Nothing much new here, except that the vet came out to give Baasha a tetanus shot. He was the emergency vet that the firemen had called, and since Baasha's last tetanus was in 2007, I want to be safe. (Look, we have roses!)
The first thing he said when he prepared the shot was, "Is this horse for slaughter or not?"WHA- HUH?? What kind of a question is that!? He's my PET! My riding horse! He's not for eating!
He also asked me for my horse's passport. All European horses have passports that keeps track of their immunizations, travels, and such. Baasha doesn't have one. In fact, I'm not sure how we were able to get him into the country without one, except that he is freeze branded, and his registration papers identify him in great detail, so that was sufficient. Apparently in this passport there is an indication for each horse whether their final duty in life will be as food or not. Good heavens! Yah, I've read the warnings on the worming paste, "Not for animals intended for food" but I've never had a vet ask me if my horse is for slaughter. No, in fact, we'd like to be buried together in the same grave, if that's possible.***
After that shock, he and his assistant inspected Baasha for complications from his accident, and he seemed very surprised that Baasha's not swollen or sore or anything, just cut up. "These Arabs are amazing" he said. I think Arabs are not common here, that's the impression I get.
As he spoke, he leaned against Baasha. His assistant gave Baasha the shot. Baasha never looked up from his mash. At one point she leaned on Baasha too. So, two vets leaning on Baasha at the same time. I'm starting to think that all veterinarians have problems with their legs. They cannot stand up on their own, I've noticed.
I've had three vets out in the last 3 months, and all of them lean on my horse as they talk to me, as if my horse were a piece of furniture.
Is this just German vets or do American vets do that too? I think it's peculiar and a little bit impolite.
We were gone 4 days in Bremen at a Geocaching event, and the neighbor girl seemed to take good care of Baasha. Most of the 3 bags of carrots are gone, and the stall was clean. She slacked on the vegetable watering though, so I may have to ask her mother to take care of our veggies when we're in America next month. It's been ridiculously warm here, mid 80s, pah. Yesterday I turned on the hose and shot it straight up and made it rain on myself. And jumped right in a fountain in a park and set a bad example for the little kids. I hate hot weather!
I was taking some shots of Baasha eating, when he spooked suddenly. 
I don't often catch spooking on film!
Any leaf that gets too close to the mesh gets eaten. We have baby grapes on there now, I hope they stay low, or else Baasha will get them all. Personally I see no problem having a grapevine that only gets to grow on the lower portion of the wall, but my man doesn't want Baasha eating too much of the plant.
Roses! I'm not really a rose person, but these smell great! And they've dressed up our house so nicely, I'm gonna skip buying geraniums this year I think.***Afterthought on slaughter: If horses' meat could be used to feed the hungry, it would be a shame to waste it. However, in Germany, it would not be hungry people who would get the meat, it would be very rich people.
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22 comments:
I can't believe he just came out and asked such a question. It was a total shock to me when I realised they ate horse meat here. I now look on all soups and other products to make sure that paard is not listed on it. A dutch woman went into detail how she loved the horse meat and wat she ate it with. I looked at her with the most disgusted look on my face.
My husband told her that americans dont view their horses like that. I asked her if she would eat her dog and her eyes got big. I said,well thats how we see horses. We do not eat our pet/family member..lol
Your roses look beautiful! I noticed your house is right by the road. Is it a quiet road? How long will you be in the U.S.? I am so envious. I miss wal-mart,target,all the lovely food and baking items..eat a reeces peanutbutter cup for me!
I will definitely eat some Reeses and think of you. Both the cups and the candies.
Good answer about the dog - exactly.
We are right on a tiny little road with no speed limit. It's only used by the people who live here, but I can't believe how fast some people cruise by here. It's the main reason I don't have a cat. However, I've planted catnip so if a cat decides to move in with us, we'll welcome it.
I've never once had a vet lean on my horse - maybe it's Germany, or maybe it's those particular vets! Glad Baasha is doing so well.
The horses for food thing is disturbing. Even though people in the US don't eat horse meat, there sure are still a lot of horses going to slaughter, abetted by the the parts of the horse industry, including racing and backyard breeders, who breed too many horses.
