by Natalija Aleksandrova
Germs exist in our bodies as well as outside, and it is only when there is an imbalance within the organism that infections and diseases come about.
— Professor Antoine Béchamp, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Medicine
Any living body has its own natural immunity to fight disease (otherwise how would all the wide variety of living organisms have survived over millennia?). Why then do we need to add artificial immunity?
As it's been proven by researches, any living body contains a certain number of micro-organisms, which have an ability to become pathogenic under certain conditions. Until there is a forced imbalance in the body, one is able to keep these micro-organisms under control naturally by producing antibodies on its own. The balance is gone and a disease could start, when the body is exposed to unnatural physical or psychological stress. In human history, great epidemics are linked to wars, revolutions, etc., when some great part of the population of one or several countries start suffering physically and mentally, and their living conditions drop significantly. So, being allowed to live a proper lifestyle, any living organism has a natural ability to take care of itself, and this ability is quite strong as to withstand even greater stresses, and there is also such the wonderful gift that any living organism has an ability to develop acquired immunity through fighting diseases naturally and keeping copies of viruses to quickly manufacture the correct antibodies later.
There is no reason why not to allow a healthy body to cope with the micro-organisms it contains in a natural way — producing the antibodies in a natural way, not injecting them from outside. Moreover there is a great deal of medical evidence showing how vaccination actually harms the healthy body, and throws an already unhealthy one into even a deeper trouble.
If the environment is correct within the body, the virulent viruses and disease-causing germs will not grow. To make the vaccine, the manufacturers have to get the virus from 'somewhere', so they get them from individuals who have a disease (from their blood, urine, pus, etc) or from the dead tissues of such individuals. To produce vaccination lymph in laboratories, unhealthy animals are used. For example, mice bred to get cancer don’t get cancer unless they are fed a nutrient deficient diet.
What makes us then to do such an insanity as to inject something like this into the healthy living body when no disease is there, instead of concentrating on improving the living conditions to allow immunity to get stronger naturally?! Isn't it just our own fear? The fear, which stimulated by pharmaceutical industry and then used by it in the highly profitable way?
For those who still consider themselves to be fear-free, and think vaccination can prevent disease, let’s look a bit deeper look into the problem.
The observation that mammals who recover from infection by microorganisms acquire natural immunity from further infections became the foundation for vaccinations. Whenever T cells (the little packman cells which kill viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells, thus conferring cellular immunity) and B cells (antibody producing cells which confer humoral immunity) are activated by various substances foreign to the body called antigens, some of the T and B cells become memory cells. Thus, the next time the individual meets up with that same antigen, the immune system can be quickly triggered to demolish it. This is the process known as immunity.
This observation gave birth to a belief that if a foreign antigen was injected into an individual, that individual would then become immune to a future infection. This belief was given the name "vaccinations". What the promoters of vaccination failed to realize, that in ALL mammals (since animals are just as devastated by these inoculations with disease as are humans) almost no disease enters the body by injection. Most enter by way of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, pulmonary passage of GI tract. The membranes lining these passages contain a different immune system than activated by direct injection. This system is called IgA immune system — by IgA antibodies found in the membranes. It is the first line of defence and helps reduce the need for intense activation of the body's immune system. Often, the IgA system can completely head off an attack. Bypassing this mucosal aspect of the immune system by directly injecting organisms into the bloodstream leads to a corruption in the whole immune system itself. As a result, the pathogenic viruses or bacteria cannot be eliminated by the immune system and remain in the body, where they will further grow and/or mutate as the individual is exposed to ever more antigens and toxins in the environment which continue to assault the immune system.
The mechanism by which the immune system is corrupted can best be understood when you understand that the two poles of the immune system (the cellular and humoral mechanisms) have a reciprocal relationship. Thus, when one is stimulated, the other is inhibited. Since vaccines activate the B cells to secrete antibody, the T cells are subsequently suppressed. This suppression of the cell mediated response is a key factor in the development of cancer and life threatening infections. So, the mechanism by which the vaccination works on the molecular level isn't prevention but suppression — it suppresses the body’s natural ability to expel pathogenic organisms from the body. So the disease is just prevented from being resolved, but it still stays inside the body, just waiting until there are more favourable circumstances for it to burst out in other forms affecting the weakest body parts. After injecting a vaccine, the pathogenic micro-organisms still continue circulating through the body, getting stronger mutating and transforming into other organisms (as demonstrated by the work of Professor Antoine Bechamp), depending on the acidity and toxicity of the internal terrain of the body. Thus, treatment of infection with antibiotics as well as "prevention" of disease with vaccines are both just examples of cutting off the branches of disease, when the root of the cause is a toxic internal environment. However, since Pasteur's germ theory was conducive to the profits of the burgeoning pharmaceutical companies who only manage disease, no mention of the work of Professor Bechamp has been made in medical school curricula. (Rebecca Carley, M.D.)
Due to their mechanism being immune depressing, vaccines may cause cancers, leukaemias and even have been linked to AIDS...
Because more and more reports are appearing on vaccine failures, their manufacturers' answer is to make the vaccines more potent. They do this by making the immune adjuvants more powerful of adding more of them (basically, vaccines contain either killed viruses or bacteria, germ components, toxic extracts of live organisms that have been made less virulent — a process called attenuation. To stimulate an enhanced immune reaction against these organisms, manufacturers added powerful immune-stimulating substances such as squalene, aluminium, lipopolysaccharide, etc. These are called immune adjuvants.). The problem with this approach is that in the very young, the nutritionally deficient and the aged, over-stimulating the immune system can have an opposite effect — it can paralyze the immune system.
Another problem we see with modern vaccines is that the immune stimulation continues over a prolonged period of time. This is because of the immune adjuvants. They remain in the tissues, constantly stimulating immune-activating cells. With most natural infections the immune activation occurs rapidly, and once the infection is under control, it drops precipitously. This is to prevent excessive damage to normal cells in the body. (Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.)
Adjuvants can actually lead to serious side effects themselves. The side effects of adjuvants themselves include hyperactivity of B cells leading to pathological levels of antibody production, as well as allergic reaction to the adjuvants themselves (as demonstrated in Gulf War I soldiers injected with vaccines containing the adjuvant squalene, to which antibodies were found in many soldiers). Note that the pathologically elevated hyperactivity of antibody production caused by adjuvants also results in a distraction from the other antigens that the immune system encounters "naturally", which must be addressed to maintain health.
