Ah, a houseguest has arrived. Maybe she can explain all the slipper feet. Those don’t happen overnight, and I see some of the horses have been there for “years”.
[QUOTE=Roxyllsk;7220083]
I’ve got the popcorn going, and am pulling out the blender for margaritas.[/QUOTE]
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
I still have not hear back from you.
Do you work Saturdays? Would you like me to try and set up a meeting with you and your former horse on another day?
[QUOTE=FLAPUALG;7220121]
I still have not hear back from you.
Do you work Saturdays? Would you like me to try and set up a meeting with you and your former horse on another day?[/QUOTE]
Peter and Mary have my contact information. They have for the last 2 months.
This thread started because they would not communicate about the horses condition. They can call me or email anytime or even just respond to one of the many that have been sent like this one for instance.
"
[B]Mr. and Mrs Gregory and staff at Mill Creek,
First I wanted to thank you for your on going care of my former horse Max.
As I am sure you are aware it has been brought to my attention that Max is not holding his weight and thriving as we all would have hoped in your wonderful program.
When he was remanded to you 12 weeks ago I contacted you hoping to explain that he simply is a horse that because of his medical history doesn’t flourish a field board situation. He is a unique case being both a cribber and having anhidrosis.
I know you are doing everything you can for him and his history is not well known to you. I am more then happy to release the last 22 years of his medical history to your veterinarian if it would help her understand his conditions , what medications he was on and why and make choices going forward.
I very much appreciate the care you have given Max and want to do anything I can to help you find solutions to combat his weight loss. I can assure you that if he’s able to crib/windsuck in combination with the hot FL summers because of his inability to sweat most certainly have contributed greatly to his weight loss. They are issues we had to manage all 22 years we owned him .
I do want to make it perfectly clear that I would be happy to take Max back into my ownership and allow my team of veterinarians to asses him an see if we can’t get him back on a road with positive gains. Please know that option always exists. Potentially opening up a space for you to take in a horse that doesn’t have anyone to look after him.
Again please let me know, let me work with you to help Max. His well being is all that is important to me. I don’t hold anyone in blame and I just would like to be there to help you and your team.
I hope to hear from you and will be following up soon. "
[/B]
Perhaps you have a good answer why they refuse to communicate ?
She just said she works Saturdays.
“You are correct when you say they do not stable these horses. These horses get to run free and not be stuck in some hot barn with some fans blowing on them.”
Yeah, see there are a vast array of options between these two extremes. The fact that you “went there” tells me that you got your knowledge of horse care from Black Beauty.
“I find it pretty sad that you would rather see a horse killed. Especially when it is such a special animal to you.”
No. She wants to see her old horse taken care of and not starved to death. Thought that was pretty apparent to everyone.
OK I just saw that. Sorry.
I was trying to see if I could contact somebody to let her go and visit her old horse.
That is all I was trying to do.
That is very unfair.
And for the record I never say Black Beauty.
[QUOTE=FLAPUALG;7220151]
OK I just saw that. Sorry.
I was trying to see if I could contact somebody to let her go and visit her old horse.
That is all I was trying to do.[/QUOTE]
How about you actually take the time to read the entire thread before you start jumping all over someone ? Most of the questions you have asked have already been answered.
What the F is going on here? It is like a law of nature that houseguests a) cant type or spell b) cant read and c) say/ask the same things over and over and over and over?
[QUOTE=FLAPUALG;7220151]
OK I just saw that. Sorry.
I was trying to see if I could contact somebody to let her go and visit her old horse.
That is all I was trying to do.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the gesture and I would love if that could be worked out.
I would love more to know his special needs are being met and not dismissed because of personal judgments and pretenses.
I’ve only asked all along let me help them help Max. It was their choice to be dismissive and not to communicate.
[QUOTE=FLAPUALG;7220153]
That is very unfair.
And for the record I never say Black Beauty.[/QUOTE]
But it was fair of you to imply that the OP kept the horse locked up in a hot barn so that he “couldn’t run free”.
Gotcha.
I wrote to the email in this thread, this is the reply I got:
"I have been volunteering at Retirement Home for Horses since 1992 and currently spend a week every month volunteering now.
I don’t know the source of your information on Max but it is terribly wrong. Max is a 31 year old horse who when he arrived had swollen legs with sores. The people who brought him up said it was from standing in muck and he was obviously kept for long periods in a stall for he had difficulty walking.
Immediately upon entering a paddock with grass he started to graze. And after he was examined by a vet he was put in a pasture with another horse Rose. They are given double buckets of grain twice a day and Max is a wonderfully happy horse which anyone can see. He now walks and trots more easily and comes to the fence for the many carrots he is given throughout the day when anyone drives by on a golf cart.
I don’t know who is putting this gross misinformation on the internet but it is obviously meant to cause harm.
It seems that Max’s well being is only being protected by Mary and Peter Gregory who know more about caring for senior horses then anyone I have ever met in the horse world.
You owe them a massive apology and if you really cared for Max you would have first made sure your information was correct before vilifying the very people who are ensuring he will have the most wonderful life a horse could have.
Shameful that you think he should be euthanized because he is underweight…a condition that any vet will tell you can be common with an old Thoroughbred."
–Nora Denslow
So I asked her to send CURRENT TIMESTAMPED photos of him, seeing as how she is disputing the photo in this thread.
[QUOTE=FLAPUALG;7220075]
That was my point. If she knew him best then what happened to her not keeping up with the horse. I just can not imagine giving away a pet like that.
All I wanted to know was what happened from the first 6 months to jump forward 2 months ago.
How much time was in between.
The other point was why would she not actually go there and see her old horse? I mean really , why not go there and see the horse?
