[QUOTE=Bopper;5763022]
Angola has LOTS of land and LOTS of free labor. I would much rather inmates spend time working with horses that can be made into a useful ‘product’ rather then nothing. If you are anywhere near Centrol Louisiana in October going to the rodeo is a VERY interesting experience, but I recommend getting your tickets early.
Bopper[/QUOTE]
Actually Bopper, the offenders as they now are called by some, DO get paid, if they work, but it is not even remotely near minimim wage.
Angola is actually located in Southeast Louisiana in West Feliciana parish on the east side of the Mississippi River, which forms one of the natural boundries of the prison grounds.
The horses are mainly handled by the offenders under the direction of either Prison Enterprise employees or security personel (guards) detailed to work with the horse program.
And yes the quality of “training” can vary greatly depending upon the quality of the “bosses” (free men) running the program at any given time. If a good ole boy who likes to “cowboy” horses is in charge, then the horses are “cowboyed” as the offenders have do things the way the bosses tell them to do it.
The horse “program” in the past had several different “divisions.” I know the draft horse part used Percheron horses mainly, and the man directly in charge of training the driving horses was an experienced driving horse trainer brought in exactly to get that part of the progrom up and running. That gentleman hasn’t worked at Angola or DCI for a little more than ten years, as I understand.
And actually a couple years back one of the higher ups with Prison Enterprises was arrested over some irregularities on how some of the horses were being sold- ie. at auctions, but where only those “in the know” knew when and where they were being run through. Also, supposedly, some were sold directly throught internet contacts without prior advertisement.
Last October a nice grey mare sold at the auction for $1,500 to a man from Kentwood. Her brand number, I believe, was 520. A few months later she sold supposedly for $400. She was supposed to have been under saddle. He also bought another mare who looked almost exactly like here that was just halter trained and the bid brice at the Angola auction for her was $300. She was half Percheron, the 520 was only 1/4 Percheron.
In December or January this same mare was advertised again for sle for $400 on one of the Internet sites, either horsetopia or equine.com. I corresponded with the owner of 520 and provided her additional info on that mare. She told me she was able to sell the mare to someone either i the Carolinas or Virginia, I forgot which.
I thought I would share this to illustrate the variety in pricing and that sometimes one of the higher prised horses bought at Angola’s sale can turn up at a lower price at a later auction- not being sold by the prison, but by the person who bought the horse from Angola.
I wanted to get a driving horse from Angola like the Percheron mare my friend has, but I found out that none of the horses being offered at the Angola auction has ANY driving training. I am not interested in buying a horse to drive that has not had ANY training in harness, so the Angola sale does not really interest me as a source for finding a driving horse.
Still, I think it will be a good opportunity for people looking for prospects.
Yes, this is undoubtfully a real problem, hence why I wish others would be prudent right now…its not the fault of the horses and we are ultimately responsible for their welfare.