Hmmmm...just goes to show another difference in culture. As awful as it sounds, at least the vet was/is being responsible in asking you that question.
I also think that a passport is a great idea. It would hold people accountable for their actions-of course, I am sure that they have a way of "disappearing."
Funny about the leaning veterinarians...maybe they teach them that horses like pressure or something in school?? You should ask the next one that comes out, as it would be worth finding out. :)
So you are coming out this way for a trip??? I bet you cannot wait!!! What is the one thing that you are looking forward to the most?
PS-I am glad that Baasha is doing well. How have you been holding up?
Kate, today the vet bill came, and it's very odd. It has a chart with the three medications that were given, and how many days "waiting period" each med has before we can eat the horse. AGH. I guess by law they have to tell us this.
And my man is going to ask the city to pay the bill!
Melanie, be sure to watch your vet next time he works - he may just lean on your horse too: )
We'll be there for July, I'm looking forward to seeing how much my niece and nephew have grown the most.
And all the glorious familiar restaurant food (mexican!). I also miss the comfort level I have when I walk into a store or pharmacy and have to deal with the employees. Here it's always a little tense for me cuz of the language.
I miss seedless watermelon and root beer an awful lot!
I miss the sight of Puget Sound sparkling under the Olympics. The pristine clean newness of downtown Seattle. Barbecue in the backyard at my parents, croquet on the lawn with the cat trying to play too.
I look forward to seeing my aunt's naughty Cocker Spaniel (I lived with them 4 years and the dog knows German now!). The sealions barking at night in West Seattle, the ferry horns in fog. Walking down to Alki Beach for Pegasus pizza (my man's fave restaurant).
Uptown espresso's iced Americanos, grape popsicles, ding dongs. Cantelope. Cilantro.
Scavenging my dad's garden in Shelton and enjoying his homemade strawberry milkshakes.
Turning on the radio or TV and understanding everything right away without effort.
Ordering a martini in a restaurant and actually getting a martini: )
Going into a store on a Sunday. Going into a store at NIGHT!! Or, *gasp*, at night on a Sunday!
I could go on: )
~lytha
I am glad that you and Baasha are well again after the mishap.
I've not seen a vet lean on a horse, however horses seem quite keen to lean on farriers and trimmers. I do remember a horse going to sleep in that situation and falling over!
I have read that the horse meat bred in northern Europe mostly comes from the likes of young Belgians. There are a lot of foals bred, and the less good ones are slaughtered for meat. It's a sideline for lazy breeders.
Back in Eastern Europe, the gypsies used to buy old horses for shipping to Italy for salami (a most barbaric trade, incidentally, thanks to shipping live in very poor conditions) and foals too (for high quality meat that sold at $50/kg or more). The trade seemed driven by Italy, a country with very poor animal welfare standards where even the migrating birds are shot in huge numbers for amusement. The peasants used to sell the sick and diseased horses for salami, and of course the vet certified them as healthy for a bribe. The salami-eaters consumed equine anaemia and all sorts of other pathology.
Can't day as my vet ever asked me such a question. I've threatened to put Poco on a dinner plate, but I think he sees right through me.
yeah, that whole "do you plan to eat this fellow" question seems pretty odd to us 'Murkens, but I guess in the context of a place where folks DO eat them it makes sense. I certainly have plenty of people asking when I plan to eat my hens! (uhhhh, you don't get nearly as many eggs from dead chickens....)
You know, I've seen endurance vets leaning on horses. Well, on MY horses, because they were holding still. Many endurance horses don't hold still, of course, so it isn't really an option. But Story and Hana were both into standing still in their careers, and even the Toad learned. Dr. Jenn herself leaned on Toad more than once. I expect that Fiddle would be able to support a whole raft of weary endurance vets, by virtue of Bigness!
hahahahaha!
Lytha, are you coming up to Renegade this year? It's on July 4, a great chance to get away from noisy fireworks...!
