STABLE TALK
by Bruce Roy
published in The Draft Horse Journal, Spring 2006

Legislation which will preclude the slaughter of horses in the United States has sounded alarm bells throughout equine circles–This with good reason. There is no question that horsemen and women–we draft horse breeders included–must become proactive rather than reactive. There are several ways to achieve this goal. I suggest the following as a starter:

Politicians and bureaucrats, who are key to the success at the federal level, should receive our national breed publications, i.e. The Clydesdale News, The Percheron News, The Belgian Review, The Shire Newsletter, The Punchline, The Spot Light in America; The Belgian Banner, The Clydesdale Contact and The Percheron Broadcaster in Canada. The Secretary of Agriculture in America and the Minister of Agriculture in Canada are key politicians. Two or three civil servants in each Department of Agriculture would include the key bureaucrats. I would also suggest that The Draft Horse Journal be mailed to each of these individuals.

The breed associations in each of the American states and Canadian provinces are encouraged to follow this lead. However, this would be at the state or provincial level. I would also encourage each state and provincial association to place issues of these publications in the library of each university or agricultural college in their political division.

I would encourage those horsemen who reside in a federal politician's district to ensure their elected congressman or member of parliament receives their national breed publication. If this cost was shared, the few dollars spent would be money well invested.

Communication is important in our world, a fact we draft horsemen and women fail to recognize. We must make our presence known; politicians and bureaucrats must know we are a force to consider. At least that is how I see it.