Collected and written by Simone Netherlands, founder of respect4horses
Simone Netherlands
The burden of caring is indeed great for it is essentially allowing the pain of another to transfer into you. It is easy to be discouraged by the evil of what we are up against, easy to feel the anger of our powerlessness and it is hard to feel positive seeing and knowing all the pain and suffering that is going on in the world at this very moment. Tragedy wants to harden us but our mission is never to let it.
“Compassion is the basis of all morality.”
-Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher” 1788-1860
So many wrongs in the world. How do we cope? My personal reason for being more involved with horse slaughter than any other great cause is because I feel I am most knowledgeable in this field and have been deeply connected with horses my whole life. Sometimes I too think I (we) would be better off not caring so much. Would life be easier if we were just like the millions of people who do not even give it a second thought and merrily go on worrying about themselves every day?
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.”
–Albert Einstein. American Physicist. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.(1879-1955)
But then I realize that not being able to feel what others feel is not a blessing, it is the worst curse of all. These kinds of people are not able to understand or put themselves in anybodies place. Not their livestock, not their pets or their kids or their wives. How can they be fair to anyone? It is only because they don’t know any better that these narcissists are cruel and uncaring. Therefore we should only feel sorry for them. Count your blessings that you are not one of them for they are cursed with the real burden.
“I would rather have eyes that cannot see; ears that cannot hear; lips that cannot speak, than a heart that cannot feel.
-Robert Tizon, writer.
The secret is not to care less, the secret is to allow yourself a break from it every once in a while. Be kind to yourself, and treat yourself right. Feelings are only a result of thoughts, and if our thoughts are always on suffering, it is no wonder our feelings of happiness are far and few in between. Take time to banish all depressing thoughts. (Do this for at least one hour a day, and one day a week J)
“A true gift wasted, is Compassion that ends in tears and sighs.”
-unknown author.
Besides for the suffering, what is a great source of discouragement for me personally is the lack of cooperation and support for each other within our own movement. I feel that our great potential is suppressed by groups and individuals who are wasting their precious energy by bickering and sabotaging each other. I wish there was a way to pull us all together and make us stronger. The horses need us. The details do not matter, what matters is that we are all fighting for the same.
“Shame on you who criticize the ones standing on the same side of the playing field, for you are weakening your own team and sabotaging your own game.”
-anonymous writer.
The awesome part is that we are all here, we are part of a common consciousness that is painfully aware that the being of the horse is special and that it deserves better.
At the risk of being a little cheesy I offer you yet some more quotes I collected:
“The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.”
– Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher 1788-1860
“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.”
-Albert Schweitzer. 1875-1965. Nobel peace prize 1952.
“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.”
-Sonia Johnson, writer.
“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged people who kept on working.”
-Sonia Johnson, writer.
“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, beyond all else which distinguishes the victorious from the defeated.”
-unknown writer.
“In all things it is better to hope than to despair.””
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Novelist 1749-1832
When you do happen to have a moment of despair, do not feel alone or discouraged, for all good, great, and world changing figures have felt the same as you do. The value of compassion cannot be over emphasized. The burden is a blessing in disguise. When you leave the world behind you and it is better for having had you in it, you become immortal. All other lives are lived in vain.
If you can, take a minute today, to go look a horse deep in the eye, one you have made a difference for. Feel his joy for life, his calmness and his peace and you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that no matter how many mistakes you may have made in your life, you have done well. Then, renew your promise to that horse that you will press on.
To be successful, we must be able to cope with our burden and play the war one battle at a time. We cannot be a bunch of righteous individuals, but must be an unselfish team who can visualize the concept. We must combine our efforts. It is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who receives the credit. Let’s support each other and keep faith in our hearts that justice will prevail. With that being our attitude, there is no limit to what we can do.
“The longing for justice is the sword we carry”
-Sonia Johnson, writer.
With this I would like to express my sincere gratitude for people like you, Jerry and R.T., and all the rest of the many horse rescuers, anti horse slaughter advocates, wild horse advocates, lobbyers, letter writers, documentary makers, activists, supporters and donators, who are reading this. No matter how big or small the part is that you are playing, know that your work is of more importance than you know. You are appreciated for how much you care, for how much you sacrifice and for your infinite wisdom. The world would be a worse place without you.
“There is no greater wisdom than knowing the difference between right and wrong”.
-Simone.
“May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.”
Collected and written by Simone Netherlands.
Respect 4 horses
www.respect4horses.com
P.S. If I organized a combined lobbying event in Washington, in January, for both wild horse bills and anti slaughter bills, how many of you would help organize and how many of you would come?
Email to: simone@respect4horses.com
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Categories: The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Simone, you are a wonderful writer and an incredible activist. This quote is to become my new mantra, keep up the fight!
“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, beyond all else which distinguishes the victorious from the defeated.” -unknown writer.
We the Horse Soldiers shall be victorious!
-Kathy
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I am not new to horse ownership, and have been aware of the abuse that some inflict on horses. But the whole underside of the BLM, of the Amish, Premarin,and of the breeding industries and scores of people who callously send horse after horse to a known horrible fate… This I am fairly new to. That it happens on such a large scale sometimes stuns completely.
Seeing what goes on every day breaks my heart and soul to bits.
To those of you ‘on the front lines’ I am very glad you are here. I am glad for this article.
“The secret is not to care less, the secret is to allow yourself a break from it”
is great advice.
