Hip Tag 74 update! Adopted! at end

[enjoytheride]

The person that dropped him off didn’t stay, didn’t leave his papers, and didn’t offer any information on him. Nobody knew anything about his history, his age, and he was lead in, not ridden in which is essentially a death sentence. There was absolutely zero chance of him going anywhere else besides slaughter (where he’d get on a stock trailer then stand in a pen with no food or water until there were enough horses to ship him to Canada) unless someone stupid like myself stepped in.

The care for horses on the road to slaughter is nothing like the care for horses headed to shows. While I agree that slaughter is a better option than starving to death in a field, the owner of this horse had better options still and decided to take none of them.

There is no reason to think that the person who dropped him off and left thought he was going anywhere besides slaughter.

[arabiansrock]

that right hip looks really odd to me. fractured pelvis maybe?

[Brandy76]

Thank you so much

You are awesome!

By the way, great post!

Jingling for him.

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7864977]
The person that dropped him off didn’t stay, didn’t leave his papers, and didn’t offer any information on him. Nobody knew anything about his history, his age, and he was lead in, not ridden in which is essentially a death sentence. There was absolutely zero chance of him going anywhere else besides slaughter (where he’d get on a stock trailer then stand in a pen with no food or water until there were enough horses to ship him to Canada) unless someone stupid like myself stepped in.

The care for horses on the road to slaughter is nothing like the care for horses headed to shows. While I agree that slaughter is a better option than starving to death in a field, the owner of this horse had better options still and decided to take none of them.

There is no reason to think that the person who dropped him off and left thought he was going anywhere besides slaughter.[/QUOTE]

[Zu_Zu]

Bless you for saving him ~ Happy Thanksgiving to ALL !

Bless YOU for saving him ~

[B]Happy Thanksgiving for All involved in this ‘save’ !

Healing Jingles and AO for Malcolm ~[/B]

[trubandloki]

Any updates from the vet?

[FatCatFarm]

Huge Huge Props for going to bat for this guy and getting him out of there and to a soft landing. Bravo!

[ACMEeventing]

Vet update???

[GutsNGlory]

I saw a lot of the posts about needing a trailer and such on Facebook the other night and then the update from Friends of Ferdinand. Bless you all for saving this sweet boy, even if it is just to give him a good last few days and peaceful end (though I really do hope that the prognosis is good!).

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;7864886]
Because not everyone thinks that way. Auction gives the horse at least a chance at a second career. Even if he goes to the kill buyer, it’s stressful for the horses, but assuming it’s similar to cattle slaughterhouses, not inhumanely so. It’s also stressful for horses to be toted around the country for horse shows & not turned out for months on end, but plenty of people do that.

Worst case scenario at the auction: death & owner gets $100
Best case scenario at the auction: finding a great home & owner gets >$100
Only scenario with euthanasia: death & owner pays $200[/QUOTE]

I don’t know what auctions you attend. But I can tell you the fairy tale “good homes” are few, and very far between at low end auctions. Hip number 74 was VERY VERY lucky.

There ARE fates worse than death you know? If an “angel” like enjoy the ride did not pick up Hip 74 his options would have would have been bleak - MUCH WORSE than humane euthanasia I promise you.

Out here - at the So Cal auctions I used to attend - a cripple horse like him, would have ended up with the meat buyer. A one way trip in a cramped cattle trailer (no they are not shipped like show horses) to a slaughter plant designed for cattle.

Here they head south much more often than north. The Mexican slaughter plants are NOT pretty - some do not even use a captive bolt - instead they opt for using a knife.

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A HUMANE END?

IS THIS WORTH SAVING $200? (notice the low cattle walls are insufficient for horses)

Unfortunately horse slaughter on this continent is NOT handled like it is in Europe - HUMANELY (like this).

Then of course - if the horse has not been crippled on the track like this one. You might get some other “buyers” interested.

Illegal match racers LOVE a TB straight from the track. If they still have race plates - even better! They will train and race the horses on illegal desert tracks - run by Mexican drug cartels. Drugs and questionable training practices are used freely.

Once the horse is crippled from the illegal racing - it will be brought back to the auction for a meat buyer to pick up.

Or maybe the horse is not crippled but flashy? Charros LOVE hot flashy horses. So maybe that ex race horse sent auction for a “second chance” gets picked up by a charro. The horse can then learn all of the wonders of being tied to a pole and having its legs whipped till it learns to “dance”.

Worse case scenario - horse suffers excruciating pain and suffering in a slippery cattle trailer on its way to an inhumane death in Mexico - I am sure this horse is glad that its owners saved $200.

Worse case is the horse is picked up by match racers, pumped with drugs and raced until totally crippled.

Worse case is the horse ends up in the hand of abusers, who often pick up “disposable” horses at auctions.

I see none of these “worst case” situations better than saving $200.

Sending a crippled horse off to auction is NOT the right thing to do. Sure its giving the horse a “chance”. But it has a MUCH better chance of pain and suffering if the owners decide the “easy way” out - and send to auction. :no:

This is why many (west coast at least) tracks are banning owners and trainers from sending horses to auctions. Its is not a good option for the horse.

[merrygoround]

I agree totally,BUT there are always going to be those who can not, will not pay. That is why those who shout so loudly about slaughter in the USA are really doing no service to the horses they are trying the protect. On the contrary.

And, when did Arapaloosa Lady last dig a hole? Very expensive unless you own, or have a good friend with, a backhoe.

