Does Every Horse Need a Job?

That is the Question of the Day..

If you answered “Yes”.. Our next question is .. Why??

Do they need a job because we want them to have a job or because they really need a job? Given their choice would they be ridden? Or spend their days grazing and playing with their friends? If you were a horse, what would your answer be?

We see this comment posted a LOT and its one of those “things that make you go hmmm” kinda comments. A lot of horses get euthanized because they can no longer do a job.. but does not being able to have a job make their lives not worth anything anymore?

I’m sure there are many schools of thought on this question. As I’m sure you’re wondering what our thought on the subject is since we are asking. So here it is:

Does Every horse Need a Job We don’t think all horses need a job:) A horse that has done his job for years and no longer can deserves to live out his life being a horse. At EAP we don’t euthanize horses because they can’t have a job. Some are too old or some may have some injury that impedes them from having a job but if they can live healthy lives, and if whatever pain they are in can be managed..we see no for them to not be left to just be horses!

We currently have 5 Sanctuary horses at EAP, horses whose jobs are to just be horses, mow the lawn and enjoy being with their herd.

You may say “Those horses are taking the space of another horse that could be rescued and placed in a home” but consider this. When a horse is rescued, what type of commitment should be made towards that horse?

When we rescued these horses we made a commitment to them. The commitment didn’t come with a stipulation that they would only be safe if they ended up being “adoptable”.

When we rescue a horse, we are make them a promise that they will always be safe be it with us or in a new home. If we cannot keep that promise, we shouldn’t have saved that horse. Granted, some horses need our help because they are in pain and need to be set free..its a hard thing to do and we have had to do it, thankfully, less than a handful of times. But we are against euthanizing a horse simply because he cannot have a job, or to make space for another horse.

With that being said..at the end of the day we’re OK with a horse not having a job. We’re OK with our horses living out their days doing nothing more than being horses.

Looking forward to your comments!!