Hold Your Horses

By Sally Franz

I just received a letter from the National Zoo Keepers Association. Wow, I never knew there was such a thing. Makes sense. I guess all professions have a National Association. They are collecting funds for education and animals. Giraffes, toucans and fish…I guess that would be schools of fish.

Which brings me to the fascinating subject of how people gather themselves into groups. In these days of mega-partisanship it is still good to see groups of professionals gathering for common interests. That may be America’s saving grace. We are a curious, well-educated people. And we have lots of interests that cross borders both physical and ideological.

Take for instance the animal related group that caught my eye, the people who shoe horses and call themselves Farriers. Granted the skill which is part veterinarian and part blacksmith is not as organized (regulated) in the US, but in England it has some history. As in it was organized in 1356 (only 141 years after the Magna Carter was signed).

Now here is the curious part. The name of the UK group in the City of London is: “The Worshipful Company of Farriers.” It does beg the question as to what they worship. Is it deferring to the King…we are your so very humble servants. Or is it droll sarcasm (another wonderful time-honored British tradition) “We can make your horses run fast or cripple them, don’t mess with us or raise our taxes. But hey, you’re king, your Lordship.”

And another thing about these mysterious Worshipful Farriers, they are in charge of setting the standards of competence, but they have no meeting hall. Seriously, we know they did not have email in 1356. What did they do, debate issues by messenger?

Now that I think about it that is not a bad idea. I say anyone caught cyberbullying should have their phones taken away and have to write 500 word essays on their point of view omitting all mean-spirited adjectives. Now that may be the road back to civility, albeit one as slow as horse travel.

Sally Franz and her third husband live on the Olympic Peninsula. She has two daughters, a stepson, and three grandchildren. Sally is the author of several humor books including Scrambled Leggs: A Snarky Tale of Hospital Hooey and The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Menopause. She hosts a local radio humor segment, “Baby Boomer Humor with Sassy Sally”.