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law of attraction
January 2009 
Little Girl Dreams, Big Girl Passion
Shelly
"If you see something that's wrong, you've got to do something about it."
Henry Spira
Have you ever awoke one morning to the feeling that there was something you have forgotten to do? I did this the other morning, but realized that the "forgetting" has lasted almost 18 years. As I lay in bed recalling all the strange synchronicities lately surrounding the horse slaughter issue that have been bombarding me from left and right and wondering what it was all about, it hit me.
In my late teens I was adamant about ending horse slaughter. I read everything I could, wrote book reports, donated to the cause.... whatever I could at that young age. It broke my heart that the animals I loved so dearly were being herded onto unsafe trucks and sent on the road for days without food or water, some of them being trampled to death on the way. Upon arrival the prognosis didn't get much better as they had to stand and watch their brothers and sisters being hung and gutted in front of them, knowing that they would be the next to die. I can remember feeling so helpless as a young girl but wanting so badly to make a difference.
Enter stage left, one husband, a home, college and a career. Somehow the mission to save the horses got replaced by the day-to-day requirements to get ahead. Little by little, outta-sight, outta-mind set in and I was too busy to barely care for my own animals, let alone save the worlds others. I shut down most of my dreams so that I could focus on the present obligations and for many years I thought they had disappeared.
Then one day my body gave me a reality check and I was looking at potential cancer as a future. Everything changed with that diagnosis. I suddenly no longer took for granted all the things that mattered most to me. I gave up "working for money" and decided to work for passion instead. I quit my job, downsized and took to rediscovering that heart-driven girl from my childhood who had been locked away so many years before.
This search returned me to animals and the passion that fueled my soul. I began working for the "Man Who Listens To Horses" and toured the country with him studying non-violent horse communication while I got paid to learn. This lead me to equine recovery and rehabilitation and I ran an allopathic rehab center for the owner while she was away for the summer. Being in both those environments reconnected me to the professional horse world and the terrible under-education, over-breeding problem that we have in this industry. Horses were being disposed of left and right, all in the name of profits.
Fast forward 1-1/2 years to a place called Zaadz. Since arriving here, unexplained synchronicities have been showing up in my space. The best way I can describe it is as if some force is pushing me to align with my Higher self and along with that comes my Divine purpose. I don't know from where this force is originating, but I know it is powerful and I welcome it open-armed. Possibly it was me aligning with my Higher self and then vibrating at a frequency for Zaadz to arrive. I don't know and really don't care. All I know is I feel like I am being reconnected to all the things my heart once longed for and being provided with the spiritual, physical and social abilities to do so. I am grateful.
Back to the horse slaughter issue, I wish I could say that in the last 20 years while I was "too busy", it had just disappeared. Unfortunately it has not. Horse slaughter as a business, in fact still exists and upward of 100,000 American horses are killed every year, on U.S. soil. This doesn't even include Canada and the killing over-seas. We are at least having discussions and proposing legislation now about ending it all, something that wasn't even considered 20 years ago. Unfortunately though, loopholes are still being found and the slaughterhouses still continue. We're getting closer, but not yet close enough.
What I do know is that the hunger that I had to end it years ago has returned with a vengeance. From whence it came I'm not sure, but people I don't even know are approaching me about the subject. I find myself reading pages and pages of material on the subject just longing to find the one small piece that will make it all end. I know that the answer has to be a win-win because horses are a billion dollar industry. There won't be a shift until someone can find a more profitable way to address this issue and a voice that everyone will listen to. Fixing this problem, like all others, will take a shift in consciousness.
I am reminded of Henry Spira facing the cosmetic companies when he first approached them about ending animal testing. No one wanted to listen and they certainly didn't want to change. Little by little he offered them a different approach, showed them how to save money by changing, created alternatives and ultimately did away with most testing. No one believed he could do it, not even PETA would jump on board. Still, he kept on with the conversations while working hard to see their side of the story, exercised great patience and understanding, and eventually got his way.
I can imagine what Henry must have felt like all those years ago. As I think about what it will take to end horse slaughter on a global level, I am overwhelmed. And once ended, what answers are there to offer the excess horses? I mean, what can one woman do up against the Thoroughbred Racing Industry, let alone all the other equine groups? Profit and ego are difficult enemies. But there inlays the answer, rather than being the enemy, I intend to become the ally and make the slaughter disappear as well. I intend to focus on the solution and not on the problem. The end to horse slaughter is near. I can feel it.
