How Long do they live?
How long does a horse live? It’s a question we get a lot and the answer isn’t an easy one. According to ‘The Horse’ a group dedicated to everything ‘horse’, the average is between 25-30 years. A horse is considered an adult at age 4 and by the time they are 15-18 years old, most have entered the senior stage. The scientific community has defined the horse as physiologically showing signs of aging around 20. Of course, every horse has lived a different life and those that have been kept active, in shape, healthy with regular veterinary checks, those that have had dental work when needed, wormed on a regular basis and those that have had an emotionally stable life will most likely age a bit slower. Breed and genetics are big contributors of aging, ponies may live to 40 – 45 years whereas larger breeds are more likely to live a shorter time, 20 – 25 years. Most horses after the age of 20 have at least some arthritis, their bodies become more resistant to insulin, their cortisol levels don’t rise as much after exercise as younger healthier horses which means they have less anti-inflammatory properites and it takes longer to recover after exertion. An older horse’s ability to respond to infection or disease is usually not what it used to be. Their response to vaccinations are different, the immunity wont last as long or protect to the degree of younger horses. Hay is the best food for any healthy horse but for older horses, especially those that have not had regular dental care, the chewing of hay may become compromised. Signs of quidding (chewing and then dropping food before they swallow), food dribbling and slower eating may well cause weight loss. Temperature extremes are also less tolerated in some senior horses.
With that said, a common question at the barn is “how old are they?”
With that said, a common question at the barn is “how old are they?”
Chester is around 7 (28 in human years), but those first 6 were less then healthy. He had been tied to a tree in Texas for most, if not all of his life. Not only was he starved of food and water, but lack of activity. When he arrived, he had the mind of a 2 year old and a body that had been deprived of movement, causing not only physical issues but mental issues too. Physically we can provide good food, water and the opportunity to be a horse and let him do the rest. By moving, he has developed muscle and coordination and will probably continue to improve as the years go by but he will never be able to physically become what he was capable of because of the effects of malnutrition, causing ligament, muscle and bone issues that he will live with his whole life. His emotional state when he arrived was way more complicated. Arabs (which he is) are known to be very intelligent. By being tied to a tree and having no stimulation to not only his body but his brain, he survived by the only way he could. He entertained himself by biting his own legs, his tail, the tree he was tied to. His mind was more starved then his body. It seems he was never abused but probably just as detrimental was having NOTHING done with him. The scars of the killpen will always live with Chester, he must have been so scared and confused going from NOTHING to being crammed jn a pen with other horses, all trying to survive, biting and kicking, fighting for food and life. Chester will hopefully live a very long life with the right person. Someone who keeps his anxiety levels in mind and keeps encouraging him to grow emotionally. His physical issues will hopefully not cause big problems in his life but he may never be a great riding horse – can he be ridden? Yes but only by a lighter person for short periods – this may improve with time but his greatest gift is his personality, his love of life and the character that pokes out of him daily. He may not be the cookie with the most common sense but he definitely is the cookie with the most sprinkles.
Tommy is around 13 (43 in human years). He should be in the prime of his life. We have no idea what Tommys life was for his first 12 years. We know he has scars on his chest, mouth and both left legs. We know he lived somewhere cold since he knows how to break ice in a bucket and he loves the snow. We know he was a well trained boy who made someone a fun ride but was he a ranch horse herding cattle? Or a show jumper flying around the course? Was he ridden by a hardened cowboy or a young girl? We think he may have come from Montana, probably being taken to an auction when it was discovered he had lameness issues. Were they caused by overworking? Being started too young? An accident? How I wish we knew. He has been treated badly by someone, having a trigger that causes terror and the reaction to survive, to fight or flight. But when he gives you his trust it feels so safe, he is the sweetest giant that melts under a warm palm. Tommy will most likely not live to old age. Because of his lameness and the fact we can not seem to “cure” it, our hope is to make him as pain- free as we can and to be certain when we are unable to keep him comfortable and he stops loving his food, stops loving his brushing and rubs, stops loving to be loved on, we will not make him live past that point.
