Merlin working nicely in the carriage
Yesterday I heard that the prime mister of Australia said that ‘the elderly were a burden on society’. So what does he suggest? Get rid of them? I am really incensed by that comment and the connotations attached. I believe our elderly are to be treasured, they are like our libraries, if we just take the time to listen we can learn so much about life, our history, our heritage, their heritage, so many experiences that we can draw from. A quote I once saw read “When an old person dies another library closes”.
Many of our older citizens don’t work any more but what about all the years they did work and contribute to society, what about all the grandparents that care for and mentor the young, all the retirees that give their time to participate, and often run, volunteer organisations that help many, many others in our society, isn’t that worth something? None of us want to grow old but we don’t want to die either. So lets just hope that if we stay on this earth for a while we aren’t treated like a discarded race horse.
Speaking of discarded race horses, our two trotters are also valuable members of our society. Not that long ago they were being put on a dog truck to be turned into dog meat, luckily we were given an opportunity to buy them first. They had been purchased as young stock and imported from New Zealand at great expense. They spent 6-7 years racing and earning money for their owner and then, when they were no longer able to earn money, they were considered useless, a burden on the owner. So its off to the doggers to have their heads cut off! Discarded like vegetable scraps.
Both these boys, Merlin and Bud, are now working really nicely both under saddle and more importantly, in the carriage. Bud is the main carriage horse for Riding for the Disabled but Merlin will start doing the same this year. These two ‘old and discarded’ boys are not a burden on society, they are in fact, very useful and treasured members of our community and of our equine family. The work they now do is worth more than words can portray.
So to finish, an extract from Desiderata “take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surendering the things of youth”… and may we all grow old gracefully and with respect.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:50 am
Well done I am 64yrs old and was very upset with Mr Rudds comments,I too have a couple of “old horses” in their 30’s and they are such a joy, the mare loves to give all the grandchildren a ride and is so careful with them. Let’s hope someone gets thru’ to Mr Rudd and makes him realise the treasures that older folk can impart to the young.