The promises we make to break!

Promises get me into all sorts of ‘maze like’ situations and dilemmas, where I feel both ill-equipped and often afraid! But in an effort to keep them, I often become both purposefully blind to danger and  yes, the humans in my life. Once I release those words, they take on a life of their own within me; they drive me on till the promise is fulfilled. Whether that is to get a horse out of a bad situation or to befriend those that are often difficult to be friendly with – I do it for them: the horses – those who have no voice or choice where they end up. The befriending part does not always work! I remember in Galway city feeding an emaciated cob. The owner’s brother put up with me. However, he told me in very clear terms what would happen if I ever met his brother who didn’t want me to feed his cob he wouldn’t feed himself. I still threw out those net of words to catch any chance of building a relationship the day I met him. I should have listened to his brother!

They say we shouldn’t expect from others what we would do ourselves in any given situation and subsequently we would avoid all sorts of disappointments and even arguments.  I try keep my promises to the horses in my life against all odds, and yet I fail miserably in keeping my promise to myself to not expect others to keep their promises to me when it comes to the horses. Yes, the problem with promises!

This week many people failed to keep promises. Some are continually breaking theirs and others have fallen at the first obstacle. An owner of three beautiful donkeys promised to feed them. He fed them for one day. An owner of beautiful mares promised he would give them water; their buckets remain empty. There are the unspoken promises too. Like SPCAs: societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Within their title is a forever promise to uphold welfare standards. Yet, Clare SPCA allow dogs in the pound to stay there in very poor conditions. The warden is the chairperson of Clare SPCA which receives an annual lucrative grant. The pictures released by a whistleblower, show the pound dogs on concrete floors, huddled together under a cloak of fear and discomfort, says nothing about the prevention of cruelty. We called out the same warden recently to two beautiful springers living in a remote area in a tiny shed. The smell of old urine was toxic; their young lives wasting away within these walls. Fresh straw arrived for them: it’s like the wallpaper that covers up the deep cracks beneath or the big lies we tell to cover up the truth hungry to get out. He told me they lived in luxury. My complaint for two 8 month old springers was converted by the warden into an accusation of trespassing amongst other things. I don’t think he kept his promise to them – the promise he probably made the day he took the job as warden or chairperson of the CSPCA. I myself have turned to the CSPCA for help to feed hungry horses. It was a time I was overwhelmed with the cost of feeding. They read all my messages and never replied. I am trying to prevent cruelty. What they are doing is another question.

This week I walked down the donkeys’ field late at night to get hay into their little nest they found themselves. I’m so afraid of the dark, that I sometimes get dizzy, if I allow all the irrational thoughts in my head to pump adrenaline through my body. But I have mastered them (sometimes!) because I promised these three furry friends I would make up for their cruel owner. So promises sometimes help us get out of our own heads which is beneficial for us. Especially a promise to another. In this case, it becomes less about my fears and more about getting that hay down there to help them cope with the cold nights. I still try and run sometimes!! I think I could enter ‘Ireland’s fittest rescuer’ if there ever was such a programme.

Yes, broken promises have drawn from my reservoir of tears this week. Sometimes I think there is a part of me that really wants to believe what people say – even when they promise the moon and stars. Who doesn’t want it all – especially when it comes to animals in need? We all want it all; why not?

At the moment I am praying – yes, really praying that this Beast from the East does not live up to his title and he breaks his promise to come here this week.

I finally scratched the scratch-cards I was given as a Valentine’s gift from a friend! Yes, call me crazy, but I never scratch cards until I feel lucky. Two out of the three cards revealed 3 stars. I wonder what would happen if I promised I would wave at you from one of the winning streak chairs? They say you should never wish for money so I wish to write alot of cheques for a lot of genuine hard working rescues and rescuers out there! Especially the ones who have come to my rescue. And to pay back all the friends who have bought hay down through the years. Now there are two promises I would like to make and keep.

This week I have to get busy finding my first rescue her new forever home! My first ‘rescue promise’ was to her: the day I spotted her tied to a steel road-side fence, standing on muck with no feed or water. I promised she wasn’t staying there. She didn’t.

Thanks for reading and here’s to new promises that are kept! x