Pete, at 30, is older then dirt. 85 in human years (sorry Mum), Pete has been there and done that. When he came he was a rack of bones, barely walking from exhaustion but with a heart that wanted to live. In all reality, if we had known he was 30 we probably would not have given him the chance that we did. But, we didn’t know. Against all odds he rallied and has regained his weight and is working on muscle. He must have had great care and good genes during his 30 years. His teeth, although old and inefficient, there are none missing. He cant eat hay which makes it difficult to get enough fiber into him but the diet he is on is working and he has turned into a Peterbilt tank. While we believe he was well taken care of during most of his life, he did go through the starvation process in his senior years which had to have taken a toll on his body. At this point, we hope to get him in good enough shape to keep his mind busy for as long as his body holds out but each day is a gift for him and that is how he acts… like every day could be his last. It seems like he looks forward to breakfast, cant wait to get out and rough-house with Chester, waits for someone to come brush and work him and then looks forward to coming in and eating supper. The saying ‘live like you are dying, That’s Petes motto. He is a task driven old man that does not want to give in to his old body. He wants a job and we will give him one (although it wont be too hard of a job) as long as he is happy.
Mickey is 23 (68 in human years) on the back side of the hump. Although I think Mickey has been taken care of and his basic needs have been met, he has a condition known as cushings disease that will make his senior years hard. He may very well have other issues that we aren’t yet aware of but for now, we are medicating him, giving him a very specific diet and watching. His disease, if caught early and in an otherwise healthy horse, is fairly easy to manage but his wasn’t caught until muscle wasting and other clinical signs were showing. To not only maintain but regain at 23 may not be an easy thing for Mickey. We are giving him a chance and will watch closely for signs of improvement or decline and decisions will be made along the way that we feel are in his best interest. For now, Blossom is his best medicine and with her gentle guidance, perhaps he too will rally.
Last but certainly not least is Blossom. Now donkeys can live to be 50 years old or more. Blossom is only 18. She too came from a killpen in Texas where it is possible she was treated like a queen, bred like a broodmare, worked like a slave or even wild – maybe all of the above… we have no idea. But we are prepared to keep her for as long as she lives here on the hill and try our hardest to keep her healthy and happy. Just so you know, Blossom will most likely outlive me so she is in my will … who will be the lucky one that inherits her?
We not only look at the age number of our rescues but at the physical and emotional wellbeing of each of them and weigh the chances of a good life after 'recovering from whatever we got them from'. The outcomes and goals are different for each horse. Its not always the age that makes a decision about whether to try to 'save' a horse or not. Its more about the chances that each horse has of leading a happy life that determines whether to treat and how long to try with each horse. Sometimes, the horse just chooses us and we are in their lives for some reason we have not chosen, or perhaps even realize. I am in no way a religious person – but I do think each of our rescues are with us for some reason that we may never know. Each has a lesson to teach and if we can try and live in the moment, try to stop and listen, to just watch and do nothing; then we may be able to simply enjoy Tommy running in the snow like a young stallion, Pete purring while eating his mash, Mickey finding the security in Blossom that he has needed for a long time, Chester learning something new and giving a low deep neigh that says ‘I did good right?’. If we can stop and appreciate each one individually and continue doing what we do FOR them and WITH them, not TO them then we have done our job.
By Jane Smiley
Most horses pass from one human to another - some horsemen and women are patient and forgiving, others are rigorous and demanding, others are cruel, others are ignorant.
Horses have to learn how to, at the minimum, walk, trot, canter, gallop, go on trails and maybe jump, to be treated by the vet, all with sense and good manners.
Talented Thoroughbreds must learn how to win races, and if they can't do that, they must learn how to negotiate courses and jump over strange obstacles without touching them, or do complicated dance
like movements or control cattle or accommodate severely handicapped children and adults in therapy work.
Many horses learn all of these things in the course of a single lifetime. Besides this, they learn to understand and fit into the successive social systems of other horses they meet along the way.
A horse's life is rather like twenty years in foster care, or in and out of prison, while at the same time changing schools over and over and discovering that not only do the other students already have their own social groups, but that what you learned at the old school hasn't much application at the new one.
We do not require as much of any other species, including humans.
That horses frequently excel, that they exceed the expectations of their owners and trainers in such circumstances, is as much a testament to their intelligence and adaptability as to their relationship skills or their natural generosity or their inborn nature. That they sometimes manifest the same symptoms as abandoned orphans - distress, strange behaviors, anger, fear - is less surprising than that they usually don't.
No one expects a child, or even a dog to develop its intellectual capacities living in a box 23 hours a day and then doing controlled exercises the remaining one.
Mammal minds develop through social interaction and stimulation.
A horse that seems "stupid", "slow", "stubborn", etc. might just have not gotten the chance to learn!
Take care of your horses and treasure them.
Most horses pass from one human to another - some horsemen and women are patient and forgiving, others are rigorous and demanding, others are cruel, others are ignorant.
Horses have to learn how to, at the minimum, walk, trot, canter, gallop, go on trails and maybe jump, to be treated by the vet, all with sense and good manners.
Talented Thoroughbreds must learn how to win races, and if they can't do that, they must learn how to negotiate courses and jump over strange obstacles without touching them, or do complicated dance
like movements or control cattle or accommodate severely handicapped children and adults in therapy work.
Many horses learn all of these things in the course of a single lifetime. Besides this, they learn to understand and fit into the successive social systems of other horses they meet along the way.
A horse's life is rather like twenty years in foster care, or in and out of prison, while at the same time changing schools over and over and discovering that not only do the other students already have their own social groups, but that what you learned at the old school hasn't much application at the new one.
We do not require as much of any other species, including humans.
That horses frequently excel, that they exceed the expectations of their owners and trainers in such circumstances, is as much a testament to their intelligence and adaptability as to their relationship skills or their natural generosity or their inborn nature. That they sometimes manifest the same symptoms as abandoned orphans - distress, strange behaviors, anger, fear - is less surprising than that they usually don't.
No one expects a child, or even a dog to develop its intellectual capacities living in a box 23 hours a day and then doing controlled exercises the remaining one.
Mammal minds develop through social interaction and stimulation.
A horse that seems "stupid", "slow", "stubborn", etc. might just have not gotten the chance to learn!
Take care of your horses and treasure them.
Click the button above to watch the documentary
The racing industry has some major problems that greed and money have caused. Yes a thoroughbred loves to run and racing in itself isnt abuse - the dirty acts of the greedy people that only want to win, at the horses expense, are the ones that need to be stopped. Race a horse that isnt in 100% physical and mental shape - that is abuse. Breed without a moral conscience - that is abuse. Constantly breed/buy and throw away if it isnt perfect and cant make you money - that is abuse. If we can pinpoint where the abuse is happening, the racing world can continue - but without dead babies, without 2 year olds with broken legs, without the 5 year old that has raced her heart out for her owners and then thrown to a slaughter house the day she starts loosing. It has taken some horrible racing injuries in front of the public eye to bring the 'blood horse' industry to light and hopefully things will start changing. Greed, money and power cannot win at the horses expense.
My best thoughts come while shoveling
November 2019
I have been trying to write this for some time now. While I am shoveling, talking to myself in my own little world, I come up with exactly what I want to say but somehow, from the barn to here, I forget everything and when I try to write it down, I sit with a blank page and then move on to something else. I figured if I can get something started then maybe it would start to flow……
It is somewhat of a 2 part thought – gahhh – my brain cant multitask like it used to
The first part is what I think about on a daily basis. Mixed in among laughing at Chester and watching Tommy to see how his lameness is, watching Petes ribs fill in and making sure Blossom doesn’t eat his alfalfa, I also have visions of those that I didn’t choose. Those horses that are long gone from the killpen, the pen that Tommy, Chester and Birdie shared with them. How scared they must have been. I see their eyes and can almost feel their fear. Each day the pen is rotated – fresh ones in – those that have had their pictures taken and were not chosen are moved onto trucks. Some are not even given that chance – if they are unhandleable, sick or for some other reason deemed unadoptable – those horses are in a pen in the back – away from the public eye. How many have moved through just Kaufman ? not including all those that have gone through the other killpens or bypassed them completely and have been shipped over the boarder by the truckloads that never even made it to an auction. Why were these 3 chosen? Why did I choose these 3? I can not tell you. Im not sure who I feel the most for – those that are scared ; who have been beaten and not loved since they were babies, who are on guard and have had to fight to survive or those that have no idea what is happening to them. They were loved by a little girl, brushed and patted, safe in their warm stalls at night , but she grew and the pony got slower and the parents decided she needed something bigger and better. “He is a good pony, someone will get him at the auction”, but they didn’t and that little pony is scared and confused and looking for that little girl who loved him so but she is nowhere in sight. What about the old mare that pulled a raced her heart out for her owner, then came the day she came in last too many times so she was sent to the auction where she was given another chance to live, to serve another family faithfully, head down pulling their wagon to the market daily through rain and snow, but she was getting old and tired and her bones ached and her feet were sore. Time to trade her in. She is all worn out – Did she do anything but try to please her owners? Did she not give her heart and soul to the track and then to the family that she pulled up the hills? Did she do anything to deserve to be thrown away? Don’t even get me on the mares that are pregnant or have babies at their sides. They aren’t spared. Why the hell did anyone breed her in the first place if they were going to send her to hell?
Which one of these horses doesn’t deserve a second chance? They have done the best they could in a world that they have no control over – just to be thrown away when they can no longer give enough.
These are the faces at Kaufman today , Friday November 8th. Next week they will be gone and 9 more will take their place.
This is what I see in my mind at any given moment. So that brings me to my next thought:
When the Texas trio came a year and a half ago, I had no intentions of keeping everyone. They were to make a stop here to breath and get healthy – then they were going to move on so we could save others. They were never mine to keep. Mary and I decided to make a commitment to these 3 and not rush them, to give them the time to heal – as much time as they needed. We wanted to save them from unhappiness, not just the slaughter. To do that, they needed no time constraints and no deadlines. Birdie was easy, although she had her demons we found her person that could help her manage them and they are making a great team.
Tommy is still in the “I cant figure him out” stage. Will he be a pasture ornament ? or will we be able to figure out his lameness and help him live an active life? I haven’t given up on him yet so he isn’t ready to leave yet.
Why do I think Chester isn’t ready for his forever barn? What makes me think someone else cant love him as much as I do. I have been prolonging his stay here because he is the best little guy I can image but he can love anyone – He is the most adaptable, unstoppable survivor that has ever walked on 4 legs. In a year and a half he has gone from Bambi to a ridable 15 hand stunning Arabian gelding. He is still learning every day and will continue to learn because he loves it. He loves to play and please and … yup – pester. It is nothing but selfish of me to keep him from the person he belongs with and with that – making room to save another horse that has been thrown away.
We are a small rescue with only 4 stalls – Blossom will stay forever. Pete is ready when his person crosses his path but he is also very old and maybe doesn’t need to move again unless we can find that warm barn he has always been living for. Tommy will be ready when Tommy is ready but Chester is ready now. It brings tears to my eyes to actually say that but they are tears of happiness and pride with a bit of fear thrown in there. I know Chester will be fine without me but will I be fine without him? He has given me so much positive reinforcement with all the training we have learned together. He has definitely taught me as much if not more then I have taught him.
Anyway, I think I finally got this written down – I hope it wasn’t too much of a bawlfest – I didn’t mean it to be sad – it is actually a wonderful place Chester and I have come to. He is more then ready for his person, his next adventure, his forever barn
When the Texas trio came a year and a half ago, I had no intentions of keeping everyone. They were to make a stop here to breath and get healthy – then they were going to move on so we could save others. They were never mine to keep. Mary and I decided to make a commitment to these 3 and not rush them, to give them the time to heal – as much time as they needed. We wanted to save them from unhappiness, not just the slaughter. To do that, they needed no time constraints and no deadlines. Birdie was easy, although she had her demons we found her person that could help her manage them and they are making a great team.
Tommy is still in the “I cant figure him out” stage. Will he be a pasture ornament ? or will we be able to figure out his lameness and help him live an active life? I haven’t given up on him yet so he isn’t ready to leave yet.
Why do I think Chester isn’t ready for his forever barn? What makes me think someone else cant love him as much as I do. I have been prolonging his stay here because he is the best little guy I can image but he can love anyone – He is the most adaptable, unstoppable survivor that has ever walked on 4 legs. In a year and a half he has gone from Bambi to a ridable 15 hand stunning Arabian gelding. He is still learning every day and will continue to learn because he loves it. He loves to play and please and … yup – pester. It is nothing but selfish of me to keep him from the person he belongs with and with that – making room to save another horse that has been thrown away.
We are a small rescue with only 4 stalls – Blossom will stay forever. Pete is ready when his person crosses his path but he is also very old and maybe doesn’t need to move again unless we can find that warm barn he has always been living for. Tommy will be ready when Tommy is ready but Chester is ready now. It brings tears to my eyes to actually say that but they are tears of happiness and pride with a bit of fear thrown in there. I know Chester will be fine without me but will I be fine without him? He has given me so much positive reinforcement with all the training we have learned together. He has definitely taught me as much if not more then I have taught him.
Anyway, I think I finally got this written down – I hope it wasn’t too much of a bawlfest – I didn’t mean it to be sad – it is actually a wonderful place Chester and I have come to. He is more then ready for his person, his next adventure, his forever barn
Don't think so much
June 20, 2019
Thoughts while shoveling
I got thinking this morning, that grownups think too much.
