h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I guess growing up in a farming background means that animals and their life cycles are so naturally part of my life that I have never really become overly sentimental about them. In fact one of my earliest memories is the staff from the local hunt coming to put down my Mother's horse in the field, which was the kindest way to go. He was very old and in a lot of pain due to a recurrent injury in his near foreleg. He did not have to move and he was with the other horses, who seemed to know what was happening and why.

We have escaped foot & mouth so far but who knows for how long? Now I know that the membership of the herd changes and that the bullocks go for slaughter. But I also know that we, as a family, have never let our herd have anything less then the best and tried to treat them with the respect and care that they deserve. They are almost part of our family and my parents have always drummed into me that we owe them respect. We hold our own little Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the cow byre and invite friends and neighbours round.

Then again, Charlie my cob has always been far more reliable then any of my boyfriends!!!