Alleged abuse case in Virginia.
The shocking and distressing details are coming out on FB and Rate My Horse Pro.
The photos are unbearable.
There are no horses listed in the USEF database as owned by Anne Shumate, or by Peaceable Farm. The horses shown below are listed as owned by Anne Goland. Three of them were bred by Otto Fuchs of Hilton Farm, and one was sired by Liberty Gold (owned by Hilton Farm). I would think Hilton Farm would want to know about this situation regarding the horses - hope someone has notified them.
ABRAHAM (5294460)
Foal Date: 5/3/2013 Verified
Breed: N/A
Color: Dark Bay Sex: S
Sire: ANTIBES
Dam: LOLLIPOP
Membership Type: DECEASED
American Performance Horse Enrolled
Breed Registry Information:
ABRAHAM (840023035752913) - HAN (NA)
Breeder: FUCHS, OTTO
DELIGHT (5338139)
Foal Date: 4/17/2014 Verified
Breed: HANOVERIAN
Color: Bay Sex: S
Sire: DON DARIUS
Dam: LIBERTY GIRL
Membership Type: Life
(effective 09/19/2014)
American Performance Horse Enrolled
Breed Registry Information:
DELIGHT (840023035857614) - HAN (NA)
Breeder: FUCHS, OTTO
EM ADANCER (5327392)
Foal Date: 4/4/2004
Breed: HANOVERIAN
Color: Black Sex: M
Sire: ES ANTIBES
Dam: EM LOLLIPOP
Membership Type: Life
(effective 07/04/2014)
Breeder: FUCHS, OTTO
LIDIA (5325679)
Foal Date: 3/20/2014
Breed: HANOVERIAN
Color: Bay Sex: M
Sire: LIBERTY GOLD
Dam: WENDOLYN
Membership Type: HORSE ID ONLY
Breeder: LINDA SOMMERS
More info -
The first horse on the list above, Abraham, is listed as deceased, but his USEF record doesn’t reflect the date when this was reported to USEF.
Two of the horses - Delight and Dancer - have “Life” numbers with USEF. The 2014 foal, Delight, may have received his Life number through his AHS foal registration (AHS provides life registration with USEF for all foals registered with them, and this horse’s Hanoverian registration number is reflected in the USEF database).
The 11 y/o mare Dancer just received a lifetime USEF number last year, probably because she was being shown. Per USDF scores, this mare won the Produce of Dam class at Dressage at Lexington in July 2014. The owner’s name was listed with USDF scores as Anne Goland, and as Anne Shumate Goland with Centerline Scores.
The 2014 filly Lidia was also shown at Dressage at Lexington in July 2014, in the filly class. This foal only has a horse ID with USEF - not a lifetime number - which makes me wonder if she wasn’t actually registered with AHS.
I hope her breeder has also been notified of this situation, and is in a position to take steps to get that filly into a safe situation.
This topic is also on the Off Course Forum, but glad to see it here too since this woman is a breeder.
[QUOTE=sid;8369172]
This topic is also on the Off Course Forum, but glad to see it here too since this woman is a breeder.[/QUOTE]
Thank you sid. I apologise, I did not see the OC thread before starting this one.
This is all over FB, but I was concerned that breeders who are not on FB might not be aware of the situation.
Glad to see Sandra Laprise’s mare is out… in bad shape, but out… unbelievable how some people can have double/triple lives. I hope they get them ALL out…and that she cannot keep ANY.
Yes, I linked up Sandra (who was understandably very stressed out) to where her horse is located at Sarah Doyle’s place who are now involved in getting horses out and housing the last 9 mares + foal they got out late last night by a last minute court order. Legacy is in foal and in serious need of nutritional rehabilitation, not only calories, but also nutrition. There were several of us forwarding pictures and information about horses and as they were on the site getting out these worst of the mares, and late last night were able to pair some horses up with their previous owners.
Last night there were still 15-18 horses left on the property.
That said, none of these horses can leave the various facilities until after the court hearing which is 9 days from now.
The mare with the foal is also in bad shape. She is very thin, about a 1-2 body scale, and the foal is sick with a snotty nose, so is being watched very carefully by a veterinarian.
The best thing everyone can do is donate some time to spread the word to prevent Anne Shumate / Anne Goland from buying more horses. For others, contact the Animal Control office in Orange, Virginia, and ask them what they need - money is a big one, specific items. If you’re close by, they might appreciate volunteers to help out mucking stalls or paddock cleaning.
