Peter Rabbit, the horse, being moved from pasture (nationwide outpouring of e-mails and letters)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

HICKMAN, Neb. -- For the first time in more than 30 years, Hickman residents will wake up Friday to find an empty horse pasture and no Peter Rabbit.

At 2 p.m. Thursday, a trailer arrived to remove the last horse in Hickman from the property of Jack Scott, who owns the pasture. His father, Harley Scott, owns the 33-year-old horse.

"We are very disappointed this situation didn’t have a different outcome," the family said in a statement.

"The goal was to leave Harley and his horse (Peter Rabbit) together. We hope the best for both of them. It will be good to have this over with. It’s been a long and stressful 2 ½ years."

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10556509

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Marta and I too sent a snail mail to complain a few months back. So much for 2 long time friends that broke the law only because they were annexed.

[superconnected]

1. How sad. I hope Harley moves with his horse if the horse has to go.

I wouldn't give up my beloved animals to stay in my house I own. I hope this guy is not too attached to his house or his town that no longer allows horses.

[doodadem]

2. They didn't break the law

How did they break the law if the city grew out to surround THEM?! They were there first, it sounds like the land would be grandfathered.

I'd never give up my horses.....

[ixion]

3. bans livestock in city limits

I spent much of my childhood on a farm only a few miles from Hickman. It's amazing to see how things have changed their.

I guess they've gone from being a rural farming community to all upscale, now that Lincoln's southward growth approaches them.

*sigh*

[Cherchez la Femme]

10. What happened to the Grandfather Clause?

Heartbreaking.

As a life-long horsewoman who has had many elderly horses (many rescued) methinks this old guy won't last long after being moved out of his lifelong home
...especially at that age they don't adjust well to such major change.

Terribly sad.

edit:

Plus, if he had been alone for many years in his own pasture, these other horses he'll now be keeping company with will upset him; and they well may pick on him not only because of him being new, but also aged.
Sadly, there are bullies in the horse world too. You wouldn't believe the abuse I've seen emanating from some horses (mostly Morgans, but bullies are in every breed) :(

[renate]

4. a house near ours (in the suburbs) had sheep... it was wonderful

Of course, it used to be a farm in the middle of countryside, and the suburbs grew up around it. It was so much fun to see sheep in the middle of town.

I don't know whether the owners moved out and took the sheep with them because they had to or because they chose to, but now there's a great big barn, totally falling apart, and a vacant, boarded-up house where there used to be a really charming little farm. :(

[harmonicon]

5. that's the fate of the small family farm, I'm afraid

My grandparents had a dairy farm which two of my uncles still run, but they're approaching retirement age, and I think the farm will disappear when they finally do decide to retire. They didn't even have any employees until a few years ago - the family ran the farm alone for the last 60-some years. These things that make life nice for so many people for so many reasons are going away.... sad indeed.

[DoctorMyEyes]

6. How sad that the city wouldn't grant a variance for this one animal

What harm would come of grandfathering in one horse who'd lived in the same place for over 30 years? Asshats.

[bertman]

7. I'm hoping that Peter Rabbit left them a bunch of brown round souvenirs.

[Cherchez la Femme]

11. You can count on it

:D

And all the gardeners will go running in with buckets to collect it for their vegetable beds as it's the best fertilizer.

The horse was verboten, but his $hit is wanted but under (their) controlled circumstances of course... what a world.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. It's not as if they didn't have enough room for the horse...

That's usually why laws like this are created. My heart goes out to both horse and owner. :cry:

[HopeHoops]

9. That sucks. That just sucks.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Update with Photo

Harley Scott feeds his quarterhorse, Peter Rabbit, which City of Hickman officials moved from his life-long pasture.

The story at the link changed and now includes the photo.

But Hickman's ordinance gave the judge discretion to levy fines of up to $100 per day as long as the horse violated a two-year-old ordinance that bans livestock within the city limits.

"We just decided not to go through with the court situation because of the uncertainty of the outcome," Jack Scott said.

A horse trailer arrived at 2 p.m., and it took 45 minutes to load the feisty horse for the trip to his new home. Peter Rabbit had not traveled in a trailer in about 30 years, said Jack Scott. He is certain that his family's beloved horse will receive excellent care at his new location.

"Peter Rabbit will be around other horses," Jack Scott said.


• Contact the writer: 444-1056, [e-mail]

[catgirl]

13. I'm glad to see he moved only 3 miles away

At least they can visit Peter Rabbit. What a rotten thing to do to this family and to
the horse. I wonder if the townsfolk even stuck up for them? If not, they're rotten
too.

[guitar man]

14. crap on a cracker!!

WTF was the horse hurting? WTF has happened to common sense and compassion in this country? shit!!! :grr: