Comments on: See no evil, hear no evil…too busy eating doughnuts!

By: welchlover84

welchlover84 — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:00:21 +0000

Someone once told me “horses can live off of grass….what do you think the wild horses eat”. For awhile that statement made a lot of sense to me. Until one day I started to notice the horses that actually were being fed grain, supplements, hay, grass, etc. were looking A LOT healthier than the ones who only ate grass all day long. I wish I would have started reading Fugly over a year ago (most of you will understand where I lived and who decided to give me that gem of information if you have read any of fuglies other blogs), maybe I wouldn’t have believed the crap that came out of people’s mouths. Because of Fugly I have realized that I need to learn a lot more about horses before I ever need to own one. Thanks Fugly – and everyone who comments on her blogs!

By: akhorses

akhorses — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:32:15 +0000

When I was a teenager we moved to Alaska, after moving we purchased an old large pony (14.2 hands) for $250. Nobody knew how old Casper was at the time, but after some research it was found he was around 39 years old. He had been around, he was a hunting horse, then a lesson pony, then a 4H pony, after many years he ended up as a trail horse. I purchased him after that. I had him for 3 years, he held his weight in the winter, even at temps colder then 50 below zero at times with just a run in shed, no heated barn or blanket. The only reason he died at age 42 was cancer, we had him put down while he still had some dignity. He was fat and sassy the day he died. There is NO reason for an old horse to be skinny with proper care, NONE.

By: morabs08

morabs08 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:06:06 +0000

I just had to put down my old Morab of 28 years old this morning I have owned her 24 of those years. This old girl was ridden lightly right up until the end the best babysitter. Lacy was in great shape even the vet wanted to give her 12 hours to see if she’d turn around. I spent every minute with her walking her keeping her company last night. These old horses are gems and they deserve much more than what is pictured in FHOTD blog. What’s wrong with people are they so self absorbed they can’t see past the noses of these starving horses. I’ll truly miss my old horse I feel sorry for those people who have never had a lifelong bond with a special horse.

By: Ponygirl

Ponygirl — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:06:21 +0000

I forgot to mention in my original post that the genetic defect issue *is* one concern…the problem that made this mare lame is some sort of common ailment for horses around this age bracket (the name escapes me at the moment). She’s not old, I believe she’s around 10-15ish, and it could be genetic. At this point though, the owner doesn’t *know* that it’s NOT genetic. THAT was what concerned me…not knowing, and breeding a horse that could potentially pass on bad genes instead of just going ahead and purchasing/adopting a horse of a similar (or the same) breed that’s already at the same age and *doesn’t* exhibit this possibly genetic fault. Just seems a little shaky to me, hence wondering what, if anything, to say.

I don’t have a problem with people breeding if they’re making good choices, bettering the breed, etc., but I’m a little uncertain that rolling the dice and hoping you don’t end up with TWO genetically-predisposed-to-lameness horses is a good idea.

By: Montes Li

Montes Li — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:55:02 +0000

All I can say is PEOPLE SUCK!!! It was hard looking at the first batch of horses, but those posted that were just seized in TN are AWFUL! That poor little foal….Makes you wonder if it will ever be OK. Looks like the father and son arrested for it, haven’t gone without eating!!! Communities really need to get horse smart, and at least start listening to people making complaints before any more cases get to this point…In a perfect world we’d get our wish, but that won’t happen anytime soon. I applaud anyone that steps up to the plate for the horses. I did a few years ago, when we had 2 loose horses wander onto our farm. They were immediately put in a paddock, and animal control was called. One of the horses had an old, filthy wrap on it’s leg covering an injury. It had been on so long, it was cutting into the leg! A “friend” ( former, long distance neighbor) came to pick the horses up, as they belonged to a neighbor of his. When I commented on the condition of the 1 horse, his comment was, “oh, yeah, the leg’s been like that for months” WTF??? He also said the horses continually got out, woke him up as they were crossing his bridge, and he’d catch them, and put them back in the neighbors yard!!!! Needless to say, the horses did not leave with him that day, and were removed to a safe place by animal control. And my “friend”, was no longer talking to me…Didn’t break my heart!!!

