Advocate For The Horse

by Avery


Argument: Horses Need Shade


INTRODUCTION


This documentary project started by happen chance. It started in the summer of 2024. I was working on my house outside which required me to be on a ladder for several weeks. As chance would have it, my work area put me in a location to where I had a clear vantage point of a horse across the street. At first, my thoughts were as anyone else who saw the horse. It was simply a beautiful creature living in a pen in a backyard. But over the days, my senses started telling me the horse was displaying behavior of an animal in discomfort. The days were hot while mornings cool. I began to observe that the horse would demonstrate certain behaviors during the heat and other behaviors during the cool mornings. I would also notice the horse trying to stay in the early morning shade near some trees and would cling to every last sliver of shade as the shade would dissolve into the increasingly rising sun until there was no shade at all. From that point, the horse would be forced into total nuclear solar exposure. When I would walk into the sun, I could feel its intensity and as I would shade myself, I would look over at the horse and know that it could not step into the shade as I myself desperately needed to do. Simple logic made the problem clear and the horse's behavior validated the logical conclusion that the horse was suffering heat of direct sunlight. Other people who would pass by either in car, on bike, or walking and would only see a horse and think nothing of it. It was my constant observation for hours in each day and day after day that I realized with granular clarity that the horse was suffering.


It was a very strange experience to witness such a horrible torture on a helpless creature. The strangeness was from knowing that humans have had horses for many centuries and yet, how could many humans not know that horses need shade? That's when I would doubt myself and wonder if I was imagining this suffering. Then, my reasonable logic along with further behaviors from the horse would conclude that there is no way I am imagining this suffering. I know enough about the sun and biology and light waves, including UVA, UVB, and others in the blue to red spectrum, including Infrared. I also know about color absorption and reflection properties. This horse was black and therefore, the heat would be absorbed into the horse. Still, I would again doubt myself and wonder if there was some mystical thing about horses. After all, horses were not my expertise, but at the same time, this was an animal who would be subjected to suffering just like a dog, a lion, a giraffe, elephant, squirrel, human, etc. Why would a horse be any different? My logic returned and said, it is no different. When I would watch the horse, its behavior would prove my logic and reason to be correct. Still, why would so many other people not know this? How can that even be possible that so many do not know this? So, I began my research and my research results agreed.


The absence of this knowledge within the average person would yet again, come back to haunt me when I visited a neighbor and had a discussion about the horses suffering. I was visiting a neighbor and while we were talking on the front porch, the horse was vocalizing much noise and my neighbor asked me what is going on with the horse. I explained that it was suffering from heat exposure in the sun. I explained that I had started doing research and wanted to provide information to the owners of the horse in hopes they would respond intelligently and resulting in the provision of shade for the horse. A couple of days later, my neighbor told me that she had found out that the horse was an Arabian horse and that Arabian horses have adapted to the Arabian desert and do not need shade. But she never told me where she had acquired such erroneous information. And this is where I learned a very valuable lesson in journalism; always identify sources of information, but more on that in a later. I responded and said that believing a horse doesn't need shade is a ludicrous notion. Why would any creature not need shade from the largest nuclear power supply humans on earth have ever seen; the sun? So, there I was again, faced with the confusion as to why many humans lack knowledge of the obvious in this regard. But that does partially explain why so many people pass by or even stop by and visit the horse, but no one ever says anything about the horse needing shade. They simply do not have a grasp for the obvious truth. And worse, some of them must actually think horses do not need shade or perhaps, they simply do not think. How can humans be so ignorant, I thought. And here is where my important lesson in journalism came into play. I made the huge mistake of not identifying the sources of the erroneous belief about Arabian horses and in so doing, I assumed it was the owners of this suffering horse who made that statement to my neighbor. And from my assumption, I decided to write a report as if I were an attorney representing the horse, the horse would be the plaintiff, and the owners the defendants. In this manner, I wrote an aggressive defense for the horse which, naturally, would include biased assertions against the owners and their totally incorrect belief about Arabian horses. I didn't even yet know if the horse was, in fact, an Arabian horse. This error in judgment and failure to identify the source of the false belief would cause me a great amount of lost time as well as delayed defense for the precious horse.


