Hopefully part of the training will involve the "Mr Hands" video.

When I was a kid, I wanted a pony. I never got one, but these jerkwater convicts do? Prison is for punishment. These criminals should be doing hard time not going for a moonlit trot around the grounds.

Soylent glue is people.

thenateman: When I was a kid, I wanted a pony. I never got one, but these jerkwater convicts do? Prison is for punishment. These criminals should be doing hard time not going for a moonlit trot around the grounds.

Are you a troll? Please tell me you're a troll.

If you believe prison is for punishment, you'd better be willing to pay to incarcerate every inmate for life. We already incarcerate more people than any other nation on the planet, so those bills would get pretty high.

Anyone who actually possesses a working brain realizes that most inmates eventually get out of prison, and it benefits all of us to take whatever steps are necessary to keep them from going to prison AGAIN.

I can see the two sides of this. One side of this says that they are doing a good service by helping with these horses because it teaches them the important skills of life like helping horses at horse farms or helping horses at other places that need to help with horses. So this is a good side of the training.

Then there is the other side of this that is there are very many people in the prison already and maybe just because they provide the better service to the society than the trolls like thenateman they still probably should not all be in the prison for stupid crimes like the marijuana.

So as the judge of this issue I say that it is good that they do the service but I say that it is sad that they are in the prison in the first place. What do you think the Fark.com but not the trolls like thenateman.

bubbaprog: Anyone who actually possesses a working brain realizes that most inmates eventually get out of prison, and it benefits all of us to take whatever steps are necessary to keep them from going to prison AGAIN.

Do you really think these convicts will leave prison, quit their gang, and move to the country where they'll lead a quiet life tending race horses? You're the troll, troll.

Sounds like a great idea. Society gets a service for much less cost than ordinary stable care, and the prisoners learn a trade and don't just sit in their cells thinking of ways to commit more crimes.

Our economy has been hamstrung by the acute shortage of trained retired-racehorse ranglers. Maybe this is another sign that things are finally beginning to turn around.

/It's a green shoot!

Or is that spelled "wranglers"?

/Or is that a brand of bluejeans?
//Or is that how that brand of bluejeans got its name?

There was a movie about this.

meow said the dog: I can see the two sides of this. One side of this says that they are doing a good service by helping with these horses because it teaches them the important skills of life like helping horses at horse farms or helping horses at other places that need to help with horses. So this is a good side of the training.

Then there is the other side of this that is there are very many people in the prison already and maybe just because they provide the better service to the society than the trolls like thenateman they still probably should not all be in the prison for stupid crimes like the marijuana.

So as the judge of this issue I say that it is good that they do the service but I say that it is sad that they are in the prison in the first place. What do you think the Fark.com but not the trolls like thenateman.

The your the definite the article the broke the my the parsing the ability.

thenateman: bubbaprog: Anyone who actually possesses a working brain realizes that most inmates eventually get out of prison, and it benefits all of us to take whatever steps are necessary to keep them from going to prison AGAIN.

Do you really think these convicts will leave prison, quit their gang, and move to the country where they'll lead a quiet life tending race horses? You're the troll, troll.

Because everyone in prison is in a gang...

apiarist: Sounds like a great idea. Society gets a service for much less cost than ordinary stable care, and the prisoners learn a trade and don't just sit in their cells thinking of ways to commit more crimes.

On the other hand, the trade the prisoners just learned is TOTALLY WORTHLESS BECAUSE PRISONERS DO IT CHEAPER

thenateman: Do you really think these convicts will leave prison, quit their gang, and move to the country where they'll lead a quiet life tending race horses? You're the troll, troll.

So you think we should lock up everyone for life, regardless of offense or other circumstances?

Or do you simply think that criminals of any type are incapable of reforming?

bubbaprog: If you believe prison is for punishment, you'd better be willing to pay to incarcerate every inmate for life. We already incarcerate more people than any other nation on the planet, so those bills would get pretty high.

The number is growing too. We can fix the topic:

"There's no limit to the number of correctional facilities."

There is going to come a point in time where more people in the USA are in prison than out. When it is normal to spend most of your life in prison.

Prisons have become a place to "employ" large numbers of relatively peaceful (and potentially productive) drug offenders. Incarcerating these folks are amazingly profitable for our corporate prison industry. They're easy to employ (the government brings them in at gunpoint) and easy to justify mistreating (people generally think of criminals as some seperate, non-human species, and that all of them are simply evil horrible people). And the demand for this type of cheap, forced labor is increasing as we face pressure from foreign companies and offshoring. The more laws we pass, the more "employees" the prison-industrial-complex can claim.

We're headed towards a society where most people live their lives in prison, and the rich business owners, the educated professionals, and the otherwise privileged are the only ones outside the walls.

Good that the horses are taken care of and that those in prison have their environment made into a gentler place by the presence of animals.
Bad that a lot of those people are probably in prison for victimless crimes like "drug possession".

Oh, and what the fakr is this: "to humbly bond with nonjudgmental animals."? What? Do they employ Japanese at that paper or something?

On the other hand, after the apocalypse, we'll all be riding horses. Or at least those of us who are rich by post-apocalyptic standards. The horse could be the biz-jet-equivalent of 2012. Just imagine how marketable this combination could be: a tough ex-con who can groom a horse. Yes, yes.

ethics-gradient: Good that the horses are taken care of and that those in prison have their environment made into a gentler place by the presence of animals.
Bad that a lot of those people are probably in prison for victimless crimes like "drug possession".

Oh, and what the fakr is this: "to humbly bond with nonjudgmental animals."? What? Do they employ Japanese at that paper or something?

Just means they can't work at the circus, because elephants are dicks who never let anything go

Tsunami Ditka: Or do you simply think that criminals of any type are incapable of reforming?

Some will reform, most won't. Bribing them with horses won't change that. If anything, they'll be more likely to return to prison where they have three squares and a pony.

If you're going to teach job skills to convicts, how about things they'll find in their neighborhood rather than some hoidy-toidy horse ranch.

thenateman: Some will reform, most won't.

The citation is needed. LOL out loud. thenateman is the funniest troll on the Fark.com website.

stiletto_the_wise: Prisons have become a place to "employ" large numbers of relatively peaceful (and potentially productive) drug offenders. Incarcerating these folks are amazingly profitable for our corporate prison industry. They're easy to employ (the government brings them in at gunpoint) and easy to justify mistreating ... The more laws we pass, the more "employees" the prison-industrial-complex can claim.

And your country has a more recent history of legal slavery than many in the West. Has something stuck in the culture of people and government?

/Not trolling, just musing out loud.

I thought that retired racehorses were cared for by the Purina factory.

Bunny Deville: I thought that retired racehorses were cared for by the Purina factory.

No they are cared for by the people at the prisons like in this article. I am sorry to correct you and please do not be angry with me.

Horsesex...

thenateman: Some will reform, most won't. Bribing them with horses won't change that. If anything, they'll be more likely to return to prison where they have three squares and a pony.

If you're going to teach job skills to convicts, how about things they'll find in their neighborhood rather than some hoidy-toidy horse ranch.

I see where you're going, but let me respond to a couple of your points. First off, I don't think anyone is "bribing" anyone. I don't know what that comment even means. Second off, criminals have been returning to prison, purposefully, for God-knows how long, because of the bed and three meals, among other things. The character of Brooks in Shawshank wasn't just a figment of imagination. If criminals are going back to prison, it's not going to be because of the horse. Thirdly, part of it is job skills, but another part of it, I would guess, teaches criminals how to show empathy and compassion for another living thing, how to care for another living thing, etc. Or we could try to teach them the same thing by instituting a prison babysitting program. Just a thought.

What a sappy libural feel good idea. Like there's any demand for people to take care of retired racing horses. Why not teach them how to make tennis shoes, or work at fast-food places

Bunny Deville I thought that retired racehorses were cared for by the Purina factory.

You spelled "Dinty Moore" wrong.

thenateman: These criminals should be doing hard time not going for a moonlit trot around the grounds.
Because if he were thinking of a romantic moonlit trot, being with a "hardened" criminal is what is thought of...

Convict gets released from prison, then steals his own horse in 3...2...1....



Good: Teaches them responsibility, compassion, etc.

Bad: I also believe that prison is for punishment. Many law abiding people never get the chance to work with horses as a job, but these people do while we pay their room and board.

Also bad: Teaching them how to take care of horses doesn't give them realistic job skills to use upon their release. How many jobs are available in this field for ex-cons? (Maybe skills in woodworking, mechanics, construction, etc. would be more appropriate.)


/IMO

Broz_Tito: Horsesex...


Yeah I kinda hope they're only sending male horses there because it won't be long before they catch some desperate lifer with a stepladder and an idea.

tukatz: Convict gets released from prison, then steals his own horse in 3...2...1....



Good: Teaches them responsibility, compassion, etc.

Bad: I also believe that prison is for punishment. Many law abiding people never get the chance to work with horses as a job, but these people do while we pay their room and board.

Also bad: Teaching them how to take care of horses doesn't give them realistic job skills to use upon their release. How many jobs are available in this field for ex-cons? (Maybe skills in woodworking, mechanics, construction, etc. would be more appropriate.)


/IMO

Yes, because giving criminals power tools always works out well...

*facepalm*

tukatz: How many jobs are available in any field for ex-cons?

Fixed that. Landing in prison (innocent or not) is pretty much the employment scarlet letter. The lack of job opportunities for the reformed pretty much guarantees repeat offenses. The system is set up this way on purpose.

meow said the dog:
No they are cared for by the people at the prisons like in this article. I am sorry to correct you and please do not be angry with me.

This is either the best or worst troll I've ever seen on the Fark.com

Birdman of Alcatraz approves.

stiletto_the_wise: tukatz: How many jobs are available in any field for ex-cons?

Fixed that. Landing in prison (innocent or not) is pretty much the employment scarlet letter. The lack of job opportunities for the reformed pretty much guarantees repeat offenses. The system is set up this way on purpose.

I'm sure that having a criminal record is indeed a great burden when seeking employment, but please explain how "The system is set up this way on purpose." Employers are forced to ask about criminal offences? They're part of some coordinated plot against ex-cons?

Or is it just that in life, one's past mistakes (and even unfair received accusations) can unfortunately become lifelong burdens, something that has been true ever since humans came down from the trees, even without any oppressive institution deliberately scheming to keep the little guy down.

glompoc: What a sappy libural feel good idea. Like there's any demand for people to take care of retired racing horses. Why not teach them how to make tennis shoes, or work at fast-food places

0 out of 10.

Isildur: img526.imageshack.us
Birdman of Alcatraz approves.

Yeah, when he wasn't writing homo teen porn.


I like this idea, a usable skill is a usable skill.

meow said the dog: thenateman: Some will reform, most won't.

The citation is needed. LOL out loud. thenateman is the funniest troll on the Fark.com website.

Not thenateman, but...

http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/reentry/recidivism.htm (new window)

Went to prison for an English assignment. This is one of the most interesting articles I found that discussed the issue of animals in prison:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4111/is_200503/ai_n13634711/

NoFarkingName: Went to prison for an English assignment. This is one of the most interesting articles I found that discussed the issue of animals in prison:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4111/is_200503/ai_n13634711/

That's not an article, that's book length. Cliff's notes?

I'm not sure that having inmates learn to handle/train horses is going to provide them with a useful skill outside of prison. The horse industry is usually in a state of glut. Too many horses, too many people wanting to work with them, too many little girls with dreams of National Velvet floating through their heads willing to do the work for nothing - no matter how badly they mess up a horse's training.

