Horse I gave to a friend being starved...advice please

[RhythmNCruise]

Ugh, OP, I’m so sorry about this.

I had a roly poly 15.2 Appendix gelding that I raised from birth many years ago. I broke and trained him, showed him, everything. He was ALWAYS the picture of health. Round (but not obese), gorgeous hair coat, just perfectly healthy. Never a sick day in the ten years that I owned him.

I wound up giving him to someone that I know takes good care of horses. He would be ridden more, jumped, used for lessons, etc. I figured it was a perfect place for him.

Less than a year later, I saw his new owner at a big show. Before I ever laid eyes on the horse, she came to me and started apologizing and explaining that they were doing everything they could to figure out what was wrong with him, etc. Then I saw him. If she hadn’t pointed him out, I would have never recognized him. His hair coat was scraggly and and rough, he was rail thin, he looked…sad. He had always been a bright-eyed fella, and very interested in his surroundings. The horse I saw before me didn’t give a crap about anything. I was heart-broken. I had raised him. He was my baby.

Maybe six months later I got a text from her that they had to put him down. He’d been colicking a lot and they just couldn’t seem to figure out what was wrong with him.

I truly believe he was stressed out (he was a sensitive “one person” kind of horse) and probably eaten up with ulcers. Being used as a kid’s lesson horse just didn’t suit him well. He was a good boy, but he wasn’t much for noise and chaos.

Fast-forward to just over a year ago. I moved my current gelding to a boarding barn after selling my place. Things were great at first, but slowly he started to deteriorate. Lost weight, top line looked horrible, hair coat looked horrible, he started getting spooky, started having diarrhea. It has taken the better part of a year to get this horse back to his fat, laid back, happy self. There were several things at play: different feed, different schedule, different place, being ridden more, the loss of his two life-long friends (who are buried on my old place).

I think some horses don’t “move” as well to new places or owners as others do. A horse that has had a lot of humans or been moved around a lot to boarding facilities or overnight shows, etc. probably handles it much better than horses like mine who were owned, raised, and trained by one person on one farm for the entire lives (with a few shows here and there, not many).

I hope together with animal control and maybe a local rescue group, you can achieve either getting the mare back or seeing her happier and healthier with her new person.

[candyappy]

@RhythmNCruise

I think some horses don’t “move” as well to new places or owners as others do.

I think you are so right. Sadly that may not be found out until it is too late.

[WildLittleWren]

Communication has resumed. I went over to see the mare Tuesday. She has gained nearly 100lbs, her hair is growing back in, and the animal control officer has told her that if she is still gaining weight at her next recheck she will close the case out. I got several apologies from the friend, she has gotten a part time job now and says she is in a better place financially. The mare is on a good quality feeding program now, and has been dewormed. There was nothing wrong with her with the vet check, it simply was she was not getting enough nutrients.

Everything seems to be moving in the right direction, which I’m really happy about. I wanted to update everyone since it has been awhile. I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly she has put weight back on her.

[Altag]

@WildLittleWren

Communication has resumed. I went over to see the mare Tuesday. She has gained nearly 100lbs, her hair is growing back in, and the animal control officer has told her that if she is still gaining weight at her next recheck she will close the case out. I got several apologies from the friend, she has gotten a part time job now and says she is in a better place financially. The mare is on a good quality feeding program now, and has been dewormed. There was nothing wrong with her with the vet check, it simply was she was not getting enough nutrients.

Everything seems to be moving in the right direction, which I’m really happy about. I wanted to update everyone since it has been awhile. I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly she has put weight back on her.

WONDERFUL update!!! So glad that it seems to be turning out well for the mare! Good on ya WLW for handling this well and for being back-up support for this mare. :yes::yes::yes:

I hope Ms Maresie enjoys a well-fed, healthy life.

How’s your daughter’s gelding doing now? You mentioned that he was sick up-thread.

[fordtraktor]

So, so glad to get this update! really positive.

[lenapesadie]

What a nice update! Thanks for sharing!