When I was 7 we had a little colt born in our barn …. Chico was born on mothers day 1972. At the time I had Dapple Dip, a very fat dapple grey pony that taught me how to catch her with a can of grain in one hand and a stick in the other because she was just as apt to charge at me as let me catch her….I was 7
Thoughts while shoveling
I got thinking this morning, that grownups think too much.
When I was 7 we had a little colt born in our barn …. Chico was born on mothers day 1972. At the time I had Dapple Dip, a very fat dapple grey pony that taught me how to catch her with a can of grain in one hand and a stick in the other because she was just as apt to charge at me as let me catch her….I was 7
By the time he was 4 we had Chico gelded, Dapple Dip had moved on to teach another little girl how to be a good horseperson and Chico was mine. I was 10 and although we had Annie Allen come “break” him, I was basically free to do what I wanted with him. I was never taught a “training method” or even knew of any famous trainers. Luann Wasson took him for a week to help with trailering and crossing water – streams were one of the things that we never conquered hahaha. He would go swimming but to cross a running stream he would fight to the death. The next 8-9 years Chico and I spent more time together then I spent with anyone else. The dead of winter I can remember riding bareback, his warm back keeping my butt from freezing. Summers were full of swimming, trail riding alone and with friends – hours upon hours of just playing – we knew every hole in every field to swerve around when we were racing to the end, we knew every flat spot that had a wide shoulder on the road that we could speed into a gallop, every trail through the blueberry fields and woods, paths we made to avoid the road on bad corners. Sundays were mapped out for local shows and a special star on the week of horse camp. We never rode English or western, we just rode – Today young athletes specialize in baseball or basketball – just as young equestrians specialize in jumping, barrel racing, equitation, pleasure – we never did that as kids. At shows we went in every class were were qualified for – showmanship to the pleasure / equitation classes,jumping and onto the games in the afternoon – we all knew eachother and basically knew who the person to beat was (when the French Camp showed up we were doomed in our English classes hahahaha). But at the end of the day we were all friends. The highlight of the summer was camp. Jack Goater influenced my horsemanship more than any one person. He taught us to, before anything else, put our horse first. We rode in the morning and again in the afternoon and had demonstrations all day and evening. We were hot, dusty, sweaty and exhausted but our horses were shiny clean and bedded down at night with fresh shavings and clean water…. And in our spare time we hung out with … yup… our horses hahahah. It was the best week of the summer. My first year there with Chico was shortly after he had been gelded…. He was a hot mess and I had to walk him for hours – have Jack check his chest for sweat and he would send me out again… “you can not put him away until you have cooled him out completely” Riding wasn’t as much specific lessons of heals down, leg signals and sit up straight… it was teaching us how to trust our horse and how to show them to trust us. Riding without girths, emergency dismount at a hand gallop, posting without stirrups for – its seemed like hours, around the world and “the butterfly” while trotting…. These things made us better horsemen than any structured lesson ever could have. This is what I call 12 year old training… how to have fun, learn to trust and be trusted by your horse and spending time…. Just time with your horse.
This developed a bond between Chico and myself like no other. I remember the feeling, when we would all get together, and “trading horses for a while” was a thing. I never wanted to have anyone ride him, I felt like he trusted me and if someone rode him hard or heavy handed, I felt like I had let him down, like I had betrayed his trust. A memory I have of when I was older (a boy was involved) and I had tied Chico to a tree to go swimming with a group of people. When I got back the horse flies were attacking him, I will never forget how bad I felt, how he had trusted me and stayed tied while I selfishly played with friends. He didn’t hold it against me and we went on with life but I never forgot what I had done. We went on to have success at shows – making the Maine Equestrian Team and competing in Springfield Mass. We were so out of our league hahahaha. Elephants walking by and the sounds and smells of a carnival…. To put it mildly, we were a bit nervous. The one class we placed in was called “on command.” It wasn’t based on how you looked or how much silver was on your saddle, it was based on the communication between horse and rider – After each command the announcer gave, we had 3 steps to accomplish it. One by one those that had placed first in all the other classes dropped out – one step too many. We were the last ones on the rail ….. on our victory lap he ran away with me hahahaha. I wish I could explain to the horseworld how important “time spent” is. We had no specific goal…The ribbons have since been stored in some box in the barn but it was the journey there that I will never forget.
