By Susan Salk as published in Off-Track Thoroughbreds
“Our goal is to become the gold standard of information on equine welfare.”
EWA President John Holland presenting Congressman Jim Moran with commemorative award during the International Equine Conference 2011 ~ All rights reserved by Terry Fitch and IEC
How an electrical engineer once heading up a robotics company servicing the nuclear industry came to be testifying against horse slaughterhouses later in life came down to a news article and a mare.
“It was 2003 when my wife Sheilah brought home an article about PMU mares” whose urine is harvested to create estrogen treatments for women “and that article led to our decision to adopt a PMU mare,” says John Holland. And that decision is what led to what he jokingly refers to as the “downward spiral” into horse-welfare advocacy work, which includes the founding and presidency of 501 (c) 4 organization Equine Welfare Alliance, and many hours spent networking, testifying, and organizing on behalf of the horse.
In this week’s Clubhouse Q&A, Holland discusses his ongoing role in the slaughter debate, and his passion for horses, including his OTTB Honey Rose.
Q: What is the Equine Welfare Alliance?
We formed in 2009 and envisioned we would be getting more into the political arena, but we wound up more in the educational arena instead.
Over the years our membership has grown and we’ve networked, and focused on becoming an information gathering and disseminating organization, which holds yearly conferences, and talks a lot about slaughter…(CONTINUED)
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All rights reserved by Terry Fitch and IEC
Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thanks RT For This Piece On John Holland. I Am Honored To Know This Wonderful Man And Am Ever So Grateful For All He Has Done For The Horses Throughout The Years.
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Listen to John Holland on the radio (archive from Nov 2013)
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/marti-oakley/2013/11/07/wild-horse-wednesday-1
Thank you John Holland!
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Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD".
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One of the most admirable things about John Holland is that his great sense of humor remains intact, even in the heat of battle.
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Well, there is a new wave of “natural” horsemanship that wants you to believe just that. You too can have a true bond with your horse, a “special” relationship – with clicker training. But in reality, what you are really creating with horse clicker training is a 1200 pound dog. Not a good dog either, a food motivated animal, who has no true respect for you, only an expectation of treats. And what else do you get with horse clicker training? BONUS! If you have a gelding, your “special” clicker training relationship may also include erections every time you “work” with him.
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I know of someone who does the clicker training for her horse & I guess – others. Just cant believe that would work all that well – especially if its food motivated. Never heard of the “special” bonus for geldings!!! But then, to each his own, I guess.
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