I just have to post on this.

[kigerfan]

In my wanderings on UTube, I ran across videos on rodeo abuse and bullfighting. It made me physically sick, to see what people do to animals. With such wonderfully constructive ways to work with animals, I can't understand the need to tear them apart physically. I don't see bronc riding, bull riding and the like as a skill 'sport'. Calf roping in the videos I saw was just disgusting, with calves ending up dead or mamed... and with no concern by any of the people on the field. I saw a video of a 'wild horse race' that sickened me and made my heart drop. I look at my little girl right outside my door and think about the abuse these animals are suffering. The bullfight clip showed a man stabbing the bull (who was already down and dying) right behind the top of his skull over and over again with a dagger, with the animal jolting every time. With the love I feel for my animals, I just can't fathom people treating these creatures that entrust themselves to us for protection, in such a fashion. It's a sad day to claim being a human being after seeing such abuse

[gonekigercrazy]

Man, I am right there with ya...the capacity humans have for cruelty never stops shocking me. And another thing I just dont get is how some people just act like it is no big deal. I do equine massage/physical therapy...had to meet an owner at the barn where her horse was in "training" for an evaluation. Got there pretty late..."trainer" was gone to a show...farm hand unlocked barn to let us in. This was a huge barn, probably about 50 stalls. First few stalls we passed, horses just quietlly munching hay. Then I was in horse hell. First horse had a tight rope halter on attached to a rope that went up over the truss so his nose was pointing at the ceiling. He couldnt get water or food, could onlly move his back end around a little, the fear in his eyes made me sick. When I flipped out over this , the woman with me stayed very calm and just said "its part of his training, I dont think it hurts him". I let him down, then as we went further down the isle, there were more poor animals hung like this..one even had a front leg tied up too. Some had saddles on and their heads tied very extreme twisted to the side. I undid every single one. What added to my complete outrage was this woman's attitude...she repeatedly defended this "trainer's" actions, saying that she was sure he had a really good reason for doing this to these animals. When I asked her if she would allow him to do some of these things to her horse, she said she would because he was the "expert" and knew what he was doing!! I dont know what she said to the guy but he made a point of calling me and saying that he had planned on releasing all of the horses when he got back from the show. Bullsh*t!! Those horses would have stayed like that all night. This guy is one of the most popular trainers around this area!! Six month wait to get in with him..I dont get it at all. If he was really any kind of trainer, he would find other ways to get results than torture. Another thing he is fond of doing is injecting tailheads with caustic chemicals so the horses will keep their tails still. I dont know how he sleeps at night.