For the attention of Anna Sewell

[SarahW]

Dear Anna,

Having watched Black Beauty on the television this Christmas, how I wish that I could tell you that things have improved for horses in the last 130 years. Sadly the economic imperative behind horse abuse at the time you wrote your book has now been replaced by the rosette imperative where some people are willing to beat their horses for the sake of a red ribbon and a little bit of prize money; others are willing to allow horses to starve to death amidst the bodies of their companions and still others take pot-luck by putting their horses through the sales yards and take no responsibility for the future of their animals. Some people are still quicker to use their whip or their fist than their brain.

On the bright side there is an organisation called Intelligent Horsemanship which promotes the use of gentle and logical yet effective techniques for training and communicating with horses based on a true understanding of their psychology.

Little by little,

Love, Sarah
x

What would you say to Anna Sewell?

[bramblesmum]

As there has always been there are some good and some bad in their treatment of horses, in the last year alone we have seen horrific abuse followed by kind parties who saw the horses recovered and happy again.

It is a long road we travel but bit by bit traditional horsemanship is becoming true horsemanship rather than bullying and natural horsemanship also adds a different perspective, both together are showing a great improvement in the care of the modern horse

[gingerloon]

you soppy mare, have you been on the wine

I'd say that I brought a black horse with a white star just like black beauty, and she's a little sod ! I feel cheated

[iammizz]

i would say..
Thank you for inspiring me as a child with the most heartbreaking story, which still today at 29 i find hard to read in parts, and yep it also set me along a path of kindness xxx
(wow aint i bein soppy too)
xxx

[SarahW]

Oh dear, is it that obvious? It was Bailey's actually. That and spending too much time on the New Forest Equine Directory where the standard answer to every horse problem seems to be to hit it.

[iammizz]

lol.
And to be honest chuck i think thats the standard reply in most places still

[gingerloon]

ooh Baileys ...

well... as you have the bottle open **holds out glass hopefully**

yes the good old hit it, or get several people to hold said pony'horse while you try to force your will on it. Still, a step at a time. things are changing slowly

I have to say I was watching teh racing the other week and that horrid bloke who does the odds, can't remember his name for the life of me, was arguing against the use of whips ! I nearly fell out of my chair with shock

[jackiedo]

I would like to quote your preface....
If we see cruelty, or wrongdoing, that we have the power to change... and do NOTHING, then we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.....

[Kelly Marks]

Ahhhh - in South Africa people are so outright and there was a really nice lady explaining how her horse really got nasty when she hit her - she really took it on board when we said that the mare was making it clear she didn't want to be hit and to there are better ways to communicate. One man though, insisted on meeting me personally to tell me he had his horse shot on arrival as the horse had a minor injury rushing out of the trailer and 'if a horse is that stupid he deserves to die'.

But do you know what (I think) it's so much about education - if it wasn't for Anna Sewell many people wouldn't have even started to look for better ways - so cheers to Anna (and can you believe we've had her great niece come on the courses - isn't that lovely?)

Kxxx

[jackiedo]

Kelly, you are an unashamed name dropper.......

[SarahW]

Jackiedo,

I agree with what you've said and only wish I could put it into action. It's always a bit of a balancing act. As an RA (and I speak only for myself), I can hopefully change things from the 'inside' wherever possible. More and more I go to people who are already getting on really well with IH and other gentle and ethical techniques and just want some fine tuning or a sense of direction or to learn specific skills - life's really easy then. On the Forest, I have tried to make a difference to the way that the semi-feral ponies have been handled and tried to work quietly to change people's opinions. This didn't really get me anywhere. If I am more vocal, I end up with some enemies but also reach some people who are looking for a different way. In short, I have to make up my mind whether I am an RA or an animal campaigner and sometimes I am torn between the two.

More Baileys I think.........

[jackiedo]

Pass me a glass or two Sarah... I think I need it at the moment

[ms]

I'd like to say to her thankyou for writing your book, Black Beauty. I don't know if you intended it to be read by children or adults, but nowadays it is regarded as a childrens classic - and children are the future, and the future horse lovers and owners .
I read it myself as a child, and it compounded my beliefs that horses and all animals have feelings and emotions and I hope it is the same for every child that reads it.
Horses are still being abused, but there are now so many ways that people can learn to understand them and learn how to communicate with them; dvd's, cd's,internet groups like this one, books and demonstrations.
Yes, there will always be the people who want to exploit horses for their own gain , don't want to learn about their nature ,and there are still many atrocities committed but also there are compassionate, thoughtfull others who seek to understand horses and work with them in a non violent way with communication from both sides.
Some things will never change, but you Anna,set the ball rolling for compassion for horses, and I take my hat off to you and hope it continues forwards way beyond my lifetime.

[SarahW]

I have just ordered her biography...and a book about Fell ponies.

Jackiedo, I was given THREE bottles of Baileys for Christmas - one of them big one - having already bought two for £20 from the Co-op. I am sure I can spare a glass or two!

[pinkpony]

Ooo baileys yuck!

Yes, BB sparked me onto a road of researching about horse power in the british industrial revolution. Pit ponies and canal ponies were very interesting. Thanks for reminding me actually, I know a litlle boy not a million miles away atm who might enjoy reading black beauty....