Not that I know much about FPF or the woman, just what I read here and on FB, but this story seems to play out on almost every “rescue” which gets big and has to do with big money. I’m hearing rumblings about a local rescue and the story is much the same as above. Giving/taking/keeping/bashing/lies/etc. Just never ends!!
I was just in the middle of reading her rant about Gentle Giants, on the Frog Pond facebook page, and it poofed. Did she take down her page, or was I banned?
I can’t find it now either. The Frog Pond Farm I found just now is a gardening center.
According to her auction page on facebook, she took her main page down for a while. Something about it being “too tempting” to talk too much.
[QUOTE=goneriding24;7445948]
Not that I know much about FPF or the woman, just what I read here and on FB, but this story seems to play out on almost every “rescue” which gets big and has to do with big money. I’m hearing rumblings about a local rescue and the story is much the same as above. Giving/taking/keeping/bashing/lies/etc. Just never ends!![/QUOTE]
I’ve seen it play out over and over. Invariably, the people running it have no business experience, have friends and family on their board, don’t have two signatures on checks and never have their finances audited.
It’s a recipe for disaster.
[QUOTE=LauraKY;7446074]
I’ve seen it play out over and over. Invariably, the people running it have no business experience, have friends and family on their board, don’t have two signatures on checks and never have their finances audited.
It’s a recipe for disaster.[/QUOTE]
That is why having checks and balances is so important. We have two people on our bank account, but neither of us checks the mail, receives the money, or makes the deposits. We also have a book keeping firm we pay to do books, and we post financials on our website. We also improve as we identify things we can do better.
And I have kept one rescue horse. I paid an adoption fee (the same anyone else would), signed an adoption contract, and pay his bills myself. I hope he will help me promote rescue horses but if I am going to keep him, it has to be on my dime.
[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;7442932]
I also find it strange that their mission is to save horses and adopt them out, yet Dawby and Fargo remain on as her personal horses and she refuses to adopt them out. Would be interesting to see what funds purchased them, and if there is a transaction showing her purchasing them from the rescue.[/QUOTE]
Although the actual horses have nothing to do with the current pending lawsuit, Dawby WAS put up for adoption last year. He was posted on their Facebook page as barely-handled and up for adoption to a home in which the adopter would be working with a professional trainer (it was a requirement that the adopter provided the name and contact information for the professional trainer.) The adoption fee was either $3,000 or $6,000 for a barely-handled/untrained gelding, and the adoption contract “because he means so much to us” would include a no sale/no ownership clause stating that Ms. Gordon and Frog Pond would always own Dawby no matter what. In other words, you pay them $$$$, but they always retained ownership of Dawby.
Posts got heated (as they normally do on their Facebook page,) and Ms. Gordon stated she had half a mind to keep him, train him herself, and put him up for adoption at $8,000 or $10,000, but “then most of you would have an issue with that amount as well.”
Posts/individuals who disagreed with the statements were deleted and banned from the page.
Then the entire photo/thread completely disappeared from the page, and Dawby remains at Frog Pond.
Their “mission” changed in June 2013 and November 2013.
In June 2013, they decided to remove “Rescue” from their name. That is why their Facebook page says “Frog Pond Farm Drafts” (or did when the main page was still published on Facebook until this weekend.) They even posted about having to meet with the Attorney General “about some things.”
“I wanted to update you guys on what’s going on here at the moment. We have been working with the States Attorney General’s Office since November due to complaints that were filed against us.”
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?407467-Frog-Pond-Farm-is-no-longer-a-Rescue-how-sad
[QUOTE=WorkingDrive;7446947]
Although the actual horses have nothing to do with the current pending lawsuit, Dawby WAS put up for adoption last year. He was posted on their Facebook page as barely-handled and up for adoption to a home in which the adopter would be working with a professional trainer (it was a requirement that the adopter provided the name and contact information for the professional trainer.) The adoption fee was either $3,000 or $6,000 for a barely-handled/untrained gelding, and the adoption contract “because he means so much to us” would include a no sale/no ownership clause stating that Ms. Gordon and Frog Pond would always own Dawby no matter what. In other words, you pay them $$$$, but they always retained ownership of Dawby.
Posts got heated (as they normally do on their Facebook page,) and Ms. Gordon stated she had half a mind to keep him, train him herself, and put him up for adoption at $8,000 or $10,000, but “then most of you would have an issue with that amount as well.”
Posts/individuals who disagreed with the statements were deleted and banned from the page.
Then the entire photo/thread completely disappeared from the page, and Dawby remains at Frog Pond.
Their “mission” changed in June 2013 and November 2013.
In June 2013, they decided to remove “Rescue” from their name. That is why their Facebook page says “Frog Pond Farm Drafts” (or did when the main page was still published on Facebook until this weekend.) They even posted about having to meet with the Attorney General “about some things.”