This hyperactivity of the humoral (antibody producing) pole of the immune system is the sole cause of all autoimmune diseases. The only thing which determines which autoimmune disease you develop is which tissues in your body are attacked by auto-antibodies. If the inside lining of the gastrointestinal tract (the mucosa) is attacked by auto-antibodies you develop leaky gut syndrome (which leads to food allergies when partially digested food particles are released into the bloodstream, are recognized as antigens foreign to the body, and elicit an antibody response against those food particles that becomes heightened every time that same food is eaten and released into the bloodstream partially digested again). Crohn's disease and colitis are also caused by auto-antibody attack on the mucosa of the GI tract itself. If the islet (insulin producing) cells of the pancreas are attacked by auto-antibodies, you develop insulin dependent (juvenile) diabetes. If the respiratory mucosa is attacked by auto-antibodies, you develop "leaky lung" syndrome where, just as with leaky gut, antigens recognized as foreign to the body which are inhaled are able to traverse the lining of the respiratory tract, causing the creation of antibodies against those antigens (usually dust, mold, pet or pollen antigens). When these substances are inhaled again, the allergic response producing constriction of the bronchioles is called asthma. If the components of the articular surface of the joints are attacked by auto-antibodies, you develop rheumatoid (or juvenile) arthritis. If the skin is attacked, you develop "leaky skin" syndrome, where contact antigens which could not otherwise traverse the skin are allowed in, leading to skin allergies to contact antigens. Additionally, depending on which level of the skin is attacked by auto-antibodies, (i.e., the epidermis or dermis), you develop eczema, psoriasis or scleroderma. If the kidney tissue is attacked by auto-antibodies, you develop one of the many types of nephritis, depending on which component of renal tissue is attacked (for example, with glomerulonephritis, the basement membrane of the glomerular apparatus within the kidney (which filters blood to form urine) is attacked by auto-antibodies, thus allowing protein to escape from the serum into the urine). And on, and on, and on... (Rebecca Carley, M.D.)
In domestic horses, who usually already have their metabolic system compromised in one way or another, vaccination could trigger such problem as laminitis or heaves for example.
Well, why then does vaccination still takes place in the light of such evidence? Simple. Money. Vaccines mean enormous profits for the pharmaceutical industry.
Just one more interesting fact. All positive statistical researches on vaccination are made by...? Right, by the pharmaceutical companies themselves. All opposite evidences are brought to us by medics, who used vaccines in their patients for long time and started noticing the negative effects of these.
Vaccinations reduce our immunity in many important ways
by Dr. Joseph Mercola, a member of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, http://www.mercola.com
1. Vaccines contain many chemicals and heavy metals, like mercury and aluminum, which are in-themselves immuno-suppressing. Mercury actually causes changes in the lymphocyte activity and decreases lymphocyte viability.
2. Vaccines contain foreign tissues and foreign DNA/RNA which act to suppress the immune system via graft-vs-host rejection phenomena.
3. Vaccines alter our t-cell helper/suppressor ratios ... just like those seen with AIDS. This ratio is a key indicator of a proper functioning immune system.
4. Vaccines alter the metabolic activity of PMNs and reduce their chemotaxic abilities. PMNs are our body's defences against pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
5. Vaccines suppress our immunity merely buy over-taxing our immune system with foreign material, heavy metals, pathogens and viruses. The heavy metals slow down our immune system, while the viruses set up shop to grow and divide. It is like being chained and handcuffed before swimming.
6. Vaccines clog our lymphatic system and lymph nodes with large protein molecules which have not been adequately broken down by our digestive processes, since vaccines by pass digestion with injections. This is why vaccines are linked to allergies, because they contain large proteins which as circulating immune complexes (CICs) or "klinkers" which cause our body to become allergic.
7. Vaccines deplete our body of vital immune-enhancing nutrients, like vitamin C, A and zinc, which are needed for a strong immune system. It is nutrients like these that primes our immune system, feeds the white blood cells and macrophages and allows them to function optimally.
8. Vaccines are neurotoxic and slow the level of nervous transmission, and communications to the brain and other tissues. Now we know that some lymphocytes communicate directly with the brain through a complex set of neurotransmitters. Altering these factors will also depress our immunity.
A list of medical professionals and researches, and organizations standing against vaccination http://www.whale.to/m/critics.html
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Laminitis and PETA (Poor Excuse for the Treatment of Animals)
More and more people nowadays become aware that species appropriate keeping conditions and correct hoof care, which supports and promotes the natural functions of horse hooves, are the best in prevention and reversing of hoof problems, including the most serious one — laminitis. This has been proven endless number of times already by natural hoof care specialists and wild horse researches. Wild horses never suffer from laminitis the way domestic horses do, who suffer and are killed in great numbers each year being just unable to function anymore due to chronic founder. Only this mere fact makes it obvious that the primary cause of laminitis in domestic horses is unnatural care practices.
However, despite all this knowledge has been existing for a long time, still numerous laminitis researches are carried out each year. During these researches horses are killed, made to suffer enormously before killing — healthy animals are used for inducing in them lamintis and then killed for obtaining damaged tissue.
We in al Holistic Horse and Hoof Care were glad to learn that a very well known in the natural horse and hoof care world researcher and author Jamie Jackson, the founder and exclusive director of AANHCP, spoke publicly on this issue. We would like to present here the 'Message from Jamie Jackson" and to ask our readers for a support and a help in spreading this important message
Laminitis and PETA (Poor Excuse for the Treatment of Animals)
A Wake-up Call to the International Laminitis Research Community and Organizations for the Humane Care of Equines
An urgent message from Jaime Jackson, AANHCP Executive Director
"This study involved 16 adult horses, ranging in age from 6 to 14 yr old (mean, 11 yr old). The horses were euthanized by using a penetrating captive bolt, as approved by the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Panel on Euthanasia." − Hood, D.M., Grosenbaugh, D.A., Mostafa, M.B., Morgan, S.J. and Thomas, B.C. (1993) The role of vascular mechanisms in the development of acute equine laminitis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 7, 228-234.
"Ponies were euthanized at the Obel grade 2 stage of clinical laminitis and hoof lamellar tissues were harvested and examined for histopathological evidence of laminitis." − Asplin, K.E., Sillence, M.N., Pollitt, C.C. and McGowan, C.M. (2007) Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal po- nies. Vet. J. 174, 530-535.
"24 horses were divided into 3 groups. A lipopolysaccharide group (n = 5) that received endotoxin as an 8 h 7.5 ng/kg bwt/h i.v. continuous rate infusion and oligofructose via nasogastric intubation, developed clinical laminitis." − Tóth, F., Frank, N., Chameroy, K.A. and Bostont, R.C. (2009) Effects of endotoxaemia and carbohydrate overload on glucose and insulin ynamics and the development of laminitis in horses. Equine Vet. J. 41, 52-858.
"Laminitis was induced as previously described. Briefly, BWE (Junglas nigra) was obtained by incubat- ing 2 grams of black walnut shavings/kg body weight in 8L of deionized water overnight at room tem- perature and filtering it. Six liters of the BWE was administered via nasogastric tube. Horses were anes- thetized either 3-4 hours after BWE administration at the onset of Obel grade 1 lameness." − 2010 Mas- ter's Thesis, L. Chiavaccini, Colorado State University.
"Objective: To assess presence of leukocytes and signs of epidermal stress/injury in the laminar tissue from 24 adult horses with CHO-induced laminitis.” − Faleiros, R.R., Johnson, P.J., Nuovo, G.J., Messer, N. T., Black, S.J. and Belknap, J.K. (2011) Laminar leukocyte accumulation in horses with carbohydrate overload- induced laminitis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 25, 107-115.
I HAVE LONG BEEN AWARE of the devastation that laminitis has caused worldwide to horses as a result of unnatural care practices. But I am also aware, with much frustration, that laminitis is 100 percent preventable, and, with the possible exception of the most egregious cases of chronicity and criminal neglect, treatable, with the horse returned to soundness. This is to say, laminitis should be a thing of the past, or, at least rare, certainly not epidemic as it is today in every sector of the horse world — save those who engage in genuine natural horse/hoof care (NHC) practices.
