I'm down to two bales of hay but know where I can get some more -- if they don't sell out first. We've had some rain so surely somebody will be cutting soon.
I'm happy to report that my two horses are in good shape. Lucy is, in fact, overweight. She looks like a big orange pumpkin. A shiny, cute, fat pumpkin. All is well at my place. (Except for the stupid whining cat stuck in the hayloft.)
I'm telling you all this because sometimes it feels like horses all over America are starving and being left on the side of the road. And it feels that way because -- guess what -- it's true. I'm sad to report that some lowlifes left a horse to die on the side of the road in Clarendon County, S.C., yesterday. Yes, they trailered it there and left it to die. Guess they were too ???? (poor? heartless? on drugs? couldn't be bothered?) to feed it and too worthless to bury it. The horse was 500 pounds underweight and was too weak to walk onto the trailer when animal rescue came to save it. They had to put it on a board and lift it.
When they got it to the vet's, the horse ate a little, drank a little, then died.
Now, if that horse's owners had enough gas and a trailer to take the poor creature to the side of the road to leave it, why didn't they take it somewhere 400 pounds ago?
If you can stand it, you can read the story and view a video from WIS-TV here.
This is heart wrenching. There is no excuse for this- they could have just dumped the horse off long, long ago.
I hope they track the B@$&rds down who let that horse suffer, and put thier hides in jail. Maybe forgetting to feed them would be good, too.
For all of those who say there are no people "dumping horses" you might want to check your "facts" again before spouting off....
Posted by: Mrs Mom | June 21, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I can barely think of this.
Posted by: Molly | June 21, 2008 at 05:07 PM
@#$%^&*! People need to understand that help is always available. They just have to make the effort to ask for it and keep asking until they find it. Why the $#@% are horses dying when there is grass for as far as I can see?
Posted by: Nuzzling Muzzles | June 21, 2008 at 05:49 PM
OMG! I know there is a very special place in h*ll for these lowlifes that do this. It makes my blood boil! They could have asked for help along time ago, but choose the cowards way out and unfourtnatly the horse paided the ultimate price, no excuse for it! I agree I hope they catch them and throw away the key and while they are ate it no food or water as well. Let them see what it is like. Man, just urkes me to no end. I would go without for my child and horses to have feed and water. Some people do not deserve these wonderful creatures that we have been blessed with. You know what I would LOVE to see is a bill passed that once these people do this they can no longer have any four legged animals, period end of dicussion. There is no reason these precious animals should be subjected to it. End rant!
Posted by: kdwhorses | June 21, 2008 at 06:25 PM
There is nothing else to add to the comments already posted. These people are worse than scum.
Posted by: Grey Horse Matters | June 21, 2008 at 09:02 PM
yes, there are horrible people out there. But, extreme stress can make good people do things they they regret later, or it can freeze people from doing anything. Extreme stress is going to increase everywhere as food prices start to increase as fast if not faster than gas and hay. we better prepare now and come up with a better way to handle it than yelling at each other. What if we went to someone in the name of love and asked if we could help when we see a situation going south? What if? Could we help some end the life of thier equine pet and help them bury it, before it suffers? Do we have time to help them find a rescue that is still taking in horses?
Posted by: ell | June 23, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Ell, after my initial knee jerk reaction here, I slept on things. And decided that things have to change. Today I posted on my blog, asking people to step up, and form a network to offer up possible solotions to people, BEFORE something like this happens again.
If we horsewomen and horsemen can band together, and form a network of contacts: who has room, who can haul, who has a bit of extra hay, etc... who has equipment for burial, and what vets might be able to help people out in what areas, we might just can help prevent something like this happening again.
Shame and embarassment are going to keep people from seeking help also. If someone can get the ball rolling, with out the owners standing in fear of fines, jail time, etc, then maybe just maybe we can help out a few more horses.
I know when faced with people, ... I dont talk hardly at all. Keeping my pie hole shut long enough to do the job is not an issue.
SO who can step up, and band together, to prevent this?
Posted by: Mrs Mom | June 23, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Going to someone in the name of love is not my style. But professionalism is.
I do not profess to care to "understand", or "empathize", or "try to fix the person". But I will be professional and exhibt the skill needed to get that horse to safety and be done with the people involved.
Posted by: Mrs Mom | June 23, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Professionalism is excellent. Networking also excellent. I would say it has to begin at the local level. Maybe get a local club to meet one evening and put together a list of resources for your area and write up an article letting people know that there are folks who can help without fear of criticism and penalty if they act in a timely fashion. Maybe also let them know what the laws are in your area. Get the article published in as many local publications as you can. Talk to each other, look around, notice a potential problem brewing. Just ideas--don't mean to turn Annes blog into a chat forum.
Posted by: ELL | June 23, 2008 at 09:56 PM
LOL Ell, I am betting that Miss Anne is OK with us chatting a bit here :)
Afterall, should this get "Big", and turn into something really amazing, then she can say, "It started HERE!"
Anne- please give your ponies big rubs from this corner of the Southland...
Posted by: Mrs Mom | June 24, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Anne - You have started something really important - Collectively, all of us from all over the US and even the world can do effective things to change this horrible situation - Mrs. Mom has continued the discussion on her blog. I am gathering information about how to approach big feed companies for some corporate bucks to help. Let's not just shake our heads and not try to make a difference - I'll get down from the soapbox now, but we do have a lot of power and we should use it. Yes, start local, but when Time magazine is writing about it, let's take advantage of the media focus and make the people who can afford it reach into their pockets and help.
Posted by: Victoria Cummings | June 24, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Even though this comment does not pertain to this particular post, I just had to tell you that the picture you put up on Callie's blog of Lily and Annie the pony is hilarious. I know just how she feels waiting for her class to go.
Posted by: greyhorsematters | June 24, 2008 at 09:38 PM
It is a sad world we live in. Nothing more to say that hasn't already been said.
Posted by: photogchic | June 24, 2008 at 11:54 PM
This is so sad.
Posted by: risingrainbow | June 25, 2008 at 11:22 PM
that is sick!! i like in Northern Nevada and pay 16.65 for alfalfa and 17.85 for grass hay and my two horses are still eating even though i only make 10.50 an hour. people disgust me.
oh and i found you googling for the nutritional info on hay alternatives.
Posted by: nvrider | July 31, 2008 at 02:50 PM