Baasha is a very fortunate horse to have a grapevine growing on his stall. Talk about the lap of luxury... My vet looked at me oddly when I was leaning on my horse when he came out today. I have this habit of putting my arm around my horses' backs and leaning my hip on them when they graze or when I am holding them still and waiting for something. I kind of view it the same way as you might put your arm around your spouse's waist or shoulders when walking together.
While it may have been a shock it does make sense that the vet would ask "That Question". After all horse meat is not a big dark secret there. (or at least that's my understanding)
And just for the record I've had a few vets lean on my horses. They're always the vets that are much more comfortable with horses in general (ie they own one or at least ride). It always seems to be the vets that just plain old get on with horses better that do the lean. And they're also much more likely to pet or scratch the horses too.
As I said..I think its a standard question here, because it's also written in our cat's passport..this "eat" thing :-)
Mikesch got a broken leg yesterday, I dont know how. Maybe the new "nice" neighbour with his dog knows more??
Perhaps it's a "psychologic thing" with the vets? Leaning on the horse means building up confidence and closeness? I dont know..or their back hurts because of always lifting up horse legs?
WHP - I used to read all meat labels to be sure it didn't contain horse, but I eventually learned that horsemeat is a delicacy, they don't stick it in wurst unless it's clearly marked "Horse Wurst" - gah.
The vet said horse slaugher in Europe isn't as nice as I thought it was - he specifially mentioned the Englanders, that they don't slaughter, but they import the meat for eating. So the horses do take long truckrides and often get broken legs "accidentally" for insurance payments. Horrible. I didn't want to hear that. I thought horses were slaughtered individually here, at home, but I guess not all of them.
I really hate salami and now I hate it even more.
Leah, I can just picture it, you telling him "Dinner plate in France!" when he's naughty.
Aarene, I'm afraid I'll never forget Mac trying to kick Dr. Jenn, I was so horrified and she just took him away from me and he'll never do that to her again. Yah, so American vets lean too huh? I think it's worldwide: )
July 4 is a big party at my sister's and the entire family wants to celebrate properly - especially since Joerg hasn't seen many July 4ths in his life: ) Visiting an endurance ride would just make me miserable, anyway. Last night I had a dream I went to an orienteering ride to volunteer (who does that?!) and no one knew me, all the riders and even the manager were new, and put me to work sweeping the driveways. I woke up so depressed - I really need to hook up with a horsey sport here, an outdoors one. I decided today that I'm gonna stop in at every tack shop in the area and ask about horse sports. If you think about it though, not many tack stores in America even know about orienteering. I got seriously lucky discovering it myself.
NM, you can lean on your horses cuz they're yours! That's the difference!
Cdncowgirl - Canadian vets lean too! You're right - they're just showing their comfort level with horses.
Keia, could you catch him to bring him to the vet?!!??? How awful! Well, at least you don't have to put him down due to a broken leg. Poor thing!
Oh, of course I was at the vet with him yesterday. She numbed him and then x-rayed and said we cannot do anything than leave him in that motorbike room until the bones connect again. He sleeps a lot, I tried to feed him with tuna and water, but he refuses. Poor old boy!
Interesting! Many people must send their horses to slaughter? Or is a tetanus shot a requirement or something in Germany right before you send them to slaughter, or something that they would not do? I like the idea of you and Baasha being buried together. Sweet. I have NEVER had a vet lean up against my horse while talking to me. I wouldn't lean up against your horse while talking to you. Maybe mine tho! :)Just another cultural difference I suppose. Back in the loop, can't wait to catch up on your blog Lytha!
--Mindy
PS. What exactly is orienteering? Sounds like something I might like. Finding your way with a map and compass on horseback during an endurance ride? Am I close?
Grin.
Slainte'
--Mindy
That's pretty funny. But maybe like most animal people they are just attracted to your arab. It's new and interest and ya know since the BS series and all everyone wanted one as a kid. I think it's rather cute they all want to lean on your horse.
I get the impression from your comments that having a horse over there is an oddity? No? Like people who own big cats are here in the states...
I have a friend who quotes an old horse trainer:
"We could have easily chosen to ride cows and eat horses."