[Appsolute]

The bottom line is these horses run in order to keep food on the table - and roofs over the heads of their trainers and owners. The least these people could do is put the horse in the ground after it is used up and broken by “earning its keep”.

If your BUSINESS and livelihood depends on the efforts of a horse - your business plan should include a human exit strategy for that horse.

These aren’t some back yard owners who lost their job and can’t afford to feed fluffy any more.

These are people that make their living off the sweat and blood of the thoroughbred horse - in my opinion they OWE it to the animal.

[Simkie]

@Appsolute;7866438

These aren’t some back yard owners who lost their job and can’t afford to feed fluffy any more.

No…sometimes it’s a trainer who’s living in the tack room at the track, because he can’t afford rent, and can barely afford to feed himself.

I don’t disagree with you at all Apps–ALL owners should have a humane exit strategy option. But sometimes these guys are just scraping by with pennies, running horses because it’s the only living they have. And dumping them at cheap livestock sales when they don’t work out, perhaps because the money simply doesn’t exist to do anything different.

Obviously, I have no clue what the story is with our Hip # 74, and I sure don’t condone this behavior, but I understand why it can happen. And I empathize with those who run out of options.

[Jealoushe]

[QUOTE=Simkie;7866474]

Obviously, I have no clue what the story is with our Hip # 74, and I sure don’t condone this behavior, but I understand why it can happen. And I empathize with those who run out of options.[/QUOTE]

Meh…not good enough. How about - don’t get the horse in the first place. If they can’t play in the big leagues - maybe they should stick to grooming jobs on the track…so another life isn’t riding on their hands.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=vicarious;7866396]
I agree totally,BUT there are always going to be those who can not, will not pay. That is why those who shout so loudly about slaughter in the USA are really doing no service to the horses they are trying the protect. On the contrary.

And, when did Arapaloosa Lady last dig a hole? Very expensive unless you own, or have a good friend with, a backhoe.[/QUOTE]

If someone does not have the up-to $1K required for humane euthanasia and legal burial or rendering, they ARE NOT financially qualified and have NO BUSINESS owning horses!

It’s the “Sport of Kings,” historically, not Sport of Destitute Dirt-Bags! Maybe it’s time these marginal tracks closed altogether, and the need to gamble can be taken care of with slots and online poker.

[ndirish07]

All I want to know is what did the vet say? I’ve been hoping for a good outlook for the little guy. He has such a sweet face.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=Simkie;7866474]
No…sometimes it’s a trainer who’s living in the tack room at the track, because he can’t afford rent, and can barely afford to feed himself.

I don’t disagree with you at all Apps–ALL owners should have a humane exit strategy option. But sometimes these guys are just scraping by with pennies, running horses because it’s the only living they have. And dumping them at cheap livestock sales when they don’t work out, perhaps because the money simply doesn’t exist to do anything different.

Obviously, I have no clue what the story is with our Hip # 74, and I sure don’t condone this behavior, but I understand why it can happen. And I empathize with those who run out of options.[/QUOTE]

Then it’s time they chose a different career.

[GutsNGlory]

I’m guessing enjoytheride is working, so just thought I’d share the update from Sara on the FOF Facebook page:

Friends of Ferdinand, Inc.: I wanted to stop by for a quick update on Malcom (aka Hip 074) - that’s his new name. It is a proud name, and it suits him just fine. Malcolm is now settled in at the vet clinic. He has a big foaling stall, a warm blanket, and is under the constant care and monitoring of our most favorite vet. Malcolm has some pretty significant hind-end issues and once the weather breaks a bit, we will be able to better assess the seriousness and make the best plan for him. Chelsey will post a more detailed update in a few days once we know more, and for now, Malcolm is warm, comfy, and has big piles of hay. ~ Sara

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=Simkie;7866474]
No…sometimes it’s a trainer who’s living in the tack room at the track, because he can’t afford rent, and can barely afford to feed himself.

I don’t disagree with you at all Apps–ALL owners should have a humane exit strategy option. But sometimes these guys are just scraping by with pennies, running horses because it’s the only living they have. And dumping them at cheap livestock sales when they don’t work out, perhaps because the money simply doesn’t exist to do anything different.

Obviously, I have no clue what the story is with our Hip # 74, and I sure don’t condone this behavior, but I understand why it can happen. And I empathize with those who run out of options.[/QUOTE]

@Lady Eboshi;7866701

Then it’s time they chose a different career.

Yeah I am with Lady Eboshi - Its not fair to make your living off a back of a horse if you can not provide for its well being. If you can’t afford to KILL the animal - how in the world do you afford proper care to keep it running?

Look, these are innocent animals - and all too often they get used and abuse for PROFIT.

If a trainer can’t afford to kill a horse - then they should not be entrusted with the lives of these animals. If they can’t ensure a humane end to the horses that have given their all for the trainer - well, maybe that trainer needs to be a groom, or an exercise rider, or go take some auto manic classes.

I am dirt poor and make my living off of a horse’s back - therefore I can’t afford a humane end is not an acceptable answer.

[kinscem]

It’s been only 3-4 days since this horse came out of the auction and killer buyer truck. Right?
Whoever got him now - please give him time, feed him, rest him and do not judge his potential.
He might turn great but the condition he is in now - he needs to regroup.
It will take several months for this horse to be himself , it is pointless to judge his trot or canter at this time.

[Sticky_Situation]

Can we not turn this into a slaughter/no slaughter debate, and just be glad that “Malcolm” found someone kind and caring to take him in?

I hope he got good news from the vet; even if not, it doesn’t take take away from the kindness of the OP and the others involved in rescuing him.