Truth be known, all horsepeople have one thing very much in common. We all have a deep passion and love for horses. If there were a way to let the horses live happy lives after their work was done, while still going about their business freely and profitably, I believe most horse owners would jump on board to make it happen. Having that many people FOR a cause is a one way ticket to success. The clue is to find that missing piece that will create the shift in consciousness.
I'm not quite sure how I will do it, but I am clear that I can. I certainly could have chosen an easier row to hoe. This one is a doozie and has the potential to pretty much alienate me from any horse owning friend I have and most future clients as well. That is OK though. I'm trusting that it will be enjoyable and fulfilling and that any work will be in support of the animals living better lives in the long run. It seems so small a price to pay in comparison to the sacrifice they make for us. I do it in gratitude. "God give me Grace."
(For more information on horse slaughter and what you can do to help, visit here)
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Beuatiful piece you wrote here. I appreciate your generosity sharing with us the details of your journey. I have two friends here in Ojai who are animal psychics/healers and others animal activists. When you arrive in Santa Ynez, i would be happy to introduce you.
Thank you Raymond. I appreciate that and will certainly take you up on it.
You are such an inspiration!!! I adore you!!!
Thank you Kelly. I know you to be a very wise horsewoman and I greatly welcome any ideas you have. Horse slaughter is just the symptom, the cause is a lack of responsibility at the core….. which in fact flows over into every other area of life as well.
Horse slaughter is not just a “horsepersons” issue. It is a reflection of the consciousness that needs to shift globally. We are shifting as we speak….. the more people on board, the faster the progression. We can all do this together. I know we can.
Hey Shelly,
You know I’m with you on this. Great post.
I agree all horse lovers have a passion for horses deep down. How that love is directed is different, but it’s good to know that love is always there especially if we’re gonna unite to do something about the slaughter.
Everytime I hear you talk about this something new emerges. Something solutional (<-- new word>
Brian David.
Thanks Brondu. I do know whole-heartedly that you are with me on this. I admire you so for the work that you do every day. Every horse that you buy from that killer auction and find a home for is one step closer to the cure. I am glad that we have each other to co-create a solution. Let's get as many people of like-minds on this as we can!
You've made me think of the Monty Robert's story and how it might apply to this topic. I will blog about it soon. How cool. You are helping me see solutions as well. It's synergy at it's finest.
Hugs to you and Dandy!
Shelly
Dear Shelly, I am on board - and I am in Texas, the hothouse of horse slaughter. I will do what it takes and am far from being shy. We need to find a win-win; otherwise it will be very had to get a buy-in from the people who discard of their horses after they are no longer useful to them for profit. Let's talk about the win-win solution and how I can help. I have been a bit swamped with work, hence no contact for awhile. Love, Harmony
We've got a great team thus far! I just finished watching ”The Secret” (thanks to your bro SixthSense) and was reinfused with what I already “knew” but sometimes forget. The “secret” to ending horse slaughter is to focus on a world free of equine suffering…. a world in which everyone respects and honors horses…..a world where horses run free in large feilds of grass and play with their herdmates….. a world in which horses don't work unless they choose to…. a world in which breeding is done consciously and selectively…. and all horse caregivers are compassionate, educated and dedicated.
Enjoy The Secret. It made me look at this and all campaigns in a completely different light.
Thank you for the link Harmony. These are exactly the things I am looking for. I am talking to “old fashioned” horse people because they too want the option of being able to choose what they do with their “property”.. ie: slaughter. In order to find a solution, we are going to have to create an option that is more “convenient or profitable” for the horseowners to choose. Once they are on board, the slaughter will fall away. I have some ideas of how to do this and I will share them in a blog shortly.
In the meantime, yes I DO believe that one comment can make a difference. That one comment may plant a seed that sprouts into a huge movement. We're not going to make a difference by pissing people off, we have to speak to them on a level field and find a win-win. I had subscribed to a Yahoo anti horse slaughter group two days ago but what I found was a bunch of angry people calling the accused nasty names and complaining about the problem. Rather than coming to terms with the truth of the matter and working in the direction of the goal, they are just attacking and fighting for what they want. All this type of energy will get you is an attack and fight in return. It no longer works.
