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Sacrifices

I have a big qualm with when people say that they can’t become vegan because it would mean changing too much, sacrificing too much, that it is too much of a commitment. For most people, they are simply referring to their diet and what they would have to stop eating and drinking. But that isn’t a sacrifice. A sacrifice is giving up something you would dedicate your life to, something that your childhood was shaped around, something that literally meant everything in the world to you.

Let me tell you a story: once upon a time, when I was around 13, I, like most children, was encouraged by my parents to pick a hobby. Something to keep me active and to be passionate about. Now, I got it into my head that I either wanted to horse-ride or do ballet. So my parents made phonecalls to the local schools and centres, asking about admissions as, for both sports, I was relatively old to be starting from scratch. We finally heard back from a local riding school that said they’d take me on, and that I start straight away. About two days afterwards, the ballet school got back to us and said that they had an opening, and that I’d have to take it quickly as spaces were very scarce. By that point I’d become enamoured with all things horsey so turned down the ballet offer. And thus began my life with horses. Having horses was the biggest commitment of my life, and I loved every second of it. I was so dedicated to equestrianism that it was a very close toss up between pursuing equestrianism or photography (my original university choice) as a career.

When I became vegan, I battled internally for a while, trying to make up excuses as to why horse-riding was okay, why I could continue to do it (I haven’t ridden since I became vegan, these were theoretical ideas). I told myself that my horse is well-cared for, he is happy, he is loved, that he loved doing his job. But then I realised that he is a free spirit: he shouldn’t have a job. I should not be using the fact that I choose to care for him as leverage to make him do something potentially against his will.

Horse-riding was my life. The smell of horses and simply being near a horse brings me peace, and riding was the place I used to go to escape all of my troubles in this world. It helped me through some really dark times. Some people say the feeling of running is their heaven, and to me that feeling is on top of a horse. Riding feels more natural to me than walking.

But I cannot live as a hypocrite. Though I may cry about it till the day I die, I will not ride again. It is not fair, and it is not okay.

So please, PLEASE, do not tell me that giving up steak is too big a reason to not be a vegan. Don’t you dare. You have no idea what sacrifice is.

#horse-riding #veganism #hclf #animal welfare #show-jumping