Whether justice prevails or not, we must not ever allow it to be easy for people to do horrible things. We must always shout when injustice is done, or just plain keep GETTING IN THE WAY between the innocent and the..(@#*%#!*’s) evil.
It will make a difference.
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Thanks so much for the words of encouragement, Simone. I’m afraid we’re going to face quite a battle with Sue Killmorehorses Wallis and her buddies at United Organizations of the Horse. She’s getting her word in everywhere – disinformation and outright lies. I was so depressed the other day, I couldn’t do much but cry. I keep asking myself that terrible question: “Why?”
Next time I feel that way, I’ll come back and reread this post. Thanks again!
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Hi Suzanne, someone should make her bed look like a scene from the godfather.
Anybody want to volunteer for that task?
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Can’t deny SHE deserves it, but I could never manage to do it myself. Heck, I’ve never seen the Godfather because I heard about “that” scene and knew I did NOT want to see it. I get WAY too emotional…
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I once heard a story about a man walking along the beach. As he was walking he saw a man ahead of him. Every now and then the man would bend down pick something up and throw it into the water. The other man caught up with him and saw that he was picking up Starfish and throwing them back into the water. The man walking just had to say something. Sir, he said I feel you are wasting your time you can’t make a difference to all these Starfish, there are just way to many of them. The man bends down, picks up a Starfish and throws it into the water. He looks at the first man and says, Well sir, I might not be able to make a difference in all of them, but I sure did for that one.
I know that I can’t save all the horses out there, but I will do my best for the ones I can. Right now we are trying to get enough money to buy a larger place. I feel so bad that I have had to turn away 12 horses this year because I don’t have the room to take them in and to find them a good forever home.
Is there anyone that can help this one man operation grow and be something that others would love to volunteer at?
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Simone,
Thank-you so much for all the encouraging words and the wisdom. You are so right about stepping back for a short while each day and a day once a week to do something enjoyable, it gives you back your balance. If all we do is immerse ourselves in the negative we are no good to anyone.
Putting aside our differences and joining our efforts is the only way to really make our voices heard–Personal egos are not important here, it is the horses we all care about that matter. Please let me know what I can do to help you to organize the upcoming lobbying event in D.C. Thank-you for all of YOUR hard work.
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Hi Jeffrey, you seem pretty new to the rescue world, since otherwise you would know that everyone knows this story! wink wink. It is always a good story though and oh so true.
Im glad it affected you. New rescues are desperately needed, so way to go, and do not give up!
Find out all you need to know first, make sure you are prepared and dont hesitate to ask anyone for advise.
Make sure you never take on more than you can handle. We all have to turn away horses, because there is a limit to every ones capabilities. That is why I wrote this article. It is hard. Make sure you do not loose your enthousiasm that you have right now. Welcome here and we all wish you enormeous succes.
Treat your rescue operation like a business and make sure it has a good foundation. The secret to succes is a good adoption program. Make sure you get your rescue horses trained with natural horse manship so that both the horse and the adopters have the most chance of succes.
Make it a happy place and people will like to volunteer.
my email is simone@respect4horses.com if you have any more questions, thanks.
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Hi Simone,
Just a little history on my rescue, we are but we aren’t new. We have been around since Aug. 2003 so we are 6 years old and have seen a lot of good and bad come through our door. Most of the work has been by myself, a 54 year old person that had to have his knee replaced because of a work injury. The horse rescue gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I have had some volunteers come and go because of collage and other life matters. I have one volunteer that moved from NC to help out. A sister I never knew. So I do have at least one volunteer that is here everyday. I will keep going, I will be asking questions and I’ll keep trying to get the funds to buy a bigger place.
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Way to go Jeffrey, keep up the good work! I hope you get tons and tons of acres!!
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Simone, you rock, plain and simple. I will cross-post this link to share with as many people as I can. I am so new to horses I took my first lesson (and touched one for the first time) only earlier this year, at 40 years of age. I have fallen in love with them, they are by far the smartest animal I have ever interacted with. It started by becoming a fan of horse racing and as I learned more, I, too, discovered the terrible travesties committed against this wonderful animal. A local story about an abandoned horse near Phoenix hooked me for the rest of my life. I specifically chose to continue being a fan of racing due to my belief that the best way to make a difference is to stay a fan. Then I started taking lessons. It is people like you that provide the inspiration for people like me on the fringes. Keep up the great work, it truly makes a difference and hopefully we can extend that even further by passing this along!
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Welcome to horse country! I got off to a late start with horses myself. I was born hopelessly addicted to horses, but as a city kid, I never got to spend any time with them until I was 32. Purchased my first horse at 33 – that was in 1977!! – and haven’t been without one since. Can’t even imagine life without horses! ;o)
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Thanks Suzanne! I can’t believe it took me that long, but also as a city person I just never had the opportunity. I can’t go back and start over, so I just keep getting more and more involved. They are absolutely amazing animals!
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compassion and empathy are two traits that define not only human character but the depth of it. When these traits are positively applied for the welfare of an animal, especially as noble as a horse, it means something special.
thanks for this article.
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“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” -Albert Schweitzer. 1875-1965. Nobel peace prize 1952.
Thanks for writing this article. I live in SO FL, and am so happy to see that the word is really getting out about the horrific illegal horse slaughter situation here. It simply has to end. It is what has gotten me very active again in fighting horse slaughter. I am seeing a disturbing trend now in MO, ID, IL, MT with trying to reactivate it and feel it is very important to get united on this and work to stop it. Thanks for the quote also…..I’m going to use it!!
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