Dear Editor,
I respond in empathy to a caring letter, ‘There should be an end to horse carting’ (SN, September 28), wherein the writer expressed deep compassion about the brutality inflicted on carthorses, and said the time had come to stop their oppression by cruel hands, and liberate them.
I am in awe that our developing country did not evolve from an antiquated system to set free the burdened horses and donkeys from bondage and enslavement by dishonourable owners who turn the whip on them. Given the scenario that the animals are made happy in their natural environment, the owners could now convert the carts to rickshaws as in India, heaving it themselves, and bearing in mind while under pressure, that this is the exact callous treatment their faithful horse endured. Do unto yourself as you will do unto others.
These working horses are doing hard labour all day toiling in the scorching sun to provide a living for the owners who exploit and humiliate them. I have witnessed lumber and cement being loaded for carthorses to pull fully loaded, oftentimes overloaded. I asked the Almighty how this lone horse was ever going to manage to pull this massive load and how far he had to go before being relieved of his burden or before he collapsed. Heaving scrap iron is common, with overladen carts and harsh methods of whipping the horse with the rope or hitting him with a stick being used.
Even when he builds up a momentum by trotting to heave his burdensome load, how can anyone take for granted, including the insensitive owner, that this horse is not under pressure? What are the chances that his shoes are worn out causing undue discomfort and escalating the likelihood of injury?
I join Mr Mahadeo Panchu and others in lobbying to bring an end to this form of animal brutality, and to unshackle carthorses and emancipate them. The owners need to evolve wisely.
Yours faithfully,
Zenobia Williams
