A Message from Baxter the Horse

Hello there. My name is Baxter. I am a big horse. I live in Cumberland, Rhode Island. I’m writing to you because I think many of you are misinformed about horses. I live with 13 other horses in a stable owned by an older man and his family. Most of the horses here are owned by other people who keep their horses here. I belong to the family here at the farm. I have lived here all my life, 12 human years.

Until several years ago, I thought the humans took care of us but weren’t the ones responsible for us being here. But then I’ll never forget the day when Chive, an old horse that had just arrived from Illinois when he told me that he had learned the humans were actually responsible for us being here. Chive had more knowledge than any horse I had ever met. He taught us that many years ago, us horses were used to help humans and their things get around quicker. But then the time came when cars replaced horses, and we were no longer needed for our speed or our ability to pull wagons. Life as a horse is quite different now. Our biggest thrill now is being ridden or played with several hours here and there. It’s fun time, but only because the rest of the time is spent standing around. How often do you drive by a stable and see us standing around looking bored out of our minds? Well we’re certainly not faking it.

Where I think the misunderstanding that comes into play is that humans see that we enjoy our time with them and think we must love our lives the way they are. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Our time playing with humans breaks up the monotony of an otherwise boring and pointless life. Back in the days of horses being used for travel, horses were captive just like we are now, but having a real purpose must have given them some sense of worth. All of us horses get along well enough, but there’s only so happy a horse can be when in captivity. And there’s only so much fun a group of horses can have when they’re all depressed. Most horses have come to accept life as it is nowadays, but I still dream of running free. Another horse here at the stable, Hadley, spoke of horses like us that run free and aren’t controlled by humans. It seems hard to believe, but it also seems this is how things should be. I would forgive the humans for what they did to our species in the beginning. At least there was a practical reason they had for wanting our help. But without a purpose, our imprisonment is unjust and immoral. And I get mad at myself every time I let myself have fun with the ones responsible for taking away our freedom. But I can’t seem to change because to give up that fun is to give up the only time I ever have that makes me forget that I’m a prisoner.

I wish people would realize what they have done to us horses, as well as many other species of animals. I learned about cows and how there aren’t any cows that run free at all. I don’t even think they are a species anymore, having gone extinct when the last wild cow died. They are merely become a product now, used for milk and (gulp) meat. While I doubt there are many left, at least I can still dream about the horses that have no boundaries, no fences. Running free wherever they choose, exploring. Drinking from a stream, running along the ocean feeling the salt water cover my hooves as it comes and goes. That is my wish. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable wish. I just wish for the same thing America holds as its core guiding principle….freedom.