After I wrote a terrific defense for the horse and a terrific attack on the owners error of belief, I provided a copy to my neighbor. After reading my work, she also informed me that it was not the horse owners that told her the Arabian horses do not need shade, it was her father, a third party of whom I had never met. Upon discovering the true source of the erroneous assertion about Arabian horses, I was instantly dismayed. I would now have to rewrite the document all over again and change the tone and tenor. This was horrible because I had approached the issue from the wrong angle. But I still really liked my document and it would still be appropriate for any owner who might harbor the erroneous belief about Arabian horse, but it was not necessarily appropriate for these owners. I had to fix the document and I had also made some videos that now needed to be corrected as well. Fortunately, my neighbor and I both knew the truth of the matter. However, the problem remained and I had more work to do.


I was very distraught at this point because I had hoped to have already helped the horse by now. The horse continued to suffer while I scrambled to correct my document. You might ask why I didn't just walk over and tell the owners? That is a fair question and it is my experience that people often do not listen well and that humans often respond negatively when they think they are being told what to do. They might tell me to mind my own business even though a suffering horse should be everyone's business. I figured a full research document would represent the horse better than just my verbal opinion. So that is why I wanted to make the presentation with facts and video. What I ended up doing is simply correcting the current documents in order to ease the presentation. Because of this, there will remain some of that courtroom style presentation for defending the horse against his abusers. And while I did correct the document as best as I could, I was short on time and therefore, it took much longer. The only good part of about the delay is that I was able to capture a plethora of additional video which further supported my argument. Now, let me tell you my current belief about the owners of this horse.


It is my observation that the owners love their horse. Or at least that is what I infer on the rare occasions when I see them with the horse. I don't think they even realize the horse suffers in the sun. They may very well be as oblivious to the problem as any other passerby. But that doesn't mean they will do anything about it; that I still don't know for certain because as of this writing, I have not informed them. And maybe they will resent me for trying to protect their horse. I just do not know at this time. However, it is my faith and expectation that they will respond positively and provide shade at all times as a response to this truth. It totally depends on their ability to see reality, on their sense of wanting to care, and willingness to get up and do something about it. And I would be glad to assist in constructing a shade. I already have a design in my thoughts. And that is where humans often deflect and redirect to resenting the messenger. “How dare you make me feel guilty”, some humans may react. My only apprehension is born from previous experience of people unwilling to face the truth. Facing the truth means being responsible and that means either taking an correct action or ceasing an incorrect action and that is where their contention with self will exist. That is where their growth will occur unless they refuse to grow in the truth and instead, foist an attack on the truth bringer by flipping the issue into some form of gas-lighting and asserting a conjured attack to discredit the source. Somehow, I don't think that will happen in this instance. I am expecting this to work out well for the horse, but I just don't know. Call it my high hopes. We will see. But whatever happens, consider this:


In some states, it is illegal to not provide shade for a penned horse. That supports my position. And think about this as well: If you intentionally slowly cooked a horse alive, it would be illegal. You would go to jail. So why is it legal to leave a horse in the sun all day, especially during summer. I have had a solar cooker and have cooked with the sun. Think about that. Do you really need to have this explained to you? Seriously, get a clue! And so my argument begins. Enjoy!


