I keep hoping for a happy update on this thread. My heart goes out to you, Lynnwood.
I can tell you that the whole ordeal is so trying for me.
All I want is for a horse that I literally grew up with I was 14 when we bought him. To be given the best care possible or a dignified end.
When I found out he was abandoned by someone we trusted I felt like we(my family failed) the glimmer was that it appeared that Judy had a found a good place for him and if he wasn’t returned to us it was the best case scenario.
Getting Judy’s phone call last weekend and then opening up the emailed photo’s made me physically sick.
I can’t bring to words how this all leaves me feeling. Despondent and helpless might come close.
[QUOTE=Lynnwood;7209187]
They are “sweet” older people who had money to burn and who by their own admission liked to walk down the road and feed the ponies .
By the way notice the ponies feet at :33 and its general condition. or the bays condition trotting the fence line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b8hxdTniP8
or this horses condition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0so_0gJJ6Q
Or the bay with the volunteers or the mule at 1:15 or the chestnut that walks up the fence line @ 1:22
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMdLe3VyBAM[/QUOTE]
What is going on there?!? It’s like a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes. Relaxing music, green pastures, smiling volunteers. And ribs!!! While all their supporters are drinking the koolaid.
And I have an OTTB who in good condition can look ribby. Slender/fit is one thing. Well taken care of is another. These horses all look very stressed weight wise - quiet perhaps because they are old or defeated otherwise - not taken care of. :mad:
Must be the vet/sheriff/authorities have all talked themselves into the fairy tale as well.
I am so sorry for you. So glad you have recognized the situation, and are calling for eyes to open.
Just hope Max gets back.
As an aside, you should definitely change the name of this thread to name Mill Creek Farm in Alachua, FL and use the name as frequently as possible in this thread so that anyone doing a google search will see this thread.
I’ve heard such good things about them in the past and have on occasion sent donations since several of the horses from Arabian Nights ended up there. I’m guilty of never having gone in person though and just assumed all was well. I didn’t think too much of it when a previously healthy draft horse was found dead in his field shortly after retiring there because freak things happen, but who knows…
If a horse fits well into their program, it seems like a great program, but I do hope the owners will realize that horses are never one size fits all, and in some cases, rehoming, specialized care or euthanasia may be what is truly in the horses’ best interest.
How far away is this from Ocala? Is it worth getting notice out to the horse community there? Of course there are COTHers here from that area - can anything be coordinated?
Its about an hour north of Ocala.
I do agree and did change the title concerning naming Mill Creek Retirement in Florida so that it shows up in Google posts.
I was pretty aghast that the vet and deputy agree’d the horse was a 3 and had only lost 50lbs. Then again I don’t know when the vet first saw him. The deputy said the photo’s Mill Creek Retirement they took of the horse 3 weeks after it arrived you could see ribs… to me that means the horse started dropping weight/was not thriving from the start and shows a pattern of decline. All the more reason to do SOMETHING.
[QUOTE=CVPeg;7211794]
How far away is this from Ocala? Is it worth getting notice out to the horse community there? Of course there are COTHers here from that area - can anything be coordinated?[/QUOTE]
It is about 20 minutes north of Gainesville, just off I-75. They take in lots of research horses, police horses, circus horses, etc.
Wynn is in Alachua, maybe she could stop by?
Well, I tried. Lynnwood gave me the contact information. I said that I knew Max and I had heard that he was struggling…and asked if there was anything I could do to help.
I was told he was neurotic (cribbing), had medical issues (anhydrosis and a bit of mud fever). I was told that the vet and he, Mr. Gregory, are working on fixing his neurotic issues and then he hung up on me.
From what Lynnwood has told me, and from what he said (horses come here to die) and his refusal to give up a horse to a good home, to me, he sounds like a hoarder. Maybe just on the cusp, but what reputable rescue refuses to give a horse to a good forever home in order to get them off their payroll?
Any bigwigs in animal welfare in Florida who can stir things up a bit? It sounds as if AC is blind (all estray horses are sent to Mill Creek) and the SPCA just donated a couple of horses as well, so the locals are out.
From what I’ve been told, it seems that easy keepers do OK there, any horse that has any kind of special need? Forget it.
[edit]
[QUOTE=sdlbredfan;7207079]
I just saw this on FB. That facility is acquiring 2 more: https://www.facebook.com/SouthFloridaSPCA?hc_location=stream[/QUOTE]
What the heck. So I take it the spca doesn’t recognize starving horses?! Wonder if they even went out to the place first. … Hopefully these two don’t have to suffer before anything is done for the other horses.