Anyway, enough babbling this morning, I hope you all enjoy the day, enjoy your horse, enjoy brushing him, breathing in the sweat smell of his muzzle, scratch his withers and ask nothing in return.
Anyway, enough babbling this morning, I hope you all enjoy the day, enjoy your horse, enjoy brushing him, breathing in the sweat smell of his muzzle, scratch his withers and ask nothing in return.
Where did you get the Texas Trio
I AM ALWAYS ASKED "WHERE DID YOU GET THE TEXAS TRIO?" I HESITATE AND LOOK AROUND TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY SMALL KIDS WITHIN EAR SHOT BECAUSE THE ANSWER BRINGS A SECOND OF SHOCK WHEN I SAY IT. "A KILLPEN IN TEXAS" THERE IS REALLY NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. KAUFMAN KILLPEN IS EXACTLY THAT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF AUCTIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT RESPONSIBLY SELL HORSES, IT IS A GREAT WAY TO GET A GREAT HORSE, HOWEVER, AT ALMOST EVERY AUCTION IS A PERSON SITTING IN THE FAR BACK THAT WAITS TO SEE HOW HIGH THE PRICE WILL GO ON ANY GIVEN HORSE. IT MAYBE THE BEST BRED, TRAINED AND BOMBPROOF HORSE BUT IF THERE ISNT A PERSON AT THAT EXACT AUCTION AT THAT VERY MOMENT THAT IS LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIFIC HORSE, HE WILL BID. HIS EXPERIENCE HAS GIVEN HIM THE ABILITY TO "WEIGH" A HORSE FROM AFAR AND HIS PRICE LIMIT IS BASED ON PER POUND. THIS PERSON ISN'T ALWAYS THE MEAN SHADOWY GUY THAT CREEPS INTO YOUR NIGHTMARES - HE IS A GUY THAT NEEDS TO FEED HIS FAMILY. BUT HIS PROFESSION IS WHAT NIGHTMARES ARE MADE OF. AT THE END OF THE AUCTION, YOU CAN FIND HIM LOADING HIS HORSES AND DONKEYS ONTO A TRUCK. SOMETIMES WITH GREAT HORSEMANSHIP, SOMETIMES WITH A WHIP, REMEMBER, HE DOES THIS EVERY DAY, IT IS HIS JOB. WHEN HIS TRUCK IS FULL, THE LOAD WILL EITHER GO TO THE NEXT AUCTION ON THE CIRCUIT, GET UNLOADED AND GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE TERRIFYING ORDEAL AGAIN OR THEY MAY SIMPLY BE HEADED FOR ONE OF SEVERAL "KILLPENS" ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A LAST STOP BEFORE HEADING ACROSS THE BOARDER OF MEXICO OR CANADA. YOU SEE, SLAUGHTER IS ILLEGAL IN THE US BUT IT IS LEGAL AND COMMONPLACE ON EITHER SIDE OF OUR BOARDER. LAWS PROHIBIT PREGNANT MARES AND MARES WITH BABIES AT THEIR SIDES TO CROSS FOR SLAUGHTER PURPOSES. (IT IS VERY EASY TO TAKE A MARE AWAY FROM A BABY... THAT SOLVES THAT PROBLEM) AND MY GUESS IS THERE ARE NEVER PREGNANCY TESTS DONE BEFORE SHIPMENT.... YUP... THATS A HEAVY MARE WORTH MORE BECAUSE OF HER POUNDAGE. IT IS ILLEGAL TO UNLOAD A DEAD HORSE..... AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A HEARTBEAT THEY CAN BE FORCED TO STAND LONG ENOUGH TO BE SLAUGHTERED. ONCE THE HORSES AND DONKEYS ARE UNLOADED IN MEXICO OR CANADA, ALL IMAGINED REGULATIONS ARE OUT OF THE US HANDS (ALTHOUGH MANY TIMES THESE REGULATIONS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THEY ARE AT LEAST IN PLACE). A MEXICO SLAUGHTER HOUSE IS THE MOST TERRIFYING PLACE ON THIS EARTH TO BE A HORSE OR DONKEY - I WONT GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL THEN THAT - I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ONE, I HOPE I NEVER WILL BUT I AM SURE THE SMELL AND SOUNDS OF DEATH AND FEAR IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAUNT ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THIS IS WHERE TOMMY, BIRDIE AND CHESTER WERE HEADED. THE ARABS WERE SCHEDULED TO BE LOADED ONTO A TRUCK IN ONLY HOURS BEFORE I PURCHASED THEM, TOMMY HAD UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
IM NOT TELLING THIS STORY TO SHOCK ANYONE, I AM TELLING THIS STORY IN HOPES THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A HORSE THAT YOU HAVE OUTGROWN, WHO HAD BECOME OLD AND WORN OUT, WHO IS LAME AND HAS NO HOPE OF RECOVERY, WHO YOU THINK IS A SWEET HORSE AND WILL SURELY FIND A HOME AT THE AUCTION, REMEMBER, ONCE THEY ENTER THE RING AT THE AUCTION HOUSE, THEIR FATE DEPENDS ON HAVING THE RIGHT PERSON, AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME... AND THERE ARE ALOT OF HORSES THERE TO CHOOSE FROM. IF YOUR HORSE IS LAME / OLD / WORNOUT ... THE CHANCES OF THEM ENDING UP IN MEXICO OR CANADA ARE MORE THEN LIKELY.
