Democracy-what is that?
To say that I have lost just about everything I truly care about as a result of EI would be an understatement. I have lost my job, my horse, and my life as I knew it as a result of this outbreak. No, I don’t own a racehorse, no, I don’t contribute to our booming economy in any way more significant than paying my taxes and earning what I can so that I can pay some more.
We have are a country “ruled by the people” (loose translation of the Greek word democracy). My understanding of this system of government was that to be ‘ruled by the people’, each and every person must have a voice. It is our choice whether or not to use our voice, but when we do, it is my understanding that it is the government’s job to hear it.
The voice of Racing NSW has proven itself to be loud, emotive and eloquent. And so it should be; within the racing industry there are many people who work long hours, doing physically and mentally taxing jobs, and are paid relatively little. Track work riders each day risk their lives, sitting aboard a horse that is not yet old enough to be fully physically developed, traveling at the highest speed that horse can reach. I commend them. I commend the breeders who pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into producing the racehorses of the future, with no guarantee that there will be any return. It is so easy to lose a horse due to a careless injury, caused by something as simple as a rabbit hole, and have to begin all over again.
A voice not so loud is that of the sector the media has conveniently labeled the ‘pleasure’ industry. Perhaps the label is correct, professionals in this industry work equally long, hard days, earning minimal money (if they do manage to make ends meet at all)… Why would they do this, if not for pleasure? These voices are not so loud, these people do not contribute to our growing economy in the way the racing industry does - what is a mere tax when compared to the billions of dollars contributed by gambling? They go about their every day lives asking for very little, except perhaps a little compassion and respect.
The ‘pleasure’ industry covers all equestrian disciplines not related to racing. These include the Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing. Eventing in particular is a discipline in which we excel on the global stage. Eventers such as Bill Roycroft, Stuart Tinney, Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer, these are Olympic legends. They are names that people overseas recognise and remember. There are those in the ‘pleasure’ industry who spend tens of thousands of dollars breeding horses for the future glory of our country.
There are those who have lost these precious foals, these superstars of the future, and have gone without mention. These foals do not just represent a dollar value, they are a small, innocent creature, they have personalities and quirks, and they are loved deeply by those who have worked so hard to bring them safely into this world.
Is it fair to place a dollar value on a horse in an attempt to prove it is more worthwhile than another? Would you say that your faithful mutt is less valuable than one of well bred show dogs? Is one life more valuable than another, whether they be human or animal? Who has that right?In the same way, who has the right, in a democracy to decide that one voice deserves more attention than another, especially when they say the same things, only in different tones. When I picture democracy, I picture a room full of people, each speaking their views. Some yell and shout, some speak calmly and quietly, some, in the dark, back corner only just manage a whisper. In my picture of democracy each of them is heard, each of them is equal, no matter how loudly they may cry.
Where is our democracy, how are we to be heard? Or has that little corner grown too dark, too obscure, that none dare to venture there, lest they hear something just a little too confronting?
Keira, NSW
We have are a country “ruled by the people” (loose translation of the Greek word democracy). My understanding of this system of government was that to be ‘ruled by the people’, each and every person must have a voice. It is our choice whether or not to use our voice, but when we do, it is my understanding that it is the government’s job to hear it.
The voice of Racing NSW has proven itself to be loud, emotive and eloquent. And so it should be; within the racing industry there are many people who work long hours, doing physically and mentally taxing jobs, and are paid relatively little. Track work riders each day risk their lives, sitting aboard a horse that is not yet old enough to be fully physically developed, traveling at the highest speed that horse can reach. I commend them. I commend the breeders who pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into producing the racehorses of the future, with no guarantee that there will be any return. It is so easy to lose a horse due to a careless injury, caused by something as simple as a rabbit hole, and have to begin all over again.
A voice not so loud is that of the sector the media has conveniently labeled the ‘pleasure’ industry. Perhaps the label is correct, professionals in this industry work equally long, hard days, earning minimal money (if they do manage to make ends meet at all)… Why would they do this, if not for pleasure? These voices are not so loud, these people do not contribute to our growing economy in the way the racing industry does - what is a mere tax when compared to the billions of dollars contributed by gambling? They go about their every day lives asking for very little, except perhaps a little compassion and respect.
The ‘pleasure’ industry covers all equestrian disciplines not related to racing. These include the Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing. Eventing in particular is a discipline in which we excel on the global stage. Eventers such as Bill Roycroft, Stuart Tinney, Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer, these are Olympic legends. They are names that people overseas recognise and remember. There are those in the ‘pleasure’ industry who spend tens of thousands of dollars breeding horses for the future glory of our country.
There are those who have lost these precious foals, these superstars of the future, and have gone without mention. These foals do not just represent a dollar value, they are a small, innocent creature, they have personalities and quirks, and they are loved deeply by those who have worked so hard to bring them safely into this world.
Is it fair to place a dollar value on a horse in an attempt to prove it is more worthwhile than another? Would you say that your faithful mutt is less valuable than one of well bred show dogs? Is one life more valuable than another, whether they be human or animal? Who has that right?In the same way, who has the right, in a democracy to decide that one voice deserves more attention than another, especially when they say the same things, only in different tones. When I picture democracy, I picture a room full of people, each speaking their views. Some yell and shout, some speak calmly and quietly, some, in the dark, back corner only just manage a whisper. In my picture of democracy each of them is heard, each of them is equal, no matter how loudly they may cry.
Where is our democracy, how are we to be heard? Or has that little corner grown too dark, too obscure, that none dare to venture there, lest they hear something just a little too confronting?
Keira, NSW
posted by Horse Deals at
9:01 pm
1 Comments:
Amazing.
That was so well written, and I agree whole heartedly.
Us in the pleasure industry need to have our voices heard, just as much as the next person.
Cheers,
Alicia.
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