My trip to the Dover Saddlery

"Mommmmmmmm, Can we go to the Dover Saddlery today???"     

5 minutes later.

 My sister and I are now making lists of what we need. My list included a a grooming kit, new breeches and treats for Star, my beloved pony. Yes. Of course there was more things on the list, I just don't feel like listing them all.

2 hours later, at Dover.

"Ahhhh, it's so warm in here" said Rachel, as we walked in the door. I agreed but didn't say anything. The warmth felt very inviting.

"Ohh. Lauren just look at those fuzzy jackets! They look so comfy!" Next thing I know, Rachel is just drooling all over them. Of course in the bag they go.  I would have gotten one, but I have other plans with my money.
Ok. Not exactly going to my plan ,Mom got to decide where to go first: to try on breeches. I tried on one pair of Equistar pants. They fit pretty well I thought, so I asked Mom to buy them for me. That was basically the only thing she bought for me, except for a five-dollar pair of gloves. I bought everything else with my own money.
After what seemed like one million years, Rachel was finally done trying on breeches.
Yay!! I thought. Now I get to go pick out my brushes. I decided that Star's new color was going to be purple!! I chose purple because it matched my saddle pad;and in my world everything has to match, except my clothes of course.
As I raced down the stairs I thought: "What's the rush? I have plenty of time to shop." So I slowed down a bit.
The second I saw it, the purple box, it went right in my bag. Next I picked out brushes. Of course they were all purple. I had a problem finding a hoof pick. It was either a hoof pick  that was black and red with a brush on one side and a pick on the other, or a purple hoof pick that only had a pick. I went with the purple one.
Then, it's treat time!!! (Star you better appreciate me buying you extra treats!)I picked out a small salt lik-it and a bag of peppermint treats.
Next we go to pick out a saddle pad for Rachel. Rachel being as impatient as she is she said this " Mom, I don't want a saddle pad with my name on it. It takes wayyy to long for the people to sew it on. Oh and I forgot then we have to drive all the way back up here in 5 weeks or so." Rachel ,Rachel Rachel, so impatient I thought.
Well, she ended up getting a bold blue saddle pad (not a very good color on Star. No offence or anything Rachel.)
After that we picked out some zocks (riding socks) and some riding gloves. Rachel picked out blue and purple gloves and I can't quite remember what zocks she got. I got two pairs of black gloves and green zebra zocks!
The bad thing about zocks is that they are bad to have on in the winter because they are so thin. My toes like almost froze off once . Lucy kept telling my to put my heels down but it was pretty darn hard because my toes were numb!
Then we checked out and went home, pretty satisfied .
~Lauren

Horse Slaughter Poem: I might send this to Declan!!

A horse slaughter poem from the Horse's point of view:
 
We would always ride
You would constantly be by my side
Taking care of me
Grooming, Bathing, and hugging me
We made a great team
With you riding and me moving
We would always win
Even if we get last place to the judges
You will never not  be #1 to me
Or so I thought


At the show:
Ok. This is it I thought
The last jump
1,2,3 oops!
 We had crashed down to the ground
This could not be good
Where did you go?
I can't see you anywhere
Oh well. I'll see you tomorrow I guess
Tomorrow:
 I was waiting
Waiting for hours and hours, for you
But you never came
Finally, I saw a truck with a big trailer attached to the back.
I simply assumed that I would soon have a new friend
A new stable-mate
But I was far off
I never suspected I would be in that trailer
In the trailer:
In the trailer,I saw other horses
They look sick, horrible, skinny and weak.
Some are even falling to their knees
I just hope I don't end up like that
The ride up there took a really long time
We had to live in each-others poop
We got no food or water
Nothing at all
I still wonder where we are going
I also still miss you
Finally the truck parks and we are all unloaded
Slaughter house:
Next thing I know we were led into a skinny path of cement
Where does it lead to?
Boom! Whoa! Where did that come from?
Now we are moving the line up slowly
I am third in line
My friend Winnie and I are talking about why we are here.
Boom! Again, what is that noise?
Winnie murmured something about "pain" under his breath and went into the ring
What will they do to him?
The human holds him firmly in place
Then my other friend Lily distracts me by asking me what is going on
I tell her that I am trying to figure that out
Boom! Winnie? Winnie? Where did you go?
Next thing I see is Winnie's body sprawled across the ground, blood dripping out of his head
This could not be happening
Winnie was dead
Now they start cutting him up into pieces
When they are done, they lift him up and take his carcass away
Great. It's my turn to be skinned alive now
I try to get away by bucking and rearing, but it simply wouldn't work
After a few more tries I gave up and stayed still
The human aims his gun at my forehead
"Get ready" I told myself silently
Boom! All the pain just soars through my body
Aching pain
So I collapsed onto the dirt, pain all gone
I can't feel a thing
At least I don't have to suffer anymore
I just hope that I don't end up on someone's dinner plate

