On April 16th 2014 - where were you? Will you remember this day in 5 or 10 years time from now?
Many of us remember the day JFK was shot, Presley died, Lennon was killed, or more recently the loss of Princess Diana. These are days of tragedy. These are days where key figures or role models died, often prematurely, or at the hands of others.
We also recall our wedding anniversary, birthdays and even our horse's birthdays. These are uplifting days. Special days of celebration.
April 16th is a day I will always remember but not solely for the above reasons.
I spent the day in London's Parliament Square protesting the important cause "Help For Horses".
In many ways the day was born from tragedy and death; specifically the needless death of horses left to starve by negligent, uncaring, irresponsible people. The kind of people who live next door to you, across the road from your mum, or who went to school with your brother.
Yet, it was also a day of celebration where people who had listened to their heart, acted on that.
Where people put aside their own need for convenience, an easy life, the need to earn a living or simply conserve their energy, people who got on their feet, commuted to London and stood up for something bigger than themselves.
So whilst it was a day of tragedy and celebration it quickly became a day of HOPE. It was about the future. It provided a glimpse into what human passion and compassion can achieve for others in this case Horses.
For every person attending, for every passer by it was the first day of a new future. A future where the life of one horse called 'Hope' who died needlessly, too weak from malnutrition to stand, died lying in a muddy puddle ignored and invisible to passersby, all but for a few.
If you have not come across the story of Hope and the Fosse Park Horses left to fend for themselves behind a shopping mall in Leciestershire, without adequate grazing, water, shelter and safety, then Mark Johnson's Face Book page will bring you up to speed.
As a result of one mans' eyes and heart being wide open, a few hundred of us descended on Parliament Square for a peaceful, organised protest on April 16th 2014. None of us knew what to expect or what to do nor if we could actually make a difference - but everyone felt compelled to have a go.
What made the day a tragedy beyond the needless death of Hope and the carcase of the unknown dead horse at her side, was the absence of our legal systems apparent ability to help prevent these deaths, and many others like it.
In this country (after all we are civilized and sophisticated) we have laws to protect animals and govern their welfare. It's one of the pinnacles of being an 'animal loving' Nation. Below, are some highlights from The Animal Welfare Act 2006:
"The law also increases the minimum age a person can buy an animal to 16 and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age".
Many of us remember the day JFK was shot, Presley died, Lennon was killed, or more recently the loss of Princess Diana. These are days of tragedy. These are days where key figures or role models died, often prematurely, or at the hands of others.
We also recall our wedding anniversary, birthdays and even our horse's birthdays. These are uplifting days. Special days of celebration.
April 16th is a day I will always remember but not solely for the above reasons.
I spent the day in London's Parliament Square protesting the important cause "Help For Horses".
In many ways the day was born from tragedy and death; specifically the needless death of horses left to starve by negligent, uncaring, irresponsible people. The kind of people who live next door to you, across the road from your mum, or who went to school with your brother.
Yet, it was also a day of celebration where people who had listened to their heart, acted on that.
Where people put aside their own need for convenience, an easy life, the need to earn a living or simply conserve their energy, people who got on their feet, commuted to London and stood up for something bigger than themselves.
- They gave a voice to horses who without them, would remain unheard!
So whilst it was a day of tragedy and celebration it quickly became a day of HOPE. It was about the future. It provided a glimpse into what human passion and compassion can achieve for others in this case Horses.
For every person attending, for every passer by it was the first day of a new future. A future where the life of one horse called 'Hope' who died needlessly, too weak from malnutrition to stand, died lying in a muddy puddle ignored and invisible to passersby, all but for a few.
If you have not come across the story of Hope and the Fosse Park Horses left to fend for themselves behind a shopping mall in Leciestershire, without adequate grazing, water, shelter and safety, then Mark Johnson's Face Book page will bring you up to speed.
As a result of one mans' eyes and heart being wide open, a few hundred of us descended on Parliament Square for a peaceful, organised protest on April 16th 2014. None of us knew what to expect or what to do nor if we could actually make a difference - but everyone felt compelled to have a go.
What made the day a tragedy beyond the needless death of Hope and the carcase of the unknown dead horse at her side, was the absence of our legal systems apparent ability to help prevent these deaths, and many others like it.
Conservative estimates to date suggest over 7000 horses in the UK are facing death by starvation and neglect.
In this country (after all we are civilized and sophisticated) we have laws to protect animals and govern their welfare. It's one of the pinnacles of being an 'animal loving' Nation. Below, are some highlights from The Animal Welfare Act 2006:
"It is against the law to be cruel to an animal, you must also ensure that all the animal’s welfare needs are met".
"Owners are responsible for ensuring that their animals’ welfare needs are met. These include the need:
• for a suitable environment (place to live)
• for a suitable diet
• to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with or apart from other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
• for a suitable diet
• to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with or apart from other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
"The law also increases the minimum age a person can buy an animal to 16 and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age".
"Anyone who is cruel to an animal or does not provide for its welfare needs may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison".
Knowing this law exists, in plain easy speak English served as a catalyst to head to Parliament Square. The tragic irony today, is that despite having laws in place to protect animals and to prevent the needless death of Hope - no one is seemingly responsible for it's enforcement!
