If horses could talk
From the perspective of Gut Aiderbichl
Over 700 horses have found their new home with us. Many among them were cast out, discarded from breeding stables or taken to the horse slaughterhouse. Often because the performance was no longer good or the veterinary costs were no longer affordable. No use, no performance, not valuable enough - the throwaway society knows what to do. The team at Gut Aiderbichl has learned and bases its work on the Aiderbichl philosophy: look and help.
Michael Aufhauser spent a lot of time at foal markets, he took in maltreated horses from the circus or even from the equestrian sport. Stressed and fearful horses' eyes and the many wounds on their bodies convinced him again and again how important a sanctuary for animals is, and how undeniable it is to respect nature and its creatures and not to torture them.
It was man who called the horse to "come closer". It is man who, on the basis of diminishing performance, presumes to consider a horse's life fit or unfit. It's not given dignity to life, you have it or you don't. Many foals lose their "young" dignity at the foal markets, where they are taken away from the mare and no one cares how the foal or mare is doing emotionally after they are separated.
Mr. Ed - loud stomping saved his life
In 2004, Mr. Ed was 12 years old and Michael Aufhauser bought him and some other slaughter horses free from a trader. The sad truck would have gone to the horse slaughterer in Belgium.
Mr. Ed's rope was short, fear was written all over his face, many abrasions were on his body - nobody really knew what had happened. We learned that Mr. Ed had been running on the trotting track, the hoped-for performance was unfortunately diminishing more and more and the rest of his days were numbered.
At Gut Aiderbichl, Mr. Ed developed into a dream horse and his best friends were the two mares Indra and Mona Lisa. He lived wonderful years in freedom under the protection of Gut Aiderbichl. At almost 34 years of age, he showed us that he would like to go over the Rainbow Bridge. Quietly, accompanied by love and many tears, our Mr. Ed fell asleep.
A signal against horse transports
There are cave paintings that testify to the fact that horse killing was part of everyday life in the Ice Age. Gut Aiderbichl has taken in slaughter horses with a wide variety of biographies from the very beginning and wants to be a home for them for the rest of their life. In 2007, Michael Aufhauser bought 21 horses from a romanian slaughter truck. At that time, we took on a great responsibility, and the horses are still grateful to us for it. After many years, the former slaughter horses feel good and their best human friend has become Edith, the owner of Köllersberger Hof, an outlying farm of Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
"I open the stable doors and all eighteen horses follow my voice. They are like children to me. Each of these rescued slaughter horses has a special character. They all have a common sad story".
Change happens through listening and dialogue with people who are doing something you don't think is right."
- Jane Goodall
Thank you for your wonderful support of the animals at Gut Aiderbichl. May people never stop believing that they can make a difference,
Sincerely,
Gisela