opinions please?

[Stinkbomb]

.... On the Wheelchair aspect. The breeding of miniature horses will always unfortunalty inevitably produce dwarf miniatures. These minis should never be bred from or their parents bred gain. This is something that non horsey people think of as "cute" as in the famous "thumbalina" the smallest horse in the world. Found these sites on another forum and wondered what your views were on the wheelchair thing. I know what mine are

Dwarf mini horses

More on dwarf mini horses

 

[scotsmare]

OMG if they're that deformed then they need to be PTS - the world has gone mad!!!

 

[lilym]

very very sick....i take it the sites are american???? what on earth makes people breed ponies like that??

 

[The Original Kao]

i seen something on this on FHOTD. there's even a site where people post about their dwarf mini's who have been PTS, some of the pictures broke my heart. poor wee mites

 

[Stinkbomb]

I dont think people breed intentionally, unfortunatly dwarfs do apear when breeding miniature horses

some can live happy lives if cared for correctly. Some cant, i agree some should just be PTS

 

[Flibble]

PTS seems kindest

 

[dianchi]

So wrong

 

[Geraldine]

That is just wrong.

 

[merlinsquest]

Surely you would not keep any animal alive that was as deformed as that

 

[PrincessDana]

OMG!!

Thats sick!!

 

[Three]

That's no life for a horse.

Very sad.

 

[Stinkbomb]

I agree. I know of dwarfs that have not been PTS but they are no way as bad as this and they live very happy lives. This IMO is too far

I found it hard to digest that someone would even go to these extreemes

 

[JM07]

one word....WHY????

 

[flohelf]

[ QUOTE ]
That's no life for a horse.

Very sad.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or for anyone... If these poor things are breeding accidents, I suppose they should be PTS.

However, is living in a wheelchair worse for a -well cared for and loved- mini than it is for a human being ?

 

[Three]

I think you've hit nail on head. Dwarfism appears in all species, I've met a least one GSD dwarf which, although short lived, was able to lead a normal doggy life.

If the horse is able to be a horse (graze, be with friends, wander about etc) then it's fine if they're kept as pets - whatever size they are.

If they can't be a horse or is in pain then we have a duty of care to do the right thing and end their suffering.

 

[Stinkbomb]

you have a point but at least a person can still mix with other human beings. Id find it hard to believe that this mini can interact with other horses, it just wouldnt be safe, not for them or any other horse, i would dread to think what would happen if another got caught up in that "wheelchair"

 

[hellybelly6]

OMG

It is sick, it is cruel. The kindest thing is to not breed animals like that in the first place.

 

[wellybob]

OMG!!!!!!

 

[DipseyDeb]

I'm afraid this is what happens when people start playing about with nature. It's like poor dogs, the boxer and bull bog etc with breathing problems, the dachshunds with back problems...the list goes on... all bred to titilate the human race. we have a lot to answer for!!!

 

[Booboos]

I am clearly in the minority on this, but although I entirely agree that no one should have a breeding programme that produces these kinds of problems, what is everyone's issue with the wheelchair? I would use on on my dog and I have seen dogs have great lives with them, running around, socialising, etc. Why is it impossible for the same to be true for a pony? Also, the caption on one of the webpages seem to suggest this might be a temporary measure to allow the joints to repair. Would anyone seriously think it is OK for example to box rest a horse for nine months (which we do all the time, mainly to bring horses back to a state of fitness that suits our purposes not theirs) but not to put it in such a wheelchair for nine months? The wheelchair seems much kinder to me.