Horse Talk
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Clark Farm in Danvers celebrates 1st family fun day
By Christine Marmen/Danvers Herald Correspondent
Thu Jul 02, 2009, 11:15 AM
NORTH KINGSTOWN
On a cloudy Wednesday afternoon, Deidre Sharp finished shoveling out a horse stall on her Saunderstown property and looked out at a series of paddocks where several horses munched on their hay. “That’s Brio,” she said, pointing to a brown mustang. “He was literally skin and bones when we got him.” Walking among the horses, she said hello to Aidan, the former race horse with an injured hoof, and Princess, whose owner could no longer afford to keep her. There are 18 horses in all at Sharp’s nonprofit equine rescue sanctuary, Horse Play, located on 82 acres just off Gilbert Stuart Road. Another three horses are in “foster homes” and there’s a waiting list of about nine horses. “This is it. We are at capacity, both financially and in terms of land,” Sharpe said. Last year, she said, Horse Play only had 12 horses. Sharp said Horse Play has received horses from as far away as Virginia, but two-thirds of them are from Rhode Island. Hard times in Rhode Island have hit horses, too. Or, more precisely, their owners. With Rhode Island in the grip of a recession that has sent unemployment soaring to 11.1 percent, families in the state are finding they need to cut expenses. Caring for a horse is not cheap, and many horse owners can no longer afford to keep their animals and would like to find new homes for them. So horse rescue organizations in the state, such as Horse Play, are now faced with a higher demand for their services and increasing difficulties finding new homes for all the horses that need their help. “I probably get two or three e-mails a week asking for help,” said Beth Hill Ross, founder of New England Equine Rescues, a network of people who will take in horses, at least temporarily, that have no other place to go. “A lot of it is the recession, absolutely. People are saying ‘I lost my job, my husband’s hours have been cut back. How are we going to keep a horse?’” Ross said she’s seen a steady increase in the number of horses taken in by New England Equine Rescues, which accepts horses from all over the region: 10 in 2005, 15 in 2006, 22 in 2007, 34 in 2008. “The recession has had a remarkably negative impact on horses,” said Scott Marshall, veterinarian for the state’s Division of Agriculture, part of the Department of Environmental Management. Marshall said that in the winter of 2007-2008, he didn’t receive any calls about abused or neglected horses. In the winter of 2008-2009, though, he had seven or eight. According to a recently published study, “Horses in Rhode Island,” there were about 7,000 horses in the state as of 2006-2007. Given the relatively small amount of suitable land for horses in the state, the report calculated that the population density of horses in Rhode Island is among the highest in the country. The study was jointly conducted by the Santana Center for Equine Education, in Saunderstown, and Outreach, the state’s Division of Agriculture and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Marshall said there are relatively few big commercial equine enterprises in the state. According to the report, 80 percent of the 4,000 or so horse owners in Rhode Island keep their horses strictly as a hobby, with only about 20 percent deriving any income from animals. The report listed 112 facilities to board horses in the state. Horses can live for 30 years or more, and caring for them is expensive. Costs vary widely, depending on whether you’re keeping a horse on your own property and doing most of the work yourself, or boarding the horse at a stable. “Horses in Rhode Island” estimated the minimum cost to keep a horse at about $3,000 a year, going all the way up to $17,000 and more. Sharp figures it costs Horse Play about $250 a month to keep each horse. Sharp said the money comes from private donations, an occasional small grant and fundraising efforts such as an annual calendar, an open house and a walk across Rhode Island to raise money. Sharp also earns money for Horse Play working as a trainer, riding instructor and farrier. (A farrier takes care of a horse’s hooves). Finding homes for her horses is getting tougher, Sharp said. “People are just not interested in taking horses. I’m sure it’s the recession. They just can’t afford it.” Kathleen Castro of the Santana Center for Equine Education and Outreach, one of the authors of the horse study, said many horse owners she knows are looking for ways to economize, while still keeping their animals. Severine Degnan, of North Kingstown, owns a mare named Etoile, which means star in French. Degnan said she has a job in the travel business, and work has slowed lately. Her husband is employed by a nonprofit group. To save money, she moved Etoile from a stable that was costing her about $350 a month to the property of a friend, who also has a horse. The move cut the cost to about $200 a month. Instead of having Etoile’s hooves trimmed every four to six weeks, Degnan said, she’s having it done every eight weeks. “I’ve been struggling with keeping her or not keeping her … moving her to save money was a very easy step for me,” Degnan said. E.J. Finocchio is an equine veterinarian and president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He said he gets two or three calls a week from people who can no longer take care of their horses. “It’s always ‘Can you help me find a good home for my horse?’ Rarely, rarely, rarely do I get asked to euthanize a horse,” he said. Finocchio said that RISPCA also gets calls from people reporting horse abuse on the part of others. (In 2008, three horses died in separate incidents in Lincoln and West Greenwich). Finocchio said the society has the legal power to confiscate abused horses, but it has no place to put them. So RISPCA leaves them on the property, but tries to ensure the horses are properly cared for. Finocchio said there is between $7,000 and $8,000 earmarked for horse care in the society’s Marvin Fund — named for the dog Finocchio adopted from a RISPCA shelter — but that money will only go so far if a substantial number of horses need care. Finocchio does not see the problem going away, largely because of the number of aging horses in the area. According to the “Horses in Rhode Island” report, New England has the highest percentage of geriatric horses, between 20 and 30 years old, in the nation. For vets such as Finocchio and Marshall, the most humane solution when a horse truly cannot enjoy a good quality of life is euthanasia. “There’s always a guilty feeling when you need to put an animal to sleep,” Finocchio said. “But it brings closure. You know it was done with dignity, you know it was painless, you know it was done humanely.” But they pointed out that it can cost $100 or more for a vet to come and euthanize a horse. And then there’s the problem of disposing a thousand-pound dead animal, which can run several hundred dollars more. A far less palatable option is slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico, which process horsemeat sold in Europe. Many horses purchased at auction in the United States end up there. “What’s someone doing at an auction buying a 24-year-old horse?’ Finocchio said. “It’s probably going to a slaughterhouse.” The idea of slaughtering horses evokes strong reactions in many horse lovers. “There’s absolutely nothing humane about it,” said Ross, of New England Equine Rescues, who equates slaughterhouses in Mexico with torture chambers. “I would sooner put horses in the ground than send them to slaughter. People need to be more responsible for their animals.” Ross said she would like to find a place in the area where horses could be buried — an equine cemetery, in effect. “I’m looking for the land,” she said. “It would be a huge service to the people of Rhode Island, and the old horses.”
