guest blog by lea michele from glee!
I recently became friendly with the wonderful Lea Michele from Glee. I had heard that she was a fan of The Kind Diet, so I reached out to her and she has agreed to write some guest blogs for us!
Horses
By Lea Michele
Friends,
My name is Lea and I grew up in New York. Growing up, I was the little girl who always wanted to save the animals. I even would ask my mom to buy me stuffed animals that looked sad because I felt bad for them. When I was about 10, I found a box of kittens someone had left on the beach. I tried my best to care for them, and while some were able to be saved, many were taken from their mother too early and we didn't get to them fast enough. To this day it's still sometimes so hard for me to not get overwhelmed by all the animals out there that need help.
My biggest trouble these days are the poor horses in Central Park. Living in New York City, I see them sadly standing on the sides of busy streets with their heads right in the asses of the horse right in front of them! They walk in the rain, snow, and heat, pulling people all day long, rarely getting proper food, water or care.
I know people may not understand - maybe they just want to take their kids for a ride through Central Park, but trust me, you'll do better for you're kids if you take them for a walk! Sometimes I wish I could just go and set them free on some sunny field somewhere where they could just roam free and run around all day. I know that sounds cheesy but if you saw them, trust me, you would want to do the same.
If you live in New York, next time you're walking down Central Park Blvd. and you see tourists considering going for a ride, suggest to them that they take a stroll through Strawberry Field instead--the horses cant go through there-or rent a bike...or now they even have people who ride bikes and have seats for people on the back! It's so much more fun!
Like I said, some people just don't understand the severity of this situation so it's our job to spread the word in a loving way. If you're traveling to NYC and see these sweet creatures, give them a pet and send them some love, and hope that this will end soon.
So that's all for today.
Much love...
LM
Lea – thank you so much for writing this. I love you for this, and I feel exactly the same way that you do. It breaks my heart to see these horses in this situation, so much that I don't like being anywhere near Central Park because I don't like to see it. I take different routes and walk on certain streets to avoid the upset that it makes me feel. And yes, just keep sending the horses love... That's what I do.
If you want to read more about this subject, learn why the horse drawn carriage industry is cruel, and find out what you can do to help, check out my previous blog on this topic.
49 comments
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I heart you on glee and on this blog too, Lea! Thanks for letting Lea blog on here, Alicia! Lea, you are my insperation! I want to go on broadway, be vegan,and support both gay and animal rights when I'm older-or now- like you!The 'horses in NYC' blog was heart breaking, and I wish zoos gave horses more freedom too! I heart you lea!!!
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Alicia, Michele - THANKYOU so much for putting it out there! You are both such wonderful, compassionate women and I love you both for that! Sending hugs to you both :-)
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An original poem penned by JF Oberle on 10/25/10 for Lea and others. When you have to see the pain others heinously inflict, I hope you find solace in these words,
There's something in your eyes I can't describe it. But when I look at you I feel compassion as if you know, how to heal, like you feel life's insults so deeply. Through the eyes of a child did you see everything? When your heart was still open to live in a world where even the tiniest of creatures can live in peace. Did you learn of life's miseries when most are still playing with toys? Learned the way to suceed; to be as one. And when you sang your song, did you dream of the eagle, see the horses running free, feel a world full of possibilities for all creatures not just you and me. If everyone could see the world through your eyes, the eyes of a child untainted with lies. We could stop the senseless killing, live a life in harmony with those who came before us. For generations they breathed the same air, Why do so many believe its okay to disrespect the chain of life? Today, I saw a world, a world that I have dreamed of, if only for a moment through your eyes, thank you my child.
Joann F. Oberle
Graduate Student and Naturalist in support of
the Kind Life
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I wanted to add another thing. I am not in any way a horse expert, far from it..but it seemed to me that the bit the horse had was not properly fit, at all. He/she was fussing with it and seemed to be trying to eat it or spit it out. He seemed in distress over that. I don't know if it was the situation in general. I don't know alot about bits, but they look cruel to me. I would imagine if a horse is allowed to live a nice life running free in a field and stupid bit would not be needed. The person who was trying to argue with me that horses liked carting stupid tourists around all day & night in all sorts of weather....proceeded to try and school me in the reasons for bits...in which I replied "that does not make them un-cruel, there are "reasons" for lots of items humans use to control animals, like bullwhips and those hooks they use on elephants at the circus, but they are still mean and inhumane". I may not even have been right to compare, since I do not know alot about horses, but I went with my heart on how I felt looking at that poor beautiful animal being reduced to a tourist attraction, made to slave to a human for profit , in which I am sure not much, if any is used to give the poor horse much of a life. UGH! It makes me so mad!
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First I just have to say I love Lea and Glee! Thanks to Lea for this post and thanks to Alicia for having her here! As for this topic, it makes me very angry. So much so in fact, that I once had words with one of the horse carriage operators outside of Radio City Music Hall. I will admit I had a few cocktails that night, and while I did not tell him off in a rage or use any verbal or physical violence, my words were not all that kind. I did pet the horse and kiss the horse and see the sorrow in those beautiful eyes. I told the horse how horribly sorry I was. The operator and I had a language barrier of sorts, since he did not speak alot of english, so I don't think he really even understood what I was saying, but it felt good to speak out.I told him, he seemed like a nice enough fellow and his job was disgusting and he should get a new job. He did not get it, at all , for more reasons than the language barrier. He did tell me that the horses are treated "nice". Obviously, we know this is BS. I also thanked and shook the hand of the Pedi-Cab guy behind him and encouraged passers-by to use the the Pedi-Cab instead. There was a large crowd outside the venue and most people were quite supportive of my opinion. There was one person however who was quite sure that the horse loved it and was happy. Yeah, ok. I resisted the urge to argue with this uneducated person and since there were several people and some chaos (it is NYC afterall), I just ignored the person. I will never forget the sadness in that horses eyes. It was such a lost vacant look. I cannot believe that people do not see how cruel that outdated "tradition" is. There is PLENTY to do in NYC that does not invlove the exploitation of and cruelty to animals. I think back on it and maybe I could have been more diplomatic, but I was very saddened and very angry..and a little tipsy!
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We also have a campaign in Rome, and the situation is dire. Ms. Forel is working very hard in NYC and you should all support her work. In Rome, we have a blog at:
http://banhorsedrawncarraigesrome.blogspot.com/
You can find links to petitions, and information regarding this cruel industry. SSUPPORT A WORLDWIDE BAN!!
If you are on Facebook, support our work there:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126850454035889&ref=mf#!/group.php?gid=138296674252
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If more people are aware of the situation then this could be one way to bring an end to the misery of the horses. I talk to many people around NYC who are not aware of the conditions the horses are forced to exist in.
Tourists who are about to make the decision to take a ride around the park need to know, people who live in NYC need to know, we need to tell as many people as we can. So many people walk past every day and are simply unaware - some people even assume the horses live in Central Park. They actually live in stables so old and cramped that they don't have room to lay down.
One easy way to help the horses into that sunny field somewhere is to inform as many people as we can. As Matt say's check out (http://www.blindersthemovie.com/). Also take a look at this report made after an investigation by Animals Angels http://banhdc.org/animalsangels.pdf There's much more suffering they are subjected to than pulling heavy carriages around in the heat and the freezing cold. They need to be heard and only we can make that happen. Thanks Alicia and Lea.
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What Lea says is absolutely true, but is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the hell these horses live in day after day by the seedy thugs who are their slavemasters.
I would urge anyone reading to check out the movie "Blinders" (http://www.blindersthemovie.com/)
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Oh Alicia and Michele, thank you both SO, so, so much for having this conversation. I live on Central Park South in NYC and watch these poor horses all the time. It is nice living here because I feel like I can do more for them, but also really sad seeing them all the time. And the fact that they live these sad lives and many are then sold for slaughter is enough to make me scream. But I know that if enough people (particularly famous people ;-) get involved, things will change. Most of the drivers are real ass holes and I see them doing illegal things literally 150+ times a day and no one is enforcing any of these laws. The police don't do anything, literally zero, still refuse to even if you are there pointing out the illegal thing. The parks department won't enforce any laws even though they do for pedicabs, and the ASPCA is severely understaffed and lacking in manpower to enforce 99% of these laws. Obviously the industry cannot be fixed and done in a humane way, it's just really hard watching on a day to day basis and knowing that unless I walk along the hack line looking for things like horses that are way too thin, the ASPCA won't do anything about it. For anyone interested in getting more information Banhdc.org is a really amazing organization. Again, thank you Alicia and Lea!!
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I don't live in New York but I am friends with Elizabeth Forel who runs "Ban Horse Drawn Carriages" non profit. She works so hard. Donate to www.banhdc.org and your money will help her fight to replace members of that local government to be more passionate and retire these wonderful
horses that deserve FREEDOM from the cruel owners that could give a damn about their welfare!!