But now I am mad, at you
Why did you send me through this horrible process
Was it because of my little mistake?
When I tripped over that jump?
Well I don't care about you anymore
I shouldn't
Did you really have to send me here?
I mean I knew you were mad but seriously?
I thought I was a marvelous horse
But clearly I was wrong

Stop the Slaughter, Stop the Abuse, Horses are our friends.

~Lauren

Teaser for my book

Jenna is a 13 year old girl who is loves horses. She has been riding for almost 3 years now. She has placed in every show she has entered. All she needs is her own horse. When her parents finally agree to buy her one, she freaks out in happiness. It takes a while but they finally find the right match:Shadow. Shadow’s previous owner was a little shady and didn’t give much information about Shadow’s past. After a little training and getting to know Shadow a little Jenna (without thinking very much) decides to enter a show.
Getting ready for the last jump on the cross country course. It was pretty big Jenna thought.”One,two,…” She never got to three.
The crowd showed mixed emotions as Jenna hit hard solid ground.
Jenna had no clue what was happening. “Get her on the stretcher!” someone had screamed.”Take her to the ER!” shouted another.
Her parents were burying their face into their hands. Sobbing as loud as they could. Crying their hearts out. Screaming”Why? Why?”But finally her Dad went to check on her. She didn’t look so good.
Everyone was afraid she was dead. That people hadn’t reacted as quick as they should have.
Comment on what you think. Should I write the whole book?
~Lauren

My latest riding lesson

At my latest riding lesson I was walking to the tack room to find Star's tack when this women was leading this horse"Carmelto" out of his stall when he suddenly bolted right past her and was now running loose. Everyone was thinking that he was trying to run away. Well they were sorta right. Carmelto was running away, to his true love in a separate pasture. Carmelto and his love ( I don't remember her name) have separation issues so they have to stay in different locations. They are the only Mountain horses there so they have a lot in common. They got Carmelto back into his pasture just fine after that.

Today Lucy couldn't teach me because she was celebrating Christmas in England with her family,so this substitute teacher Betsy taught me. Betsy had taught me a couple times before because Lucy had broken her leg. So Betsy walked into the barn with this horse (I also can't remember his name) if he got spooked he would do a back flip and land on top of you. Well sometimes. Betsy said she really liked this horse because his gaits were nice and smooth.

While I was riding Betsy told me about this person who was riding and had never jumped before. A couple days ago her horse had jumped a 3ft oxer BACKWARDS. I mean it's bad enough that she had jumped that thing in the first place but seriously it had to be backwards!  Wow. I feel really bad for her. If that had happened to me I would be so scared!

And that was my latest riding lesson

~Lauren

I am thankful for horses

As a lot of you know , I love horses. Horses are a HUGE part of my life. Friendly and caring ,they almost always know what to do. They can even save your life sometimes.

I am thankful for a lot of things. I am most grateful for horses though. Some other things I am grateful for are : friends, family, food, water, and shelter. Again, I am still most thankful for horses.

Horses will take you on trail rides through beautiful meadows, or dirt covered roads. They will enjoy it just as much as you do.Horses can make great companions. It is almost like they can feel just as you do. Sometimes if you are nervous while riding, your horse will be too. Strange huh? Horses can be extremely silly sometimes. For example: A couple minutes  after I fell off Chamber, he tried to make me feel better by bobbing his head and sticking his tongue out. Again weird right? They are like friends a lot.
Great examples of horses saving peoples lives are in the book Horse Miracles.

