broodmares and capitalism

As the frosty morning air filled my lungs, the tractor stopped at the last manger in the back pasture. Filling it with the final bales of hay, I jumped back on the tractor and started toward the gate. As I turned to check the mares one last time I noticed the same mares at the same feeders going through the same shuffle for power and food that goes on all winter. Interested in this economic plight for the best feed I began to see the opportunities and miracle of capitalism. At the first feeder were the same three mares, the one percenters as the new world would call them. Every morning and evening they claim their spot at the top. Scattered at the next five feeders are groups of the good old middle class. These mares shuffle from feeder to feeder and while working to assure their fair ration they tolerate the company of the neighbors and generally avoid conflict. Then piled up at the last feeder are the occupants of the mobile estates. These mares are a little thin but getting by. Some spend the whole time fighting instead of just eating afraid someone might get more than them. While others just simply put forth no effort.

We all know of those at the first feeder, the wealthy, rich, snobby, well to due crowd. Of course when we get to know these people we find they are actually people. Many came from the middle class at some point, some from the poor outcast, some from the top parents. They all however came from something and gained the desired position by work, ambition, determination, greed, righoutness, wickedness, trickery, intimidation, brilliance, you get the point. In my little herd of mares one is the Alpha, she physically dominates any who would take her food, she is strong, athletic and aggressive. The other is the best friend of the Alpha, she is smart, and also aggressive when needed. A few years ago when we introduced her to the herd, she was in the lower end of the middle class. But she made the right friends worked, and fought her way to the top. The third mare is interesting, she is clever, she never challenges the other two mares and outside of feeding time does not spend much time with them. She is however not afraid of them, when the alpha chases her off she just circles around and comes back. Her persistence is what gets her a place at the top table. Different talents different skills but successful results.

My middle class, how I love them. Most the time they have a good bit to eat, sometimes, like right now, pickings are slim. But they work, eat, and enjoy life. Interestingly enough this is were the best are really born. From my band of mares the most predictable solid horses are from this group. This little cooperative band raises their young to help one another to take and to give. When needed they fight to better their lot but have no problem sharing the goods with those around them. In this group are all ages, colors, and sizes. It is the heart of my heard. It is the heart of our great country and economic system. Filling the walls that build the houses of the middle class are faith, laughter and hope. Different talents different skills but fulfilled lives.

My last feeder is a scary one some days. The skinny horses in this group spend most their time fighting one another or standing looking at the other groups at their feeders with some kind of bitter hatred. These mares fall into a couple sub groups. First are the “newbie’s” the mares who have spent most their life in the Marxist system of stall life. They grew up on welfare and cant figure out a way off. Some are old, having spent their life without developing good social bonds while in the middle group, they are now left to fend for themselves. Others are just lazy a couple of these mares have no interest or desire to do better and put forth no effort. There are times they will stand at the back gate looking for a sympathy handout when there are feeders with food and no other horses at them. You have meet them, they hold the sign saying “will work for food“, but offer them a job cleaning stalls and see how fast they leave the car window. Different talents different skills but poor habits.

The greatness in the social economic system in the back pasture is the possibility to be fat, to be at the top. While only a few will make it each have that chance. Inside the stall barn everyone is fed a ration and all are healthy in their 12 x 12 stall surrounded by concrete and bars. The amazing thing is when they see the horses outside you can tell that’s were they want to be. They want to be free to pursue happiness.

I never want to be stalled, I fear our government is moving in a direction to do just that. To take away capitalism and the opportunity to be great. It is not always a “fair” system but it’s a free one. How great it is to be poor with the chance to be rich, instead of fed and starved of the chance for greatness. The back pasture that houses my broodmares is a place where a horse can be free, fat and happy. America is still the land were a dropout can become the CEO of apple. All because of capitalism, lets not rob our self of the opportunity to eat at the first feeder because we fear some might be stuck at the bottom. I firmly believe 90% of our sucsess in life is related to our own actions, not our circumstances. Remember there is plenty in the middle and there always will be as long as we are free. Happiness is in the pursuit, the pursuit only comes with freedom, capitalism, and a broodmare to remind us fat is beautiful.