A veterinarian, caretaker and law enforcement official testified yesterday in the trial of a Milford man accused of abusing his elderly horse. Elliot Saffran's horse, Quincy, was "near death" in October 2007, Dr. Joseph G. Merriam said in his testimony. "She needed to be put to sleep ... I made that recommendation quite strongly," Merriam said. Despite Merriam's and others' urging to put the horse down, Saffran denied the 29-year-old bay mare was suffering. In January 2008, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charged Saffran, 57, with one count of animal cruelty. Quincy, whose age was equivalent to an 80-year-old human, had severe arthritis, weak circulation and deformed legs, Merriam said. Sandy Whyte, who cared for Quincy while she was boarded at Over the Hill Farm in Uxbridge, also told Saffran the horse had "no quality of life." "It would be best to humanely put her down," Whyte recalled telling Saffran. "He told me, 'I know what I'm doing."' MSPCA Officer Nadya Branca also testified, describing her visits to Over the Hill Farm and interactions with Saffran. On one occasion, Branca helped get Quincy to her feet after a fall. "We were her legs," she said. "Her movements were slow, she appeared to be in pain." In another instance, Whyte said Saffran threw cold water in the horse's face to get her off the ground. "(Quincy) jolted, it was a shock," Whyte recalled. Other times, he used a whip to force Quincy to continue walking. "I was appalled," Whyte said. At Over he Hill Farm, Saffran also provided pain medications "inconsistently," Whyte said. Quincy was transferred to Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Conn., in March. She died there in August. Defense attorney Kevin Hayden said Saffran loved his horse too much to agree to kill her. "He wanted nothing but the best for her, he had no intention to cause unnecessary suffering," Hayden said in his opening statements. "He wouldn't let the government and others force him to do what he could not do kill his horse." Dressed in a dark suit, Saffran sat quietly through yesterday's testimony. He often wrote in his own notebook and scribbled notes to his lawyer. Quoting "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, Assistant District Attorney Robert Pellgerini called Saffran neglectful. "Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike," Pellegrini said using the author's words. "How (Saffran) felt we cannot know, but evidence will find his indifference and neglect led to prolonged, unnecessary suffering." Hayden said Saffran is merely a "scapegoat" in this emotional case. "It's obvious, convenient because he's the owner," Hayden argued. "But there is plenty of blame to go around." Several photos and X-rays were shown in court yesterday to depict Quincy's wounds and deformed legs. Based on her deteriorated state, Quincy had "no chance of getting better," Merriam said. In his testimony, Merriam also explained what he called the "very humane" process of euthanizing a horse. The animal is given a large dose of anesthetic and within three minutes, the horse drifts off and its heart stops beating, he said. Merriam classified Quincy's pain as a "5 out of 5 ... as bad as it gets." Judge Thomas Sullivan and lawyers spent nearly two hours selecting a jury yesterday morning. Four men and three women were chosen to hear the case after Sullivan asked a pool of more than 40 people whether anyone has ever owned a horse, contributed money to the MSPCA or had been exposed to the case through the media. One person will serve as the alternate but his/her name will not be revealed until the trial is over, Sullivan said. About two dozen Quincy supporters, wearing purple ribbons in her memory, filled the courtroom yesterday. Judge Paul Losapio, who presided over the case in Uxbridge District Court, also listened to some of the testimony from the gallery. The trial will continue today in Worcester Central District Court. The prosecution is expected to call up five more witnesses and the defense may call two witnesses. Michelle Laczkoski can be reached at mlaczkos@cnc.com or 508-634-7556.
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The Gus Girls.Raising almost $1,000 at the Market Basket!!...
Thank you for a great job at the Judith Noone clinic/fundraiser as well...
December 14, 2008
(:
Posted on December 9, 2008 by Linda
Filed Under dressage, horse | Leave a Comment
since I’ve spoken last… No excuses except to say that with the holidays, and family, and pets, of course, it has been a hectic time. I hope you and all your pets are doing well!
I do have something to talk about today.. The New England Equine Rescues, www.newenglandequinerescues.com, are holding a Holiday Fundraising Clinic on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m., at Cutler Farm in Medfield (www.cutlerfarmdressage.com). The fee to attend is $15, but the observation room is heated. There will be raffle items, goody bags for horses, and lots more. Judith Noone will also give advice on where and how to find the right music for your freestyle (dressage program). If any of you would like more information about this worthy cause, contact Beth at fatoldfarmwife@verizon.net
SERVING 162 COMMUNITIES. FIND YOURS Login
Register To Participate
Teens to raise funds to save horses from slaughter
We are excited to report that our 'Trick Horse', Noir, was a part of the the Charles River Dressage Association Clinic with Tom Noone. Tom is an accomplished national Dressage rider and trainer. He and CRDA offered Noir a spot in the clinic on October 11th. In addition, Noir had a comlpimentary stall for the day at Tower Hill Farm, and rode in style to the clinic with Phil Silva of Ten Broeck Farm. We all had a great time, everyone was wonderful!
Imagine... facing the thought of slaughter one day, and Tom Noone the next! 
Thank you Mary, Tom, Tom's Mom; Judith, The Charles River Dressage Association, Daniela, Phil Silva of Ten Broeck Farm, and Tower Hill Farm in Mendon MA!!
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2008 BTA/BOLT
Dressage & Horse Show
July 19th 2008
Lockwood-Moore Field, Boxford, MA
NEER sponsored Lead Line Class winner: Tess O'Connell
Noir and Shannon (only her 7th time on his back.)
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Since 2005, New England Equine Rescues has been helping horses find sanctuary from abuse and the slaughterhouse. The nonprofit organization relies on a complex network of volunteers, foster homes and donors, all of whom are dedicated to finding a safe pasture for horses in need. Joining the Petcasters is Beth Hill-Ross of Rhode Island, the founder of the organization. Plus, Emily shares her own horse tales, Steve observed a long-haired Chihuahua and Emily brags, sort of, about how nice it is that Archie is sociable. |
Emily Richmond is an
education reporter for the Las Vegas Sun who competes in
agility trials with her schnauzer, Archie.
Steve Friess is a
Las Vegas-based freelance writer. He and his partner, Miles,
can hardly figure out how to housebreak their chihuahuas, Black and Jack
Mario Hilario, the mule, is interviewed by News
Channel 10's Mario Hilario, the newscaster...
A mule by any other name ...
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- A mule in Saunderstown shares something in common with a certain newscaster
in Cranston. They both go by the name Mario Hilario. Mario Hilario -- the mule -- lives with Beth Hill-Ross,
who came up with his name. "I started out calling him Culio the Mulio, and that turned into Mario Hilario,"
Hill-Ross said. The mule came into Hill-Ross's care as a rescue. He was saved from slaughter at an auction house.