Most aspects of modern Government requires visibility and transparent reporting. This means data management and statistical monitoring of how the laws are being in forced or helping rectify a wrong. Crime stats, unemployment levels, benefit fraud, disability levels, Council spending are all monitored and reported to the Public. What are the Animal Welfare statistics? Who measures and monitors an improvement in animal care? When are statistics released?
With any situation be that in Business, Government or domestic home life, if something is agreed upon - someone is given or takes responsibility for doing it! They are held accountable. The results of their work can be called upon to be demonstrated. So, in the UK, today...
WHO is responsible for the number of horse deaths, each year?
Maybe the day we have such a key performance indicator for animal welfare, we will find someone willing to drive necessary improvement and change. Find someone who understands that pretty words and documents alone, won't stop the suffering of our horses.
Monitoring the end result will be only half the job. Members of the general public who stopped to talk to us at the protest suggested we lobby for laws to make it harder for people to own a horse in the first place. Good idea, why not? Currently you don't need a license to have a horse. No proof needed of a suitable living environment, financial means to support a horse for life, or any written test to show you actually know what you are doing and know how to look after one.
Monitoring the end result will be only half the job. Members of the general public who stopped to talk to us at the protest suggested we lobby for laws to make it harder for people to own a horse in the first place. Good idea, why not? Currently you don't need a license to have a horse. No proof needed of a suitable living environment, financial means to support a horse for life, or any written test to show you actually know what you are doing and know how to look after one.
Horse ownership is all too easy. Horse abandonment is even easier.
This is why we spent the day voicing our call for 'help' and action.
Returning home after a day like April 16th can be anti-climatic. On this occasion, for me it wasn't.
Although most of us were emotionally tired we were also spiritually refreshed. Many of us hit the pub for a swift 'half' relieved we weren't the only ones that had turned up on the day! Others of us sat up late chatting on face book sharing the days' photos and videos with new found friends from the day.
Although most of us were emotionally tired we were also spiritually refreshed. Many of us hit the pub for a swift 'half' relieved we weren't the only ones that had turned up on the day! Others of us sat up late chatting on face book sharing the days' photos and videos with new found friends from the day.
I felt confident that every person there that day knew this was the beginning. A plan to move us forward from here will emerge. Mark Johnson is not alone and can not be left to single handedly take it forward. He should however be very proud of having stood up and created a space into which others could also show up, join the call, and cumulatively put our humanity to good use.
Members of the public who stopped and spoke with us on the day, shared their shock and horror at the realisation that our so called Great Nation could be so backward, so uncaring. Women openly cried at the pictures we held of dying, suffering horses and the cruelty of human complacency.
Tourists alike be they Germans or Scandinavians that I personally spoke with were in disbelief that our Queen isn't doing something about it.
Tourists alike be they Germans or Scandinavians that I personally spoke with were in disbelief that our Queen isn't doing something about it.
"The only time she smiles is when she is watching her horses race" said one tourist to me.
Maybe the queen's head is stuck in the royal sand along with much of the public, and many fellow horse owners. As with other posts on this blog Awareness is the first step. A step we have taken and will continue to take as it's not a 'one hit wonder'.
No-one from the public could see any rational for blaming the current plight on the failing Economy, the Police or inadequate Animal welfare charities, it's actually more simple than that. The Laws exist. We have the Laws to protect and prevent. The issue is no one is enforcing the Law.
A German family asked me if taking our horses to slaughter wasn't better than chaining them to a lamp post without food or water?
A Scandinavian family asked me "why do people have horses in England if they are not taking care of them for life?"
Both are good questions. It seems as a nation everything is too simple; having a horse, and ditching a horse! We are a nation of 'throw it away, get another' and with the ease of replacing an old shoe our countryside is now adorned with unwanted sofas or fridges, and now Horses too!
What can you do - today, tomorrow regardless of your age, health or financial means?
In my own words, from a life spent in corporate business environments one thing for sure is that it is the 'squeaky wheel that gets the grease'. We have to be that squeaky wheel, and keep on squeaking to get the traction on this Law, that all horses deserve!
A Scandinavian family asked me "why do people have horses in England if they are not taking care of them for life?"
Both are good questions. It seems as a nation everything is too simple; having a horse, and ditching a horse! We are a nation of 'throw it away, get another' and with the ease of replacing an old shoe our countryside is now adorned with unwanted sofas or fridges, and now Horses too!
What can you do - today, tomorrow regardless of your age, health or financial means?
Put an end to Horse Tipping!
Put an end to suffering, neglect and abandonment
by....
- Keeping your eyes open and your senses aware of any horse in distress.
- Check it out further.
- Report it to the police, RSPCA, local vet AND horse sanctuary.
- Don't stop there, take photos, contact your local press.
- Expose!
- NAME AND SHAME - as one member of the general public suggested.
In my own words, from a life spent in corporate business environments one thing for sure is that it is the 'squeaky wheel that gets the grease'. We have to be that squeaky wheel, and keep on squeaking to get the traction on this Law, that all horses deserve!
For your horse, mine, a friend's horse, and all those horses yet to be born,
It was and will be a day to remember!
It was a day I felt my own passion and love come to the fore,
There will be many more great such days to come.
For More Information on the Animal Welfare Act:
www.defra.gov.uk
Helpline - 08459 335577
Helpline - 08459 335577
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