Editor:
Re: Preventing animals from suffering (letter, Oct. 17 issue of the Grand Forks Gazette)
We don’t know you (letter writer) or you us. Take the time to call and talk to us.
The horses all have access to water 24-7. They do not have access to the river, they have shelter and trees to go under if they like, but most don’t.
As far as their feed, they are fed on a regular basis and as for quality, if it isn’t up to you or anyone else’s standards, feel free to contact the local farmers, as most of it is purchased locally and it is not moldy.
If you knew anything about horses, you would know you can’t feed “black moldy hay” as it is toxic and will kill them.
You also can’t feed top quality hay to a lot of these horses as it will cause them colic and possibly die.
As far as thin horses go, we receive them in poor condition and feed them and make them re-homeable. A lot of those horses come in mid-winter/early spring, as people don’t have enough hay, run out and hope for early grass.
It takes a matter of weeks for a horse to drop all its weight but months to put it back on. This is where we get caught in the middle, dealing with problems that others created.
Every year, we save and re-home 80 to 100 horses. How many of you critics can say that?
Our land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), and can only be used for farming.
If anyone out there doesn’t like that fact, too bad.
We will continue to use it as such. If you are concerned about animals and environment, by all means, bring money, buy a horse, heck, buy the entire property.
Make a nice park or whatever you like but until that day comes, we will continue to farm as usual.
The LaFonds, Grand Forks