What will work is all of us being civil and cordial and biting our tongues to be understanding of those who truly feel it is their right, and then finding a way to help them see that there are other viable options. We need to also be working on those options right now so that they are available and ready to implement at a moments notice. Yes, I am speaking of a shift in consciousness. And I know it is not the easiest route, but it is the lasting route. When someone chooses to end something, it is gone forever. When they are forced to, they continue to want it back. Let's put this thing to rest once and for all. I am off to the Reining Horse Invitational today, to begin doing just that. :-)
P.S. There is an awesome book about this type of negotiation called ”Ethics Into Action” by Peter Singer if anyone is interested.
PPS. There are a few approaches that can be taken now to temporarily(and possibly longterm) end the slaughter:
1. Horse meat is a very unhealthy source of food. Most horses are filled full of chemical wormers 4-6 times per year and vaccinated 2-3 times per year. Thus the meat is laden with chemicals that are dangerous for human consumption.
2. It is illegal for Americans to eat horse meat. Thus, there is no reason why American horses should be slaughtered for export when we don't even recognize it as an applicable meat source.
3. Horses are classified as “companion animals” not livestock. This is why it is illegal to eat them. They should be governed by the same rules as dogs and cats. It is a felony to abuse or purposely injure a cat or dog. The same should thus apply to a horse.
Please add any others that you are familiar with. Thanks.
Hey Shelly, I wasn’t familiar with that third item you listed on your post-post-script. Very compelling point.
Your attitude towards these things is the attitude that will get things accomplished. I’m loving it.
Brian David.
I will do more research on that one for you Brondu. I read it recently on one of the welfare sites and want to get the actual ruling to refer to.
Thanx for shining the light n this issue. Your passion is felt deeply.
The Secret also helped me view things in different light…to work FOR compassionate treatment of animals and people, not AGAINST slaughter and torture. It is a major shift, but one that is very important if we are determined to put a stop to this!
Multimedia is the key…The Secret proved that;) Pssst
Yes SixthSense!!!! That is the trick. Energetically it makes all the difference. I am getting really conscious about the things I write, say and do about this subject as well as everything else in my life. I am even going to go back and edit some blogs because I don't want that “past” hanging out there and being reactivated everytime someone reads it. I would rather they be focusing on the poisitve that I am desiring to create. Does that make sense?
Brondu, I have been doing tons of research on my above comment about companion animal vs. lifestock. In some sense I believe I owe an apology for expressing something that may not be fully true. It came from reading several animal welfare sites that seem to be expressing just “opinions”. I am getting conflicting evidence from many sources (AG related, HSUS, vets, welfare sites) Some of which even refer to horses as both livestock AND companion animals in the same paragraph. I will keep searching because I think by fault, you may have helped me stumble onto one of the solutions. There is HUGE potential if in fact horses are legally defined as companion animals.
Yesterday while I was at the Reigning Horse invitational I happened along an articles in a trade publication by complete synchronicity. I say synchronicity because I would have not have otherwise read such a magazine had I not been “called” to the event….ie: Im not “into” reigning. Anywho, I digress, the article was about horses who grieve. It went on to describe that PET scans are actually proving that horses can “feel” emotion. Granted, anyone who cares for animals already knows this to be true, but to avoid anthropomorphicism, the scientific realm needed “data”.
Good news! Brain research is showing that a horse's brain actually shows distinct activity and neurochemical changes that directly correlate to particular human emotions or mood states. Add to that, when classical signs of clinical depression are present in a horse and that horse is given a drug that is similar chemical makeup to ones used for human depression, the depression often times disappears. They are actually PROVING scientifically that horses grieve, feel fear, get depressed, show elation, etc. With that kind of evidence, any act that causes the discomfort of these animals will be able to be deemed as inhumane. Yay! First horses…. then onto cows, sheep, goats, etc. This is the type of evidence we need to change the system.
I will write more as I find it. Thank you all for helping me to co-create solutions. I love you all.
Your a big inspiration! That story was great, i really hope that i dont forget my childhood dreams (i do have a few years as i am only 16 years old) just like you, i want to end horse slaughter. I know that complaining wont do anything,… ACTION WILL! Next summer I might get to go to Monty Robert's special training program! I am looking forward to learning everything i can about horses from him! He is my hero!