I MAY MAKE A FEW PEOPLE MAD BY SAYING THIS BUT I AM A TRUE BELIEVER IN EUTHANIZATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMPASSION AT ALL, IF YOU EVER LOVED THAT HORSE... DONT PUT HIM THROUGH THE FEAR AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE THAT AN AUCTION PROVIDES. HE DESERVES AT LEAST FOR YOU TO PUT THE EFFORT INTO FINDING HIM A GOOD, SAFE HOME OR TO BE EUTHANIZED (IF YOU CANT FIND HIM A HOME... NOBODY WANTS HIM. HE WILL GO TO SLAUGHTER. THERE IS NO COZY END FOR AN UNWANTED ANIMAL). I COULD GO ON, I COULD TALK ABOUT BREEDING.... BUT THAT IS FOR ANOTHER DAY (BUT STOP BREEDING ONLY TO HAVE A CUTE BABY - THEY GROW UP AND FILL THE AUCTON PENS)
SIGH.... I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD RAMBLE ON FOR THIS LONG... IF YOU ARE STILL READING, THANK YOU. I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO KAUFMAN KILLPEN.. BUT BEWARE... IT ISNT A FUN SITE.
HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/KAUFMANKILLPEN/
IM NOT TELLING THIS STORY TO SHOCK ANYONE, I AM TELLING THIS STORY IN HOPES THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A HORSE THAT YOU HAVE OUTGROWN, WHO HAD BECOME OLD AND WORN OUT, WHO IS LAME AND HAS NO HOPE OF RECOVERY, WHO YOU THINK IS A SWEET HORSE AND WILL SURELY FIND A HOME AT THE AUCTION, REMEMBER, ONCE THEY ENTER THE RING AT THE AUCTION HOUSE, THEIR FATE DEPENDS ON HAVING THE RIGHT PERSON, AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME... AND THERE ARE ALOT OF HORSES THERE TO CHOOSE FROM. IF YOUR HORSE IS LAME / OLD / WORNOUT ... THE CHANCES OF THEM ENDING UP IN MEXICO OR CANADA ARE MORE THEN LIKELY.
I MAY MAKE A FEW PEOPLE MAD BY SAYING THIS BUT I AM A TRUE BELIEVER IN EUTHANIZATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMPASSION AT ALL, IF YOU EVER LOVED THAT HORSE... DONT PUT HIM THROUGH THE FEAR AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE THAT AN AUCTION PROVIDES. HE DESERVES AT LEAST FOR YOU TO PUT THE EFFORT INTO FINDING HIM A GOOD, SAFE HOME OR TO BE EUTHANIZED (IF YOU CANT FIND HIM A HOME... NOBODY WANTS HIM. HE WILL GO TO SLAUGHTER. THERE IS NO COZY END FOR AN UNWANTED ANIMAL). I COULD GO ON, I COULD TALK ABOUT BREEDING.... BUT THAT IS FOR ANOTHER DAY (BUT STOP BREEDING ONLY TO HAVE A CUTE BABY - THEY GROW UP AND FILL THE AUCTON PENS)
SIGH.... I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD RAMBLE ON FOR THIS LONG... IF YOU ARE STILL READING, THANK YOU. I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO KAUFMAN KILLPEN.. BUT BEWARE... IT ISNT A FUN SITE.
HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/KAUFMANKILLPEN/