We talk a lot about Chloe this days, we kicked up a bit of an inevitable dust storm – we are so used to this –  when we wrote we were thinking about whether she needed to move to a home with more work than we can offer right now. Maria and I are up to our neck in work and responsibilities, Maria, in particular, has this idea that Chloe needs to work, as most horses and dogs do.

I’ve been down this road many times, I know the accusations and the arguments by heart. I don’t play that game anymore.

We are happy to be living with her and to keep living with her, we have settled on this idea that if she could go to a place where she could work with children, or do therapy work with children and adults, we would be okay with that. If such an opportunity presents itself to us, we’ll consider it. If it doesn’t then we’ll keep her right here.

There is a broad schism in America between people who have pets and people who have animals, especially working animals. They need to work, to have focus and purpose and stimulation in their lives. They suffer when they don’t have those things.

As a matter of philosophy we have always accepted the idea that if we can improve the quality and depth of an animal’s life, we should consider it. That’s where we’re with Chloe.

For some reason, people think I want to know whether or not others are comfortable with our decision. It is always usefuls to hear the thoughtful and civil observations of other people, but I won’t lie to you, we do not care much what other people would do or have done or think we should  do.

I always read the experiences and observations of other people, they are very welcome. I pay very little mind to the nasty or self-righteous  tomes that are epidemic on social media, sort of like helium balloons zipping through the air, squeaking on their way by.

If we listened to the advice of others, we wouldn’t be  here together on our farm today. I wouldn’t live upstate, be a writer, be with Maria.

As I told one snarky woman who was outraged at the thought we would give Chloe away to a better home, we did not ask for her advice we do not care much what it is. Get lost, I said. She huffed and puffed and blew herself away.

I will continue to share this story, it’s important. It is always good to think about the lives we are giving our animals, we do need a new and wiser understanding of them. Chloe is a good pony, we love her and are happy to keep her. If there is a better deal for her – doing therapy work with kids who need her – that is a good shot to take, and will probably take it.

Animals are not human children, they are happily re-homed all the time – just look at the Katrina dogs, or the millions of other successful rescue situations every year. I haven’t heard or a one dying or starving together in grief over moving to a good place with work for them to do.