honor the oldest and most faithful companion in humanity

UN News visited the farm to mark the first World Horse Dayestablished this year by the United Nations General Assembly. By creating the day, the Member States have sent a clear message: animals deserve to be treated with care and respect.

A faithful companion

Former battlefields with modern therapeutic programs, horses have been on the side of humanity for millennia – but in the world of high technology today, few remember this heritage.

“The horses did not just help us to survive,” explains Marisa Striano. “They built America with us. They plowed the earth, they transported people. ”

Many cultures worship horses not only for their strength, but for their spiritual presence. In Mongolia – the country which introduced the resolution of World Horse Day – horses are sacred, at the heart of national identity. Children there often learn to ride before they can walk and folk songs celebrate the loyalty and nobility of animals.

Fading

Once the main mode of transport of humanity, the horses have been largely replaced by machines. Today, they are mainly in sport, tourism, therapy and entertainment. But this change does not mean that they have lost their place in human life. “Horses have not lost their value – we have just stopped seeing it,” explains Roano.

A second chance

Sick, aging or retired horses are often shipped to slaughterhouses in Canada or Mexico.

“Imagine working for 15 years, giving everything, then being thrown just because you have aged,” explains Striano. “These are the horses we take. We give them more time. A second chance. »»

The farm houses 19 horses rescued, including retired police horses, old reproductive stallions and even old Amish work horses – each with its own story.

“One of them is Gus – he is 107 years old in the human years,” explains Striano. “He was a therapy horse, but in the end, he started throwing children. Now he is retired and in love with his blind companion, Ramona. They are inseparable. It is the soul of the horse. »»

Emotional congruence

Horses are not only aid – they are deeply emotional, intuitive and highly social beings. With a vision nearly 360 degrees and an increased sensitivity to their environment, horses are naturally listening to emotional states, explains Striano. This makes it ideal partners in therapeutic contexts.

At the promise of Spirit, horses work with disabled children, survivors of mistreatment and older adults with dementia. A horse can calm an anxious teenager or bring joy to someone who thought they had forgotten how to feel it.

They are often called “emotional mirrors”: horses instantly take up the true inner state of a person-even if the person is not aware of it.

“Horses are 100% emotion. They don’t lie, and they can’t bear others, ”explains Ms. Striano. “If you say that you are well but inside, you will collapse, they will feel it – and will move you away. But if you are honest – even if you are sad or angry – they will stay with you. »»

This sensitivity makes it remarkable companions for those who experience sorrow, dependence or trauma. A moment stands out alive for her.

A young man came to the farm at the start of his recovery from drug addiction. Dressed in a hooded sweatshirt with pulled sleeves, he seemed constantly on guard. At the time, the farm had a horse called Heartbreaker. Although she has passed since then, Striano remembers what happened then with AWE.

“She approached him and simply accepted him,” said Ms. Roano. “She looked at him as,” I see you are broken. I am too. But this is not the end. You can always love. »»

The two entered the paddock together. Heartbreaker is lying on the ground, and the man was sitting next to her, placing his face on his body. For half an hour, they were sitting there in silence.

“It was a complete peace,” recalls Ms. Striano. “Confidence without words. Presence without conditions. ” Then the young man’s mother approached. Heartbreaker, who had been calm and sweet, suddenly agitated – sniffing, throwing his head, trying to free himself.

“She acted as if she wanted to protect him from her mother,” she said. “I rushed to direct sorrow. And the young man turned to me and whispered ”, she hides behind her religion, but she did not forgive me. She will never say it – but the horse has seen it. »»

For Ms. Striano, it confirmed something that she saw again and again: horses do not respond to appearances, only the truth. “They don’t see the mask. They see the soul. And it is their power. They see us for whom we are really – and always choose to be with us. ”

Between care and exploitation

The debates around the exploitation of horses are underway: carriage horses at the race industries and industries, where is the border between tradition and cruelty?

“I hate the race,” said Ms. Striano. “Maybe it had a goal once. Now it’s just a matter of money. Horses are pumped with drugs, locked up, used. Then shot down. »»

At the same time, she recognizes that ethical questions are not always clear. “I do not believe to sacrifice one soul for another,” she said when they asked her questions about horses pulling cars for Central Park tourists in New York. “These horses nourish whole families. We have to find a balance. But we must never forget: horses are not tools. They are living beings. “

To forgive and love again

For Ms. Striano and the horses she takes care of, the farm is a place where confidence between species is rebuilt. She considers her work as a privilege – a daily chance to be with creatures who know how to forgive and love again, no matter what they have experienced.

“When I enter the paddock and they come to me – I thank them. Every time, ”she says. “Because a horse is pure. They are not with you because you broke them – they are with you because they have chosen to be. And that means everything. »»

A day to say “thank you”

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Fao), there are about 60.8 million horses worldwide. The United States has 2.41 million horses and ponies in 63,000 farms, while the European Union is home to around 7 million horses and 800,000 jobs in equestrian farming, sport and tourism. In Mongolia, there are 3.4 million horses – almost one for each person.

Beyond sport and industry, horses, donkeys and mules are vital for rural life. According to research from the World Animal Health and FAO Organization, 112 million work equines support the means of subsistence of some 600 million people in low and intermediate income countries, helping to transport water, food and much more.

On July 11, the first world horse day, the UN invited the world to say “thank you” to the faithful companion of humanity – for their work, their confidence and their patience. To stay by our side – and help us heal. “A horse is a gift,” explains Ms. Striano. “And we don’t have the right to lose it.”