We have had a horrifying situation in the lower mainland (just east of Vancouver.) The perpetrators were veterinarians!

horses.

I have decided I will adopt some of these animals. I expect I will have little time for much else for a while. But I really hope you will look at similar conditions local to you, and help out if you can.

The thing is, when times get tough, the first thing to go is/are horses or other high-maintenance animals. At that point, some owners think first of the pet-food industry. I was brought up to believe that such working animals are somehow 'noble', and should not be worked till the end of their usefulness, and then slaughtered. Right or wrong, quixotic or not, I intend to follow that notion. I really do hope that some others will do the same.

If I had the resources, land ownership and time, I would love to adopt a horse or two.

We have no way of doing that here, though.

This is very sad, but I've heard of it before. A friend of mine in Wales, sold one of her horses privately, and thought it was going to be kept on a local farm. It turned out the person that bought it, sold it on to a slaughter house almost immediately.

No, I wouldn't buy them. I don't have the land, the time or the financial means. Horses are a a big responsibility. Better for me to give to a reputable charity that might be able to help these animals.
Good luck with your endeavors, though, Babs. Let us know how it goes.

Turns out the two people who owned the starving horses were both veterinarians. And it was them who were trying to get one of the horses to pull their car out of a ditch. It was so weak the SPCA could not even get it to stand and had to euthanize it on the spot. Good luck with your careers, a******s.

Well, I hope they are charged and have their licences revoked. At the very least, I hope that their names are repeated enough in the local media that they are unable to continue their veterinary practices. I can't abide cruelty to animals.

Babs, I can't do anything to help these animals directly myself. However, if you do go ahead with your plan, I would be more than willing to send you a contribution to help you help them. Just let me know. It won't be a great deal, but I'll gladly do that.
Hopefully this issue will get enough coverage that these poor animals will find good homes.

Thanks, but I have lots of grass and I can afford hay and grain, and they'll have apples for treats and shelter during bad weather. The only think I can't afford is unlimited veterinary expense, which as you may know is very pricey. But I can handle routine vet expenses.

quote:

Originally posted by babthrower:
Thanks, but I have lots of grass and I can afford hay and grain, and they'll have apples for treats and shelter during bad weather. The only think I can't afford is unlimited veterinary expense, which as you may know is very pricey. But I can handle routine vet expenses.

That's great! Just do your research on the animals before you adopt. Much like smaller animals, horses are often given up for adoption for various reasons, including health related issues. So have a vet check them out. I'm sure all this is probably something you have thought about already, but it's worth mentioning.
I haven't owned my own horses, but I do ride, and used to exercise horses regularly for people. One horse I looked after, had recurring and chronic laminitis, that wasn't readily apparent all the time. This is the sort of extra cost one needs to consider.
Good luck with this.

The vets' names are Mark Morohn and Carol Schoyen according to the paper. Neither has a listed number so I suppose they are not actively practicing veterinary medicine.

A few years ago when we were looking at properties, the thought was two houses, one for Danny's folks and one for us, we looked at 10 acres of land with a house and double wide tailor.

It had paddock and 'open' stables that could readily be enclosed. I considered seriously stabling horses as a form of income. That place could have held 12.

As I recall if you have the land horses are not 'that hard' to take care of. If there is plenty of pasture you can ignore them for a week or so with no need to brush them or offer them feed.

Its when you don't have the pasture land that things get complicated. Horses in close quarters tend to get dirtier faster than free range ones (I have no idea why) and of course you need to clean out and re-bed the stables daily, and feed them and water them and burp them... ok you don't need to burp horses (Can you picture burping a horse???).

Riding horses need a wee bit more attention to keep them socialized to humans. Riding is essential, if you stop riding a riding horse it can get the notion that nobody rides it forever.

Horses are in general 'healthy' critters - ergo 'healthy as a horse' they are prone to diseases like any other critter, but yearly or bi-annual check-ups usually nip most horse diseases in the bud.

The real work is in the stables. Mucking out pens and what not is hard, stinky labor with little reward. If at all possible let the animals stay out of the stables as much as possible during nice weather.

But horse apples are easier to clean up than cow patties... much easier.....

I had planned not to show this but changed my mind. You shouldn't watch it if you're very sensitive to animal distress. But this was the incident that prompted my adopting a horse. The site I posted above was about some of the response to the incident.

Sometimes I wish there were a hell.

Here.

I can't get any of the abused horses because they need intensive veterinary care, but this horse would 'make room for' a sicker horse. This horse is old but healthy. At 12 years of age, she has at least 8 more years, as I recall from my childhood, of active life.

And I can ride her, and she can help me with the chores: hauling firewood, 'cutting the lawn', 'fertilizing the flower beds', etc.

Only thing, I have to check my plants in case any of them are toxic. Apart from that, I'm not worried about my plants.

So,what do you think?

Horsey

I think you are wonderful. Coat looks a little dull.. could be winter coat or needs better nutrition. But I think it's a great idea if you can manage it nad not have it overwhelming for you.

Oh, thanks! But I love horses. I like the way they smell. I like the little whickering noises they make. I like that little warm-rubber-ball thing they have under their chins. I like the way they bond with a human. I have a special brush that's really pleasant for them. (I got it years ago when a neighbor had an old horse and I used to go and brush it. That horse died of old age.) I love their eyes. I like the way their ears turn in at the tips when they are listening straight ahead.

My very 'horsey' grand-daughters are going to look at her in the next week or so. I will trust their judgment about her temperament.