How can we protect our horses in cases like this?

[Willesdon]

Once a horse is sold, it is sold, just like any other property. All a breeder can do is produce the very best animals they can, so the horse will always have a job, and likely remain sound, being in the care of people who can recognise a good horse. And register the horse in a recognised stud book because future buyers like papers (even, I believe, those who speak of “ride the horse not the papers” when given the choice) and people will often pay more for a pedigree animal and, finally, many stud books maintain performance data that can also offer some protection to closely related horses.

Then the breeders just have to hope that the name of the horse isn’t changed somewhere down the line. Certain names stick, however, especially if they have some kudus because they offer status to the owner e.g. an Event rider isn’t going to show “Fluffy no name” when “Cooley Fluffy” or a Dressage rider when “Mount StJohn Fluffy” indicates or implies so much more… Or even a QH stallion called “Bet Hesa Cat” is a bit of a giveaway too.

In Spain and Portugal the studfarm brand is often the first point in a description and at shows “the cobra” is a group of mares shown together to demonstrate the quality and depth of the breeding mares.

[skydy]

@tonywonderhorse

Many of you are aware of a recent case of 12 well breed dressage horses in Oregon being removed from the care of a woman that many of us knew. Everything from mares in foal, foals, yearlings, and aged horses were found in varying states of starvation and neglect.

The horses were signed over by the owner to a rescue group as part of a plea bargain. By the time the original breeders of these horses learned of this, the horses had already been placed in a matter of a few days. All of these horses are registered and most were microchipped.

The rescue claims it’s under no obligation to contact the breeders of these animals and put them first in line to adopt. Almost all the breeders and former owners would have stepped right up to retrieve these horses and pay any outstanding bills on them had they been given the opportunity. This has caused an uproar in the breeding community about the protocol utilized to place these horses. Many people are very upset. I understand the urgent need to get them in stable situations and get them immediate help, but foster homes could have been utilized until the breeders could be contacted.

As breeders, most of us are deeply concerned about the welfare of the horses we produce, many of us follow them for life. Many of us are having a hard time understanding why the breeders were not contacted and given the chance to adopt first. After all, we know these horses best, we cherish their hertigage, and many of us still own the mothers and grandmothers of these animals.

We microchip for identification and safety reasons, are rescues under no obligation to scan for a chip like the humane society does upon intake?

How can we better protect our horses in the future to prevent something like this from happening? Some people even had clear language in their sales agreements about the horse’s safe return in the event the owner could not properly care for them. I am told this is not enforceable.

I know that feedlots will often call on branded horses or TB’s with tattoos. Why are breeders not given a higher priority in these unfortunate circumstances? I feel there should be a better intake and adoption protocol in place to prioritize the homes that have the greatest interest and connection to these animals.

Let’s discuss.

I understand your frustration and I wish that there was an easy way to change how horses are “processed” by rescues that would enable them to notify the breeders first.
However, the unfortunate reality is, that most rescues operate on a shoestring budget and do not have the resources that would allow taking the time to track down and notify breeders of their connection to seized horses.

I hope that the rescue involved in this situation is not one that has ridiculous rules, and that the breeders of these horses are able to make an offer to buy them back from the adopters.

What can be done to help breeders that find their stock in situations like this one? Not much. Until rescues are well funded and operating under some form of regulation (not going to happen) there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that any protocol will be enacted that allows for breeders to be notified first.

Perhaps breeders could contact local rescues in advance to ask them to please contact if any horse of a certain type that they have bred are siezed. It will have to be proactive on the breeders part. Rescues unfortunately just don’t have the resources.