That’s all[/QUOTE]
Honey, we are not talking about a dog here. Obviously you have never been in the horse business. Keeping tabs on something everyday after they have been sent to a “seemingly” great situation isn’t something a lot of horse people do. I have a ton of horses I think about all the time, hoping they are great and doing well with their owners. Do I fly around the country to go look at them? Hell no. I’m an equestrian, I can afford that. Does it mean I am a terrible animal abuser? No.
Just because she didn’t check up on her beloved “pet” doesn’t mean she didn’t care for him or love him. Sorry, I have a hard time calling a horse a “pet”. She was a responsible horse owner doing what we all have to do sometimes. I would love it if you could get us updated photos of Max since you obviously are close to MC and seem to work there and know the people who run it.
I’ve got the popcorn and margaritas ready, bring on the house guests.
OP, I have not said anything in this thread but I have been following it. I have been in your shoes before but luckily for me my old mare got a great home that she flourishes in. I am with you and pray for you every night that Max will come home and get out of a place he clearly isn’t thriving in.
And to those that think all horses should “run wild and free”, I’ve known plenty of horses that demand to be brought back in their stall. This is Florida, summers are hot and humid, I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be inside with a nice breeze from a stall fan than standing out in the blazing sun.
Heck, I have a mustang, who grew up in the wild until he was 2-1/2, he quite likes the amenities of domestic life 
[QUOTE=froglander;7220327]
And to those that think all horses should “run wild and free”, I’ve known plenty of horses that demand to be brought back in their stall. This is Florida, summers are hot and humid, I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be inside with a nice breeze from a stall fan than standing out in the blazing sun.
Heck, I have a mustang, who grew up in the wild until he was 2-1/2, he quite likes the amenities of domestic life :)[/QUOTE]
Yeah, mine does not want to “be free” in the sweltering mid-day heat, bugs, and humidity of summer. At 10am she is snoozing flat out in her stall and is not a morning girl. She also wants her blanket at the first hint of a rainy Fall day.
My horse when he is not in a paddock is in a stall with a big run… Guess where he stands all day long?
IN HIS STALL. Not all horses thrive and love being out in the open. It’s a great option for some time in the open, but some horses just prefer stalling and it is better for them that way.
[QUOTE=appellativo;7220281]
I wrote to the email in this thread, this is the reply I got:
"I have been volunteering at Retirement Home for Horses since 1992 and currently spend a week every month volunteering now.
I don’t know the source of your information on Max but it is terribly wrong. Max is a 31 year old horse who when he arrived had swollen legs with sores. The people who brought him up said it was from standing in muck and he was obviously kept for long periods in a stall for he had difficulty walking.
Immediately upon entering a paddock with grass he started to graze. And after he was examined by a vet he was put in a pasture with another horse Rose. They are given double buckets of grain twice a day and Max is a wonderfully happy horse which anyone can see. He now walks and trots more easily and comes to the fence for the many carrots he is given throughout the day when anyone drives by on a golf cart.
I don’t know who is putting this gross misinformation on the internet but it is obviously meant to cause harm.
It seems that Max’s well being is only being protected by Mary and Peter Gregory who know more about caring for senior horses then anyone I have ever met in the horse world.
You owe them a massive apology and if you really cared for Max you would have first made sure your information was correct before vilifying the very people who are ensuring he will have the most wonderful life a horse could have.
Shameful that you think he should be euthanized because he is underweight…a condition that any vet will tell you can be common with an old Thoroughbred."
–Nora Denslow
So I asked her to send CURRENT TIMESTAMPED photos of him, seeing as how she is disputing the photo in this thread.[/QUOTE]
I got the same email.
And I think that a dated/time-stamped photo of Max’s current condition is an EXCELLENT idea! :yes:
Here’s the reply I sent:
If Max is doing so well, I’m sure you wouldn’t object to sending dated/time-stamped photos of his current condition? Because his “before” condition has already been documented.
If he looks anything like the “after” photos that I have seen, the only one who is owed an apology is Max.
FLAP, I’m sure your intentions are good and I applaud that you help out by volunteering. Maybe Mary and Peter Gregory are wonderful people. Their intentions do sound noble.
But–they are far from experts on senior horses. It is obvious from the photos on their website that at least some of the horses in their care are suffering from untreated metabolic issues, badly in need of proper hoof care and some are emaciated.
Older horses will carry their weight differently than their younger counterparts. It is not unusual for older horses to be in good weight and it still be possible to see ribs. When you see jutting hipbones and can see the vertebrae in the backbone, that is not “old horse skinny”. That is starvation.
When you volunteer, watch when the horses are eating.
Do they drop much of the feed on the ground?
Do they hold their heads and necks outstretched at an odd angle when they chew?
Do you find cigar shaped wads of grass/hay on the ground everywhere?
When they are fed carrots, do you find large pieces of carrots dropped on the ground?
These are all signs of dental issues. Even if you are feeding 2 buckets of feed, if the horse is not able to eat it, he will slowly waste away from malnutrition.
You had mentioned run in sheds during the rain and trees for shade. Watch the group dynamics of the herd. Are all the horses sharing the run ins or do some of them stand out in the rain because they are not allowed in?
A horse of Max’s condition not allowed in the run in and not blanketed or given a sheet in a 50 degree (or less) rain shower is going to be shivering quickly. As horses age, they are less able to regulate their body temperatures and thin horses are especially vulnerable. It’s sort of like small thin older ladies who are always cold when everyone else is comfortable.
People aren’t on this board being mean because they think they are superior. They are frustrated when a better way is pointed out and offered and it is refused due to ignorance, pride or stubbornness.
If the Gregory’s were truly good people, they would do what’s best for Max.
We’re not trying to shut down their farm, we’re trying to help the horse dying in front of them who is suffering needlessly.
There is a better offer out here. Take it.
