Those fatal fires

by Kate Romanenko

It is very sad when we hear of loss of life due to fire. Fire is scary, and can be very destructive.

As humans we often have the knowledge and opportunity to escape such a disaster, but unfortunately many animals never get that chance.

I am very big on giving God’s creatures all of the requirements needed, to the best of my ability. With horses I try to get as close to “ back to nature” as possible. I personally feel the number one requirement a horse needs is freedom to move 24 hrs a day. I have seen many horse suffer the ill effects of being stalled, the most tragic being killed by a barn fire. This could have easily been avoided if they had not been locked up.

There is a valuable lesson here. If we just give the horse it’s natural roaming lifestyle(which by the way, their circulatory system depends on it!) , those needless deaths would not happen.

Unless arson, or hit by lightning, I have never seen an outdoor shed/lean-to catch on fire and highly doubt a horse would run into one on fire.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to breed, race and show your horse with him living outdoors. Many people do it and their horses benefit from it.

We are the cave dwellers who enjoy our cozy beds at night, but horses are the hunted, with no day/night schedule. They eat, run, play and sleep when they feel like it.

My only wish is those of us who have lost horses due to fire would not rebuild those barns.

I prefer to spend my money on good fencing and outdoor sheds. Less bedding costs, less bad habits, less health problems, less “ me getting out of bed early to let them out”, less stall mucking, but most importantly no deaths due to fire. Remember “horse needs” not “ people needs.”