On the one of him reaching under the fence for grass, I’d like to comment, " He’s probably trying to escape that hellhole."
[QUOTE=rustbreeches;8121373]
https://www.facebook.com/72279694042/photos/pb.72279694042.-2207520000.1429894725./10151408109804043/?type=3&theater
I nominate this for saddest caption ever[/QUOTE]
What I noticed looking through their pictures was how often Cowboy was in them… over and over and over in pics from shows there he is with different riders. Clearly this guy is used ALOT.
To me that says he’s reliable and adjustable [suitable for a variety of levels of ability]
You would think that would mean he was also respected and protected.
[QUOTE=Fred;8121210]
That poor pony. No horse deserves that, but especially a heart of gold school pony.
I wish I could buy him, and bring him home with me.[/QUOTE]
I am quite serious, if anyone has any idea of what a pony like him sells for around there, please send me a PM.
I would love to get him out of there, if I could.
[QUOTE=Fred;8122989]
I am quite serious, if anyone has any idea of what a pony like him sells for around there, please send me a PM.
I would love to get him out of there, if I could.[/QUOTE]
PM sent. I have no idea if it will do you any good, but good luck!
There was an article in a local paper today reporting that CRA owner Daniela Romo-Leroux is not cooperating with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation.
Horse reportedly abused at local riding facility
From the article:
According to Sheriff Sonny Weatherford, whose department oversees the county animal control, in addition to the complaint of animal abuse, his department also received the YouTube video, but has not been able to investigate due to lack of cooperation by the owner, Daniela Romo-Leroux.
“We went by there, but we didn’t get to see the animal or really look at anything,” he said. “We are in the process of still investigating, but we are probably going to have to draw up a search warrant to get on the property.”
The phone number listed to Cumberland Riding Academy was not accepting calls on Wednesday.
Wow, a reall asshat move on the owner’s part. What does she think, acting all insulted is going to improve her business image? Nobody suggested cooperation to her? Or they did and she said “Nah! That’s not the best policy!” some people are just so stupid.
Oy! The stupid is strong with that one. She should have fired the “trainer” and been very public about cooperating.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8121078]
Just to give an idea about the level of care at CRA, I took these pictures back in 2012 shortly before I FINALLY found another boarding barn in the area. I had been out of town for a few days and came back to find this. . .
I showed the barn owner the buckets and expressed my disapproval/concern. Her response? She spun the blame back on me-- it was MY fault because my horse dropped feed in his buckets when eating and he wasn’t drinking the water anyway so what was her staff supposed to do. I mean c’mon, really??? Basic horse care 101 here.
I had a similar response when I sent her a text that I found the water trough in the pasture bone dry on multiple occasions. . . .[/QUOTE]
A couple of years ago UC Davis put together a pretty well researched pamphlet for AC officers and others to be used for guidelines on proper care, and IIRC they had photographs of a water trough that was similar to those buckets in that it was FULL, but that the water quality was poor. (the pamphlet unfortunately had recommendations for the amount of room in a stall based on the height of a horse that would have had most horses in a stall with a minimum of 14X14, probably that IS the best amount of room but that’d put a lot of horses out on the street and out of their shelters, so I think the pamphlet got pulled - anybody else recall it?)
Now, my DH took a cursory look at the photos of the buckets and said so what, they’re full, the old guy dunks his food and makes a mess like that -Oh rly?
The mess isn’t supposed to stay a mess like that, it’s supposed to be dumped, scrubbed and cleaned at least every other day.
There are flies on the surface of the water in one bucket. Were they dead or alive? Was there a layer of debris on the bottom of the bucket(s), did the buckets smell foul, did the debris smell foul when the buckets were cleaned? Does the horse “not drink the water anyway” because it was unpalatable?
Does a husbandry issue turn into a cruelty issue if something like water is present but the animal refuses to drink it? Would it just be a picky animal? What if there were a dead mouse or bird in the bottom of the bucket?
This farm reminds me a little of the summer riding camps that sell off the horses and ponies beloved by the campers at the end of the year to the highest bidder.
I’m not sure how to show a parent how to be an educated consumer of equine services when a first lesson barn or camp is often where one goes to learn such things.
Well, if the BO puts the Sheriff off long enough any welts from the whipping will probably be down. Way to go, Witch.
Just to answer your questions, and remember, this was several years ago:
The buckets belonged to my aged horse whose feed was soaked due to dental issues. He also was very stress prone in the stall and would often walk or weave while eating when he didn’t get enough turnout. Knowing my horse could be a slob, I scrubbed his buckets daily when I was there. He also usually drank them down daily, hence why he had two buckets. Remember, I was paying for full board at a “full service” facility- I was scrubbing his buckets to be considerate, not because I was to be responsible for making sure he had water.