Some horses are in quarantine because of various ailments and whatnot so they may just prefer people to donate money and specific resources like blankets, hay, straw, etc., etc.
Contact Maya at Hope Legacy - (434)531-5688 or Orange County Police Dept. Ph: (540) 672-1200 or Patricia Dahl (540)672-9725 with Animal Control or you may email her at pdahl@orangecountyva.gov
Also, spreading the word about Anne Shumate / Anne Goland is also very helpful. Anne is still trying to buy horses.
I moderate 3 FB Sales sites and she has been banned from those, but she still pops up on other sites. I encourage people that if they find her trolling through sites or becoming a member of a site, to please notify the moderators of the situation.
The best thing we can do is work together to stop enabling her. She is a horse hoarder and is unfit to own horses.
Anne inquired about purchasing a Lip. filly and also said she still owns Conversano II Aloha II. (I saw the snapshot of the conversation between Anne and the other lady) It was posted in a Lipizzaner group that I asked to join so I could spread the below information ( it was a bit more detailed though)
Jean Thornton is desperately trying to find him and is even offering a $1000 if someone knows where he is or what happened to him
Nevermind: He most likely passed on… and not in a peaceful manner https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153081255495741&id=601335740
Here is some information about how people can help, whether you live near or far away, but still want to help -
Somerset Animal (Donations) for the Orange County horse abuse case:
Hope’s Legacy (501©3: http://www.hopeslegacy.com/
Hope’s Legacy donations are being facilitated through Mad Tack in Orange and Dover Saddlery in Charlottesville.
https://www.facebook.com/CentralVAHorseRescue
Central Virginia Horse Rescue
389 Boydton Plank Road
Brodnax, VA 23920
Phone: 434- 774-6607
Email: rescue@centralvahorserescue.com
PayPal: donations@centralvahorserescue.com
Website with donation options: http://www.centralvahorserescue.com/how-you-can-help
https://www.facebook.com/saddlery.liquidators?hc_location=ufi
Wish List from Hope’s Legacy:
Medical/first aid supplies:
Veterycin
Vet wrap
Antibiotic ointments/topical anti fungal and antibacterial treatments
Wonder dust
Vitamin E creams
M-T-G
Etc… (If you think you have something not on the list, please call them and see if they need it…many things are needed, not all things can be listed.)
Bedding materials:
Sawdust
Shavings
Straw
Any equine specific bedding material
Also, something like Stall Dry or other stall deodorizer.
Supplements:
Probiotics
Ulcer guard
De-Wormers
They may need grooming supplies too? They will need jugs of alcohol for sterilizing the grooming supplies too.
Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated for feed and hay. There is limited hay storage available at the moment due to all the hay and grain donations received, however, these horses will need continuous hay and feed for several months, therefore monetary donations can be used over the long term to gather hay and grain without wasting any due to spoilage.
I would think that money is better than grain. Most of the horses will need specific types of kibbles as recommended by vets and nutritionists so as to regain their nutritional status, so each facility will need financial flexibility to determine what is needed case by case.
Of course monetary donations are also greatly needed to cover medical expenses.
Donations can be dropped off at Mad Tack in Madison, VA, or monetary donations can be made directly on Hopes Legacy website www.hopeslegacy.com or can be dropped off at Mad Tack.
I don’t know how this could happen. Is Anne sick in the head or delusional? Why didn’t she ask for help? How did it get this far?
So many questions…
Delusional, oblivious, mentally disordered, hoarder, any number of things could be at play. Some people close to the situation state she is unmoved by the disorder around her, and unapologetic for all the death and suffering. There are also questions as to where all this supposed money went as her rescue supposedly raised over $1 million in funds for 2012 and 2013. If she was raising that kind of money, just WHERE Did it go?
If she was lying about raising that kind of money (in an attempt to draw more people towards a “successful” charity), then there are surely fraud related questions as to that too.
I did some math and in order to feed and properly care for the 100+ horses, plus other critters on the farm, she would need at least $700,000 a year just for basics and help from 2 full time employees.
If she had truly raised the money, it wasn’t being used for its designated purpose so there has to be some fraud in here somewhere. I hope the IRS investigates and soon.