* * *
Lesser known is the toll taken on the many "faceless and nameless" horses who suffer and perish in the shadows of laminitis research. And these are the ones I wish to bring attention to in this paper. I am not sure how many horses are put to death as a result, but any number is unacceptable. And with the death toll showing no signs of abating, it is time for those who care to stand up and speak out against these abominations.
Laminitis research, it seems to me, has become almost "fashionable" with its various personalities "leading the attack" on this dreaded disease. Millions of dollars have been poured into the university sector to support their bottomless pit of "research". Research, in fact, that has brought not a single "insight" into laminitis prevention or treatment that NHC advocates haven't already advocated and practiced for years. Their promises of "success around the corner" are remindful of their close cousin, cancer researchers, who also clamor for funding, now in the billions since President Richard Nixon launched the "War On Cancer" in 1971 (National Cancer Act). The latter is now a giant industry that, as laminitis research is also portending to become, is nothing less than a self-perpetuating institution that thrives on disease, treating symptoms, and mega bucks.
Back in the shadows of laminitis research, the picture is not a pretty one — for the affected horses (see below). And bear in mind that horses selected for these experiments are typically healthy to begin with; they are simply unwanted and, therefore, deemed "sacrificial". First, researchers inject or feed them high concentrations of a laminitis trigger (substance that “triggers” an inflammatory response and causes the hoof to separate from the horse). Slowly, the effect takes place as the foot's dermal structures begin to "burn" and crumble. Helpless animals — victims if you will — in excruciating pain and no way to escape their agony. Euthanasia follows by lethal injection or the notorious “penetrating captive bolt gun”. Hooves are then severed from their limbs, cross-sectioned, and studied under powerful microscopes.
One version of the penetrating captive
bolt gun cited in the first research paper
above, here illustrated on a bovine. If
you can stomach it, and I caution you not
to if you think you can’t, below is a youtube.
com link to one being used on a
very distressed horse. Note the laminitic
hooves further marred by blatantly incompetent
hoof work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2eeiFr5zVg&list=LPvi6K62qVQCw&index=5&feature=plcp
Nazi medical researchers were photographed
conducting hypothermia experiments on behalf of the
Luftwaffe (German air force) during WWII. Victims
were forced to remain in tanks of ice water for hours
(those are blocks of ice floating in the tank). Extreme
rigor (“chills”) developed in a short time. Numerous
victims died in the course of these criminal experiments,
medical torture by any measure of human decency.
I have to ask myself, how can the horse-using
community today stand by and let the same type of
blatantly horrible experimentation take place on countless
horses? [Report by SS-Untersturmführer Rascher
about cooling experiments in Dachau, September 10, 1942.
Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals
- Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953).]
* * *
I have to wonder why purported "humane" animal protection organizations like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and many others have sunk their heads in the ground as to what's happening. It's not like laminitis researchers and their institutions are hiding these facts. They are not beneath boldly soliciting funds.
All sights should be on laminitis (and lameness) prevention through proven NHC models, not through inhumane neo-Nazi type, medical torture experiments (see Sidebar, above). In this respect, there is a worthwhile parallel in human preventative medicine concerning the effects of smoking on lung cancer. Several years ago, the president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) went on television to say, "If you're going to smoke, we can’t help you. Quitting smoking is the only thing that can possibly save you."
The message here is the same for horse owners: cease "feeding" laminitis causality or be a contributor to the burgeoning and trendy laminitis research industry that is causing the tragic suffering of defenseless horses given over for barbaric medical experimentation. The fact is, unnatural horse care practices are the overriding force driving this type of research. So horse owners inevitably must lead the way out of it by embracing and practicing NHC. The equine feed and pharmaceutical industries need to come to the party too, and stop creating feeds, drugs, and biotoxins that cause laminitis. If they, or anyone else, purport to not know what that means, then they should contact the AANHCP and find out.
* * *
I'm for bringing a halt right now to all laminitis-inducing research because it is inhumane and because none of it is necessary. As humanitarians, we need to say this loudly and clearly to the perpetrators and their financial backers. I ask the reader, would you let this happen to your own, or any, healthy, sound horse? I hate to think of any horse helpless, trembling, and with his feet burning up inside, then euthanized by injection or a captive bolt gun to the back of his head. Instead, let's tell the perpetrators to embrace the "Four Pillars of NHC"¹ and help us get the word out. All horses deserve it, even the faceless and nameless ones now being herded into the black hole of pathology.
There are positive research alternatives that can and should be taken on by scientists. We need responsible, humane research conducted with our U.S. Great Basin wild, free-roaming horses. One example that is urgently needed, and that can contribute directly to better feeds for equines and laminitis prevention, is studying the natural diet of the horse. No one’s done it yet, and it needs to be done — but only by qualified Great Basin biologists, ecologists, botanists, NHC advocates, agriculturists, and other responsible parties, including universities and the private sector, working together as a coordinated team. The feed industry and those now financing laminitis research should put their money here, where it is really needed, to help launch what would arguably be the greatest contribution to equine welfare in modern times. With 50 to 75 million horses worldwide, the market is huge and the positive impact of responsible research would be of incalculable value.
So, what can you do if you are reading this?
• First, recognize that this is a moral and ethical iniquity requiring intervention.
• Share this Director’s Message with everyone you know (clients, vets, equine professionals, family and friends).
• Call, email or write the Dean of your local university’s School of Veterinary Medicine to find out if they are inducing laminitis in any of their research projects. The Dean is responsible for oversight of all research conducted at any of their facilities. If they are, write them a letter explaining why such research needs to come to a halt. Download and include a copy of this paper >. This simple action will put them “on alert” and send “warning” ripples to the PhDs in their laboratories, that their ethical foundation is not in good order. It will also send political waves toward state bureaucrats and legislators who are complicit in writing and enforcing animal experiment guidelines used by researchers.
• Next time you go to your local feed store, look at the ingredients label on the equine (feed) products. If it contains any sugar or sugar byproduct (including any version of beet pulp), don’t buy it; instead, tell the proprietor that these are laminitis triggers and are harmful to all horses. Then, email or write the manufacturer, and tell them the same. Chances are good they will write you to say their products have been tested and are safe for horses; respectfully disagree and ask for their “research” documentation. Chances are good you won’t hear from them again. That’s how “deep” the problem is! Regardless, if enough people do this, they will get the message and begin to take stock of what they are doing and its ramifications for business if pressure continues to mount.
• If your horse, or client horse, is living out on pasture, get them out of there. Many varieties of grass in sufficient concentrations constitute a class of known laminitis triggers. Pollit has shown that laminitis is precipitated by the consumption of Fructan (a sugar in some grasses),² although NHC practitioners like myself have known this for decades. Depending on the strength of the individual horse’s immune system, digestive microbial imbalances ensue until toxins are absorbed in the blood and travel to the foot where enzymatic imbalances are then unleashed, causing inflammation and separation of the hoof from the horse (i.e., laminitis). Early symptoms (subclinical) commonly go unnoticed by horse owners, and even vets and hoof care professionals.³ Like getting cancer from smoking, there’s only one sure way to prevent any of this from happening — don’t do it. Remove them from the pasture and get them into a natural boarding environment,4 follow AANHCP feeding recommendations,5 and never worry again. (al Holistic Horse & Hoof Care doesn't support this point. Grass grazing and open spaces are essential needs of the horse. http://al-holistichorseandhoofcare.blogspot.com/2013/05/by-natalija-aleksandrova-through-course.html Our own researches and observations show that horses stays healthy when provided with this two essential needs along with providing physiologically correct hoof shape, which allows the hoof to perform all its natural functions.)