He's only been in Rhode Island a couple of weeks. Hill-Ross runs New England Equine Rescues. She tries to place
horses that have been saved from slaughter. The organization has a network throughout New England, and it is
in need of more foster homes. But even if you can't board a horse, you can help. Hill-Ross said donations of
money, grain and hay give the animals a new lease on life.
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EquineSite Rescue |
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Resources: Directory: Features: EquineSite |
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Equine Rescue Resources Adoption Story
Rehabilitation Story
Dagh, adopted from NEERDagh the following winter. He is the sweetest, quietest, most grounded and well behaved horse I've ever come across. And a veritable air fern, he looks like a barrel with trunks, and eats practically nothing.
Dagh is looking forward to walks to the beach this summer. His farrier, Mike, wants to see how soaking his tootsies in the salt water might help with founder.
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As far as celebrity horses go, Ferdinand was a pretty big deal. He didn’t have the name recognition of a Mr. Ed or a Flicker, but he was the real thing, not just a pretty Hollywood face. Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby in 1986 and the Breeder’s Cup Classic in ’87. Two years later, he was put out to stud and in the early 1990s he was sold to racing enthusiasts in Japan who were also hoping to breed a champion. But Ferdinand ended up facing the same dilemma that so many people have faced throughout time immemorial — his kids were a disappointment. HisJapanese owners weighed their options and decided the horse wasn’t worth keeping. Sometime in 2002, Ferdinand was slaugh tered, and since the Japanese have a weakness for horse meat, both raw and barbecued, it’s possible Ferdinand ended up on a plate next to a variety of tangy sauces. “He made a lot of money for his owners; they should have done better,” says Elaine Robson, who owns and runs Willowdale Farm in Topsfield. “They owed it to him.” Robson is one of a group of local horse owners who are pushing for Congress to pass the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which is now pending in the Senate. The law would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. It would also make it illegal to ship the animals to other countries like Canada and Mexico, where they could be killed and served up for dinner in countries such as Italy, Belgium and Japan where horse meat is popular. Leading the pack of concerned horse owners on the North Shore is Mary Martin, a Topsfield native who now lives in Groveland. Martin, who grew up on a farm, isn’t opposed to eating horsemeat. What she objects to is the brutal way horses are treated once they’re marked for the slaughterhouse. “There isn’t anything about horse slaughtering that’s humane,” she says. And a lot of people agree that horses headed for slaughter often meet a dreadful end. Still, others see it as a necessary part of the horse farming industry. Up until last year, roughly 100,000 horses were slaughtered every year at three foreign-owned plants in the United States. Two of those plants, located in Texas, have stopped processing horses thanks to local bans on equine slaughter, although they are now searching for legal loopholes and or political support that would let them reopen. A third plant in Illinois has been in and out of court fighting to keep its operation up and running but this week, voters approved a state ban on horse slaughter. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he plans to sign the ban into law which will shut down Cavel International. Some local farm owners and operators say if slaughter wasn’t an option, a lot of old and sickly horses would end up dying slow and painful deaths (you know, like people). The slaughterhouses spare them months, sometimes years of inadequate care, feeding and neglect, they argue. But Martin says a lot of the horses that end up in slaughter pens aren’t old and sickly, and for those that are in that condition, there are other options. For Martin it’s a simple choice: Do you stand by a horse that’s been a companion, and carried you around and worked for you all its life? Do you have a vet humanely put it down with drugs and then bury or cremate it? Or do you sell it for a couple hundred dollars and force it to face a horrific and possibly painful death so it can be sold overseas, where people see horsemeat as a legitimate alternative to beef? A hard end...
For most people, probably the best way to describe horse slaughter is quickly. The trouble starts when horses are purchased either at auction or individually from owners by a group of middlemen with arguably the worst job title ever coined — killer buyers. Once a horse is bought and bound for slaughter, it is usually loaded onto an overcrowded cattle truck with no room for it to hold its head upright. Horses are driven sometimes in severe heat, other times in bone-chilling cold, often for a couple of days without stopping for food, rest or water. The animals that survive the trip are unloaded at slaughterhouses and electrically prodded into a kill box. Each horse is then put into place while a 4-inch deadbolt, which Martin describes as “like a roll of quarters,” is shot into their brain. The animal, which is still alive but usually unconscious, is then shackled and hoisted up by a rear leg so its throat can be cut and it can bleed out. The body is then cut up for meat. Those who work in the horse slaughter industry will tell you that the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Dept of Agriculture and American Association of Equine Practitioners have no quarrel with the horse slaughterhouses because the bolt gun causes instantaneous brain death — in other words, no suffering. And they will point out it’s the same humane slaughter method used on cattle. But Martin and other horse advocates say that comparison doesn’t work. As Martin explains, if you walk into a field of cattle and start making a scene or acting a little crazy, the cows will probably shoot you a
look of disgust and mosey away. “Do that with a horse and it will go out of its mind,” says Martin. Horses are bred to be sensitive. They are emotional animals of flight and everything killer buyers do to them, from the time they’re picked up for transport to the moment of their deaths, is terrifying for the animals, she says. But Martin says there’s another problem. The bolt gun works with cattle because their heads are flat. Horses have a narrower skull that’s a tougher shot, and there are misses. The horse slaughterhouses point out that they are required to have a vet on site while in operation and that vet is obligated to shut things down if there’s evidence of inhumane treatment. They also say treating the horses well is in their best interest because it keeps the plant running smoothly. But Martin isn’t convinced, and for anyone who is undecided on the point of whether or not horse slaughter is humane, she says there are several Web sites that have videos that people can watch and decide for themselves. At first, Martin refused to click on the films. “I didn’t want to watch,” she says. But ultimately she figured if she was going to be out there fighting to end horse slaughter, she needed to see what actually went on. “It is horrible,” she says. “It has really scarred me emotionally.”
Other options...