By: qhcuttingirl

qhcuttingirl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:33:56 +0000

btw, I sent a nice little note to the Tulsa Sherff’s office…I hope others did as well…

By: DeannaJ

DeannaJ — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:18:25 +0000

Well, on my local news tonight the USHS just seized 80 horses along with dogs, chickens, and other animals at a Cannon county TN farm today about 65 miles from me! It showed on the news that about 30 of them were locked in a barn and starving to death, it showed several babies with their dams also….By the time authorities got there, 15 horses were already dead! I am so sick of hearing about this happening over and over, I could puke! Here is the link with the story and pics:
http://www.wsmv.com/news/21711661/detail.html

I hope the SOB’s rot in jail for this!

By: marethere

marethere — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:31:08 +0000

Please, please, please remember how important water is in any horse’s diet!

A lot of these neglect cases do not have access to water, clean unfrozen water and much of that emaciation we see in these cases is dehydration as well as starvation. No, I’m not downplaying the fact that they’re starving too but water/fluid balance in the horse is actually more important to their healthy functioning before solid food. Not saying that they’ll drink readily either in this state because in the condition they’re in, their electrolyte balance is so messed up, they may not feel like drinking! It’s just a vicious circle!

By: Pepper

Pepper — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:29:10 +0000

The lady in the news report said it all!! There are people out there that will take care of these horses if the owner can’t, why allow animals to suffer like that.

We have been in a hard drought for some months now and our 24 year old horse has never looked better! He had his teeth checked just this month also and is fine for yet another 12 months. Being in drought we have no grass of any value, do our horses starve? No! They are fed twice a day on prime lucerne and have a large round bale of Rhodes grass to graze on in between.

And just recently we purchased a Arab or Arab x, said to be “15 years old and in ‘paddock condition’. “Paddock condition” to me is fat and out of condition, not skinny with the last three ribs showing, no covering over the spine and emancipated rump! Sure we could have just turned our back on this horse, but then what for this horse? Instead he came home with us, had wormed, his teeth floated (so sharp was the right hand side that his mouth was lacerated from the inside said our dentist), we did this out of our own pocket even though he was on trial, there is no excuse to allow animals to suffer like that. He is rugged against the insects etc and fed seperately from the others as he took 2.5 hours to clean up his meal each time, oh and he is 18 yo not 15 yo and in just two weeks the difference in body weight is evident.

The seller saw to it that the horse was moved on, but felt justified in allowing the horse to get to this condition as the teenage owner had lost interst. This condition would not have taken a week or two to get to this point!! It is there responsibility as responsible adults to pick up the slack of their kids

There is no excuse for a horse slipping into poor condition. If you can not afford to care for your horse give them to someone that can that will give them the care and love they deserve

This is our 24 year old horse

By: qhcuttingirl

qhcuttingirl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:05:21 +0000

okay…seriously?…the sheriff’s dept doesn’t think this mare died of starvation?…and god forbid they do an autopsy on it JUST for the fact that now they are in the public eye of this…c’mon…prove us wrong!…horses don’t peel tree’s like that…and whoppy shit, there’s grass!…so-the-f**k-what?!?!?!…IT’S WINTER…there’s no nutritional value in that grass anymore this time of year…and the horses OBVIOUSLY need more then normal care as far as food goes…they’re way past grass filling them up…GOOD JOB MS. GAINES…you hound their asses because you know it’s right!…I myself am still in the middle of a court case involving a woman who bought my mare several years ago (and along with 40-50 horses now) who are starving…I ended up pretending to be her BFF and bought my mare back to get her out of that situation…she stepped back into my barn on November 3rd…in SERIOUS need of some groceries, a farrier (she hadn’t seen one in seven years) and of course shes pregnant again…yay!…too late to abort…but, at least she’s getting feed and water now…funny what “luxuries” can make a horse live…the sheriff’s office in this case needs to pull their heads out of their asses and get on the ball…I live in Ontario, Canada and the woman I’m fighting against lives in Kentucky…the sheriff’s office has done EVERYTHING they can to help me and those horses…it’s the damn court houses that keep letting this woman get away with this…this has been going on since April!…you keep at it Ms. Gaines…you’re right!