Obituary Ella
She jumped off the ramp of the horsebox
Ella was a young foal of eight months in 2002 when she jumped down from the ramp of the horsebox. She had called for her mother and seized the opportunity to escapethe transporter.
Ella was lucky and is now part of the Aiderbichler family
Gut Aiderbichl was in its infancy in 2002 when little Ella was taken in with the help of an Aiderbichlemployee. With 22 years of life at Gut Aiderbichl in HenndorfElla was one of Gut Aiderbichl’s veterans. She was not the only horse to be rescued from the horse slaughterhouse.
An animal's fear, panic and desperation are not taken into account during transport for slaughter
No one can imagine what it means for an animal to be led onto a slaughter lorry. There is fear, despair, Elle screaming for mum – and she was going to win.
But, how manyanimals have no chance to live on if the aim is for humans to make a profit from the animal’s life? Nobody who pushes a foal, calf or pig onto a slaughter lorry is asking about the animal’s feelings. The excuse such people give themselves is: “It’s just an animal and I’m just doing my job!”“.
Care, love, patience and trust also apply to animals
Ella was able to grow up protected and sheltered into a beautiful Noriker mare.
Sheloved it for many years, for many years across the huge pastures of Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorfand nothing could ever remind her againthat she was actually destined for slaughter, that she had actually been selected for slaughter in Italy and would have been processed into salami there.
Over the years, a sense of familiarity and love had developed with her keepers and everyone loved Ella.
Ella's favourite pastime was eating
Ella loved to eat and always got herself an extra treat.
Over the years, the laminitisbecame Ella’s problem. Ella’s hooves were checked by the vet every three to four days and various pain therapies were intended from their painor at least alleviate the pain.
Ella got a lifting stroke, They also tried to support her with hoof boots, hoof bandages and plastering the front hooves, which also brought about an improvement.
Despite this, Ella was losing weight and her general condition was deteriorating noticeably. A few weeks ago, the day came when we knew we had to say goodbye to one of the first horses at Gut Aiderbichl. Together as a team, we discussed with the vet whether to put Ella out of pain. It was as if she had been waiting to lie down, slowly and peacefully and grateful for all the years at Gut Aiderbichl, to be allowed to close her eyes. Many tears accompanied Ella on her last journey to the large meadow on the other side of the river into a newlife
The strength of a horse lies in its gentleness.
Dear Ella,
It’s as if it was yesterday when you came to Gut Aiderbichl as a distraught, excited foal.
We will never stop giving you and all the young foals and adult horses being driven south or east to slaughter a loud voice.
We must never stop asking ourselves what right in the world humans have to decide which animal goes to the slaughterhouse and which animal may continue to live.
You have left deep traces in the hearts of your people and so you will remain unforgotten. Take care, dear Ella.