It’s sometimes easy to think of the North Shore horse community as a monied set. It’s not hard to conquer up an image of a bunch of folks named Biffy and Drake who love to hang out in their little red jackets with their black velvet caps and their crops. But if you move a little closer to the truth, a lot of stable and farm owners in Essex Country are practical New England farmers with a lot of sense to balance their sensibility. Elaine Robson has signed a letter asking Congress to pass the House Slaughter Prevention Act, but she still has some questions. “I have mixed emotions,” says Robson. “I hate the slaughtering, the way they are trucked and the way they are treated when they get there. On the other hand, what’s going to happen to all these unwanted animals?” she asks. And then there’s the problem o f money. Horses live for about 30 to 35 years, but as they get older, they don’t really like to do much. Who does? Still, Robson and others point out that paying anywhere from $450 to $700 a month to board a horse that can no longer even be ridden is something not all owners are willing to do. And having a horse put down by a local vet and then hauled to Maine where it can be buried can also run into some money. Robson figures that can cost around $1,000, and that can be tough for some people. “If there’s no slaughtering, what’s going to happen to all those horses people can’t afford to keep?” she wonders. “There are rescue groups, but they can’t do it all.” Still, Robson thinks the industry as it now functions isn’t meeting its responsibility to treat animals humanely. “I would rather see it stopped than to see it continue that way it is,” she says. Local horse owner Lis Cloutman also sees both sides of the problem. “It’s not what happens to the animal in the end,” says Cloutman, who owns a tack shop, Around the Bend, in Hamilton “It’s what happens in between.” Cloutman says what should upset people is the long and nightmarish drive horses take to the slaughterhouses. “Horses are very sensitive, some more than others, and the transport is horrible. I think that’s what people should object to,” she says. Like a lot of local horse owners, Cloutman isn’t opposed to eating horsemeat. She grew up on a farm in England, and ate it as a kid. “I think it’s disgusting,” she says, recalling that when it was served it was sort of yellowish. “We used to get it in boarding school. It was meat. They used to say to us, ‘Eat it, you’ll love it.’” Still, Cloutman understands it’s a good source of protein even if it’s not her particular taste. And as for slaughtering horses, she says there’s probably a place for it if it’s done right. “Horses are being put down all the time. If people were more objective and less emotional, I think it could be dome humanely,” she says. Of course, Cloutman also adds that she has her horses and when it comes to them, she’s the most emotional person in the world. “But I was brought up in England,” she says. “It was how one treated the animals throughout their lives that was important.” But not everyone can keep a stiff upper lip. Pam Fraser, the barn manager for Gathering Farm in Hamilton, says people, particularly in New England, think of horses as companion animals. “People see horses as pets and they spend a ridiculous amount of time and money on them,” says Fraser, who has known owners who will sleep in barns next to pregnant mares waiting for them to go into labor. She says it’s that type of emotion and attachment that makes horse slaughter so outrageous for a lot of people. Still, Fraser says sometimes things need to be done for a reason “It’s awful, but it’s short lived. They get there and it’s over,” she says. Both Cloutman and Fraser say more regulation and more humanity would go a long way toward making slaughtering an acceptable option. But Martin says regulation and oversight will not make the horse slaughter industry humane. And as for those 100,000 horses that people don’t want or can no longer care for, she says the number is misleading. It’s thrown out by the pro-slaughter interests to make it seem as if there’s a need to butcher horses, but the number is actually fairly small, she says. And the rescue operations are working and willing to take as many horses as they can if it saves them from slaughter. Martin admits it can cost a few hundred dollars to provide a peaceful and painless death for an ailing or unwanted horse, but that’s part of the package. Horse owners might be a little squeamish about holding an animal as it’s put to sleep, and they might resent the bill for burying or cremating it, but that’s the least they can do for animals who have given them years of companionship and service.
“We owe then that,” says Martin.
http://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/rescue-me-new-england-equine-rescue/
by CHASTITY WEESE for Tuesday’s Horse
NEW ENGLAND EQUINE RESCUES (NEER) is a growing 501 (c) (3) federally recognized non profit organization. NEER networks with horse people all over the New England region. They are dedicated to helping horses and horse rescues in many different ways. NEER’s founder Beth Hill Ross explains, “There is no one facility, no one rescue, but a large group of people ranging from ‘an extra stall’ to larger non profit organizations.” NEER is based in Rhode Island and has been in operation since 2005. Beth started the organization when she saw there was a need to create a system for people to come together who were interested in helping horses any way they could. NEER has 20 volunteers and 25 or more participating foster homes and adopters. NEER is dedicated to helping horses by providing assistance to rescuers whether it is direct intervention for abused or slaughter-bound equines, effective placement of horses, raising funds or working for the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. NEER do this by working to find good homes and providing assistance with volunteers, transport, horse rescue and care advice, referrals, and other types of support that will stop the abuse, neglect, and prevent the slaughter of horses. When NEER has a place for a horse to go, NEER attends horse auctions frequented by killer buyers hired by horse slaughter plants to obtain horses to supply the horse meat market. This is how NEER came to have a wonderful “Trick Horse” named Noir in their care. Noticed by Christy of Another Chance for Horses (www.ac4h.com) in a kill pen at the notorious New Holland in Pennsylvania, NEER soon discovered that Noir had talent. They also soon discovered that Noir had Sarcoids, a form of skin cancer, on several parts of his body. NEER decided to pay for laser treatment, and have been holding several different fundraisers for Noir’s continuing treatment. NEER also helps countless horses obtained from people who need to sell or give up their horses for a wide variety of reasons through their extensive New England network. The number of horses NEER can rescue fluctuates depending on available resources and appropriate homes.
One of their most successful horse rescues is Dagh! Dagh, is an 8 year old registered, 80% pure Brabant gelding. He was nearly purchased by a meat buyer at New Holland. Dagh had badly foundered, but has slowly recovered, and much more comfortable. “He actually did a three canter stride and 10 minutes of buck-n-fart the other day. When we got him, he walked like he was on broken glass in a bowl of alcohol,” Ross tells us.This is Dagh in their care now. Look how beautiful he is! They feel he is the sweetest and nicest horse. Ross tells us, “He must have eaten almost virtually nothing to be as thin as he was, now he is like an air fern, big and fat!”
NEER understands how much horses mean and how good they can make people feel. They also know how much many of our special equine friends need us, and with their ever expanding outreach and group of supporters, they do all they can to help as many as they can. NEER are urgently seeking foster homes with people who are willing to take on displaced horses care for them until a good home can be found. They also hope people will join their efforts in becoming educated about horses, and help to educate others. Learn more about NEER at www.NewEnglandEquineRescues.com and visit with them if you can. I am sure you will enjoy it!
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SATURDAY |
Deidre Sharp gets a positive response as she rubs the neck of Raven, an 18-year-old thoroughbred and resident of Horse Play Equine Rescue and Sanctuary.
The Providence Journal / Bill Murphy
NORTH KINGSTOWN This craggy bend of Gilbert Stuart Road has witnessed hundreds of years passing from one calendar page to the next. But this year the bend, and its equine occupants, are the subject of the calendar itself. The dozen horses living at Horse Play Equine Rescue and Sanctuary have been photographed by Narragansett’s Jodie C. Sinclair and packaged into a 2008 calendar. Proceeds from sales will benefit the sanctuary, says its administrator, Deidre Sharp, who relies on grants, donations “and begging” to care for the rejected animals. But while calendars may be especially timely this week, the rescue and rehabilitation of horses is a year-round project for Sharp and her volunteers. Every week, every year, she hears of horses in need of not just homes, but also rescue from slaughter. That’s one of the motivating forces behind the 2008 calendar — to bring awareness to the nationwide problem of the abused animals. And it’s the reason for Sharp’s commitment to the project she started in 1999. “You know when there is something you need to do,” says Sharp. Sharp says many people are sensitive to abandoned cats and dogs, horrified by animal abuse, but remain keenly unaware of neglect in the equine world.