Video evidence in support of the following argument can be found at this web address: http://sunburnedhorse.com/mp4/

ARGUMENT


The following is an argument in support of required shade for horses. The purpose is to stop the abuse of one specific horse located at 2794 W 5275 N, Cedar City, Utah 84721. It is abuse to not provide shade to a domesticated animal of any kind. It is morally correct to offer shade to every captive animal and a legal obligation in some states. Unfortunately, not everyone has common sense and not every state has codified law to protect horses pertaining to shade. Some do not understand the simple requirement of shade and for those who would openly corral a horse with no shade, the law must step in and correct the situation to avoid horrific abuse to a helpless animal. In some states, the laws are clear on this matter, but in Utah, there is no specific law pertaining to horses. For this reason , the lack of law renders authorities powerless to enforce shade for horses. My intention is to expand Utah animal cruelty law to include horses. The following is Utah law regarding dogs:


Does Utah legally require shade for dogs?


Yes, under Utah's Libre's Law, dogs must be provided with shade when tethered, along with water. The law specifies that a dog cannot be tethered for more than 30 minutes in 90+ degree weather if it doesn't have access to shade and water. Additionally, Utah law criminalizes cruelty to animals, including failing to provide necessary care or shelter, which could encompass shade in certain circumstances.


So, why not for horses? Could we all garner a little common sense please?

This is a letter that I should not have to write. Nevertheless, I am morally obligated. Literally, I feel I am duty bound by God. But what truly drives me to write this letter is my own humanity, compassion, and more specifically, the pain I feel as witness to a moral crime of negligence toward a horse. There is misinformation and ignorance about horses and it must be corrected. We'll focus on the nation of Arabian horses, but this applies to all horses.

Some people have a false belief that they derived from a misconception about Arabian horses having more adaption to desert heat, but then misconstrue this to assume the horses don't need shade. These horse owners have what I believe to be an Arabian horse for which they do not provide any shade whatsoever. I do not know at this time what their belief is pertaining to Arabian horses, but the horse stands in the hot summer sun, suffering all day. The horse is clearly making behavioral signs of heat stress. Some signs of heat stress in horses are:



This Arabian horse is displaying every sign of stress listed above. Especially pacing. Remember, when riders finish working a horse, they walk the horses to cool them. Where and why do you think riders learned how to do this? From the horse, of course. Horses will naturally walk themselves cool and human racers will do this also. There are medical reasons for walking to cool down from previous exertions; and doing so is sometimes a natural response. In studying stress in horses, there are other signs as well, but require being nearer to the horse to monitor.

When researching cooling of horses, I find many expert sources, all of which include comments and instructions on having available shade. Let's look at some sample excerpts:

Source: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/keep-horse-cool-tips-313037
“If your horse has to stay out all day, ensure there is somewhere he can escape from the direct sun, such as some trees or a field shelter. If there is no permanent shelter, you could use some sheeting to rig up a safe, temporary area of shade, so the horse has the option to choose the shade if it wishes to.”

Source: https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/caring-horses-during-hot-weather
“Keeping your horse cool: Summer is a common time for heat-related issues, but unexpected warm weather can add to overheating, especially if horses are out of shape and have long, thick coats.

Overheating can result from:

Source: https://flairstrips.com/recover-faster/
THE IMPORTANCE OF A HORSE’S COOL DOWN
It is important for your horse to fully cool down after exercise. Not giving your horse the proper time or care in letting it cool down puts him at risk of heat exhaustion. If your horse is hot after exercising and does not properly cool down, he is not going to get enough oxygen or blood circulation, which traps heat in his muscles. In severe cases, this can cause neurological deficits or heat stroke. This can also put him at greater risk of pulling muscles."

Source: https://www.kbis.co.uk/advice/how-to-cool-your-horse-down-after-exercise/
“In more severe cases, not cooling down efficiently can result in neurological deficits, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”

Another quote:
"Bottom line: enjoy your rides in the sun this summer but remain vigilant for signs of heat stress in your horse. If they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cool bath, and a break in the shade."

And another quote:
HOW MUCH DO HORSES SUFFER IN THE SUN?:
"Effects of heat on horses. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can result in heat stress, heatstroke and problems such as dehydration, muscle spasms and colic."

