TB Friends... made me cry, so sad and hopeless

[frr2]

Joe hits the heart so well....Just a quote:As rescue folks are shutting down and selling their ranches, it does not take a genius to figure out horses are in deeper water than ever before. And the images of drunk horse killers giggling while playing dice and holding up fistfulls of cash is what I went to bed with. No reading until sleepy. No love songs by request on the radio.

And the whole blog:
Wednesday, February 13th... Talking with another rescue person, and she is going to quit. The rising costs of feed. Workmans Comp. Liability insurance. Medical care for rescued horses. We have known this person for quite some time. She operates alone. No husband or boyfriend. Horses have been her everything.

At a recent Northern California auction she watched as horse after horse was purchased by killers Wade Giles, Brett Mason, Manny Phelps, and Brent Sanchez. The 4 horse killers were laughing. Throwing dice in an alcove to see who gets the next horse. Still laughing and drunk, the 4 horse killers loaded at least 25 scared horses into their trailers.

When slaughter was stopped in America she knew things would turn sour. More unwanted horses than ever before. And they are skinny. Wormy. She hoped our government would give emergency money to help those who help horses. She hoped for a public outcry. But in the shadows of livestock auctions horse killers drink and giggle. They play cards. They roll dice. And for our friend who rescues at least 20 horses a year, enough is enough. Our government remains silent. No help in the forecast. She has listed her ranch for sale, and her 28 horses must find new homes.

Adjusted numbers: In 2007 Tbfriends placed 529 horses in new homes, not 532 as once stated. This includes 177 horses who went directly from feed lots into new homes without first making a stop at our ranch.

3 horses adopted in 2007 have been returned to us.

We play the numbers game, always have. Our friend who is selling her ranch could care less about numbers. Each individual horse she rescues becomes part of her heart. She has asked Tbfriends to help with relocating her 28 horses. She wants this done professionally and quietly. No cameras please. She wishes for dignity in her exit.

And we know of another girl, who on a much smaller scale, is also quitting this rescue business. Her hay prices have doubled since last fall.

On the late night news, and they said Lotto was up to 150 million. How come no one told me? I could have played. I could have won. Hay prices can triple, who cares, 150 million dollars would feed all the hungry horses.

As rescue folks are shutting down and selling their ranches, it does not take a genius to figure out horses are in deeper water than ever before. And the images of drunk horse killers giggling while playing dice and holding up fistfulls of cash is what I went to bed with. No reading until sleepy. No love songs by request on the radio. Outside our bedroom window, and I can hear Adam peeing on the sidewalk. Splash splash. And then he sighs. I feel so bad for our rescue friends. I wish they would stay.

Peg

[michellep]

Im so sorry to read this, it just breaks my heart. I wish the perception of rescue horses would change. My farrier, my own mom, and my co-workers all think alike, "Must be a reason that horse ended up on a slaughter lot" None of them would be willing to give a horse like Turtle (which I am adopting) a second chance at a better life. I dont know how things will work out with him, Im sure there will be some bumps in the road and it will take a lot of work on my part but Im willing to give it a try. The longest I have spent with him is about an hour visiting him in QT and looking at pictures, but I love him already. Im counting down the days until he is home (Only 4 more!!!) I thank my lucky stars that places like CBER and TB friends and other rescues exist. Who else would even think to bring this issue to the attention of others if not for caring individuals involved in rescue? I hope in the future more rescues will develop and then maybe there will be a brighter day for horses. Keep up the great work all of you, your the true angels of the world......

[watermarkfarm]

I sometimes think that Joe perpetuates a lot of negativity.

If you are paying DOUBLE hay prices from last fall, you are doing something wrong. If you are taking rescue horses, you better darn well be sure you figure out a way to buy hay to get you thru the expensive winter BEFORE you take those horses on.

Joe just goes on and on about starving horses everywhere, and how he thought it would stop with slaughter stopping. What do people think? That all the surplus horses are going to just disappear. This is going to take YEARS before it gets better.

I love Joe, and I love his blog, but sometimes I think he needs to focus on solutions and alternatives, like offering to euthanize someone's horse for them, rather than moaning on and on and on about what a crappy world we live in.

[frr2]

Good points, Katie. I do wish there were a euthanasia/disposal fund somewhere that could be used for humane end of life rather than slaughter. Yes, I know it would, in many ways, hide the issue, but at least it is another alternative.

How can a good education program ever be done? The vets are a logical audience, but people who can't afford hay aren't paying a vet or farrier. Animal control? General public?

