by Simone Netherlands of Respect4Horses
Id like to be the kind of friend, the friend you are to me
Id like to be the kind of friend, that’s there but lets you be.
Id like to be the kind of friend just so I can repay
Id like to be the kind of friend, that never would betray.
Cause when I went through hardships, I knew I could press on
Undaunted in my darkest hours with you to lean upon
You carried me through thick and thin, you helped me conquer lands
You let me steer you step by step your leads in my cold hands
You died for me in battlefields, you overcame your fears
You helped me grow and make a living all throughout the years
I wish I didn’t break your trust and cruelly let you die
I’d like to give you all the answers when you ask me why
Greed is something terrible, it kills you in the end
I’m sorry that I made you think that I was your friend.
I am oh so powerful, convinced it is my right
That I can send you far away, the cruelty out of sight
Mostly I’m closed minded and don’t think that I can see
That I am in my thoughts alone and think of only me.
Perform until you can no more, you are fast because I ask
I know you give me all you can and it’s no easy task.
All you want is love and praise and you are never cruel
If I could just be more like that and less of such a fool
I’d like to be the kind of friend who deserves all that you give
I’d like to be the kind of friend who leaves you where you live
I’d like to say I’m sorry horse, and know that you have heard
I wish that I could heal the pain and sorrow I have stirred
And what you always do for me, Id like to do for you
Wipe the grays from out your skies and leave them only blue.
So if I only had one wish then here’s what it would be
I’d like to be the kind of friend, the friend you are to me.
Written by Simone Netherlands, copyright 2009 respect4horses
http://www.respect4horses.com
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Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse Slaughter, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
In regard to the poster in which a horse pleads, “After we are no longer useful…please euthanize us at home”? Why do these animals have to die just because someone can’t find a USE for them. Would one put a pillow over their grandmother’s head when she becomes “useless”. Euthanasia is about putting someone who does not want to suffer anymore out of their misery. It’s not about killing them when we deem them useless to us. Murder is not euthanasia. If people would just put a little more effort into finding their horse a home. There are rescues, sanctuaries, therapy horse programs, even farm sanctuaries that care for all kinds of animals will take a horse. If you don’t have a computer, go to a public library and search extensively to find available choices all across the country.
You owe your horse that much, to exhaust every option before you even think of killing them. A healthy horse does not want to die and would never ask you to take his life. And killing a horse out of convenience should not be encouraged.
“Acknowledgment of the intrinsic value of animals means that animals have value in their own right and as a consequence their interests are no longer automatically subordinate to man’s interests.” Freedom showed us how important life is to him. Auctions are hardly the only option for those who are truly concerned for the welfare of their horses when they can no longer care for them. Horses, and all animals, are worth going the extra mile to ensure they do not endure a premature and unnecessary death. Killing isn’t always the answer.
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Agreed…I did not read it correctly and it has been removed. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I am leaving your comment as it speaks to the truth.
But the poster was intended to speak to those who ARE throwing their horses away, to those that consder them to be useless when they get old. That was the audiance.
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Hi I am the maker of the poster. Thank you for your comment and I absolutely agree with you that people have the responsibility to care for their horse until their natural lifespan ends. Unfortunatly not many horses are lucky this way so the next best thing is to find it another good home.
I so appreciate you telling your feelings, because it is exactly the reaction the poster is supposed to invoke. If it spelled out exactly what people should be doing, no one pays attention. It is like a commercial that is really annoying, that you remember forever. It makes people think. It is not a poster to get approval from the horse advocate community, it is a poster to stop people from bringing their horse to an auction and thinking its gona find a good home.
Ofcourse we shouldnt euthanize horses just because someone sees no further use for them. The poster speaks to those, who dont even think twice about bringing their horse to an auction. I want to make them stop and think that bringing your horse to an auction is NOT more humane than euthanizing him at home. Most people do not want to euthanize their horse if he is healthy, and bring them to the auction instead.
Between the choice of bringing them to slaughter and euthanizing them humanely at home, I would rather see a young healthy horse die that way than in the slaughter house.
The poster is written that way, so that it makes people think. And exactly the reaction you had, is the reaction I am looking for!! When people see the poster hopefully they will feel the same way that you do, and they will find their horse a good home, instead of bringing them to an auction and instead of euthanizing him, and then I have reached my goal. Thanks.
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I think what you are saying is this:
“an older horse finding a resuce is slim; so to sell an older horse is cruel; so I agree with you;
don’t sell or bring an aged horse to auction; let him live and when the Horse is too old to stand up and or eat; then “call the Vet and do what is humane;
But do not do like the BLM and sell horses over the age of 10; I see your point;
I feel the exact same way about Dog and Cat Shelters; when someone brings their dog or cat to a shelter to find another home; such a slim to none chance the Pets will find a home; for Cats? even worse; I think only 1 out of 20 cats gets adopted;
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For clarification this is the exact wording of the poster with the horse looking at you.
Horse owners beware!
Do Not sell your old or unwanted horse at an auction.
They will NOT find a good home.
We the equines of America ask you:
Our lives have been in complete service of yours
We have done our utmost best to please you
After we are no longer useful is it really necessary
to slaughter us in such cruel ways?
Please euthanize us at home, so we dont have to suffer.
Thank you.
P.S. would you like it better if it said, please find us a good home, so we dont have to suffer?
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Hi Simone,
Your poem is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for allowing R.T. to share it with everyone.
Regarding your question, I’d like it best if it said “please keep us safe at home, so we don’t have to suffer”.
Why is it that people feel that an old horse is useless and unwanted? I have an elderly TB, 30+ years old. He’s certainly not useless or unwanted. I’ve only had him just a few years now. His previous owner thought he was useless, and decided he wasn’t worth feeding any longer. I’m the lucky one for having him now. He’ll be with me until he passes on, and I’ll be forever grateful for being blessed by having him.
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I agree. To a horse sucker, er, lover like me, no horse is “useless.”
I have a Quarter Horse/pony mix mare that I purchased as a yearling. She has been unridable since foundered badly at age 4. She is pasture sound, but she had thin soles even before the founder incident. She might be good for light riding with shoes, but she HATES to have her feet fooled with, and she really is better off barefoot with my wonderful farrier keeping her trimmed just right.
She is now 18, but you’d never know it. She romps and plays with my Morgan gelding that is only 11. She gets the same attention and care that he does even though I ride him and she is “useless.”
How can someone you love EVER be useless? Her name is Ami.
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ps to Suzanne: “how did you ever get the horse’s hooves to strenthen up; just the barefooted? sounds great ! thanks for the story ! hugs and neighs ! ps I think Horses should be put to work; such as farm labor; plowing; hauling etc. besides riding; Mustangs would make excellent work horses; hope they are ok in the Coraals!
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