If you want more information, just do a search for "why is it better to walk a horse to cool down" (without the quotation marks). Or any other creative search you can think of. There is plenty of information to see that horses need shade; all horses, including Arabian horses.

So, why do the owners of the horse not provide shade for the horse? There are trees near the horse, but the owners have confined the horse just out of reach of the trees during hot summer days. Occasionally I have seen the horse released from his smaller pen to a larger open area where there are trees, and the horse did, in fact, move himself into the shade under the trees (see this in my videos). So I know the horse wants available shade. The problem is that this horse is rarely released to have access to the trees. Instead, the horse suffers day after day in the hottest summer sun even when temperatures are 104 degrees or hotter. And being a black horse directly in the hot sun blazing through a clear sky, the temperature can be even hotter than the 100 degree plus ambient temperature.

The owners could easily leave access to the trees or build a shed for the horse so when it elects to move itself into shade, it could, but they do not make this provision. Some people assert that the horse is an Arabian horse, and as such, has adapted to the heat of Arabia. That's totally incorrect in regards to shade, but to them it's just that simple. And from this simple notion, they then make an leap of erroneous logic of their own fabrication to conclude the horse never needs shade and is totally and completely impervious to harm from sun. Even impervious to harm from sun during the hottest, most bright, sun-filled days of summer, including days with no breeze when the air is still and the sun is baking like an oven. Nothing could be more ignorant and erroneous than the such a misaligned understanding of Arabian horses. Leaving a horse, any horse, in the sun with no shade is genuine cruelty born from complete lack of critical thinking ability. Adapting to desert heat in general doesn't, therefore, also mean no need for shade. Those are two completely different concepts. To acknowledge one doesn't not excuse ignoring the other. Yes, they can handle ambient heat, but not without shade.

How convenient it is for a person to draw such a horrifically erroneous conclusion about a horse. If any horse owner can maintain a belief that the horse doesn't need shade, then they do not have to go through any effort to provide shade. It could be out of pure laziness that a person would make such a conclusion. It is so convenient and self-serving because they do not have to provide trees nor buy materials to build a shed to shade the horse. They do not have to put in any labor nor hire anyone to build it for them. They don't have to do anything for the horse, while they themselves sit inside a house all summer with air conditioning while they ignore the horse all day, every day. All they need to do to enjoy the convenience of their ignorance is to continue believing that the horse is not suffering. Furthermore, the horse cannot speak in human words, which is, again, convenient for the owners. We all know horses never spoke to express that they don't need shade. It is unreasonable to speak for the horse and do so against the horse's best interest. It's truly ludicrous to believe an animal does not need shade, and one should intrinsically know that a horse does need shade. A reasonable person would have to question the mental capacity of any horse owner who does not provide ongoing shade for their horse. When someone owns an animal, they have a responsibility to care for the animal.

I spoke with the Arabian Horse Association of America, and they said under no uncertain terms that all horses should be offered shade and then let them use it when they want to use it. Now that makes perfect sense. And they agreed that any human not providing shade for their horse is doing so out of convenience for themselves or in this instance, these owners my simply not be aware of the suffering. Again, it is my belief that the owners referenced herein are good people who love their horse at least enough to not want it to suffer. That too is my assumption by way of observation at this time. Hopefully, my assumption proves to be true when they provide ongoing shade to the horse.

Let's further become aware of the facts:
The sun is the largest nuclear power plant you will ever know. The Sun is a giant, natural thermonuclear reactor that converts hydrogen to helium in its core to produce the heat. It makes a host of harmful rays, including several ultraviolet frequencies and infrared. A small 1/2" magnifying glass can focus even a tiny bit of sun into a flame that can burn just about anything organic and even melt some metals. And that is only 1/2" diameter of sun. So what do you think it can do to a black horse all day long, every day all summer long? Imagine yourself standing out there that much, even with a hat and long sleeves. If anyone, even for a second, believes horses are impervious to such ongoing conditions, that person is disconnected from reality. But horses stand around in the sun all the time and seem ok, right? Well, not so fast. Let's look at the details:

I am not implying horses do not have tolerances just as do people, other creatures, and even plant life. But none are impervious to the sun all day every day. We all need shade. But let's focus on the horse. Many may think Arabia is all sand and sun, but that is totally untrue. Arabia has lush green areas near water, trees, pastures, and rugged mountains covered in lush green vegetation. That is where these horses come from. They do not come from the sand. And they have been bred, cared for, and housed by humans for hundreds of years. And yes, they are known to be robust for travel as servant horses, but no one with true knowledge of horses ever said they do not need shade. And it certainly isn't science to assert such erroneous conclusions. Let's get more specific:

First, the origins of the Arabian horse are not well known. Mostly, their true origin is speculative, but we do know some things. We know that they have been bred in several countries and have been domestic horses for a long time. To quote Trow Bridges LTD on their article Origin Of The Arabian Horse,
"The origin of the Arabian horse remains a great zoological mystery. Although this unique breed has had a distinctive national identity for centuries, its history nevertheless is full of subtleties, complexities and contradictions. It defies simple interpretation."

They go on to say,

"Other historians suggest this unique breed originated in the southwestern part of Arabia, offering supporting evidence that the three great river beds in this area provided natural wild pastures and were the centers in which Arabian horses appeared ...".

As can be seen, these horses originated and lived in lush pastures near rivers, mountains, and where there are trees. Yes, in Arabia, and other origins of the Arabian horse, and where they are cared for by humans (Turkey, for example), there are forests. Arabia is not one big sand dune, as some may think from watching many movies about nomads living in the deserts of Arabia. The horses lived at the peninsula and in the forested mountains.

Now, let's look at the first informational location where the misconception about these horses stems from. Taking a quote from US Equestrian,
"The famously hardy Arabian horse originated in Middle Eastern deserts, where it was prized by nomadic tribes as a war horse as well. Generations of breeding have enhanced the Arabian's natural soundness, its interactive personality, and its innate desire "to be there with you," as Richardson puts it. This breed is specially adapted for desert living, but today it is found around the world in a wide variety of equestrian disciplines".

Notice that the author never said that the horse does not need shade. Anyone employing common sense knows horses need shade. It is a false leap of logic to think the horse doesn't need shade from those simple statements. To hear that a horse was bred and cared for in a desert environment and then conclude that the horse doesn't need shade is, well, dumb thinking on account of the lack of critical thinking. It's really that simple, but let's continue the study of facts:

Note that the Arabian horse was domestic, and as such wants to socialize. Not much like a wild mustang of the USA that will fight hardily to avoid being domesticated (see the movie, “Hidalgo”). And note that the Arabian horse is being touted as being more sound for desert living. This is a man-made construct. This is touted out of pride as much as anything else, and so the story is told. But it doesn't say the horse can or should and even wants to stand in the sun all day and every day of its life. The notion that the Arabian horse doesn't need shade is an error in judgment, rooted in the idea that it is a horse adapted to desert living. It's a mental mistake to make the jump from "It's a robust desert horse" to "It never needs shade". That is a logical error and must be corrected because the mistake is causing suffering to many horses. Nowhere did anyone say with any fact that Arabian horses don't need shade. No one ever said that, except perhaps persons who make that erroneous characterization through a leap of false logic. Let me repeat for effect; saying a horse is adapted to desert living is not equal to saying it doesn't need nor want shade ever. Especially during hot summers. Use common sense and understand what the sun is from a scientific view. The sun gives life in proper proportion, but can also take life in excessive amounts; and in between that, is suffering and long tortuous days toward sickness. It is a moral crime to trap a horse in the sun all day.