I had been out of town for about a week I believe (they were aware I was away) and came back to find the buckets hadn’t been dumped a single time while I was gone. Yes, they were foul and festering. I don’t remember if the flies were alive or dead.
Is the bucket condition cruelty? Not in my opinion, but it’s lousy animal husbandry. I chose to share because I think it is pertinent for those who may be under the impression that the Youtube videos show an isolated incident at an otherwise good barn. This barn has a history of issues because the management’s moral compass has always been off point.
My problem was barn management saying that he wasn’t drinking it and implying that so we don’t need to change it.
You can’t call cruelty on every dirty water bucket. Some horses are pigs.
I think that some unhealthy environments might come under the heading of cruelty. If the conditions are filthy enough to cause the horse to colic. Definitely poor husbandry, but if the horse becomes ill from it and dies, then what is it called? The ‘proving’ it is a mess … if not impossible, although a lot of people would be VERY upset if their horse was left with only foul water to drink.
[QUOTE=BaroquePony;8123689]
I think that some unhealthy environments might come under the heading of cruelty. If the conditions are filthy enough to cause the horse to colic. . .[/QUOTE]
DING DING DING. Winner here!
My old guy is also a slob with poor dentition and he gets his water in a heated muck tub, those 16 gallon things, on the floor. I have to watch that he doesn’t manure in it because he’s done that too. When it was outdoors in the pen it was easier to see the dirt, tip and scrub, now it’s harder to see and just not getting done as much as it should be because of the cord and the leftover water winding up on the stall floor.
My personal absolute minimum is 1X a week, by God if a BO can’t figure out an owner is coming home on Friday and check a horse and a stall and give it a freshening on Thursday they are, well, they are not as smart as many children that know how to get by their parents.
The following is relevant. It’s the TN Statute on Animal Cruelty:
[I]39-14-202. Cruelty to animals.
(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly:
(1) Tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal;
(2) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(3) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
(4) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or
(5) Inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain, by any method, including blistering compounds, to the legs or hooves of horses in order to make them sore for any purpose including, but not limited to, competition in horse shows and similar events.
[/I]
The video depicts really bad training. It does not, IMO, meet the requirements of the statute. From the video I doubt there were any physical injuries to the horse. It was certainly not “maimed.”
The barn owner may be a complete putz but is under no obligation to “cooperate” with the sheriff.
The video might support a search warrant and it might not. That will depend on the judge.
The barn owner is doing what politicians sometimes do when caught “with their pants down” and is blaming everybody but the person who administered the whipping. It’s all part of a vast conspiracy, don’t you know.
There are no circumstances I can envision under which I would ever board a horse at this place, take a lesson there, or enter a contract to train a horse there. That does not mean they are criminals. It does mean I consider them monstrously inept.
Put another way, what the law can’t do maybe the market can.
G.
I haven’t read all of the posts but IMO the kid who got kicked out of this place taping the abuse of the pony was done a favor. How can anyone think a barn where disgusting or completely dry water buckets/troughs is the norm a good place to board and/or take lessons from?
Hopefully current boarders and clients will read up on the investigation and leave. The bottom line is all the BO cares about and if everyone leaves she’ll have to upgrade her program.
My horse also dunks his feed, and his hay. It’s not rocket science. They still empty, clean, and refill his buckets every day. His are just messier in between.
[QUOTE=BaroquePony;8123608]
Well, if the BO puts the Sheriff off long enough any welts from the whipping will probably be down. Way to go, Witch.[/QUOTE]
Yep, you’re right, and by the time they get a warrant that place will be spick-and-span clean with scrubbed water buckets, deep bedding in the stalls, and all the ignorant mommies lined up to extol the virtues of the place.
ETA: which of course would be great if it was a permanent change instead of eyewash only and they’ll go right back to their normal MO once the officers leave. With photos of a beautiful barn to show.
Is there any news from locals about people pulling their horses out? Or removing their children from the program?
[QUOTE=rustbreeches;8121373]
https://www.facebook.com/72279694042/photos/pb.72279694042.-2207520000.1429894725./10151408109804043/?type=3&theater
I nominate this for saddest caption ever[/QUOTE]
From Facebook: I’ll quote this comment. When that abusing bitch/owner sees this latest one, it will be gone faster than you can crack a whip.
Until you’re getting cracked repeatedly in the face with a longe whip.
6 · Yesterday at 7:32am
Time wounds all heels - may they both get what they deserve and so much more.
I liked one post yesterday and added a post of my own … I was ‘nice’ … both have been removed.