At my second cousin's house they have the sweetest horses ever. Their names are Bubba and Baby. Bubba, will follow me anywhere I go. Literally he even followed me on the road! All you have to do is whistle and Bubba will canter over to you. He will rub against you a lot. He is so cute! Bubba is a dark bay thoughobred.

Horses love and care for us.

We should too.

~ Lauren

Horse Slaughter legal?

      OK so I write that blog. I spent so much time on it and this is my karma? I was looking for pictures of horses online and it said: News for Horses.The headline says: Horse Slaughter becoming legal in U.S. maybe even in Florida. Again. This is my karma? Well it shouldn't be. Horse slaughter should be illegal forever. Like every hour or so some more information will be posted online. Really? I can't believe some people actually approve of this. Horse Slaughter is so cruel. And to think that someday French Fry or Star could be there, it's just too sad to think about.

    There was a 5 year ban on horse slaughter staring in 2006. But since it ended my question is "Why didn't you just make another ban?"Maybe because too many people wanted to eat horses. I don't know.

    What I am trying to say is horse slaughter is cruel.

    Stop the slaughter. End the abuse. Horses are our friends.

~Lauren

Horse Slaughter

 Today I was watching videos of pretty horses galloping around on fields until I saw this video about horse slaughter. I was curious, so I watched it and then I cried. I mean it. I seriously cried so hard saying, "Why God? Why do you let these horrible people kill these beautiful animals? What did they ever do to you?" Turns out it was because they could sell the remains of the horse for a ton of money. I think that is a terrible reason. I tend to cry a lot, but seriously, I was heartbroken this time. Horses are our companions, they aren't meant to be slaughtered. I truly love horses and this was one of the most sad moments of my life. I never thought that human beings could be so cruel.

         This is the process. First they will unload the horse into the skinny path made of cement. One by one they enter the slaughtering ring. If the horse refuses to move they will slap it on the rear end with a crop. Next the horse will enter the ring. The slaughterer will give it a minute or two to explore its surroundings. Then when the time is over they will do it. They kill it. It's all over now. No more having a great life, going on rides, showing, and just plain living. And most of the time the horses are pretty young.They kill each horse by shooting it in the face. :( If you are a horse slaughterer think again. "Why do I do this ?" This is truly saddening.

         Another reason that people will send their horses to slaughter farms, is because they either made a mistake and accidentally hurt the rider, or the horse is not as perfect as the rider wishes it to be.

Remains of the horse are sometimes in:

• lubricants
• polish
• soap
• cement
• ink
• lipstick
• Jell-O
• gummy candies
• pet food
• agricultural feed
• crayola crayons
• cosmetics
• lard
• and gel in canned meats

         Gross right? So next time that you eat jello, think about what it's made of and decide if you are really that hungry. And don't forget the poor horses that you might be eating.

                Did you know that selling horse meat became illegal in the U.S. in 2006? People must really not like horses to slaughter them illegally. Some people are so desperate that they will even send their horses to Mexico or Canada just to cause them pain. Most of these horses probably had a good life, (like us).What if someone you thought loved you, sent you away to be killed? How would you feel? Can you imagine waking up each morning knowing that you are going to kill a horse? I sure couldn't! Or could you possibly picture yourself eating one? No way for me. Guess what? Over 100,000 horses die from slaughtering each year. It is a tradition around Europe and Asia to EAT THEM!

           Quick message to the horse slaughterers out there: "Why do you slaughter horses?" Well if you say" Because I want to make more money" As a true horse lover I think that is probably the worst reason for anything in the entire world! And I can guarantee you, someday killing horses then selling them for people to eat will be stopped everywhere. Horses are like us humans in a way. They can feel the pain just like we can.

        You know what? What if instead of sending your horses to slaughter houses you can put them in your local SPCA? That would make a huge difference! But that's a whole different post. If you help me together we could change this cruel world. Horses are our friends.Stop the slaughter.End the abuse. Watch these videos please. They are the exact same ones that made me cry. :(

http://youtu.be/cgvhOyvcC3I

http://youtu.be/EWtih7oahmI

http://youtu.be/CBWN6TMAQJI

~Lauren