So therein lies the problem. The horse was sort of made more robust through breeding, and to study further, it can be found as to why. To quote US Equestrian:
"Arabian horses are medium-sized (between 14.2 and 15.3 hands), short-coupled and possess a lean muscle mass. Their large lung capacity and efficient metabolism allow them to carry heavy loads over great distances in extreme heat and with little water."

The above description is about the horse when working. It doesn't say to leave the horse in the hot sun all day every day. The horse I am advocating for herein, is heat stressed all day, every day of summer when without shade or clouds. It is getting worse treatment than an Arabian horse in Arabia, who occasionally works for the owner who uses it for travel, but is housed with available shade when home.

The above seems to be the theme, and one of which is repeated when speaking about the Arabian horse. It's no wonder why few, if any, have written anything saying that which I am saying here. Just because it is a man-made desert-bred, slave horse doesn't mean it should not have shade. But humans make these types of erroneous leaps of logic. A wild horse can seek out shade, but a domestic horse contained by metal rail pipes, and thereby locked into exposure of hot sun with no choice is a moral crime. Fortunately, we are past the summer solstice as of this writing and as the sun traverses to the South, the horse will get some relief. But until then it continues to suffer, and unless these owners make positive changes for the horse, it will suffer again next summer.

There is one other area of informational distortion that should be understood. White-haired horses have pink skin and get sunburned more easily than dark-skinned horses. But that doesn't mean dark-skinned horses do not get sunburned. That's like saying black people from Africa do not get sunburned. Or that black people have adapted to the heat of Africa so they don't need shade ever. The color white also reflects infrared and other hot electromagnetic waves from the sun, but the color black absorbs the heat. The Arabian horse I speak of is black, and as such, will get hot from the sun's intense UVA, UVB and infrared energy waves. There is also red and blue light waves. The sun can support life and also kill. To know this, put your hand on my white metal garage roof in midsummer and you will feel that it is barely warm. Then put your hand on a black car and you will feel the burning. A black horse will get hot simply because of its color. Furthermore, using an Arabian horse in the desert as a slave for carrying loads long distances is different from it standing naked in the sun with no option. The slave horse is at least covered by its cushioning blankets and load, and it has a rider to care for it when needed.

This horse is also exposed to heavy dirt blasts from wind with nowhere to shield itself. It would be easy to attach posts to the horse panels to create a portion that could provide shade on the top and on the sides. Or build a simple stand alone shade with both top and West side shielding from summer sun. The shade trees that would otherwise be available to the horse are only a few feet away from the corral gate; maybe as little as 4 feet away. But the horse often just stands there looking over the fence at the shade. Simple observation will show that the horse is wanting to get past the fence and into the shade.


Search results for Arabian horses need shade:

Yes, Arabian horses, like all horses, need access to shade, especially during hot weather. While they are known for their adaptability to hot climates, providing shade is crucial to prevent heat stress and keep them comfortable.


Here's why shade is important for Arabian horses:


Heat Stress: Horses can overheat and experience heat stress, especially during intense exercise or in high humidity. Shade helps them cool down by reducing the direct sunlight they are exposed to.


Sunburn: Arabian horses, like other horses, have skin that can be susceptible to sunburn, particularly in areas with white hair. Shade helps protect them from sunburn.


General Comfort: Shade provides a cool and comfortable place for horses to rest and relax, reducing their overall stress and improving their well-being.


Adaptability: While Arabians are well-suited to hot climates, they still need access to shade and water, especially when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods.


Providing shade:


One study on TheHorse.com suggests that even if horses don't consistently use shade, it's important to provide the option for them to access it if needed https://thehorse.com/1102630/study-horses-might-not-use-shade-but-they-need-the-option/.


Additional References


Basic Arabian Horse Needs:
Source: From Arabian Horse Association

"A pasture needs to provide some sort of shelter. Natural shelter, such as trees, rock overhangs or ravines can work, as can a man-made shelter like a shed or lean-to. Make sure the horse can adequately escape wind, rain, snow, and sun."