The value of working with horses for these inmates is what it will do for their self-control and personal discipline. A horse needs to be taken care of every day. You don't get sick days, you don't get time off for good behavior. If you're too sick to do the chores, you have to be responsible in getting someone else to do it for you. Working with a horse requires that you ALWAYS follow the rules of what the horse will respond to. If you lose your temper with a horse, it will always come back to haunt you. If you mess up, you might be lucky and not get injured but you, at the very least, have to correct a problem in the horse that you created. Few things in life will force the issue of self-control and self-discipline like training a horse - actually doing the work yourself, not flying in and telling your minions what to do like the big thoroughbred trainers.

So, while it may not equip these guys for a great job when they get out, it will definitely make better people out of them.

Klivian: tukatz: Convict gets released from prison, then steals his own horse in 3...2...1....
Good: Teaches them responsibility, compassion, etc.
Bad: I also believe that prison is for punishment. Many law abiding people never get the chance to work with horses as a job, but these people do while we pay their room and board.
Also bad: Teaching them how to take care of horses doesn't give them realistic job skills to use upon their release. How many jobs are available in this field for ex-cons? (Maybe skills in woodworking, mechanics, construction, etc. would be more appropriate.)
/IMO

Yes, because giving criminals power tools always works out well...

*facepalm*



I hope you didn't injure yourself with that "facepalm"....

Hold onto something. I hate to break the news to you, but many correctional facilities teach real life job skills to prisoners. Yep, even construction. (OMG!)

Best one I've heard of is the worm farm at Oshkosh, Wis. The prisoners assigned to it save certain garbage and food leftovers to add to the "worm process". Not sure how useful that one will be for getting a job post-prison, but maybe they could open up some bait shops?

Mr. Right:

So, while it may not equip these guys for a great job when they get out, it will definitely make better people out of them.

Agreed, this is a line from the article above:

Jim Tremper, head of the vocational training program, said he had seen the horses change the prisoners' lives as much as they changed the horses'. "Especially the more violent guys....a lot of them have intimidated people with their size in their lives, and they seem to respect the power and strength of the animal. It humbles many of them"

Equus this is a good idea.

5Nickels: Mr. Right:

So, while it may not equip these guys for a great job when they get out, it will definitely make better people out of them.

Agreed, this is a line from the article above:

Jim Tremper, head of the vocational training program, said he had seen the horses change the prisoners' lives as much as they changed the horses'. "Especially the more violent guys....a lot of them have intimidated people with their size in their lives, and they seem to respect the power and strength of the animal. It humbles many of them"

I volunteered with an equine therapy program that took "at risk" kids and put them to working with horses after school a few days a week. The results in what it did for those kids were incredible. I don't have statistics but I'd guess that the percentage of kids who truly made some life changes as a result of the program was pretty high - especially compared to programs that do little more than try to stroke self-esteem. The state, in its infinite wisdom, decided that there was too much risk involved having kids who were not trained professionals work with livestock and they didn't want to deal with any potential lawsuits. The kids were devastated. No matter. State wins. I'd like to know what happened to those kids. I'd guess that you and I are paying the room and board in a small, high security cell for some of them.

I may not be a famous mathematician, but I'm certain there is a limit to the number of correctional facilities with land.

Where are you going, with your fetlocks blowing in the wind?
I want to shower you with sugar lumps, and ride you over fences
Polish your hooves every single day, and bring you to the horse dentist
My lovely horse, you're a pony no more
Running around with a man on your back, like a train in the night...

glompoc: What a sappy libural feel good idea. Like there's any demand for people to take care of retired racing horses. Why not teach them how to make tennis shoes, or work at fast-food places

I'm pretty sure there are no tennis shoe manufacturing jobs in this country.

Them damn furriners took all are tennis shoe manufacturing jobs away.

Cerebral Ballsy: I may not be a famous mathematician, but I'm certain there is a limit to the number of correctional facilities with land.

No, you're wrong. It's limitless. Get a brain, moran!