There were a couple of movie posters that accompanied the release of this film, but, in my opinion this poster reflects an actual reality for animal advocates. There is no doubt there are animal rights involved in the sexual identity of bestiality. The simple idea that 'animal IQ' can be exploited to serve human sexuality is a subject that needs to be explored and should not end with the release of one film.
"Zoo" was very well done, considering the narrators of the film were actually involved with Kenneth Pinyan, the man whom died of internal injuries from engaging in sexual activity with his personally owned Arabian stallion. All those involved with this film need to be commended for it's ability to expose the subject with dignity. Some reviews cited this film as a disappointment in that it did not reveal the actual sexual acts. I found this documentary very interesting without the graphic reality that killed a man.
I found a couple aspects of this reality not only dangerous but curious.
One of the narrators stated about, Jenny Edwards of Hope for Horses whom came to remove the stallion(s) from the property after Mr. Pinyan's death; '...she knew nothing about horses and her husband knew less...'; which reflected a displaced reality for the horse. The men involved in sexual conduct with Arabian horses implied they understood more about these horses than any other human could understand.
These horses did not have a normal reality. They reacted to these men as captives to their whims. The reality of these animals were altered to include sexual conduct with men in this case. This is not a normal reality for these animals and the people involved in this activity are altering the animal's life instincts and processes to accommodate sexual arousal and in this case sexual activity that is virtually untraceable. Mr. Pinyan was a corporate executive with a wife and child. He was estranged from his marriage, while hoping to reconcile that relationship for the benefit of child visitation minimally. As a man engaged in 'fronting' a 'normal life' the Arabian stallion could not go to The National Enquirer and seek financial rewards in telling tales out of school.
Additionally, in the stall where the sexual encounters took place was 'fashioned' a noose to 'work the horse' when 'having at him.' Literally, the man involved with this stallion trained him to provide service in a manner demanded of him. The stallion simply reacted out of limited choices when handled by his owner.
Even the statements by Jenny Edwards were that of someone seeking to understand the fascination with this stallion by a man that obviously was moved to satisfy his sexual activity in a novel way. She stated, '...I am beginning to understand how this could happen...' while imparting her own affection for her horses. I think that is admirable of her in extending the same compassion she has in her rescue mission for horses to men such as Mr. Pinyan, but, at the same time dangerous in justifying such sexual activity by humans. The men are passive in their covert nature surrounding their sexual agenda, but, when openly criticizing others in the handling of Mr. Pinyan's stallion found words of strong distain. That distain is of concern to me.
I resisted to get clinical here, but, there is a far greater danger with this fetish. While this particular man died of injuries sustained in a chosen sexual encounter, there is the opportunity when species exchange body fluids for organisms to cross species lines. There are very profound societal reasons to advocate this as a dangerous act of sexuality; the reason for human and animal welfare as well as a greater society concern for potentially dangerous organisms to manifest due to this sexual fetish. The people involved in this fetish need to address the issue in a productive way that brings them out of seclusion and into a life of enjoyment. The farm near Enumclaw, Washington was a haven for this activity which I am sure did not occur under aseptic conditions. It is a bad idea to have any member of the American society hidden away in any activity rather than being a part of a society which cares about each other and each other's happiness.
I found the reality of the men involved in this fetish unfortunate and deprived of so much of what life's rewards are suppose to be about. The film should receive the acclaim afforded it. It was a brave film and one we needed to see. I thank all those involved with it including the narrators.