“I wanted to update you guys on what’s going on here at the moment. We have been working with the States Attorney General’s Office since November due to complaints that were filed against us.”
Yeah, I remember when Dawby was “for adoption” but since it lasted all of a few days, and it was really a joke, I didn’t really consider him a horse they were going to adopt out. You could tell that they weren’t really intending to adopt him out, and with their stipulations, WTF would want to adopt him at that price?!
[QUOTE=Bluey;7442761]
When managing anything, no matter what, any time you give someone what amounts to a blank check and little to no oversight, you are setting that person up to possibly fail.
Most people, even the more honest ones, no matter how honest they think they are, opportunity may make fools of them.
The longer someone is in a position to get sticky fingers, the more apt they are, when in some perceived need, to start “dipping into the cookie jar”, with one or another excuse.
Maybe the first few times they will return the money “borrowed” promptly, but the longer the opportunity offers to them, without consequences, the less they resist and more they kid themselves that “it’s ok, just this one more time, I will return it anyway”.
So it goes, down the slippery slope.:no:
Better never put anyone in that situation, never let anyone set you in such a position.
Always manage where more than one is accountable and everyone is supervising what is going on.
It protects all involved, the assets managed and the ones managing properly.
I don’t know how my first riding instructor learned that lesson, but he made it very, very clear to me and it has served me very well all my life.
Sadly, I have also seen too many good people fail when put in that situation, in business, in churches and rescues and just most any place, any one.
That is not even counting the ones that are crooks to start with and hunt such positions to steal as much as they can get by.
This, as so many rescues are, is just one more such instance of not a good management situation, open to abuse.:([/QUOTE]
Yep. Remember the city comptroller (spell?) who stole millions to support her quarter horse habbit? No oversighte let her get away with it for what? something like 20 years?
The thing about Dawby is she has NO proof he is a Friesian cross. He could be a Standardbred/Belgian for all she knows. And I was told by someone that more than likely from the area he was in that he is not a Friesian cross. The only proof she has is that the guy at the auction said that he was. And big whoop there. I’ve had a LOT of people lie to me about the breed of an unregistered non-DNAd horse. Even if he was he wouldn’t be worth $3500 under those stipulations because there are Friesian crosses selling for a LOT less than that in the area she is in.
I was also told by someone that he is a HUGE pushy brat that needs A LOT of work and that is one of the reasons she decided to place him. I would have to believe what they said because she had JJ as a foal and he was the same way before I got a hold of him.
[QUOTE=Dressage Fancy;7446995]
Yep. Remember the city comptroller (spell?) who stole millions to support her quarter horse habbit? No oversight let her get away with it for what? something like 20 years?[/QUOTE]
Good old Rita Crundwell of Dixon, IL – there is a special place in hell for someone who continues to live large, watching their community struggle around them. :no:
[QUOTE=cowgirljenn;7446545]
That is why having checks and balances is so important. We have two people on our bank account, but neither of us checks the mail, receives the money, or makes the deposits. We also have a book keeping firm we pay to do books, and we post financials on our website. We also improve as we identify things we can do better.
And I have kept one rescue horse. I paid an adoption fee (the same anyone else would), signed an adoption contract, and pay his bills myself. I hope he will help me promote rescue horses but if I am going to keep him, it has to be on my dime.[/QUOTE]
I should have used your rescue as the perfect example of how a rescue should be run. I actually do, all the time, with the rescues I’m involved with.
[QUOTE=cowgirljenn;7446545]
That is why having checks and balances is so important. We have two people on our bank account, but neither of us checks the mail, receives the money, or makes the deposits. We also have a book keeping firm we pay to do books, and we post financials on our website. We also improve as we identify things we can do better.
And I have kept one rescue horse. I paid an adoption fee (the same anyone else would), signed an adoption contract, and pay his bills myself. I hope he will help me promote rescue horses but if I am going to keep him, it has to be on my dime.[/QUOTE]
I truly admire your rescue and how you do things. I’ve referred people to you who live in the area.
[QUOTE=WorkingDrive;7446947]Although the actual horses have nothing to do with the current pending lawsuit, Dawby WAS put up for adoption last year. He was posted on their Facebook page as barely-handled and up for adoption to a home in which the adopter would be working with a professional trainer (it was a requirement that the adopter provided the name and contact information for the professional trainer.) The adoption fee was either $3,000 or $6,000 for a barely-handled/untrained gelding, and the adoption contract “because he means so much to us” would include a no sale/no ownership clause stating that Ms. Gordon and Frog Pond would always own Dawby no matter what. In other words, you pay them $$$$, but they always retained ownership of Dawby.
Posts got heated (as they normally do on their Facebook page,) and Ms. Gordon stated she had half a mind to keep him, train him herself, and put him up for adoption at $8,000 or $10,000, but “then most of you would have an issue with that amount as well.”