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I live on central park west and it's such a bummer to see the poor horses trudging along on busy streets with loud noises. Ugh, it really sucks. sigh.... I'm so happy tho to see more and more tourists renting the bikes out to tour central park. Hopefully it will take some business away from the carriage industry and let some horses retire on a sanctuary with beautiful fields to roam and play on. Heres hoping....:)
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I volunteer at a horse rescue in Tehachapi California and we regularly take in horses for rescuing, most of what we get are the retired horses from show events and such which in my opinion i'm not a fan of but i do get a huge relief knowing that the horses that come to me are well cared for and have a place to live the rest of their lives out at. Sometimes owners move or don't want horses anymore and so we get all kinds from everywhere coming in and its such a blessing to me to be able to work with these horses as well as my own at home.
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Being a native New Yorker, it is really hard to pass those horses standing in the street like that. They are there not only in bad weather, but also at all times of the day. They are out late at night so people can take midnight carriage rides. How is this fair to them? They are not meant to be on city streets. There has been some discussion about making this illegal, and I really hope that it does. It truly breaks my heart. If anyone hears about anything we can do, please post...and I will do the same.
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Awwwww I didn't even realize this was going on! Those poor horses! Horses should be free, I think. As well as warm!. I hate how people just use animals. It's the same as slavery....in fact it is slavery! Thank you Lea for writing this, and thank you Alicia for sharing this with us!
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Found this site via http://leamichele.info>Lea Michele tweet about it. Nice to hear she and this site are horse friendly and will do a good write up on them to raise awareness about animal abuse and safety, such as horse drawn carriages. Will also liink over to you to get others to read what she has to say. thanks!
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i can't believe some people think without people to exploit them animals would have no reason to exist! i agree, people who exploit animals should be made to live like they force the animals to live!
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I'm saving money So I could come to NYC, I think we should set the horses FREE! Let's give the carriage owner to pull it!
my mail- a_alex_s@walla.com
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i know that Portugal provide better treatment for horses, in sintra there is a famous castle on top of a mountain And law forbidding the horses to go up there. The horses are treated well and stand in the shade While not working, They have arranged work hours and after work time the horses are free to run around in their owners Open field. Every single horse belongs to a private individual and not of carriages industry...
I'm saving money So I could get to NYC, I think we should set the horses FREE! Let's give the carriage owner to pull it!
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To be completely honest, I'd never really thought about the problem with carriage rides in NYC until I saw Lea Michele speaking out against it. I don't live in a city with "working" horses, so it just never occurred to me. But she's absolutely correct - these animals are being mistreated, and it needs to stop. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention, Lea!
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very cute some..... Horse should be free,( air in there lungs, air in there hair as well as wind. and sun porring down on them like its glory in heavins..
No more carrage, no more kills, and no more everything, just free
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I was NY this summer and saw the horses and remembered that Lea had done a campaign against it. Just even watching the horses for a little while I don't see see how anyone can condone it. If just is unnecessary. I will contest to the the people biking you around, it is a great option, the people get paid, and the ride is enjoyable. Keep up the good work and I will help spread the word as I can.
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Thank you so much, Alicia, for continuing to put this word out! It's so wonderful to hear Lea talk so compassionately, as well. I, too, am always so depressed by the lives these poor, beautiful creatures are forced to lead in NYC, Chicago, etc. From the never-ending stress of the loud traffic, honking, people, pollution, heat, cold, and just the repetitive day in and day out of their lives, it is just so heartbreaking and cruel. I wish more people would open their eyes to how the animals truly suffer versus this romanticized notion of a "famous carriage ride in Central Park." Hopefully more celebrities/influential people will continue to speak out on the horses behalf. I read that Alec Baldwin has been speaking before the NYC court system pleading with them to end the use of carriages. His statement was so compassionate! Hopefully one day carriage rides will be a thing of the past!!
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I always wonder if the people pulling carriages behind their bikes get proper breaks and food... I once talked to one who said he is forced to work 14 hour days... haven't been on one since!
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hi hannah sounds wonderful...if you rescue the horses!!! dont buy them from breeders. save lives. there are so many horses slaughtered every day cause they have no home...you could save them! and give them all your love.
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are you against horse ownership? cause one of my dreams is to own achres of land and have a horse family. They would have large areas of woods and fields to run around in and i would ride them into town instead of taking a car. They would be a part of my family and of course they would have the best food water and much love. They would not be a part of any show or race, just my family and horses together in this world...
Hannah
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