I mentioned that I don't eat cows, but got the point.
It's tough for me to think of horses as livestock, but it's equally tough to understand people who sell off horses constantly, especially since they do get emotionally attached.
I have a non leaning vet. He's pretty young though.
Glad to "hear" you online again. Orienteering sounds fun - is there a good website to learn more?
Oh my goodness! You will be local! We live a bit south of Seattle and found your blog via Rainier Hoof Recovery's blog (Pat Wagner).
I, too would have been stunned to have someone ask me if my beloved arab saddlebred was for consumption. Are you out of your mind?! Good answer with the dog question, right?
And too funny about the vet leaning - because I was thinking the same thing as the other commenter - how horses lean on vets and farriers sometimes!
For me, because I'm deaf - I tend to stay closer to the horse to ensure that they are very aware of my presence. My mare rather babysits me this way - she will be very careful of all my limbs when she knows I am near. But I agree -it's a sign of familiarity, and others shouldn't neccessarily be doing it with your horse.
Lovely blog - enjoyed reading your post! Enjoy those flowers for me :)
There is no culture of eating horse flesh in England, not since it was prohibited over a millennium ago by the Church as a "pagan practice". Aged horses used to be sent to the hunt kennels for slaughter and feeding the hounds, but now because of new laws one has to pay the vet to euthanase the horse and a contractor to haul the carcase away and dispose of it.
The worst culprits concerning live international shipments of horses are the Italians and, to some degree, former communist countries in Eastern Europe. Inevitably the mob is involved in this trade. There have been long campaigns against live international shipment of horses and other livestock, and finally the law has been tightened (though perhaps not sufficiently). The next problem will be the appalling conditions in abbatoirs, especially those in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Jacksonsgirl - I'm writing a whole blog post about orienteering cuz it's really important to me and I want people to learn about this sport that is so unheard of! I talked to another vet today about the slaughter issue and it's really odd to me. The horse's meat must be free of any meds before they can be eaten, that's why they track it all in the horse's passport. I don't know how many riding horses here end up eaten, I'll be sure to ask people. I do know one lady who had her TB butchered after she was too old to ride.
Stephanie, I think having an Arab here is odd, from the reactions I always get. The horses here are mostly either huge warmbloods, or Haflingers. Lots of Fjords too, and someone started importing Quarter Horses and now they're huge here. Although I've seen a TWH, I've never seen an Appaloosa, Morgan, ASB, or miniature horse here. They have spotted horses that look like Appys but they're not (you can tell by their thick manes and tails) and they have "mini shettys" that are just small shetlands.
Breathe - Workin on the orienteering post now! Thanks for reading: )
Rachel - Thank you and welcome: )
WHP - PAGAN practice? Weird! Gotta get up there and see that land of yours! I'm just dying to visit. I read about a huge horse statue being built 20 miles from London - is it true that it will have a bridle on?
Gah! What an odd question to ask for someone who obviously cares deeply for their horse. weird!
I'm not a rose person either. And my favorite flowers are geraniums. But those roses sure are pretty :)
I agree about the rudeness to lean on your horse as if it is furniture.....well actually most polite people wouldn't even lean on someone's furniture without being invited. Maybe Baasha is being treated more like a wall. So callous to treata horse like that, I think. Would they lean on you, too, without asking?
Hmmpf! pah!
You know what you could do to keep Baasha away from those grape leaves? Install a bit of hardwware cloth, you know, the stiff wire 'fence' with the tiny squares? You could even just attach it to the lowere portion of Baasha's window, so the most of the leaves would be safe, but it wouldn't detract from Baasha's view at all. Just a thought. :)
I think that window with the leaves frames his handsome face just beautifully! :)
~Lisa
I just read your final comment, Lytha. I can't wait to read more about Orienteering on horseback from your perspective. It sounds like something wonderful from the way your words drip with fondness whenever you mention it :)
Oh! And I wish we had more Fjords here like you do in Germany. That breed is my dream horse. :)
The closest I've found to me are in Canada and if there ais a rare Fjord listing in the states they are way too pricey for my budget with shipping, etc.
~Lisa
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