Horses get sunburns too:
Source: https://northamerica.covetrus.com/resource-center/blogs/equine/equine/2020/06/24/are-your-clients-aware-that-horses-get-sunburns-too-

Sunburned horses:
Source: TheHorse.com

“Equine sunburns usually start out as skin lesions around the nostrils and eyes. The skin turns bright pink or red and eventually grows scaly or starts peeling. Severe cases lead to blisters with clear discharge. Also, horses with sunburn will avoid being touched.”

From an online forum:
Source: https://www.horseforum.com/threads/a-question-about-shade-for-horses.1865/

"I live in the desert In California and by law a horse must have shade! There are shade shelters that can be purchased, some are three-sided, some only have a top. Either one will work as they both provide shade. A horse can die from heat stroke just like people can. Especially in the dry deserts they can also become very dehydrated. Before California passed the shade/shelter law, several horses died from a very hot summer.


I'm not saying all horses will die, just that they can die. The Humane Society will take any horse that does not have shade here. In the wild, horses seek out water, roll in the mud... Find trees or rocky overhangs, something somewhere for shade. For those who don't manage to find shelter, one can usually find their bones without much of a problem.

Shade is a necessity! I had a friend whose horse didn't have shade and got very severe heatstroke. Even a tree would provide enough shade to prevent this, especially when it gets that hot!"

See the evidence: To see my supporting evidence in video form, go to this link to see the actual horse, and you decide: http://sunburnedhorse.com/mp4/

Conclusion


One thing is certain; this horse suffers daily from heat stress. It's really not about what I think or you think or what the owners think, is it? It is really about offering the horse shade and allowing the horse to decide when to use it. That is the only thing that makes sense and it is the right thing to do. To the owners of this horse, I say: Stop making the horse suffer and stop making me suffer having to watch the horse's suffering. It's always the right time to do the right thing. Provide shade at all times at least, and perhaps something that can also serve as a wind screen, and maybe a food trough off the ground. One of the most critical times is late afternoon when the direct West sun strongly stresses the horse. But the suffering starts in late morning and continues until sunset. That's a long time to be suffering. Don't be cruel. Protect your horse. You are trapping the horse in that condition. It's your moral duty to provide protection. Not providing protection is a moral crime.


A suitable shade could be provided easily and for little expense. It could also hold a water trough and a food bin to keep the water and food off the dirt. I also envision an automated watering system that turns on once per day to open a drain and flush out the old water and then replenish the trough with fresh clean water. The old water could also be drained into a garden area or towards trees. The automation could also be entirely solar powered with a signal to indicated if and when the system fails. Automation is terrific, but it has to also be monitored. A trough would also be useful for placing apples and carrots. I do think people love horses, but love is more than a feeling. If love of a horse doesn't manifest into caring action, it's not love. Especially, when the horse is suffering and even more so when it is suffering at the owners doing. That is to say, trapping a horse in a pen, in the hot sun and with no shade. That is their doing and their duty to stop that action and create a proper action. Whatever it takes to provide proper care factually and not of opinion. It's a fact that horses need shade. So there is no reasonable debate. It's not debatable. It's science. It's common sense. It's a maxim. And if one were to go on opinion, then one must get the opinion of experts and the experts agree with the argument herein. So, even proper opinion favors the horse to have shade. Reality has already ruled on this case and the moral ruling order is, give the horse shade at all times.

If you don't like my opinion and facts provided herein, do not take it out on me. I am already suffering enough from watching this horse suffer. I've decided to name this horse “Burny” because he is being burned every day of summer. I started this reporting project in summer of 2024 and I finished this document in Spring of 2025 at which time I noticed his suffering already started by April because the trees do not yet have their summer leaves. Even so, by mid day, Burny has no shade anyway.


Let me know if you want help designing and building shade. Or you could just let Burny out of the pen so he can use shade that is available.


Avery
Advocate for the horse

avery@sunburnedhorse.com



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