Don't demonise

Published on 12/05/2009 21:21

I take issue with your headline, "Sporrans to be made of little girls' ponies after seal ban" (11 May). It is true that every year many horses and ponies are slaughtered at licensed abattoirs in this country. When a horse comes to the end of its life there are not many options of how to have it put down.

In today's financial climate many horse owners have found they can no longer afford to keep their horses and it is kinder to the horse to have it put down than to abandon it if no new owner can be found. It is not an easy decision for any horse owner to make and it is unfair to demonise those that do so.

So long as the horse does not suffer, it does not really matter what becomes of its body once it is dead.

SUSAN GRAY

Benholm

Montrose, Angus