[keldco]

michellep said:

Im so sorry to read this, it just breaks my heart. I wish the perception of rescue horses would change. My farrier, my own mom, and my co-workers all think alike, "Must be a reason that horse ended up on a slaughter lot" None of them would be willing to give a horse like Turtle (which I am adopting) a second chance at a better life. I dont know how things will work out with him, Im sure there will be some bumps in the road and it will take a lot of work on my part but Im willing to give it a try. The longest I have spent with him is about an hour visiting him in QT and looking at pictures, but I love him already. Im counting down the days until he is home (Only 4 more!!!) I thank my lucky stars that places like CBER and TB friends and other rescues exist. Who else would even think to bring this issue to the attention of others if not for caring individuals involved in rescue? I hope in the future more rescues will develop and then maybe there will be a brighter day for horses. Keep up the great work all of you, your the true angels of the world......

Michelle, have your mom or anyone, check out the 'Success Stories' on CBER's website. Some great horses that were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-HorsesList.asp?PageType=Success

[michellep]

I know that this wont ever happen in the real world, but how about people from local rescues showing up at the local auctions and showing pictures of how these horses are slaughtered? Gruesome I know, but it might make some people think about opting to use the resources of a rescue group or euthanization rather than sending a loved animal to that kind of death???

[michellep]

She has finally checked out the success stories, and with all my constant rambling about how Turtle has been doing good in his riding sessions at Sams she is finally a believer. She is excited for him to finally get home

[piopico]

I read a proposal somewhere; that the breeder of every horse puts $500 in a fund that 'goes with' the horse......for euthanization in the eventuality that that's the only 'out'. Maybe these backyard breeders who don't have a dollar to their name.....but no- if they own both the stallion AND the mare...........who'd make 'em pay up?

[beckybee]

Why can't people do owner surrender of horses at local animal control like they do with other pets? If the public can pay to put unwanted dogs and cats down, why not horses?

[dustyboots]

michellep said:

Im so sorry to read this, it just breaks my heart. I wish the perception of rescue horses would change. My farrier, my own mom, and my co-workers all think alike, "Must be a reason that horse ended up on a slaughter lot" None of them would be willing to give a horse like Turtle (which I am adopting) a second chance at a better life. I dont know how things will work out with him, Im sure there will be some bumps in the road and it will take a lot of work on my part but Im willing to give it a try. The longest I have spent with him is about an hour visiting him in QT and looking at pictures, but I love him already. Im counting down the days until he is home (Only 4 more!!!) I thank my lucky stars that places like CBER and TB friends and other rescues exist. Who else would even think to bring this issue to the attention of others if not for caring individuals involved in rescue? I hope in the future more rescues will develop and then maybe there will be a brighter day for horses. Keep up the great work all of you, your the true angels of the world......

my dad thinks that to whenever i talk about RO....drives me insane.

Joe is a great horseman doing all he can. It's sad that other people don't help when they have the chance...

[cybercat]

Joe was obviously feeling the despair that has touched us all from time to time...his sadness is at great depths right now. I do hope that he can find it in his soul to keep trying, although keeping these animals alive is like keeping the "writer has issues" from leaking.

[djrepp]

One horse at a time, one horse at a time and I have 3 now.....two looking for the right home in the future. I believe it will happen because it happened for Hobbit and Chickadee.

[cybercat]

cybercat said:

Joe was obviously feeling the despair that has touched us all from time to time...his sadness is at great depths right now. I do hope that he can find it in his soul to keep trying, although keeping these animals alive is like keeping the "writer has issues" from leaking.

Gee, boys and girls...do you know what "writer has issues" is supposed to mean???
Our ever popular censor has decided that an earthen bunker holding back the sea in Holland is now a dirty word... ;D
(and the censor doesn't know they are spelled differently.)

[wendyp]

I enjoy Joe's blogs........most of them.

Anyone who thought stopping slaughter in the US would be a quick solution to a big problem, was sadly mistaken. I agree, it will take years to see a significant difference - because breeding has to slow to a level that the market can absorb the production. It's a simple balancing act - but it is way out of balance right now.

I constantly hear that disposing of horse carcass's after euthanizing would just be an overwhelming problem - BS! We euthanize well over a million dogs and cats per year - I heard the statistic of 67,000 per week!!! - if we can dispose of those bodies, we can dispose of 60,000 - 70,000 horse carcass's a year. That's just an excuse. It's an excuse because people don't want to take financial responsibility for their horses - and the general public doesn't expect them to, and neither does law enforcement in many cases. I don't understand it. I just don't get why people shouldn't be required to euthanize their sick or unwanted animals - all of them! Horses, dogs, cats, etc. This could be a real money maker for the Veterinarians.....why aren't they encouraging this? Why aren't there programs to assist with the cost of euthanizing? Why aren't the Humane Societies helping with this? Why? If it was 'expected' that horse owners actually took care of their horses, then things might change. But until all those that aren't willing to take care of them relinquish their ownership rights - however they choose, cause g*d knows it's not their fault if they 'had' to turn them loose, or let them starve, it's someone else's fault - we probably won't see much change in the number of neglected horses.............

But the good news is - eventually the horse market will become more balanced, and the number of unwanted horses will be far fewer. It won't be quick, and it won't be pretty, but the end result will be for the best. Bless the horses that suffer in the interim, so this can become a reality.

Stepping away from the podium......

WendyP/Bend, OR

[mykingdomforahorse]

A fair portion of some of the federal land that the American cattle industry greedily encroaches upon for grazing, needs to be set aside for America's horses. Give it to the unhomed horses and let the mustangs claim some of it, too.

Establish a horse reservation(s) of sorts and hire workers to run it and care for the horses/equines. Like they do for big cats, chimps, etc. Make it like a National Park, split into wild (indigenous) equines and domesticated equines.

I'm sure it will be lacking and imperfect in ways just like everything else in this imperfect world ... but there needs to be something in place. Adopt out those equines that can be rehomed. Give the indigenous equines and those not suitable for adoption, sanctuary. Euthanize those that are gravely ill, injured, etc.

Horse rescues just can't be expected to shoulder the whole burden, nor is it physically and financially possible for most. That premise just sets people up for failure. There are so many horses already, and when the anti-slaughter legislation comes down, it's going to be a problem of epic proportions.

At the same time, overbreeding needs to be less lucrative for the horse industries, along with out-of-control backyard breeders, so we can lessen the unwanted horse population from the breeding angle. It's way too easy to throw away a horse's life when there's a legal out like slaughter.

I completely understand current rescuers experiencing burn-out and despair. It's a harsh reality to live with day in and day out. But to those who keep rescuing, and to those future rescuers, please don't give up before the miracle.

Sure, the overflow of horses is unavoidable and I too agree that, initially, some of the horses are going to suffer more because of it. But down the road, more horses will benefit. Those horses lost as we struggle to change the fate of America's horses will become martyrs for the sake of ALL horses. At least their deaths will be for a higher purpose than a steak on a plate.

We definitely can't save them all. Of course we want to save them all, and it's the razor's edge all rescuers walk, but I think the way Joe writes his blog entries is very clever -- he appeals to the heart with sadnesses that can spur us on to get involved in our own ways big and small. We can all make a difference, even the little girl who uses her Christmas money to sponsor one of his rescue horses. The truth is, as helpless as we feel in this crazy world, we can make a definite difference through our kindness and humanity.

I also think the sadness of these horses can be contagious when you mingle with it day in and day out. I hear it in Joe.

Em

MTA -- to add in all the rest of the horses overbred besides TBs and Qh's -- bucking stock, for instance, and all the others not named.

[watermarkfarm]

I'm curious for all of you to call your county Animal Control and ask some stupid questions. I did yesterday and was STUNNED by the response. I spoke with both the front desk and a humane officer. My question was "What is the cheapest way for me to euthanize a healthy horse that I can no longer afford to feed/keep?" They had no answers except to suggest the local livestock auction.

Again I reiterated I was not interested in that. Were there any vets or programs that might help with euth./disposal costs?

Sonoma County, CA has the second largest population of horses of any county in California, and they are second only to grapes/wine in our local economy (to the tune of many millions of dollars). We are only 1.5 hours from Joe and TB Friends.

Horses are neither companion animals or livestock, it seems. As companion animals (which I believe they are), they should be afforded the same as dogs and cats, which is at least a reasonably humane death at the local Animal Shelter.

They aren't livestock, either. I am reminded of this every time I purchase feed, and I am asked "for horses or livestock?" I pay sales tax if I answer "horses," and no tax if I answer "livestock."

So I am paying sales tax on my horse feed purchases. I do the same for dog and cat food. Why can't my horse tax $ go into AC programs that would let me surrender an unwanted horse for euthanasia?

[ilovemytb]

Any REAL horse rescue will assist the owner in need by means of financing the euthanasia or taking the horse off their hands. If that is not a service provided by the rescue, they should not have the title of rescue. *off soapbox*

In terms of Animal Control, their officers are not in any way shape or form educated in the care, disposal and treatment of horses. Horse owners are a minority when it comes to pets and the purpose of Animal Control is to handle the stray dogs, cats, wild animals and vermin that irritate the city dwellers; not to help horse owners.

Actually, in WA state, when Animal Control seizes horses (a rare occurence, unfortunately) often times the seized horses go to a rescue group or AC will give the horse to anyone that will take them. If there are no takers, the horse goes to auction and likely to the feedlot where CBER operates, or other feedlots throughout the state.

There are several rescue groups that AC will call when they begin investigating equine cases (in WA state anyway) so that they have more knowledge and a place for the horse to go if it is indeed seized. These rescue groups all have funds set up to cover the cost of euthanasia if it is deemed appropriate. This is as close to a public fund for euthanasia as you can get.