd be more likely to have yourself put to sleep as the suffering animal than trying to squish the mosquito in case it bit you again?
 

Mince Pie

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 June 2011
Messages
9,760
Visit site
whilst not a cheerful thought, the OP in the original post was IMO right to consider PTS an option as she could not guarantee the foal a quality of life for a long period of time.

with un known breeding and lack of facilities stacked against it, the little mite had a low chance of finding a long term loving home in a world where even well bred and pro produced youngsters are going for a pittance.

there are worse fates than a clean quick death and some people need to wake up and grow up.

I'm sorry but I'm with PS on this one, I feel the same about dogs too. Whether we like it or not there are thousands of unwanted animals in this country, most of them end up in terrible homes - what is worse to you, a quick painless death or years of suffering and abuse...? I can see the point of people breeding top class competition horses, or working dogs that will have a purpose, but the average, low end foals that are out there face an uncertain future - most go to the meat man.
 

Fun Times

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 January 2014
Messages
1,301
Visit site
I don't necessarily agree that language is so fixed and rigid - yes, there are dictionary definitions of every word but do we always use them in the correct manner? No, because we are not perfect and many of us are a tad prone to over dramatisation. For example, having had the unpleasant experience of watching x-factor the other week, I definitely was of the view that some of the contestants "murdered" their chosen song and my yardowner who suffers from bad knees has on more than one occassion announced that they are "murdering" her. How often have we stated that we are "freezing"or "starving"? But are we really? Clearly an incorrect use of the term on each occassion, but quite a common habit. And whilst I believe that to be forgivable in the context of non emotive or fairly "irrelevant" subjects, I think purposefully using incorrect terminology in the context of emotive subjects where the intention of doing so is purely to make the recipient feel guilt/shame is not so forgivable.
 

sula

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 October 2004
Messages
658
Visit site
I think there is a risk of arrogance and pomposity creeping into this thread that I am finding a little uncomfortable. I love words. I love the sound of them and the feel of them and their ability to express a meaning or a motive or a sentiment or a scene and to do so with eloquence and economy. I just like words!

I hope, though, that my love of words and my desire to use them correctly and creatively doesn`t cause another to feel in any way inferior or foolish even if their choice of word is incorrect. Let`s encourage each other to embrace the loveliness of language and through example demonstrate the appropriateness of words or phrases to present a rational argument in such a way that no-one feels belittled or humiliated. Jus` sayin`. :)

Please form an orderly queue to point out my mistakes! ;)
 

Equi

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2010
Messages
13,376
Visit site
This thread is in my eye a form of bullying. Taking one persons comment and making an entire scene is a disgrace, and it is being continued on in silly remarks to the person. Think about how you are acting.
 

justholdon

Active Member
Joined
30 October 2014
Messages
39
Visit site
Possibly a silly question, but what would those who say it's not murder, call it? Personally, I don't call it murder, I usually say euthanised, but was just wondering what the "correct" term would be?
 

sula

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 October 2004
Messages
658
Visit site
This thread is in my eye a form of bullying. Taking one persons comment and making an entire scene is a disgrace, and it is being continued on in silly remarks to the person. Think about how you are acting.

Actually, I`m inclined to agree with you equi - and unfortunately I speak with some authority on the whole distasteful and distressing issue of bullying.
 
Top