Tractors, The Worst Thing To Happen To Horses!

Back when I was growing up in the 50's horses all looked pretty much the same because they had to become productive as soon as possible, and form follows function.

If they weren't productive by the time they were 2, they were usually sent to the mink ranch, people certainly didn't breed them.

An 8 year old horse was an ancient horse and had outlived its productive life and was usually disposed of. What vets there were were cow and pig vets, calling one for a horse was unheard of. If homeopathic remedies, effective or not, didn't work, everybody and his brother had an extra one they could part with because being without access to a horse meant going hungry.

We have made so many physical advances with the horse they can live useful lives often past their 30's. As soon as a problem occurs they seek the answers from an emotional public which is often all over the board.

Then banks started financing tractors if you were trustworthy. More and more farmers could have a tractor for less cost and effort. Tractors could be shut off and left when a task was finished, it never needed constant feeding and sheltering, and it would work a lot longer and more efficiently than a horse.

As the horse became more and more replaced by the tractor, there were fewer of them being used for production. Instead of breeding for form and function, they were bred for emotion and nostalgia.

Today we have horses of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions with designer breeders everywhere with people generally being more concerned with their own emotions than the inherent nature of the horse.

For over 70 years I have been more interested in the "vice-ridden" horses than the others. The mysterious horse problems I deal with are overwhelmingly based in misunderstanding the form and function of the horse.

If you wish to speak with me for any reason my phone number is 706 816-7190. If you miss me, leave your name and number and I’ll return your call. I do not return missed international calls so if you are calling from outside the U.S. email me at Marv@MarvWalker.com and we’ll set a time for me to be ready to answer your call.

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