https://www.crowdrise.com/HopeforHorses/fundraiser/ginamcallister
All of these situations are so desperately sad, on a number of levels. At least now these horses are safe. Thanks, GMHA!
This is extremely sad. Magnificent animals. Check out “before” pictures (and prices).
http://www.equiwebs.com/skyland/temp/mares.htm
http://www.thevermontstandard.com/2014/11/humane-society-leads-effort-for-care-of-seized-horses/
A very brief look at the news stories and her own statements of income seem to indicate she had resources to care for these horses. And she was offered assistance in placing them but refused. I guess the assistance she needed was for someone else to pay for and care for her horses.
This is horrible. In Woodstock, the equine center of Vermont! I don’t understand how the humane society had been aware of this for YEARS (their own statement!) and did nothing. I hope that woman goes to jail.
This one does bring on quite the roller-coaster of emotions: the sadness of what the horses (and all rescued horses) have been through and then the relief that they’re at GMHA, where my Arab and I have had such good times, and where people have knowledge and heart to care for them.
Oh well. Madame just got her massage budget for a few months donated to these horses. Sorry, girl. They are your distant cousins, so suck it up. 
:eek:
God bless them for getting them out of there!
Herd Owner Defends Care
http://www.vnews.com/news/14349082-95/herd-owner-defends-care
http://www.wcax.com/story/27380376/23-horses-seized-from-woodstock-farm
WHY IS IT ALWAYS ARABIANS???
[QUOTE=Ruth0552;7882657]
WHY IS IT ALWAYS ARABIANS???[/QUOTE]
I wonder why it tends to be Polish bred Arabians.
It isn’t “always” any particular breed … we’ve read about huge herds of many breeds. What came to mind was the herd of paints in MA where the owner got them back after a lengthy court battle. Months of expensive care bills went unpaid. Maybe it was MSPCA?
I think the media has blown their condition out of proportion. None of the horses I saw were " close to death". Would they have survived the winter? Certainly not comfortably. Am I glad they are being treated like the are on death’s doorstep? Yes.
I feel sorry for the owner, the horses and the people who have felt helpless to do anything considering they say it’s been years in the making.
[QUOTE=uphill;7882966]
I think the media has blown their condition out of proportion. None of the horses I saw were " close to death".[/QUOTE]
Really? A vet declared them ALL 1’s up to a 3. Nothing higher.
To each their own. But the bay just does not screaming vim & vigor to me. More like near death. http://www.vnews.com/news/14349082-95/herd-owner-defends-care
Neither does the grey & chestnut here. http://www.thevermontstandard.com/2014/11/humane-society-leads-effort-for-care-of-seized-horses/
And one of the news videos I watched of inside the barn, the bay with HOW LONG OF FEET WERE THOSE???:eek: Inside the stall that was eaten through.
Here is a better video of those same feet at in broad daylight at the rescue.
http://www.wcax.com/story/27420298/update-on-health-of-23-seized-horses
The conditions of the assorted stalls lack of bedding & not being neat & clean, No Comment. Lest I be forced to say they were absolute squalid living conditions!
But hey, we are all entitled to our own opinion. Mine just differentiates with some. :yes:
I see over on Arabian Breeders Network they are figuring their 101 excuses for her. Sorta reminds me of Marsha Parkinson all over again. head desk
Carry on!
The reporter in one article says several of the horses are listed as suffering due to being flea bitten. :no: would it have killed her to ask a horse person to proof read it???
Horses can get actual blood sucking fleas. One has to be careful buying flea powder, as most are meant for cow lice & fleas & using those cow powders can kill a horse. just sayin
I know they can get fleas. I seriously doubt an equine vet would list a flea infestation on a horse as being flea bitten though. It would have to be some hard core fleas to be hanging on in plague perportions in Vermont in Winter…
I went to Pony Club clinics at GMHA many years ago -what a wonderful thing they are doing by taking in these horses along with the rescue organization that has stepped forward.
Reading about the horse owner’s wealth and income, I am disgusted that she would plead innocent to the charges and insist that she did nothing wrong, especially when the photos make it very clear that many of the horses are in terrible condition and would have suffered cruelly in a Vermont winter.
I didn’t say they weren’t in need of intervention, nor that they weren’t neglected…but " close to death?" No.
Here are some SKINNY horses that are also ancient. http://s963.photobucket.com/user/MillCreekHorses/media/MillCreek0122_zps66888cec.jpg.html . We couldn’t get local FL sheriff’s office to force changes in management of horses (i.e.# of meals, type of feed , blanket in cold weather) never mind seize! The ASPCA was called in and non of the horses were scored a 1…most a 3!!! Really??? These horses survived many months before Max (chestnut tb with scribbling collar) went down and couldn’t get up and was euthanized. They reluctantly euthanized a few of the others or they would still be walking skeletons. So, yes, the media hyped the situation. These horses should mostly be in good weight within 2 mos. They look dull but not close to death listless…you do don’t want to see that!
[QUOTE=ThisTooShallPass;7883093]
Really? A vet declared them ALL 1’s up to a 3. Nothing higher.
To each their own. But the bay just does not screaming vim & vigor to me. More like near death. http://www.vnews.com/news/14349082-95/herd-owner-defends-care
Neither does the grey & chestnut here. http://www.thevermontstandard.com/2014/11/humane-society-leads-effort-for-care-of-seized-horses/
And one of the news videos I watched of inside the barn, the bay with HOW LONG OF FEET WERE THOSE???:eek: Inside the stall that was eaten through.
Here is a better video of those same feet at in broad daylight at the rescue.
http://www.wcax.com/story/27420298/update-on-health-of-23-seized-horses
The conditions of the assorted stalls lack of bedding & not being neat & clean, No Comment. Lest I be forced to say they were absolute squalid living conditions!
But hey, we are all entitled to our own opinion. Mine just differentiates with some. :yes:
I see over on Arabian Breeders Network they are figuring their 101 excuses for her. Sorta reminds me of Marsha Parkinson all over again. head desk
Carry on![/QUOTE]
uphill, why do you feel sorry for the owner? I did equine rescue on my own farm for ten years, and I do not feel sorry for anyone who stopped taking care of their horses and let them suffer malnutrition.
Woodstock, VT is one of the most wealthy locations in Vermont, and her farm is worth millions. That woman’s husband was a big wheel CEO and, according to the article, she is not exactly on the poverty train. Even if money was an issue, all she had to do was A. sell off some of her property B. call the local rescue for help and people would have stepped up to help rehome those horses if she couldn’t physically care for them. Sure, there are levels of neglect, but would anyone with a conscience draw the line and say, 'Well, they’re starving but they’re not at torpor yet, so we won’t step in." ? Thank God they did the right thing in this case.
Many people move Heaven and Earth to make sure their horses are well cared for through the death of a spouse, personal setbacks and life’s tough times. The article stated that she categorically denied neglecting the horses but the photos don’t lie. I have no sympathy for her, but I feel very sorry for her horses.
Because I feel sorry for the owner doesn’t mean I condone the situation. Why not feel sorry for someone who has fallen so far. I don’t know more than this used to be a big time operation, employed big time trainer and now a single woman trying to care for a declining herd of 23 horses. Do I think she should have done “something” before now…of course. But I don’t know the full story. Do I think she intended to cause harm? No and she is apparently in denial. So I feel sorry AND am mad at her.
I can’t wrap my head around seeing those magnificent horses in such condition … but they are not “near death” IMO. Trying to sell or even place older Arabians isn’t easy… I know. I’ve bought(saved) at auction and it still took months and training and vetting to give them to hopefully a good home. I’ve seen some rescues that ended up being rescued from the rescue homes(thankfully not my placements).
There are no winners…except the people who end up with magnificent horses 
^ What Chai said. And those horses look pretty “near death” to me. I’d hate to see a horse that Uphill thinks is starving.
[QUOTE=ThisTooShallPass;7883093]
…
I see over on Arabian Breeders Network they are figuring their 101 excuses for her. Sorta reminds me of Marsha Parkinson all over again. head desk
Carry on![/QUOTE]
The discussion on ABN is downright embarrassing… bet you didn’t know that bedding horses on shavings is cruel.
Sigh…