“Profoundly unaware,” agrees Beth Hill Ross, of Saunderstown, founder of New England Equine Rescues, a network connecting horse owners and rescuers. “Even horse people don’t know. There’s a big need for people to take horses . . . . “People have no clue.”
That has its effect at the sanctuary, where those saved roam the 82 acres just up the hill from the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace. “We have a waiting list,” Sharp says. The nonprofit Horse Play not only provides rescue for abused, neglected and slaughter-bound horses, but also shelters horses with health and behavior problems, or those whose owners can no longer keep them. Horses, like people, “are living longer than they did in the past,” says Rhode Island’s state veterinarian, Dr. Scott Marshall. “It’s not unusual to find them living well into their 30s.” Marshall says that horses have evolved in many cases from livestock to pets, and so owners are caring for them “into their geriatric years.” And it makes for an expensive pet, one not everyone can care for long-term. As a result, he says, “the plight of the unwanted horse is growing on a national level.” Horse abuse and neglect “is a very, very big problem,” echoes Dr. Hollie Stillwells, of the New England Horse Care Center, in North Smithfield. “Nationwide, it’s a very big issue.” SHARP ESTIMATES the cost of keeping a horse at $175 a month — and that doesn’t include unexpected medical expenses, which inevitably occur, or rental on the property where they’re kept. “People don’t know what they are getting into with a horse.” One horse owner with money issues lost both the horse and a farm, but Sharp managed to save half of that equation. “She probably would have gone to slaughter,” Sharp says of that animal. But Libby, Calypso, Little Reno and the other horses at the sanctuary are not only alive, but also serving as models for photographer Sinclair, who says she hopes to make the calendar a yearly project. She plans to photograph the horses in each of the different seasons “I’m happy to do anything I can to help Deidre over there,” says Sinclair, who donated her time for the project “to raise awareness.” Sinclair says she is also a practitioner of equine natural movement. That, she says, is essentially a type of massage, “a healing touch for animals.” Her work brought her to the North Kingstown sanctuary, she says, but as a girl growing up in East Greenwich she “spent many years riding, and I just started riding again.” So she is comfortable photographing the animals, she says, and especially wants to bring attention to their plight “because I love animals.” Which is also why Frank Guernon of Westerly volunteers at the sanctuary almost every day. The retired retail manager is one of a dozen or so people who help out at Horse Play, Sharp says. “It’s easy to get hooked,” says Guernon, 65, who was searching for a hobby. Horses have long been an interest of his, and while checking the Internet, he found Horse Play. He puts in his time there, he says, because “horses are the best people in the world.” HORSES SOMETIMES come to Sharp when the owners have health problems and can’t care for them. “Vets know about us,” Sharp says. The animals, too, sometimes have health problems, she says. And for racehorses, there are other reasons that are more abstract: “A lot of people consider them extensions of their ego. If they are not winning, it becomes the horse’s fault.” Having ridden for most of her life, Sharp supplements her sanctuary through instruction, putting her skills in teaching and training to use. But horses weren’t her first occupation. She started out leading excursions aboard yachts. When she arrived in Newport Harbor two decades ago, the former resident of Virginia and the Caribbean decided to stay. She started out with a therapeutic riding school and then found herself taking in homeless horses. Soon the homeless animals took priority, but they also take time and money. Thus, the calendar. While copies of the calendar have been available in Wakefield’s Purple Cow and Wickford’s World Store, they can also be ordered at www.cafepress.com/horseplayri. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the Horse Play calendar, which is selling for $19.99. Or contact Sharp at (401) 294-3565. The Horse Play Web site is www.hptrc.org
On March 4-5, 2008, over 100 people gathered at the nation's Capitol to lobby members of Congress to pass the Americans Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503/S.B. 311.
I say "people" because we came from all walks of life with different connections to horses: some were rescuers, some formerly raced horses, some grew up with horses, some owned farms where they keep horses, and some just care about the welfare of horses and other animals. For at least these 2 days all were citizen lobbyists, walking the halls of the Capitol, meeting with as many Senators, Representatives, or staffers as we could, working to convince them to pass this bill. I was there for the Animal Law Coalition. We were all there for the horses. (Special thanks to Julie Camarante and others who helped organize this event.)This group of citizens came together as Americans Against Horse Slaughter, http://www.american
A View from a Citizen Lobbyist
Among those I met with was my own representative, Jim Matheson (D-UT). Almost as soon as I walked in the room, he announced he opposed the bill to stop horse slaughter for human consumption. Rep. Matheson told me, "Nothing you say is going to make me change my mind." As a constituent who had traveled from Utah to meet with him, I may have been naïve in hoping he would at least consider what I had to say.
Dispelling the Myth of the Unwanted Horse Argument
Rep. Matheson asked, "Well, what will we do with the unwanted horses?" As if a multi-million dollar a year industry is driven by unwanted horses. I explained that horse slaughter is driven by a demand for horse meat, that kill buyers buy horses at auction for slaughter, and the USDA has said over 92% of American horses slaughtered, are healthy. One member of our citizen's lobbying group owns a farm in Colorado. She described a nearby feedlot where there is a weekly horse auction. Owners leave horses there to be auctioned off. Kill buyers looking for horses to take to slaughter in Mexico or Canada are always there, bidding on these horses. The kill buyers are not looking for the unwanted or abused or neglected horses. They are looking for healthy horses that can be slaughtered for horsemeat, a delicacy in parts of Europe and Asia. Also, the horse slaughter industry actually encourages the over breeding of horses. Because owners can make money from the brutal slaughter of their horses, they have an incentive to over breed. As Paul Sorvino put it, "37% of those horses are going to be slaughtered because they couldn't run fast enough....So, it's run for your life." If the slaughter of horses for human consumption is illegal, there is no reward for over breeding. Sadly, pro-slaughter groups have disseminated disinformation in the media to convince the public that without horse slaughter, there will be large numbers of abandoned, abused and neglected horses. (Even if that were true, it is not clear how substituting one form of cruelty for another is somehow a solution.) Indeed, these reports in the media have proven to be unfounded. Pet Abuse.com actually reported a decrease in horse abuse and neglect cases following closure of the last U.S. horse slaughter house in 2007. Click here for a detailed report of an investigation into the many fabricated articles about abandoned, neglected and abused horses seen since the closure of the U.S. horse slaughter houses in 2007. Historically, there have not been increases in abandoned, neglected or abused horses following closures of horse slaughter houses. In 2002 the Illinois slaughter house burned to the ground and was out of commission for some time. Reports of abandoned, abused and neglected horses in the Illinois area were actually on the rise in the 2 years before the fire but decreased afterwards. The number of horses slaughtered in the U.S. dropped significantly from over 300,000 annually in the 1990s to 66,000 in 2004. There was no notable increase during that time of abandoned, abused or neglected horses.
