Horse sent to Mill Creek farm Retirement not doing well!

[uphill]

I agree with MicroB - when situations like this occur, we’d like to jump on a bandwagon and tell everyone they’re not doing their job…seize the horse and nurture it .BUT that doesn’t happen and doesn’t help that horse nor others at their facility!!

That facility is beautiful and prob. most of the horses are doing well. Trying to ‘fight’ with them or calling them bad names is counter productive. Being insistent that this horse receive proper care is key… and doing so in a professional manner is key. Picketing the place or suggesting that Millcreek folks are dishonest is also counter productive.

Involving ‘the press’ is also counter productive. They are generally not horse knowledgeable, will see a lovely place with many thriving horses and a few ‘ancient dying ones’ and will be convinced that everything is being done right and that’s life.

The officer ‘should’ but doesn’t have to talk to everyone about the case…I think he got the message that people who know and care about this horse are concerned and perhaps things need to change for the horse. Getting the vet out there was the proper thing for him to do. He now knows that this isn’t about someone trying to reclaim ownership just because.

Deputy spoke with OP after my conversation with him. He was well aware that I checked the facts of the case 1) time reported 2) action taken 3) since there was no report I explained the situation to Patrol Secretary and I requested a call from Deputy and recieved it . He provided info (which OP says is not true), which could have influenced his view of the complaint, in conversation. I brought it to OP’s attention.

It would be great if someone in that area could drive by and monitor, gently, the situation. Remember too that many volunteers at places like this are also not always terribly horse saavy esp. with unusual circumstances. Even we who have many years experience are sometimes stumped. The difference we reach out to others with experience and keep trying …refusing to accept that there isn’t anything we can do but watch a horse deteriorate. Max is who we care about…

[twelvegates]

I’ve been following this thread and believe I understand all of the issues. I would be happy to contribute to any attempt to get Max into a better situation. Please let me know how I can help.

[CrowneDragon]

The picture of Winnie almost has me in tears. I hope the picture on the left is an “after” picture.
OMG.

OP, I hope you are able to get your boy out of jail and into a better situation.

[Lynnwood]

Please understand I am not vilifying Mill Creek other then saying they were warned about this horse’s unique issues and they have been offered support for this horse all along. Including the offer to take the horse back and have my own vets asses him and make a quality of life choice for him.

Why they took in a horse that has anhidrosis and cribs and believe that a field in FL in the summer with no hot wire was the best solution for him I do not understand.

I have continued to attempt to contact Mr. Gregory at Mill Creek and have heard nothing.

The their vet was supposed to be out to asses the horse Tuesday night the Deputy told me it would be at least the weekend before he’d “have something” he was off for the next two days.

I am not a former owner who just wants their horse back , I would have been thrilled to find Max flourishing with Mill Creek. I am however a former owner who is not going to be idol while a prior horse starves to death under a benign eye.

I am whoa fully disturbed that the deputy scored the horse a 3 and is attempting to say he’s only lost 50lbs as Uphill said earlier.

[CVPeg]

Hoping this is resolved soon. Thinking of you, OP, and Max.

[uphill]

where is the link to pictures from where Max was prior to going to Millcreek?? I seem to have missed them.

[Frizzle]

Here are the before/after shots:

@Lynnwood;7201498

http://i41.tinypic.com/34ovbkz.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2ainhq9.jpg

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=uphill;7205678]
where is the link to pictures from where Max was prior to going to Millcreek?? I seem to have missed them.[/QUOTE]

31 Year old Max prior to Mill Creek.

Max loading to leave for Mill Creek in July.
http://oi41.tinypic.com/2qn30g2.jpg

Max directly after unloading at Mill Creek after 5 hr trailer ride.
http://oi43.tinypic.com/iveuec.jpg

http://oi40.tinypic.com/ziktxj.jpg

Look the place is great IF and that is a big IF every horse that goes there can be put out in a large grass field and fed a little grain and a few carrots.

Max is not that kind of horse , ANHIDROSIS , cribber , hard keeper , and the Gregorys were made aware of that prior too and after taking the horse. “Can’t just put this one out in a field” which they have done and its negative effects are showing on the horse now. Period.

[Sannois]

[QUOTE=Lynnwood;7201498]
I am just going to go ahead and post photo’s of the horse arriving and the photo’s taken this past Sat.

I can’t even begin to explain how sick I am over it.

Yes hes 32 and yes hes not an easy keeper but this is not acceptable.

http://i41.tinypic.com/34ovbkz.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2ainhq9.jpg

Editing I’ve thought about it and the Horse is at Mill Creek rescue/retirement in Alachua FL[/QUOTE]
OH GOOD LORD… He was a lovely handsome old man, And now he is a starving scarecrow.
My god I cannot imagine what you must be feeling.
Christ go there offere those crazy old people 1 grand and get him the hell out of there. Oh praying for you and him!