Posts/individuals who disagreed with the statements were deleted and banned from the page.
Then the entire photo/thread completely disappeared from the page, and Dawby remains at Frog Pond.
Their “mission” changed in June 2013 and November 2013.
In June 2013, they decided to remove “Rescue” from their name. That is why their Facebook page says “Frog Pond Farm Drafts” (or did when the main page was still published on Facebook until this weekend.) They even posted about having to meet with the Attorney General “about some things.”
“I wanted to update you guys on what’s going on here at the moment. We have been working with the States Attorney General’s Office since November due to complaints that were filed against us.”
This is what I was referring to in my other post, a few days ago. I couldn’t remember all the details but the above is how it went down.
I have been watching this unfold for a while as well. Something has always seemed off. A friend volunteered there and she was just a horse trader, not a rescue. There was all the money she got to try to save the Shire, which I thought got out of control. Then the Dawby thing was hilarious. I did post and ask what was so special about him. It all got deleted.
Thanks LauraKy and goneriding. I’m supposed to be giving a presentation on ‘Best Practices for Rescues’ at an Unwanted Horse Summit at U of MN in a week and half. I was having trouble figuring out what to keep and cut out to meet my time limit, but you’ve made some of that decision easier! (including info on handling finances).
Someone catch me up on what Frog Pond was saying about Gentle Giants Draft Rescue. I thought they were supposed to be buds.
I started watching this rescue about 5yrs ago. As time passed, I noticed there were fewer receipts posted, fewer posts about farrier work, and I never saw a post about floating teeth. The whole 501 non-profit yes I am, no I’m not, I filed, no I didn’t, but I’m going to, no I never will thing was a huge red flag. Over and over I was astonished that no one on the FB page seemed to notice the massive contradictions in the owner’s posts. The whole Ollie thing was insane. The owner was the one posting for over 5wks that she was giving him bute for an abscess. When he finally got veterinary attention, she posted that it was bute abuse from his show carrier that caused his gut issues. Whatever the issues were, I could never have let it go on so long with an animal in that shape. Speaking for me and just my opinion.
It definitely will be interesting to see how this plays out and if the AG has enough hard proof that can’t be muddied up with fast talk.
[QUOTE=cowgirljenn;7447444]
Thanks LauraKy and goneriding. I’m supposed to be giving a presentation on ‘Best Practices for Rescues’ at an Unwanted Horse Summit at U of MN in a week and half. I was having trouble figuring out what to keep and cut out to meet my time limit, but you’ve made some of that decision easier! (including info on handling finances).[/QUOTE]
Jenn - is the Summit open to the public? I’m near Sioux Falls and would love to go.
[QUOTE=Tif_Ann;7447729]
Jenn - is the Summit open to the public? I’m near Sioux Falls and would love to go.[/QUOTE]
Yes. If you send me an email at jenn@bluebonnetequine.org, I can forward you the flyer.
The owner was the one posting for over 5wks that she was giving him bute for an abscess. When he finally got veterinary attention, she posted that it was bute abuse from his show carrier that caused his gut issues. Whatever the issues were, I could never have let it go on so long with an animal in that shape. Speaking for me and just my opinion.
Yes, when she had finally said the gut issue was I believe colonic ulcers, I sent her a veterinary study/document (I can’t find the link that I sent to her) published by a vet school on how terrible bute is for colonic ulcers as well as long stem forage; meanwhile, she is posting how ‘today he is eating his hay with gusto!’
5 minutes ago from FPF’s facebook page:
Frog Pond Farm Draft Horses
Frog Pond Farm is no longer operating as a registered organization. We are reverting our efforts back to a private farm. There will be no donations accepted beyond this point- by our choice. As soon as the issues surrounding the rescue are complete, we will be dissolving and moving on. The remaining horses (Fargo/Dawby/Hope) have been legally transferred to me as personal horses. I know some of you will be excited to get to continue to see them being shared. We will no longer be operating as a rescue but will do some from time to time. Im hoping those who chose to start the witch hunt, step up and help the drafts we will no longer be taking in…unfortunately most are just armchair QBs.
I think at this point, what makes me the happiest about my choice is I no longer need to be politically correct…if you like me, great…if you dont, well you can kiss my ass! Hows that! Call me what you will…from this point forward, Im living my life for me and my family…not for those few who think they have the right to tell me how Im suppose to!
My legal team is handling what needs to be done and Im confident it can be taken care of soon. This issue isnt what made my decision, as it was already in the works for some time…but its the straw that broke the camels back.
To the trolls who started all this… I know you will be here to read this…as you cant stay away because you LOVE the drama and want so badly to “punish” me… YOUR day my dears are coming. You will soon be sitting in my chair so start calling YOUR legal teams now. Your going to need them.
Have a great day everyone.