As AAHS puts it, "The ‘surplus horse population' [argument] is a scare tactic."
Horse Slaughter is Not Humane Euthanasia
I wanted Rep. Matheson to understand horse slaughter is not a program of humane euthanasia for unwanted horses. Many times people selling horses at auction are unaware or don't intend for the horses to end up in the slaughter house. Without the kill buyers who skulk around horse auctions buying horses for slaughter, most of these horses would be purchased by others or end up in rescues or sanctuaries. As John Holland, a free lance writer and researcher on horse slaughter, has explained, "Kill buyers do not go around the country like dog catchers gathering ‘unwanted horses' as a public service." Kill buyers are not looking for unwanted, neglected or abused horses. They are looking for the healthiest horses. They are buying American horses because of the demand for horse meat in parts of Europe and Asia. I felt it was important for Rep. Matheson to note that about 920,000 horses die each year in the U.S. As AAHS points out, "Just over 100,000 horses were slaughtered in the U.S. in 2006. If slaughter were no longer an option and these horses were rendered or buried instead, it would represent a small increase in the number of horse being disposed of in this manner - an increase that the current infrastructure can certainly sustain. Humane euthanasia and carcass disposal is highly affordable and widely available. The average cost of having a horse humanely euthanized and safely disposing of the animal's carcass is approximately $225, while the average monthly cost of keeping a horse is approximately $200." Rep. Matheson seemed unaware of the cruelty of horse slaughter, probably because the AVMA and AQHA and horse slaughter industry lobbyists have done such a good job spreading the disinformation that horse slaughter is humane euthanasia. I explained to him there is nothing "humane" about horse slaughter. The captive bolt gun used in the U.S. slaughterhouses did not typically render horses senseless before slaughter. The slaughter houses never bothered to restrain the horses' heads or use only trained personnel to operate the gun.
As John Holland has explained: "In its 2000 report on methods of Euthanasia, the AVMA stated that the captive bolt gun should not be used on equines unless head restraint could be assured. This is because of the relatively narrow forehead of equines, their head shyness and the fact that the brain is set back further than in cattle for which the gun is intended. It is difficult for an operator to assure proper placement of the gun. "No slaughter house ever found a practical way to restrain the heads of the horses, so by the AVMA's very definition, the process was not acceptable. The result was a very large number of ineffective stuns. These misplaced blows undoubtedly caused severe pain until a stunning or fatal blow was delivered. " I tried to describe for Rep. Matheson the pain and terror experienced by horses as bolts were repeatedly fired at their heads many times by untrained operators. I told him these horses were many times still conscious as they were then hoisted upside down for slaughter. I explained that because horse slaughter could not be made humane according to the standards in its 2000 Report, AVMA simply changed the requirements in its 2007 Euthanasia Report! In that report the AVMA removed any mention that horses' heads should be restrained during use of the captive bolt gun. That pesty requirement that slaughterhouses ignored anyway simply got in the way of the AVMA's campaign to convince Congress and the public that horse slaughter is "humane". Now the AVMA is effectively telling Congress and the public that it is humane euthanasia for an untrained operator to fire metal bolts at a horse's unrestrained head until it is more or less unconscious and then, still alive and perhaps even conscious, subjected to the slaughtering process. Of course, this does not even include the fear and suffering endured by horses as they are transported to slaughter. Most are stuffed into double decked trailers where they cannot raise their heads. They are transported long distances without food or water for more than 24 hours. Many are trampled, injured and even killed during transport. The USDA has issued a regulation barring use of double decked trailers, but with a wink and a nod at the kill buyers transporting horses to slaughter. 9 CFR 88.3 The USDA has said it does not have the resources to enforce the regulations. As a result, kill buyers still use double decked trailers to haul horses to slaughter.
(For more information on the brutality of horse slaughter in the U.S., click here to read the July 25, 2006 testimony of Christopher J. Heyde, Deputy Legislative Director for Animal Welfare Institute, before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. Mr. Heyde and other representatives of the AWI as well as HSUS lobbyists including Nancy Perry were on hand to give us pointers in lobbying. They provided some much needed support for our citizen lobbying effort!)
States Rights?
Several of the Congressional aides we spoke with expressed concern that the federal government should not pass legislation on this issue, that this is a matter for the states to address. The problem is that the states where there were horse slaughter houses, Texas and Illinois, have done all they can to stop horse slaughter. In 2007 state laws upheld by federal courts shut down horse slaughter in those states. In fact, former Mayor Paula Bacon of Kaufman, Texas was there to tell Congressional members and aides during our citizen lobbying effort that there is nothing more Texas or any other state can do to stop horse slaughter. She should know. Until last year Kaufman, Texas was the home of one of the nation's 3 horse slaughter houses. Mayor Bacon described that when she had to drive by the slaughter house, she could see the horses there awaiting slaughter. She demonstrated to us how they would neigh at her, seemingly beckoning her to save them. One day she saw a horse with a mane that was still curly, meaning that the horse had just appeared within the past day or two with a braided mane at a show or exhibition. And then the owner sold him, knowingly or unknowingly, to be slaughtered. Mayor Bacon was instrumental in the fight in the Texas federal courts to shut down both horse slaughter houses in Texas. And, last year the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 1949 Texas law that banned horse slaughter for human consumption, a law which had been largely forgotten. Mayor Bacon's involvement in this effort did not make her popular with many of her constituents, particularly the state's powerful agriculture and veterinary industries. She has been nominated for Caroline Kennedy's Profiles in Courage Award given annually to an elected official who has the courage to take unpopular stands on important issues. Click here for more on the Court's decision upholding a Texas law banning horse slaughter for human consumption and here for information about the fight in the legislature and the courts in Illinois to shut down the horse slaughter plant in DeKalb.
Several states either have bans on horse slaughter for human consumption or are considering such laws. But a state can't regulate commerce between other states or with foreign countries. I told Rep. Matheson that with the closing of horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. in 2007, there has only been a 14% decrease in horse slaughter. Much of this grizzly business has moved to Mexico where instead of a captive bolt gun, untrained workers use a puntilla knife to stab horses repeatedly apparently in an effort to stun them before they are slaughtered. For more on the cruelty of horse slaughter in Mexico, click here.