• If you are aware of any such research in progress, or planned, email us the names and addresses of the principals involved (researchers, their university hosts and funding sources). The AANHCP will then take steps to confront them with a signed public petition to halt their research.
• In the event that we are unaware of such research in progress, the AANHCP will confront the principals by petition when they do publish their findings (abstract) in a veterinary journal.
• Support the vital mission of the AANHCP and become a voice for the humane care of all equines based on the Four Pillars of NHC. A simple donation (the AANHCP is a 501c3 nonprofit organization), for example, can go a long way to help us all serve horses. Examples:
— Operating expenses at our AANHCP headquarters for transmitting important information — webmaster, social media, education.
— Hosting visiting manufacturers, scientists, educators, advocates, practitioners, government officials, and public figures at our Paddock Paradise wanting to learn more about NHC.
— Developing and maintaining our official AANHCP Paddock Paradise — open to private tours by appointment.
— Hosting educational clinics and forums (e.g., ISNHCP scholarships and AANHCP continuing education).
— Conducting research [e.g., a current study is underway using infrared technology to 1) ascertain temperature fluctuations in the foot relative to controlled biodynamic influences in Paddock Paradise, 2) set data baselines for individual horses, 3) gather data for client horses living in less natural environments, 4) correlate baselines to inflammatory responses in rehab horses suffering from laminitis and other foot problems.]
— Please make a donation to help horses and make your voice heard.
Thank you.
Jaime Jackson
AANHCP Headquarters
Lompoc, CA, USA
jacksonaanhcp@gmail.com
__________________
¹J. Jackson, The Natural Trim: Principles and Practice, C2: "The Four Pillars of NHC", pp. 39-52.
²See: “Equine Laminitis”, (AAEP presentation, 2003) Australian Laminitis Research Unit, Queensland University: Christopher C. Pollitt, BVSc, PhD; Myat Kyaw-Tanner, BSc, PhD; Kathryn R. French, BSc, PhD; Andrew W. van Eps, BVSc; Joan K. Hendrikz, BSc; Mousa Daradka, DVM, PhD. Also see: C. Pollitt, K. Watts, “Equine Laminitis - Managing pasture to reduce the risk”, Publication No. 10/063, Project No. PRJ-000526, Australian Government: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
³J. Jackson, NHC Field Guide, pp. 26-30.
4Join the thousands of horse owners worldwide who are taking action by creating their own Paddock Paradise, a relatively new natural boarding concept. Go to Paddock Paradise Facebook or www.paddockparadise.com to learn more about this “founder free” environment that can truly be the best habitat for your horse, short buying property in the U.S. Great Basin!
5J. Jackson, NHC Field Guide, pp. 6-10.
However, despite all this knowledge has been existing for a long time, still numerous laminitis researches are carried out each year. During these researches horses are killed, made to suffer enormously before killing — healthy animals are used for inducing in them lamintis and then killed for obtaining damaged tissue.
We in al Holistic Horse and Hoof Care were glad to learn that a very well known in the natural horse and hoof care world researcher and author Jamie Jackson, the founder and exclusive director of AANHCP, spoke publicly on this issue. We would like to present here the 'Message from Jamie Jackson" and to ask our readers for a support and a help in spreading this important message
— Natalija Aleksandrova, al Holistic Horse & Hoof Care
_____________________________________________
A Wake-up Call to the International Laminitis Research Community and Organizations for the Humane Care of Equines
An urgent message from Jaime Jackson, AANHCP Executive Director
"This study involved 16 adult horses, ranging in age from 6 to 14 yr old (mean, 11 yr old). The horses were euthanized by using a penetrating captive bolt, as approved by the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Panel on Euthanasia." − Hood, D.M., Grosenbaugh, D.A., Mostafa, M.B., Morgan, S.J. and Thomas, B.C. (1993) The role of vascular mechanisms in the development of acute equine laminitis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 7, 228-234.
"Ponies were euthanized at the Obel grade 2 stage of clinical laminitis and hoof lamellar tissues were harvested and examined for histopathological evidence of laminitis." − Asplin, K.E., Sillence, M.N., Pollitt, C.C. and McGowan, C.M. (2007) Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal po- nies. Vet. J. 174, 530-535.
"24 horses were divided into 3 groups. A lipopolysaccharide group (n = 5) that received endotoxin as an 8 h 7.5 ng/kg bwt/h i.v. continuous rate infusion and oligofructose via nasogastric intubation, developed clinical laminitis." − Tóth, F., Frank, N., Chameroy, K.A. and Bostont, R.C. (2009) Effects of endotoxaemia and carbohydrate overload on glucose and insulin ynamics and the development of laminitis in horses. Equine Vet. J. 41, 52-858.
"Laminitis was induced as previously described. Briefly, BWE (Junglas nigra) was obtained by incubat- ing 2 grams of black walnut shavings/kg body weight in 8L of deionized water overnight at room tem- perature and filtering it. Six liters of the BWE was administered via nasogastric tube. Horses were anes- thetized either 3-4 hours after BWE administration at the onset of Obel grade 1 lameness." − 2010 Mas- ter's Thesis, L. Chiavaccini, Colorado State University.
"Objective: To assess presence of leukocytes and signs of epidermal stress/injury in the laminar tissue from 24 adult horses with CHO-induced laminitis.” − Faleiros, R.R., Johnson, P.J., Nuovo, G.J., Messer, N. T., Black, S.J. and Belknap, J.K. (2011) Laminar leukocyte accumulation in horses with carbohydrate overload- induced laminitis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 25, 107-115.
I HAVE LONG BEEN AWARE of the devastation that laminitis has caused worldwide to horses as a result of unnatural care practices. But I am also aware, with much frustration, that laminitis is 100 percent preventable, and, with the possible exception of the most egregious cases of chronicity and criminal neglect, treatable, with the horse returned to soundness. This is to say, laminitis should be a thing of the past, or, at least rare, certainly not epidemic as it is today in every sector of the horse world — save those who engage in genuine natural horse/hoof care (NHC) practices.
* * *
Lesser known is the toll taken on the many "faceless and nameless" horses who suffer and perish in the shadows of laminitis research. And these are the ones I wish to bring attention to in this paper. I am not sure how many horses are put to death as a result, but any number is unacceptable. And with the death toll showing no signs of abating, it is time for those who care to stand up and speak out against these abominations.
Laminitis research, it seems to me, has become almost "fashionable" with its various personalities "leading the attack" on this dreaded disease. Millions of dollars have been poured into the university sector to support their bottomless pit of "research". Research, in fact, that has brought not a single "insight" into laminitis prevention or treatment that NHC advocates haven't already advocated and practiced for years. Their promises of "success around the corner" are remindful of their close cousin, cancer researchers, who also clamor for funding, now in the billions since President Richard Nixon launched the "War On Cancer" in 1971 (National Cancer Act). The latter is now a giant industry that, as laminitis research is also portending to become, is nothing less than a self-perpetuating institution that thrives on disease, treating symptoms, and mega bucks.