I really hope previous owners/breeders will be able to recover their horses, but I do recall a case in ME where both the hoarder and the breeder were Cothers… and the breeder never did recover her mare even though she tried very hard.
Did I miss how this was all discovered? Who finally had the balls to speak out?
Neighbors were very concerned about the state of affairs as some of these horses were walking skeletons. Apparently someone tried to get something going earlier in the summer, but Animal Control could not act on it at the time. They could finally move in when the situation literally became so dire that some of the animals were dying and the bodies were visibly present.
It’s hard to relate just exactly how bad it really was. The original article is very discreet. There were literally bodies EVERYWHERE. And the stench was extremely strong.
The police officer interviewed for TV stated, “the smell of death was everywhere”. That’s a very good, albeit discreet description.
Officials had to wear Hazmat suits to remove the 40+ bodies of dogs, cats, and chickens that were in the house, let alone the bodies that were outside.
The animals that were in very critical condition are just that… critical and life threatening.
There were also animals in less critical condition, so animals of varying species were found in varying states of distress and condition.
Most were without water, and all were without food. Some smaller critters were locked in cages without water or food. And of course, there were dead animals in cages too.
Horrifying, shocking, terrible, grisly, hideous, repulsive, repugnant, heinous, appalling, gruesome… take your pick of any of these adjectives. They all fit.
Me in my typical bluntness - my statement to describe it - THIS WAS A DEATH FARM.
Has she still been able to keep the horses that were in “ok” condition? That is what I was reading on FB yesterday. Stuff like this makes me never want to sell a horse again. I recently found out from someone who bought a mare I used to own that she was in pretty rough shape when she bought her. Not sure I will do any more breeding and selling of foals, I just can’t take stories like this. Broodmares seem to be at particular risk.
71 horses, 28 cats, 7 dogs surrendered. A vet determined 10 more needed immediate care, but she would not surrender. Those 10 were seized.
She is still in possession of 18 horses, a bull, 2 donkeys, and some cats.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/30325810/sheriffs-office-more-than-80-horses-removed-from-peaceable-farm
[QUOTE=Mozart;8370289]
Has she still been able to keep the horses that were in “ok” condition? That is what I was reading on FB yesterday. Stuff like this makes me never want to sell a horse again. I recently found out from someone who bought a mare I used to own that she was in pretty rough shape when she bought her. Not sure I will do any more breeding and selling of foals, I just can’t take stories like this. Broodmares seem to be at particular risk.[/QUOTE]
This is one of the reasons I decided to stop breeding. Every day on FB I see pics and stories of abused, starved, tortured horses. Everyone likes to think it would not happen to their horses, but it can and does.
And as you said Mozart, broodmares seem to be particularly vulnerable. I have three lovely mares here who are doing nothing - but at least I know they are safe, and fat.
Thanks rodawn for the info and for the links about how people can help.
[QUOTE=Fred;8370369]
This is one of the reasons I decided to stop breeding. Every day on FB I see pics and stories of abused, starved, tortured horses. Everyone likes to think it would not happen to their horses, but it can and does.
And as you said Mozart, broodmares seem to be particularly vulnerable. I have three lovely mares here who are doing nothing - but at least I know they are safe, and fat.
Thanks rodawn for the info and for the links about how people can help.[/QUOTE]
That had a lot to do with my decision to stop breeding, too. Especially seeing how older broodmares had begun to be under valued.
There is something about breeding horses that sometimes attracts people who crave attention, the “fame” of breeding/owning very fancy horses, yet lack a deep down respect, admiration and love for the animals. A true horseman/horsewoman feeds their horses before they feed themselves and always keep the horses’ welfare in the forefront.
[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;8370972]
That had a lot to do with my decision to stop breeding, too. Especially seeing how older broodmares had begun to be under valued.
There is something about breeding horses that sometimes attracts people who crave attention, the “fame” of breeding/owning very fancy horses, yet lack a deep down respect, admiration and love for the animals. A true horseman/horsewoman feeds their horses before they feed themselves and always keep the horses’ welfare in the forefront.[/QUOTE]
One of my reasons too. And also why I never sold any of my horses, or babies, for fear of this sort of thing.
Instead I raised/trained them for dressage and had a lovely dressage lesson program here for quite a few years. They made a lot of people happy, they “earned their keep”, so to speak, and I could keep them under my care for their entire lives. :yes:
