Innocent horse

I once watched a horse being broken in, or so I thought at the time, but the beating and cruelty went on for far too long for it to be mearly a breaking of the horses spirit, in order to have it obey ones commands.  I couldn't understand at the time what was going on and wanted to cry out to the farm workers to stop.

The farm workers lived in mud huts at the top of the hill overlooking the dam next to the cowshed.  This is where it all took place.  The horse was eventually wild-eyed and foaming at the mouth.  At the point where it's eyes rolled back and it lay motionless on the ground, I turned and ran home, very aware of my impotence.  I remember crying and shouting all the way down the hill!  It all seemed so senseless to me!  So unfathomable! 

I suppose what shocked me the most was the the apparent delight derived from this act of cruelty.  The men were laughing and encouraging one another to greater acts of sadism!  I have subsequently learnt that in certain cultures young men are encouraged to kill an animal with their bare hands, but am not sure as to what end!  Perhaps as a show of bravery or perhaps to gain some power!

What I do know is that the more one involves oneself in acts of violence and sadism, the more one blunts ones senses, the greater is the possibility of becoming a psychopath!  I still weep inside when I think of that innocent horse!