Back in the shadows of laminitis research, the picture is not a pretty one — for the affected horses (see below). And bear in mind that horses selected for these experiments are typically healthy to begin with; they are simply unwanted and, therefore, deemed "sacrificial". First, researchers inject or feed them high concentrations of a laminitis trigger (substance that “triggers” an inflammatory response and causes the hoof to separate from the horse). Slowly, the effect takes place as the foot's dermal structures begin to "burn" and crumble. Helpless animals — victims if you will — in excruciating pain and no way to escape their agony. Euthanasia follows by lethal injection or the notorious “penetrating captive bolt gun”. Hooves are then severed from their limbs, cross-sectioned, and studied under powerful microscopes.
* * *
I have to wonder why purported "humane" animal protection organizations like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and many others have sunk their heads in the ground as to what's happening. It's not like laminitis researchers and their institutions are hiding these facts. They are not beneath boldly soliciting funds.
All sights should be on laminitis (and lameness) prevention through proven NHC models, not through inhumane neo-Nazi type, medical torture experiments (see Sidebar, above). In this respect, there is a worthwhile parallel in human preventative medicine concerning the effects of smoking on lung cancer. Several years ago, the president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) went on television to say, "If you're going to smoke, we can’t help you. Quitting smoking is the only thing that can possibly save you."
The message here is the same for horse owners: cease "feeding" laminitis causality or be a contributor to the burgeoning and trendy laminitis research industry that is causing the tragic suffering of defenseless horses given over for barbaric medical experimentation. The fact is, unnatural horse care practices are the overriding force driving this type of research. So horse owners inevitably must lead the way out of it by embracing and practicing NHC. The equine feed and pharmaceutical industries need to come to the party too, and stop creating feeds, drugs, and biotoxins that cause laminitis. If they, or anyone else, purport to not know what that means, then they should contact the AANHCP and find out.
* * *
I'm for bringing a halt right now to all laminitis-inducing research because it is inhumane and because none of it is necessary. As humanitarians, we need to say this loudly and clearly to the perpetrators and their financial backers. I ask the reader, would you let this happen to your own, or any, healthy, sound horse? I hate to think of any horse helpless, trembling, and with his feet burning up inside, then euthanized by injection or a captive bolt gun to the back of his head. Instead, let's tell the perpetrators to embrace the "Four Pillars of NHC"¹ and help us get the word out. All horses deserve it, even the faceless and nameless ones now being herded into the black hole of pathology.
There are positive research alternatives that can and should be taken on by scientists. We need responsible, humane research conducted with our U.S. Great Basin wild, free-roaming horses. One example that is urgently needed, and that can contribute directly to better feeds for equines and laminitis prevention, is studying the natural diet of the horse. No one’s done it yet, and it needs to be done — but only by qualified Great Basin biologists, ecologists, botanists, NHC advocates, agriculturists, and other responsible parties, including universities and the private sector, working together as a coordinated team. The feed industry and those now financing laminitis research should put their money here, where it is really needed, to help launch what would arguably be the greatest contribution to equine welfare in modern times. With 50 to 75 million horses worldwide, the market is huge and the positive impact of responsible research would be of incalculable value.
• First, recognize that this is a moral and ethical iniquity requiring intervention.
• Share this Director’s Message with everyone you know (clients, vets, equine professionals, family and friends).
• Call, email or write the Dean of your local university’s School of Veterinary Medicine to find out if they are inducing laminitis in any of their research projects. The Dean is responsible for oversight of all research conducted at any of their facilities. If they are, write them a letter explaining why such research needs to come to a halt. Download and include a copy of this paper >. This simple action will put them “on alert” and send “warning” ripples to the PhDs in their laboratories, that their ethical foundation is not in good order. It will also send political waves toward state bureaucrats and legislators who are complicit in writing and enforcing animal experiment guidelines used by researchers.
• Next time you go to your local feed store, look at the ingredients label on the equine (feed) products. If it contains any sugar or sugar byproduct (including any version of beet pulp), don’t buy it; instead, tell the proprietor that these are laminitis triggers and are harmful to all horses. Then, email or write the manufacturer, and tell them the same. Chances are good they will write you to say their products have been tested and are safe for horses; respectfully disagree and ask for their “research” documentation. Chances are good you won’t hear from them again. That’s how “deep” the problem is! Regardless, if enough people do this, they will get the message and begin to take stock of what they are doing and its ramifications for business if pressure continues to mount.
• If your horse, or client horse, is living out on pasture, get them out of there. Many varieties of grass in sufficient concentrations constitute a class of known laminitis triggers. Pollit has shown that laminitis is precipitated by the consumption of Fructan (a sugar in some grasses),² although NHC practitioners like myself have known this for decades. Depending on the strength of the individual horse’s immune system, digestive microbial imbalances ensue until toxins are absorbed in the blood and travel to the foot where enzymatic imbalances are then unleashed, causing inflammation and separation of the hoof from the horse (i.e., laminitis). Early symptoms (subclinical) commonly go unnoticed by horse owners, and even vets and hoof care professionals.³ Like getting cancer from smoking, there’s only one sure way to prevent any of this from happening — don’t do it. Remove them from the pasture and get them into a natural boarding environment,4 follow AANHCP feeding recommendations,5 and never worry again. (al Holistic Horse & Hoof Care doesn't support this point. Grass grazing and open spaces are essential needs of the horse. http://al-holistichorseandhoofcare.blogspot.com/2013/05/by-natalija-aleksandrova-through-course.html Our own researches and observations show that horses stays healthy when provided with this two essential needs along with providing physiologically correct hoof shape, which allows the hoof to perform all its natural functions.)
• If you are aware of any such research in progress, or planned, email us the names and addresses of the principals involved (researchers, their university hosts and funding sources). The AANHCP will then take steps to confront them with a signed public petition to halt their research.
• In the event that we are unaware of such research in progress, the AANHCP will confront the principals by petition when they do publish their findings (abstract) in a veterinary journal.
• Support the vital mission of the AANHCP and become a voice for the humane care of all equines based on the Four Pillars of NHC. A simple donation (the AANHCP is a 501c3 nonprofit organization), for example, can go a long way to help us all serve horses. Examples:
— Operating expenses at our AANHCP headquarters for transmitting important information — webmaster, social media, education.
— Hosting visiting manufacturers, scientists, educators, advocates, practitioners, government officials, and public figures at our Paddock Paradise wanting to learn more about NHC.
— Developing and maintaining our official AANHCP Paddock Paradise — open to private tours by appointment.
— Hosting educational clinics and forums (e.g., ISNHCP scholarships and AANHCP continuing education).
— Conducting research [e.g., a current study is underway using infrared technology to 1) ascertain temperature fluctuations in the foot relative to controlled biodynamic influences in Paddock Paradise, 2) set data baselines for individual horses, 3) gather data for client horses living in less natural environments, 4) correlate baselines to inflammatory responses in rehab horses suffering from laminitis and other foot problems.]
— Please make a donation to help horses and make your voice heard.
Thank you.
Jaime Jackson
AANHCP Headquarters
Lompoc, CA, USA
jacksonaanhcp@gmail.com
__________________
¹J. Jackson, The Natural Trim: Principles and Practice, C2: "The Four Pillars of NHC", pp. 39-52.