They do not fit the definition of hoarder.
They do fit the description of arrognant and ego driven.
It does not sound like they have too many horses…but they are not prepared to go the extra mile for one who requires supervision and attention.
Perhaps a volunteer could be approached to paid under the table to ensure a bit more is done for the horse. Also, you might want to request a copy of the blood work etc from the vet…but they may decline…confidentiality
Are there other documented cases? Have these folks been taken to court?
Maybe if there was negative publicity i.e. interview with a local paper they might agree to have the horse removed.
Love that the title of the thread has been changed, Lynnwood.
Nice try, LauraKY. :sigh:
Somehow, someone needs to convince this fellow that the negative publicity that is just around the corner will not be a good thing. Perhaps, eventually, someone who does know him in the first place.
I know there are ways for some to care for horses, and they can have all the easy keepers they want. But push people aside who are trying to do the right thing for an individual who is not cut out for their program, and good luck keeping that program once the stuff hits the fan…
The owners of Mill Creek are probably old enough that a social media / internet $hitstorm won’t faze them. But a very unfavorable article in the local paper, featuring the before and after photo of this horse, probably would. They probably read it, as do their peers and friends in the area. I would reach out in that direction. Make local pain for them. They aren’t going to care about Facebook blowing up.
But the SPCA might…I’ve messaged them and left an phone message. It was nice, very nice…but I did make them aware that publicity would be forthcoming…in a very nice way.
[QUOTE=Lynnwood;7201498]
Editing I’ve thought about it and the Horse is at Mill Creek rescue/retirement in Alachua FL[/QUOTE]
Is that the one DBA Retirement Home for Horses, Inc?
As a Retirement Home, they are not necessarily a rehoming rescue, instead they are a Sanctuary. It may even be in their contractual agreements with the placers of the retirees that they will never be sold/rehomed; that this is the end of their road.
Unfortunately, it appears the care at this beautiful facility is not individualized enough to ensure the health of all the horses.
The only way to possibly get media attention would be ‘before and after and ongoing’ photographs and veterinary opinions and recorded conversations or preferably written statements regarding the horses’ care and changes to that care.
While there can come a time in a horse’s life when it does not metabolize food well, the hard choice of euth vs. care must be made.
Simply not making the adjustments an individual needs and ‘letting nature take its inevitable course’ is what legally actionable neglect is all about.
A real shame to see ugliness in such a lovely setting.
Why has OP not contacted the media and sent them the pics, etc??? I would be standing on the side of the street with a sign until I got someone’s attention. I’d call the media and tell them I’d be there with a sign (not sure what it would say) but unless folks take aggressive steps, these things do not get taken care most of the time.
[QUOTE=Fairfax;7212634]
Perhaps a volunteer could be approached to paid under the table to ensure a bit more is done for the horse. [/QUOTE]
That’s a brilliant idea. Surely someone knows someone who volunteers there (or who would be willing to start volunteering there for this purpose)?
http://www.mygtn.tv/ - 91k HEY OP! Here is a link to a tv station in Gainsville. On their site, they have a section “Send us your photos” SEND THE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS TO GET SOMEONE’S ATTENTION AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITUATION. Yes I am yelling. The horse continues to get no help and everyone just writes about “wtd”.
[QUOTE=Lynnwood;7201445]
The vet was the horses long time local vet. Also happened to be the vet for the facility where he was abandoned. He is about 5hrs south of where the horse currently is. So no not an option.
I do have a call into the local A.C
The whole situation just stinks of rats and mice.[/QUOTE]
I am wondering why the vet didn’t think to call his long term former owners or let the facility he was left at know of you - when he was abandoned?
Or were you willing to have him go to the retirement home then but have since updated your opinion of them?
==
I notice on their site they have been able to purchase additional acreage ‘to support more horses in need’?
I don’t notice any field shelters… dentistry is once a year - for oldies?
… no mention of their special needs farriery, or feeding program or vet care, other than ‘carrots’…
And is there a ‘head volunteer’?
Feeding over 100 horses needs machinery and round/large bales at minimum over just two seniors.
If it is all volunteer, someone must be doing the heavy lifting and scheduling?
For some horses this could be near ideal, but for others, an inevitable and mostly preventable decline.