[LauraKY]

I have never owned a horse that could survive just turned out on pasture…except for my easy keeper, but he would founder overnight. It works for lots of horses, it would have never worked for any of mine.

[saultgirl]

Any update on this one? I’ve been thinking about him.

[sdlbredfan]

I just saw this on FB. That facility is acquiring 2 more: https://www.facebook.com/SouthFloridaSPCA?hc_location=stream

[Lynnwood]

Vet saw the horse this week. Her only suggestions per what the deputy told me is that they try wetting his feed. She did make a comment to the ACO agent that his "sweating " is not an issue. I am at a loss how a horse who has been anhidrotic for the last 23 plus years suddenly “its not an issue” and resolved. She did pull bloodwork and it came back normal. Of course his only problem is lack of food he is either not getting it or not eating it period.

According to Mr.Gregory of Mill Creek the horse is getting 10lbs of senior twice a day and “gobbles it up”. Both I and Judy Innes the women who sent him to Mill Creek both exclaimed BS. Max is and always has been a slow eater finishing breakfast right before dinner. Without being able to put eyes on the horse at feeding time I have no way of disproving that though. Although common sense says they drop grain and his pasture mate(who is fat as a tick) is probably eating it.

The deputy plans to revisit the horse in 3 weeks to check on him but no case will be filed.

[Lynnwood]

I really am asking for the help from the Power of COTH

I can’t fight an organization that has such a political foot print. But be the judge yourself watch a few video’s and notice that you see as many hips and ribs and back bones as you see round horses.

I know they do a good deed taking in the unwanteds. But how good of a deed can it be when those who don’t thrive tossed out into a lovely pasture just waste away. Old is not a disease.

Particularly check out the horses feet in the first video at 0:33 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b8hxdTniP8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMdLe3VyBAM

The basic summary that I’ve gotten messaged , PM’d and phoned to me is that any horse that requires more then Saturday carrorts , grass fields and minimal care is SOL.

Its a shame because I think their heart is in the right place.

[Crockpot]

if the teeth are bad (sometimes a problem with the old guys) just "wetting the feed"is not enough.

All feed and extras like beet pulp, alfalfa cubes,etc need to be reduced to a gruel by soaking in hot water when teeth are compromised.

I would think anyone who specializes in elder horse care would know that

[luvmytbs]

Don’t they have an Open House on Saturday’s (thought I saw that on their website)?

Anyone in the area who can check it out?

[RubyTuesday]

[QUOTE=Lynnwood;7207446]
Vet saw the horse this week. Her only suggestions per what the deputy told me is that they try wetting his feed. She did make a comment to the ACO agent that his "sweating " is not an issue. I am at a loss how a horse who has been anhidrotic for the last 23 plus years suddenly “its not an issue” and resolved. She did pull bloodwork and it came back normal. Of course his only problem is lack of food he is either not getting it or not eating it period.

According to Mr.Gregory of Mill Creek the horse is getting 10lbs of senior twice a day and “gobbles it up”. Both I and Judy Innes the women who sent him to Mill Creek both exclaimed BS. Max is and always has been a slow eater finishing breakfast right before dinner. Without being able to put eyes on the horse at feeding time I have no way of disproving that though. Although common sense says they drop grain and his pasture mate(who is fat as a tick) is probably eating it.

The deputy plans to revisit the horse in 3 weeks to check on him but no case will be filed.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts are with you, OP. This does not look like it will end well.

[ReSomething]

I’m really sorry. The old guy eats overnight as well and his “fat-as-a-tick” pasturemate is kept segregated from him all night long. He’s gaining weight on 9 lbs of TC Sr, with pellets, a little oil and grass hay as well, but I know for a fact he’s the only one eating it.

I just don’t know how much effort some people will go to, or how much people should be expected to go to, to keep a quirky old horse going. I wish they’d honor the first right of refusal and let you take him home and either make him happy in his last days or turn him around for a few more.

[Lynnwood]

ReSomething like you said I’d be perfectly happy if they admitted that he was not thriving in their program. Instead they are pretending he is fine and its ok to let any animal get in that sort of condition under some BS pretense of “he’s old”.

If they sent me an email tomorrow saying hey Max wasn’t thriving and we chose to let him pass on I would be sad he was gone and happy he went in peace. There is no need to drag this out …dig in their heals and let a good old horse starve to death.

[ReSomething]

I had sent you a PM. What I told you about in the PM was I think similar. I think I do understand your frustration at least a little. Sorry.