Horses for Courses?

Date: 04 May 2013 08:52:34

Today is the St Just Horse Fair. It's not something I particularly enjoy having happening right outside the house as it never seems to be that well organised and (in my opinion - and what do I know?) the horses/ponies/donkeys don't look very happy or well cared for, as they stand rather dejectedly in the square. There were some examples of what appeared to be cruelty last year - though again, it may just be the way one gets horses to behave (?!) - and I am sad because I know that certainly some of them are being sold for meat. I know that this is hypocritical - I'm happy to eat meat, but would be equally sad if I saw the lovely cows/sheep/ chickens in the same situation. I don't feel sad enough to stop eating meat (although I'm fully aware my opinions might change if I saw an abbatoir in full swing!)

There is a sad looking donkey hee-hawing at the moment, and a mare and her foal standing in a small enclosure.

There has been a small amount of sabotage this year. Two of the metal advertising panels have been defaced: one spray painted with "Non! Non!" and another with "Non à l'exploitation". It doesn't seem to have made much difference. There are still a lot of people, and the buvette stall, and various other stalls lining the road. At least it is cool and drizzly: one year, in blazing sunshine, there were few people giving the horses anything to drink. Had it been sunny this year (fat chance of that!) I had resolved to take bowls of drinking water out to the thirsty horses.

But...what can one do? It is part of village life, and I'm not sure that anything I could do would be of any value. And at least some of the horses will be bought by people who will be loving owners. Is that enough to salve my conscience? Here are similar thoughts from a previous year...