[WildLittleWren]

@Altag

WONDERFUL update!!! So glad that it seems to be turning out well for the mare! Good on ya WLW for handling this well and for being back-up support for this mare. :yes::yes::yes:

I hope Ms Maresie enjoys a well-fed, healthy life.

How’s your daughter’s gelding doing now? You mentioned that he was sick up-thread.

Thank you! My daughter’s gelding was touch and go for a week, but is finally on the mend, thank you for asking! He gave us quite a scare.

[Altag]

@WildLittleWren

Thank you! My daughter’s gelding was touch and go for a week, but is finally on the mend, thank you for asking! He gave us quite a scare.

And another good update.

[candyappy]

Great update! She must normally be an easy keeper to gain weight that fast. If I didn’t own one myself I might challenge the amount she has gained. I swear my mare can gain 50 pounds in 2 days if the grass is just right and I don’t muzzle her:eek:

[WildLittleWren]

@candyappy

Great update! She must normally be an easy keeper to gain weight that fast. If I didn’t own one myself I might challenge the amount she has gained. I swear my mare can gain 50 pounds in 2 days if the grass is just right and I don’t muzzle her:eek:

Seriously…I struggled to keep weight off of her with a ration balancer and no grain! She has always been an easy keeper. I took photos, and both the animal control officer and I believe her to have gained close to 100lbs, heck possibly more.

[Ruth0552]

I’d still be worried about leaving her… and I’d still pursue getting the title from the BLM. Just in case something happens and she doesn’t continue the good upkeep. Then you’ll know you’ll still have proof of legal ownership in case the $hit hits the fan.

[ABDR4]

@Ruth0552

I’d still be worried about leaving her… and I’d still pursue getting the title from the BLM. Just in case something happens and she doesn’t continue the good upkeep. Then you’ll know you’ll still have proof of legal ownership in case the $hit hits the fan.

Definitely second this, especially given your “friend’s” behavior in the matter. Hope you have a plan to keep an eye on the mare too.

[CindyCRNA]

@SuzieQNutter

Yes it does happen but you cannot guarantee it and once horse has gone you find you have no control. As OP has found it is better to free lease so you can get Dobbins back. What happens when the person you gave the horse to dies and now non horsey family has it? No worming, no teeth done, not fed properly etc etc. It is not their fault. It is better to have the piece of paper and never use it than like in this situation need it and not have it.

I am taking my boy this Tues for a free lease and I tell you, this story has given me anxiety. I will never relinquish control because of stories like this!

[SuzieQNutter]

@CindyCRNA

I am taking my boy this Tues for a free lease and I tell you, this story has given me anxiety. I will never relinquish control because of stories like this!

That is what is great about this forum. It is sad when things like this happen, but great that people share and we can all learn from them.

[candyappy]

@CindyCRNA

I am taking my boy this Tues for a free lease and I tell you, this story has given me anxiety. I will never relinquish control because of stories like this!

I would definitely check on him in person from time to time if he is close enough to do it.

[WildLittleWren]

CindyCRNA in hindsight I 100% wish I had just done a “free lifetime lease” with clauses (if the horse is not cared for etc, the horse can be picked up). I will never again trust a “friend” to do right by a horse. I will never again, rehome a horse. My two here are lifers. Sadly, this mare would have been a lifer too had she not talked me out of her and seemed like a perfect fit. Truly, once you sell or give away a horse, you have no rights. Just make sure to keep an airtight lease contract to protect the horse’s best interests. I have learned the hard way, and unfortunately the mare had to suffer for months because of it.

For other posters saying I should pursue title, I have tried. Twenty phone calls and at least half a dozen emails later, I have yet to reach a live person. I’m not giving up though, because I need something in my back pocket should this reverse directions. I did obtain a copy of my last coggins on her with her in my name from my vet. She continues to put on weight, I just hope that this is “it” and that she takes proper care of her moving forward.

We are moving to TN in January, and I have lined up a couple of people to try and keep an eye on her, and I have also gotten in touch with the neighbor, who was one of the people who contacted animal control to begin with. She is watching her like a hawk, with her phone ready to make a call should she not keep up her end of the deal and take proper care of her.