²See: “Equine Laminitis”, (AAEP presentation, 2003) Australian Laminitis Research Unit, Queensland University: Christopher C. Pollitt, BVSc, PhD; Myat Kyaw-Tanner, BSc, PhD; Kathryn R. French, BSc, PhD; Andrew W. van Eps, BVSc; Joan K. Hendrikz, BSc; Mousa Daradka, DVM, PhD. Also see: C. Pollitt, K. Watts, “Equine Laminitis - Managing pasture to reduce the risk”, Publication No. 10/063, Project No. PRJ-000526, Australian Government: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
³J. Jackson, NHC Field Guide, pp. 26-30.
4Join the thousands of horse owners worldwide who are taking action by creating their own Paddock Paradise, a relatively new natural boarding concept. Go to Paddock Paradise Facebook or www.paddockparadise.com to learn more about this “founder free” environment that can truly be the best habitat for your horse, short buying property in the U.S. Great Basin!
5J. Jackson, NHC Field Guide, pp. 6-10.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Skaryszew 2013 — animal cruelty supported by government
by Berenika Bratny
Skaryszew, the horse market in Poland, has been named “the hell” by animal welfare activists long time ago. Everybody who goes there just once, knows perfectly why this nickname is not an exaggeration.
The official version says that it is a place with long historical tradition and that farmers gather there once a year to sell horses for farm work and recreation. A lot of visitors who come there during the day believe that, I guess, as they come with children to “show them pretty horses”. The place is crowded with stalls offering various items for sale… a whip being the most popular one, by the way.
The truth is quite different — the real market takes place at night (although the official version says it starts at 8:00). From all around the country horse traders come to sell horses to Italian slaughterhouses. Huge TIR trucks block all the roads since late evening the previous day. And the hell begins. Horses are transported to the fair in various kinds of vehicles — most of them not being designed for this purpose: open trailers without roofs ( breaking the EU regulation), trailers with too many horses crowded inside, buses and all sorts of tractor trailers. Unloading and loading animals is a procedure full of violence. Almost every trader seen in this place carries a whip or a metal rod, sometimes both, as a “tool” to “help” during transportation. There is no proper place to park the trucks. Terrified animals are often forced to jump on high ramps, sometimes they cannot make it and fall making their owners more and more aggressive -there is a lot of vodka drunk in Skaryszew at night, what escalates the violence even more.
Everything is happening by the cover of the night.
Several animal welfare organizations, Tara and Pegasus Foundations being one of them, decided to show the whole truth about this place, to gather materials, films and pictures and try to change the regulations. “Horse is a companion animal” is the name of the campaign. They fight to take the horse off the list of slaughter animals. In order to do that activists from all around Poland go to Skaryszew year after year to document the cruelty and gather evidence. Facing angry and often drunk horse traders is not easy. Especially when police and veterinary services are not eager to help.
Activists come to Skaryszew the day before the market. They meet there and decide on their actions. This year they came with journalists and politicians. They divided into several groups to control every entrance to the market — to see if police and other services do their job. It came out as a very difficult task.
According to the activists who witnessed the procedure, the policemen and the vets did not want to cooperate with the activists. “We asked a policeman for help and he told us to go to the police station” — recalls one of the activists. “We asked for a way but the city guard just murmured some dirty words and left” — recalls another.
According to the EU regulations such a place should be under the control of police and veterinary services. Every horse’s identity should be checked by a veterinarian. How do those procedures look like? The activists say that whenever a huge truck full of horses comes, the authorities just check the number of the passports not even looking at the horses. Being asked about it, they say the horses are being checked somewhere else on the fair. But in reality nobody checks the documents later.
Meanwhile the mayor of Skaryszew proudly announces on TV that this year’s fair was a big success, that there were sufficient controls. He declares his goal is to organise those fairs four times a year. From one hand, this is a kind of a “war” with the animal welfare foundations – making “the enemy” get tired — it will be harder to gather so many activist and assist during a fair four times a year. And secondly, what is the most important factor here — selling horses for meat IS a good business in Poland. The prices of horses (counted by złotys per kilogram) are very high in comparison to previous years. Now almost every farmer finds it a good “additional money” to keep a mare or two and sell foals in winter. There are more and more big breeding farms of meat horses seen on the outskirsts of towns and in the farmland. Horse meat is not consumed in Poland — most of the animals go on their last journey to Italy, France and other countries. In some regions the meat form polish horses is perceived as an “organic food” (being advertised as a meat from animals that graze in not polluted areas). That’s why the prices are higher and that’s why it pays. The Ministry of Agriculture together with farmers promote breeding horses as this is an easy way to earn. Every year horses in Poland are sold to slaughter. Some of them are killed in polish slaughterhouses that produce 18 thousand tons of horse meat, 70% of this product is sold abroad to Italy (in 2011 they bought 12,1 thousand tons), Germany (more than 50 tons) and Czech Republic (20 tons of meat). According to official records every year 18 thousand living horses are transported from Poland to foreign slaughter houses — most of them to Italy. It is a better business to transport living horses than to buy meat — the costs of transportation, examination and refridgeration of horse meat are higher than the costs of transport of living animals (even if 3–5% of them die on the way). Besides the transporting companies do not need as many documents to transport living animals — only the passports are required. In many supermarkets the meat of horses killed in Poland is much cheaper than the same kind of meat from horses killed in the country of destination (there is often an information about the slaughterhouse on the package). This year more than a hundred horses were sold in Skaryszew, mainly to Italy and Lithuania. In 2012 from one region of Poland — Mazowieckie district — 3902 horses were sold to Eurpean Union. As long as this is good business — people will do it. That’s why there is a need of a pressure being forced upon the society to loudly say “no” to such procedures.
This is again not an easy task — this month’s issue of Koński Targ (which, by the way means “Horse Market”) -one of the biggest polish magazines for equestrians and breeders — publishes it’s main text openly attacking animal welfare organizations for such “stupidity”. The magazine openly promotes horses as slaughter animals and attacks the activists. The journalist’s main accusation is that the members of animal welfare organizations “do not know horses” and he states that among his friends — “real horse people” — riders and breeders — there are “no animal welfare activists”. Unfortunately he might be right. For some horse people in this country it might be offensive but in some percent this is a sad truth and it is also visible at some equestrian forums where the members often do not perceive breeding horses for meat as something shameful.
Last year a sick foal that was bought at the market by Tara foundation — he died a day later. The veterinarians diagnosed severe colics and the examination found strange, non organic substance in the foal’s intestines. This year animal welfare foundations bought another horse — a young stallion — after he had fallen off a trap and couldn’t stand up. They took him to Warsaw hospital for animals and the horse was diagnosed with a broken spine. He was put down. Animal welfare foundations claim they will sue the owner of the horse as well as the authorities of Skaryszew fair.
How long does it take to change the society’s perception? Not so long. Some time ago Poland had a reputation of a country known for it’s love for horses. It’s apparently gone. But there is still a chance that witch actions like that of Tara foundation we will wake up.
It’s hight time we start perceiving this “good business” like Skaryszew as a “big shame”. And do something about it.
Meanwhile over 3000 people signed the petition to stop this terrible market. Many people in Germany wrote to TV companies on this issue, and eventually such most popular TV shows like 'Akte 20.13' by SAT1 and 'Stern TV' by RTL made reports on this subject. People in Germany and all over the world are horrified to learn that animal protection laws in Poland obviously don't exist. Comment from a SAT1 reporter, Germany:
“We visited the place where primitive people live, where horses are kept for working and for eating them. These people couldn't understand why we cared about the horses and how they felt.”
RTL TV report:
http://www.stern.de/tv/sterntv/undurchsichtige-vertriebswege-pferdefleisch-auf-irrwegen-1973245-video.html
Shame on Poland and its animal protection law — this is the reaction in all over the world on the events. The reaction showed that such treatment of animals cannot be accepted. When a mayor calls it 'success', it raises the question, if this mayor works for the interests of his countrymen and for the interests of animals?
Petition to stop this cruelty:
https://www.change.org/de/Petitionen/stoppt-den-grausamen-pferdemarkt-stop-gruelty-horse-market-in-skaryszew-polen
Skaryszew, the horse market in Poland, has been named “the hell” by animal welfare activists long time ago. Everybody who goes there just once, knows perfectly why this nickname is not an exaggeration.
The official version says that it is a place with long historical tradition and that farmers gather there once a year to sell horses for farm work and recreation. A lot of visitors who come there during the day believe that, I guess, as they come with children to “show them pretty horses”. The place is crowded with stalls offering various items for sale… a whip being the most popular one, by the way.
The truth is quite different — the real market takes place at night (although the official version says it starts at 8:00). From all around the country horse traders come to sell horses to Italian slaughterhouses. Huge TIR trucks block all the roads since late evening the previous day. And the hell begins. Horses are transported to the fair in various kinds of vehicles — most of them not being designed for this purpose: open trailers without roofs ( breaking the EU regulation), trailers with too many horses crowded inside, buses and all sorts of tractor trailers. Unloading and loading animals is a procedure full of violence. Almost every trader seen in this place carries a whip or a metal rod, sometimes both, as a “tool” to “help” during transportation. There is no proper place to park the trucks. Terrified animals are often forced to jump on high ramps, sometimes they cannot make it and fall making their owners more and more aggressive -there is a lot of vodka drunk in Skaryszew at night, what escalates the violence even more.
Everything is happening by the cover of the night.
Several animal welfare organizations, Tara and Pegasus Foundations being one of them, decided to show the whole truth about this place, to gather materials, films and pictures and try to change the regulations. “Horse is a companion animal” is the name of the campaign. They fight to take the horse off the list of slaughter animals. In order to do that activists from all around Poland go to Skaryszew year after year to document the cruelty and gather evidence. Facing angry and often drunk horse traders is not easy. Especially when police and veterinary services are not eager to help.
Activists come to Skaryszew the day before the market. They meet there and decide on their actions. This year they came with journalists and politicians. They divided into several groups to control every entrance to the market — to see if police and other services do their job. It came out as a very difficult task.
According to the activists who witnessed the procedure, the policemen and the vets did not want to cooperate with the activists. “We asked a policeman for help and he told us to go to the police station” — recalls one of the activists. “We asked for a way but the city guard just murmured some dirty words and left” — recalls another.
According to the EU regulations such a place should be under the control of police and veterinary services. Every horse’s identity should be checked by a veterinarian. How do those procedures look like? The activists say that whenever a huge truck full of horses comes, the authorities just check the number of the passports not even looking at the horses. Being asked about it, they say the horses are being checked somewhere else on the fair. But in reality nobody checks the documents later.
Meanwhile the mayor of Skaryszew proudly announces on TV that this year’s fair was a big success, that there were sufficient controls. He declares his goal is to organise those fairs four times a year. From one hand, this is a kind of a “war” with the animal welfare foundations – making “the enemy” get tired — it will be harder to gather so many activist and assist during a fair four times a year. And secondly, what is the most important factor here — selling horses for meat IS a good business in Poland. The prices of horses (counted by złotys per kilogram) are very high in comparison to previous years. Now almost every farmer finds it a good “additional money” to keep a mare or two and sell foals in winter. There are more and more big breeding farms of meat horses seen on the outskirsts of towns and in the farmland. Horse meat is not consumed in Poland — most of the animals go on their last journey to Italy, France and other countries. In some regions the meat form polish horses is perceived as an “organic food” (being advertised as a meat from animals that graze in not polluted areas). That’s why the prices are higher and that’s why it pays. The Ministry of Agriculture together with farmers promote breeding horses as this is an easy way to earn. Every year horses in Poland are sold to slaughter. Some of them are killed in polish slaughterhouses that produce 18 thousand tons of horse meat, 70% of this product is sold abroad to Italy (in 2011 they bought 12,1 thousand tons), Germany (more than 50 tons) and Czech Republic (20 tons of meat). According to official records every year 18 thousand living horses are transported from Poland to foreign slaughter houses — most of them to Italy. It is a better business to transport living horses than to buy meat — the costs of transportation, examination and refridgeration of horse meat are higher than the costs of transport of living animals (even if 3–5% of them die on the way). Besides the transporting companies do not need as many documents to transport living animals — only the passports are required. In many supermarkets the meat of horses killed in Poland is much cheaper than the same kind of meat from horses killed in the country of destination (there is often an information about the slaughterhouse on the package). This year more than a hundred horses were sold in Skaryszew, mainly to Italy and Lithuania. In 2012 from one region of Poland — Mazowieckie district — 3902 horses were sold to Eurpean Union. As long as this is good business — people will do it. That’s why there is a need of a pressure being forced upon the society to loudly say “no” to such procedures.
This is again not an easy task — this month’s issue of Koński Targ (which, by the way means “Horse Market”) -one of the biggest polish magazines for equestrians and breeders — publishes it’s main text openly attacking animal welfare organizations for such “stupidity”. The magazine openly promotes horses as slaughter animals and attacks the activists. The journalist’s main accusation is that the members of animal welfare organizations “do not know horses” and he states that among his friends — “real horse people” — riders and breeders — there are “no animal welfare activists”. Unfortunately he might be right. For some horse people in this country it might be offensive but in some percent this is a sad truth and it is also visible at some equestrian forums where the members often do not perceive breeding horses for meat as something shameful.
Last year a sick foal that was bought at the market by Tara foundation — he died a day later. The veterinarians diagnosed severe colics and the examination found strange, non organic substance in the foal’s intestines. This year animal welfare foundations bought another horse — a young stallion — after he had fallen off a trap and couldn’t stand up. They took him to Warsaw hospital for animals and the horse was diagnosed with a broken spine. He was put down. Animal welfare foundations claim they will sue the owner of the horse as well as the authorities of Skaryszew fair.
How long does it take to change the society’s perception? Not so long. Some time ago Poland had a reputation of a country known for it’s love for horses. It’s apparently gone. But there is still a chance that witch actions like that of Tara foundation we will wake up.
It’s hight time we start perceiving this “good business” like Skaryszew as a “big shame”. And do something about it.
Meanwhile over 3000 people signed the petition to stop this terrible market. Many people in Germany wrote to TV companies on this issue, and eventually such most popular TV shows like 'Akte 20.13' by SAT1 and 'Stern TV' by RTL made reports on this subject. People in Germany and all over the world are horrified to learn that animal protection laws in Poland obviously don't exist. Comment from a SAT1 reporter, Germany:
“We visited the place where primitive people live, where horses are kept for working and for eating them. These people couldn't understand why we cared about the horses and how they felt.”