It requires a federal law, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503/S.B. 311, to stop the sale and transport of American horses to slaughter houses in another country. I told Rep. Matheson we were there in the nation's Capitol to ask him to co-sponsor that law and help pass it. In fact, Congress has not regarded horse slaughter as a matter for states to address. Congress has previously voted to ban horse slaughter for human consumption. In 2006 the Ensign Byrd Amendment passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29 and the House by a vote of 269-158. This Amendment to the agriculture budget eliminated funding for USDA inspections of horses slaughter houses. Without inspections, horse slaughter houses cannot legally operate. (Yes, Rep. Matheson voted against this amendment.) Of course, the USDA tried an end run around this law and offered slaughter houses the opportunity to pay for their own inspections. Yes, under the USDA's vision, the horse slaughter industry would basically inspect itself. But another federal court stepped in last year and found the USDA's plan illegal. Click here for more on that federal court decision.
U.S. Economic Impact
I also wanted Rep. Matheson to understand the insignificance of the horse slaughter industry to the U.S. economy. All 3 of the horse slaughter houses closed last year were part of a horse meat industry that was only 0.001% of the U.S. meat industry. The slaughterhouses were all foreign-owned. They paid little in income taxes. One facility paid $5 in federal taxes on $12 million in sales. These slaughter houses paid no export taxes, meaning the U.S. government effectively subsidized the sale of horse meat to consumers generally in Asia and Europe. Horse meat is not consumed in the U.S. It is not used in the manufacture of pet food, and very few zoos use horse meat at all. Horse meat is an expensive delicacy served in fine restaurants primarily in parts of Asia and Europe. Horse slaughter is a brutal business. It has no place in American culture. It's time it went the way of dog fighting, trafficking in illegal drugs, slavery, prostitution, child labor, dumping of pollutants onto land or waterways and other sordid practices. It's time to ban horse slaughter.
Property Rights
One Congressional aide expressed concern that horse owners have a "right" to send horses to slaughter. Actually, as AAHS points out, "Horse owners' property rights become an issue when they cannot sell their horses without any assurance they will not end up at slaughter...
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Did I convince Rep. Matheson to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act? Well, he hasn't signed on as a co-sponsor. I have a feeling his ties to the agriculture and veterinary lobbies that support horse slaughter are more important to him than my vote. But I haven't rallied my fellow constituents yet.....
WHAT YOU CAN DO
You don't need to go to the Capitol to lobby for Congress to pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Click here for more information on this law, where it stands now, and how you can help pass it without ever leaving your home!
Remember it's an election year. The three remaining presidential candidates, all Senators, have all signed up as co-sponsors to this Act. No one should be elected to Congress without agreeing to co-sponsor this legislation. No member of Congress should be re-elected without signing on as co-sponsor to H.R. 503 or S.B. 311. Contact Animal Law Coalition for help in convincing Congressional candidates or your representative or senators to sign on now as co-sponsors!
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Click here to read the white paper issued by the Veterinarians for Equine Welfare on horse slaughter.
Click here to read John Holland's point by point refutation of the AVMA's pro-slaughter arguments.
Click here to read how you can help restore the protections of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
by Laura Allen for the Animal Law Coalition
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 Anti horse slaughter supporters Vicki Tobin, from Illinois, and John Holland, from Virginia, make plans with volunteers before visiting the House of Representatives.
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In all about 100 volunteers showed up in Washington on March 4 and 5 for its "lobby week". The intense two-day effort, intended to garner support for federal legislation, was the largest such effort to date.
"It was an incredible example of grass-roots democracy at work," said Alex Brown, a racing professional, professor and one of the event's organizers. The all-volunteer effort attracted experts on every aspect of the issue as well as several celebrities.
The volunteers were joined by actor Paul Sorvino who attended meetings with key congressional members and staffers. In all, hundreds of separate and pre-arranged meetings were held between AAHS volunteers and congressional staffers, and packets of information were presented to each office.
"We wanted to stress that the closing of the three domestic plants has not stopped slaughter," said Julie Caramante, "Our horses are still going to Mexico and Canada and they are suffering terrible stress and brutality." Only federal legislation can stop these exports.
 Chris Heyde, left, of the Animal Welfare Institute AWI helped volunteers prepare for lobbying. |
The presentations were intended to bring the members up to date on all aspects of the battle against horse slaughter and to present the findings of investigations into horse transport by Animals' Angels, conditions at Canadian slaughter facilities by the CHDC and deceptive press accounts concerning the effect of the closing of US based plants last year. All presentations will soon be available on line.
The AHSPA, which had 193 cosponsors in the House and 38 cosponsors in the Senate, immediately gained two cosponsors with indications more would soon follow. Of particular significance, the top candidates for president, Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama, are already cosponsors of the legislation.
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“Somebody put a lot of time into him,” says Ferrari. “He’s the perfect horse to do an exhibition. He did a holiday show in the barn. He’s a born showman.” As if to verify this, Noir keeps turning his head to the camera as if making sure it gets his best angle. Castiglioni becomes angry when he thinks of anyone considering killing Noir, which he says has the personality of a big dog. “I don’t believe any animal so beautiful as that should be raised for food or used as a beast of burden,” says Castiglioni. “Horses helped build the history of this country. Wherever a man walked, a horse walked beside him.” Ferrari warns that people who sell their horses have no idea where that animal might end up, and too many perfectly healthy horses are going to slaughterhouses. The first rescued horse at Windkist was a sweet filly named Cenere “Chichi” and when she arrived, she couldn’t be handled. “I needed a place to teach a horse to like people — now she’s everybody’s best friend,” says Ferrari, who works to make the best possible matches between horses and people. “These rescue horses deserve to be someone’s pet. They don’t have anything more to prove by showing off all their training. They were pets before and someone put time and effort into them. They’re not cattle. They weren’t ever raised for slaughter.” Ferrari says U.S. Dept. of Agriculture figures for 2003 showed 90 percent of horses slaughtered in the U.S. are in good to excellent condition. Other studies show 80 percent are under age 10, 74 percent are sound of limb, and 96 percent have no behavioral issues. Looking at Noir and Hunter, it’s heartbreaking to realize how close they came to being slaughtered. “He was days from a dinner plate,” says Martin about Noir. Martin is running the fundraising effort for Noir. There are also genuine horsehair bracelets and zipper pulls for sale. The elegant items each contain one hair from every rescued horse at Windkist and cost $10 for bracelets and $5 for zipper pulls. The money raised will help Noir. The items are available at Windkist Farm, 125 Windkist Farm Road, the Hallmark store in the Building 19 plaza in Haverhill, and at the tack shop in the Parsons Plaza off Route 1 in Topsfield.
The community is also invited to make a tax-deductible donation, with checks payable to New England Equine Rescues. Write “For Noir” in the memo section and mail the check to: New England Equine Rescues, 1487 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, R.I. 02874.
