I think the OP is convinced, from her last post, so I’m not posting to ‘pile on’, as it were. (And I know no one else did either.)
It’s just that this is the thread where I feel compelled to chip in that in the last 3 days I have become aware of four warmbloods who are all very likely to end up on a truck to slaughter. All four are geldings, 10-16 years old, 16.1 to 16.3hh, sound for trails or flat work through third-level or Prix St Georges but not for jumping. And all four were professionally started and aimed toward higher level dressage … meaning they were taught to be forward, and while they are well-schooled, they are NOT beginner rides. But would be fantastic for any intermediate junior or ammy that was willing to do a little maintenance.
Four separate original owners and four different background stories. But - ALL FOUR WERE GIVEAWAYS by talented amateur riders who needed something else, and each horse was a bit too unsound for the purpose. The well-meaning, misguided owners found what they thought were safe pasture homes with appropriate quiet work.
On the day that each of these four horses went to its free new home, their future looked cushy and comfortable. If nothing had changed, they would be living happily now with the new owners.
But things did change. The owners ended up having to get out from each one in a short period of time. Two went to auction and then the killpen, and will probably ship to slaughter within days. The other two are about to go to auction, having been given away a second time to the pasture owner, who can’t use them, sees horses as either financial assets or financial burdens, and who doesn’t care what becomes of them as long as they are gone fast. For three of the horses, none of the owners who were given these horses reached out to the previous owners to take them back. Their fate was not what the original owners intended, not what they thought could happen. One owner did ask the previous owner, who basically said “he’s your horse now”.
The road to oblivion, underfed and neglected in a dirt lot or on a truck to slaughter, is not an easy one for horses like these who have never lived rough. It usually means being in overcrowded pens where aggressive horses pick on and keep food from passive horses. Stable-kept, cared-for horses do poorly in these situations and may never adapt.
I would give anything to have a bottomless wallet and be able to go pick up all four of these horses immediately. And bring them back to live out their lives safely, with or without work. Looking at the alternative, having a purpose is beside the point. But I can’t keep afford to keep them myself for even a month, I’ve had no luck finding homes for them in a very short timeframe, and I can’t even get them into over-burdened rescues.
There are people who misguidedly use the words “convenience euthanasia” when no one is able to take responsibility and pay lifetime bills for an unsound or a marginally sound horse. Out here in the real world I call it a “safety euthanasia”. It would be better than what these four horses are facing. All four could have closed out a comfortable good life that they understood, and never faced this prolonged nightmare of neglect, abuse, stress and suffering. But for each one, someone thought “giveaway” would be the perfect solution.
P.S. If anyone can use a trail/LL sound-for-flat warmblood gelding, 10-16 years old, 16.1-16.3hh, professionally started, forward-minded and needs an intermediate rider, you will arrange shipping however far to you, prepared to retire this horse at any time for quite a few more years, please PM me instantly if not sooner. The clock is ticking.