RTL TV report:
http://www.stern.de/tv/sterntv/undurchsichtige-vertriebswege-pferdefleisch-auf-irrwegen-1973245-video.html
Shame on Poland and its animal protection law — this is the reaction in all over the world on the events. The reaction showed that such treatment of animals cannot be accepted. When a mayor calls it 'success', it raises the question, if this mayor works for the interests of his countrymen and for the interests of animals?
Petition to stop this cruelty:
https://www.change.org/de/Petitionen/stoppt-den-grausamen-pferdemarkt-stop-gruelty-horse-market-in-skaryszew-polen
Monday, June 18, 2012
What 'hairstyle' your horse prefers?
Natalija Aleksandrova
Have you ever thought on the fact that the horse's tail, mane and forelock aren't there only for pleasing the humans eyes? That when we selfishly cut, pull, or fully remove the mane and forelock of our horses, shorten and pull their tails, we are actually removing one of their natural defenses?
The mane is an important factor of the horse's thermoregulation mechanism in a colder time of year. Horses grow a thicker mane before winter, and change it to thinner one before summer, just like they change their summer and winter coat. We can see the naturally thicker and better growing manes and forelocks in the native north horse breeds. Also we see the thicker manes in pony breeds who, due to specifics of the thermoregulation mechanisms (their greater body surface to body weight ratio, "Thermoregulation in horses in a cold time or year", N. Aleksandrova) need a thicker hair layer to keep the internal body temperature in a proper range. In horses with underdeveloped, atrophied neck muscles, indicating problems with blood circulation there, with chronically tensed neck muscles, the mane is especially important in keeping the neck warm in winter.
Throughout a year, the mane helps to insulate the head and the major blood vessels to the brain (Pilliner and Davies, 1996), not allowing the blood to cool down on its way to the brain in winter and preserving it from overheating in summer. This way it helps to keep the temperature in the brain in a narrow range needed for the chemical reactions on the cellular level function properly.
In summer, the mane along with the tail become important instruments in defending against insects. The forelock is extremely important in the summer because it also protects the eyes of the animal against getting infected and sore from flies, dust particles, mold and spores. The longer the tail, the more effective it is in the protection against the insects — more body areas it covers, and especially important it can reach better the underbelly and sheath, which are especially loved by the insects.
On windy, rainy summer and snowy winter days, when horses take the typical protective position standing with their tails to the wind with their heads low, their manes and fetlocks effectively protect their necks, heads, ears and eyes from water, snow and wind. The water and melting snow run down by the long mane and fetlock hair, not getting to the skin and the eyes. Different length of hair in the mane with longer one in the middle of the neck has its role too, making a better protective layer against running water. While the tail serve to protect the animal's rear end — the shorter hairs on the dock fan out deflecting water, snow and wind, helping to keep underbelly and sheaths dry and warm.
It is unnatural for the horse to have her mane to go only on one side of the neck. In wild horses and in properly kept healthy domestic horses, we can see usually the whole mane or parts of it go on both sides of the neck, or it changes its side from moment to moment. It is not only beneficial for the protective reasons, it also shows that neck muscles are developed evenly. In many domestic horses, the mane laying perfectly on one side of the neck isn't only a result of the human's perception of beauty, but also a sign of muscles developed more on one side through unnatural keeping and usage of these animals, when their natural asymmetry turns into unnatural over-developed one.
Stallions usually have naturally thicker manes. When stallions fight they bite each other's necks and their manes act like a sort of armor.
Wild and domestic horses kept naturally can take perfect care of their manes, forelocks and tales by themselves. They may rub against trees or fences, or groom in each other's mane when they feel it is a time to 'touch up' their 'haircuts'. Horses surely know better than we what 'hairstyle' suits them the best.
Photo © The Cloud Foundation
References:
Pilliner, S., and Z. Davies. 1996. Equine Science, Health and Performance. Blackwell Science, London.
Have you ever thought on the fact that the horse's tail, mane and forelock aren't there only for pleasing the humans eyes? That when we selfishly cut, pull, or fully remove the mane and forelock of our horses, shorten and pull their tails, we are actually removing one of their natural defenses?
The mane is an important factor of the horse's thermoregulation mechanism in a colder time of year. Horses grow a thicker mane before winter, and change it to thinner one before summer, just like they change their summer and winter coat. We can see the naturally thicker and better growing manes and forelocks in the native north horse breeds. Also we see the thicker manes in pony breeds who, due to specifics of the thermoregulation mechanisms (their greater body surface to body weight ratio, "Thermoregulation in horses in a cold time or year", N. Aleksandrova) need a thicker hair layer to keep the internal body temperature in a proper range. In horses with underdeveloped, atrophied neck muscles, indicating problems with blood circulation there, with chronically tensed neck muscles, the mane is especially important in keeping the neck warm in winter.
Throughout a year, the mane helps to insulate the head and the major blood vessels to the brain (Pilliner and Davies, 1996), not allowing the blood to cool down on its way to the brain in winter and preserving it from overheating in summer. This way it helps to keep the temperature in the brain in a narrow range needed for the chemical reactions on the cellular level function properly.
In summer, the mane along with the tail become important instruments in defending against insects. The forelock is extremely important in the summer because it also protects the eyes of the animal against getting infected and sore from flies, dust particles, mold and spores. The longer the tail, the more effective it is in the protection against the insects — more body areas it covers, and especially important it can reach better the underbelly and sheath, which are especially loved by the insects.
On windy, rainy summer and snowy winter days, when horses take the typical protective position standing with their tails to the wind with their heads low, their manes and fetlocks effectively protect their necks, heads, ears and eyes from water, snow and wind. The water and melting snow run down by the long mane and fetlock hair, not getting to the skin and the eyes. Different length of hair in the mane with longer one in the middle of the neck has its role too, making a better protective layer against running water. While the tail serve to protect the animal's rear end — the shorter hairs on the dock fan out deflecting water, snow and wind, helping to keep underbelly and sheaths dry and warm.
It is unnatural for the horse to have her mane to go only on one side of the neck. In wild horses and in properly kept healthy domestic horses, we can see usually the whole mane or parts of it go on both sides of the neck, or it changes its side from moment to moment. It is not only beneficial for the protective reasons, it also shows that neck muscles are developed evenly. In many domestic horses, the mane laying perfectly on one side of the neck isn't only a result of the human's perception of beauty, but also a sign of muscles developed more on one side through unnatural keeping and usage of these animals, when their natural asymmetry turns into unnatural over-developed one.
Stallions usually have naturally thicker manes. When stallions fight they bite each other's necks and their manes act like a sort of armor.
Wild and domestic horses kept naturally can take perfect care of their manes, forelocks and tales by themselves. They may rub against trees or fences, or groom in each other's mane when they feel it is a time to 'touch up' their 'haircuts'. Horses surely know better than we what 'hairstyle' suits them the best.
Photos Berenika Bratny, Zbigniew Wroblewski
Photo Helmut Hussman
____________________References:
Pilliner, S., and Z. Davies. 1996. Equine Science, Health and Performance. Blackwell Science, London.
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