Mary Martin can be reached at 1-508-284-4022. She is currently constructing a Web site for Noir and his fundraiser, viewable at www.freewebs.com/trickhorse
Thank you Anne Dillenbeck for saving the Trick Horse from the broker,
and for donating to NEER to be treated!!
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Jan 08, 2008
Now I lay me down to sleep,
not a hug from my owner,
not a pick to my feet,
Legs not going,
thrush is growing
Now I lay me down to sleep
Where are you??
-- Anastasia Beechin & Hunter
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The man looked over at the petite woman with long brown hair. Every bet he made, she upped it. He looked in the ring at the ragged chestnut mare. Her ears lay back against her head. She fought the handler, baring her teeth and tossing her head.
The auctioneer was waiting for him. He shook his head and the woman smiled. The mare was pulled out of the ring by the handler.
By 4 a.m. the next morning, the mare, now named Faith, was in a paddock with green grass and a high white fence, saved from the slaughterhouse by Sarah Nagle for $175.
Faith is a Peruvian Paso, a breed known for its extraordinary gait. She is the type of horse often found on the auction block, one that was bred for the show ring, but never got there. She’s wild and scared – some would call her viscous – and she’s not safe to be around if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Faith is Nagle’s most recent rescue. Dozens of horses have been saved from the slaughter house, neglectful and abusive owners, and just plain bad situations. Eight horses call Cedar Oaks Equestrian Center in Cedarville home, including Nagle’s own horse, Aztec.
Patrick, a black mustang with a star, stripe and snip on his face, came to Nagle a half-starved colt. He was born in the western United States and was left to starve after his herd was slaughtered for meat, Nagle said. Horse meat is consumed by people in several European countries.
“Actually, since the slaughter of horses was made illegal by Congress, I’ve had a huge increase in calls,” Nagle said. “I have to turn away two or three horses a week.”
There is an overabundance of horses in this country. Premarin, a menopause drug, is made from the urine of pregnant mares. According to The Humane Society of the United States, the drug has slowed in sales, and mares that were once bred only to produce the substance, were not needed. More than 40,000 foals were produced each year through these pregnancies. In 2003, there were 500 farms that bred mares only for their urine in the country.
That industry, along with the racing and show horse industries, created a glut in unwanted horses. Not every horse can be Secretariat, and most thoroughbreds never touch the racetrack.
Nagle can’t take them all, though she’d like to. As it is, it’s been a tough year for Nagle, 35, a mother of two. A contractor she paid to build a barn for her took off with her deposit, she said, and the shelter a group of kids built for her collapsed during a storm. Nagle works three jobs to keep a roof over her head and her horses’ heads.
The stories of Faith and Patrick are heart wrenching, but Nagle’s other horses have sad tales, too.
A black and white pinto named Star, for the white star on her forehead, shares the paddock with Patrick. Both horses are 2 years old, but don’t seem it because Star is a spotted draft horse. Her head is twice as big as Patrick’s. Star was another horse Nagle found on the auction block.
Then there’s Cie, pronounced see, a gray Arabian, “who was just left to rot,” by her former owners. So was Zanzi, a roan appaloosa with a white blanket on her hindquarters. The two Morgans, Deedee and her son, Mint, have been at Nagle’s farm for several years. Deedee had laminitis, the same hoof disease that killed Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Both of them had botfly worms coming out of their skin.
It’s hard to believe by looking at them both now – happy and content in a paddock of their own. Deedee was as viscous as Faith is, but Nagle’s gentle but firm hand soothed the horse.
It all started 10 years ago. One day Nagle came home from work to find an old decrepit horse on her front lawn, munching away at the grass. Rosy’s knees were the size of softballs. She had been, in horsemen’s terms, “ridden hard and put up wet” for too many years.
Nagle nursed the old girl back to health and eventually got a friend to adopt Rosy, but Nagle couldn’t stop – she was hooked.
“I sold my dressage horse so I could focus on my needy children,” she said.
Nowadays, abused and neglected horses occupy a huge spot in her soft heart. It kills her to turn away a needy horse, but she simply doesn’t have the room.
Eventually, she plans to build a barn and indoor arena, and set up a boarding facility to bring in income for her needy children. She’s filing paperwork to make Cedar Oaks a non-profit rescue organization. She’s also a member of the New England Equine Rescue
Though many of Nagle’s horses would be suitable for adoption, she’s leery of trying it.
“If I get a free one and know it will go to a good home, I might adopt it,” she said. “But so many times the horse comes back.
“I had someone interested in one of my horses a few weeks ago. The woman called me and asked if I could trailer him up because she couldn’t rent a trailer and afford to get him shoes at the same time. So she didn’t get him. If you can’t afford to get shoes, you shouldn’t have a horse.”
Instead of adopting them, Nagle has come up with an interesting idea. She wants people to sponsor a horse.
“For $150 a month, they cam come and visit the horse or ride anytime they want,” she said. “It’s like sponsoring an Ethiopian child.
“I love people who love horses, and I want to open a facility that will allow people who might not be able to afford leasing or owning a horse, to have the chance to be around one.”
For more information about Cedar Oaks Rescue contact Sarah Nagle at 508-728-9062
Published: September 15, 2007 12:00 am
With lemonade, girls take a stand and save a life.
By Katie Curley , Staff Writer
Daily News of Newburyport
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Fri, Nov 09 2007
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We're in print!!
And here...
West Newbury Riding and Driving Club...
http://www.newenglandequinerescues.com/wnrdcMarch2007.pdf
...scroll to Members News. (:
And we have a blurb in MAHorse... http://mahorse.com/
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1 cup uncooked oats
1 cup flour
1 cup shredded carrots
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup molasses
Mix ingredients in bowl as listed. Make little balls and place on cookie sheet which has been sprayed with oil or Pam.) Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
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17, may 2008
Kudos to all those Quincy supporters for all the time they have devoted for more than a year to continuing the efforts in finding justice for this mare and to the Uxbridge judge who took time out of his busy schedule to attend. How sad that this could not have been resolved for the mare in October 2007 when this well respected vet advised the owner to put the horse down. Instead she was sentenced to years of horrid pain.
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Second - what is the point in having humane animal laws in place if this is the kind of charade that needs to be gone thru for justice. It's a bleeping joke. There are professionals giving professional opinions, and yet this flat out abuse and torture was allowed to continue.
Third - this defense lawyer - honestly - how can he stand himself? I hope the fee is worth it.
Someday though - when their pathetic lives are coming to an end - and it will happen some day because it's the cycle of life - they will need to face the lord and hope they are forgiven. Animals are gods children too and for what Saffran has done - I hope he goes to ****.