Hi,
You may remember the topic below from last July. Someone posted they knew of a mini that was not in a good home and wondered if they should speak up. A few people replied about similar situations they knew of as did I and Fiona. Come to find out, Fiona and I knew of the same horse and we both were very upset about it. See below:
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Jul 6 2008, 02:42 PM Post #10
Fiona,
I know exactly who you are talking about and I agree with you 100%. The horse you are referring to is in an awful situation and you can talk until you are blue in the face to these people and they will not listen.
This poor mini is a stallion and he is kept in a very tiny stall in the back of their garage. He does have food and water. But he has no turnout. They take him out 15 minutes a day on a lead rope to eat grass on their lawn and often times that doesn't even happen. He is not groomed, he has no socialization. He does not get an annual vet check up, nor regular hoof trims or wormings. If you go in to visit him he has his head down in the corner like he is very depressed. If you try to pat him he turns around to try to bite you. He looks miserable. But you know it is one of those border line situations. He has shelter, food and water. I honestly don't think authorities would do a darn thing.
I also tried talking to these people. They just wouldn't listen. Once I went over and they had no hay. I asked them how long they had been out and they said a week or so. "They just hadn't gotten around to picking more up." I was furious. I went home, loaded up my van with as much hay as I possibly could and dropped it off, no charge. I think they were really offended but I didn't care.
Then I suggested maybe they could get on the same schedule as me with my farrier since it was obvious their horse hadn't been trimmed in a very long time. They agreed. I asked my farrier if he could kind of give them helpful hints on the care of minis. I thought maybe they would listen to him. The farrier did mention things about horse care but he too said they just wouldn't listen.
Then I thought maybe if they had more information on minis that would help. So I sent them a FYI email with a bunch of links to informative websites including Lilbeginnings. They thanked me but nothing changed.
Their daughter takes riding lessons at a Morgan Farm and shows the farm's horses from time to time. So I thought, maybe if I could get them interested in showing their mini and they saw how other people care for them that they might make some changes in his care. I was able to get them to come to a show and a few of my mini friends talked to them and gave them great advice about feeding, care and showing. But when they got home nothing changed so obviously they still didn't listen!
So you know, you can talk to people all you want and it may not make a difference. But what if you don't say anything? Then the situation definitely will not change. If there is a slim chance it could, it is so worth giving it a try.
You know what the kicker is about this family. They are very wealthy. They live in a multi-million dollar home on the ocean. Their kids go to a very expensive private school. So it isn't like these people do not have the money and are not educated. They just don't want to listen!
Sue
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Well I have GREAT news!
A couple of days ago I got a phone call. The people we were referring to said they thought it was time to find Red a new home. I was ecstatic! I wanted to scream with joy but I had to restrain myself. I calmy said I would be happy to take him to my house asap and search for a new home for Red as it would be so much easier on their family if they didn't have people coming in and out. Also, I said I would be happy to have him gelded at my house and watch him through recovery. I wanted so badly to get him out of there before they changed their minds. I then contacted Cindy Moses for advice. She was so responsive and so supportive in how to handle the situation. She was a huge help!
So tonight I picked Red up and he is absolutely awesome. He is the sweetest thing. I thought for sure where he had no socialization and had not seen another horse in 4 years that he would really be full of it. But he calmy and quitely walked into my barn. We gave him hay and he looked so content. He didn't act like a stallion at all. He just seemed so appreciative.
I took these pictures of Red right after he arrived. His weight surprisingly doesn't look bad.
Tomorrow I am turning him out. It will be the first time he has been able to run in 4 years! Thursday the vet is coming to geld him. I am so happy for the little guy! If I had the room he would be a keeper. Now our mission is to find him the home he deserves!
You may remember the topic below from last July. Someone posted they knew of a mini that was not in a good home and wondered if they should speak up. A few people replied about similar situations they knew of as did I and Fiona. Come to find out, Fiona and I knew of the same horse and we both were very upset about it. See below:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Jul 6 2008, 02:42 PM Post #10
Fiona,
I know exactly who you are talking about and I agree with you 100%. The horse you are referring to is in an awful situation and you can talk until you are blue in the face to these people and they will not listen.
This poor mini is a stallion and he is kept in a very tiny stall in the back of their garage. He does have food and water. But he has no turnout. They take him out 15 minutes a day on a lead rope to eat grass on their lawn and often times that doesn't even happen. He is not groomed, he has no socialization. He does not get an annual vet check up, nor regular hoof trims or wormings. If you go in to visit him he has his head down in the corner like he is very depressed. If you try to pat him he turns around to try to bite you. He looks miserable. But you know it is one of those border line situations. He has shelter, food and water. I honestly don't think authorities would do a darn thing.
I also tried talking to these people. They just wouldn't listen. Once I went over and they had no hay. I asked them how long they had been out and they said a week or so. "They just hadn't gotten around to picking more up." I was furious. I went home, loaded up my van with as much hay as I possibly could and dropped it off, no charge. I think they were really offended but I didn't care.
Then I suggested maybe they could get on the same schedule as me with my farrier since it was obvious their horse hadn't been trimmed in a very long time. They agreed. I asked my farrier if he could kind of give them helpful hints on the care of minis. I thought maybe they would listen to him. The farrier did mention things about horse care but he too said they just wouldn't listen.
Then I thought maybe if they had more information on minis that would help. So I sent them a FYI email with a bunch of links to informative websites including Lilbeginnings. They thanked me but nothing changed.
Their daughter takes riding lessons at a Morgan Farm and shows the farm's horses from time to time. So I thought, maybe if I could get them interested in showing their mini and they saw how other people care for them that they might make some changes in his care. I was able to get them to come to a show and a few of my mini friends talked to them and gave them great advice about feeding, care and showing. But when they got home nothing changed so obviously they still didn't listen!
So you know, you can talk to people all you want and it may not make a difference. But what if you don't say anything? Then the situation definitely will not change. If there is a slim chance it could, it is so worth giving it a try.
You know what the kicker is about this family. They are very wealthy. They live in a multi-million dollar home on the ocean. Their kids go to a very expensive private school. So it isn't like these people do not have the money and are not educated. They just don't want to listen!
Sue
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Well I have GREAT news!
A couple of days ago I got a phone call. The people we were referring to said they thought it was time to find Red a new home. I was ecstatic! I wanted to scream with joy but I had to restrain myself. I calmy said I would be happy to take him to my house asap and search for a new home for Red as it would be so much easier on their family if they didn't have people coming in and out. Also, I said I would be happy to have him gelded at my house and watch him through recovery. I wanted so badly to get him out of there before they changed their minds. I then contacted Cindy Moses for advice. She was so responsive and so supportive in how to handle the situation. She was a huge help!
So tonight I picked Red up and he is absolutely awesome. He is the sweetest thing. I thought for sure where he had no socialization and had not seen another horse in 4 years that he would really be full of it. But he calmy and quitely walked into my barn. We gave him hay and he looked so content. He didn't act like a stallion at all. He just seemed so appreciative.
I took these pictures of Red right after he arrived. His weight surprisingly doesn't look bad.
Tomorrow I am turning him out. It will be the first time he has been able to run in 4 years! Thursday the vet is coming to geld him. I am so happy for the little guy! If I had the room he would be a keeper. Now our mission is to find him the home he deserves!
