I think the concern with the owners isn’t necessarily that they were paying cheap board, it’s that they failed to check on their horses. I get it, they trusted the BO, but – as a BO – I really think you have to trust but verify. I post photos of the retirees here frequently so even if the owners don’t come out they “see” their horses.
10 Likes
Yes, thank you! I’m sure, given your description of all the research they did, they must be stunned. I’m glad AC is at least being proactive.
1 Like
Massive jingles needed for those horses tonight.
I know of one horse was euthanized.
An owner told me this evening that there is a horse in distress at the farm.
Animal control has been useless. Please please please. Anyone willing to contact the Attorney General of Virginia feel free. We need to put pressure on this. The fact that any animals are still at that farm is completely unacceptable.
If any owners are reading this, I have a friend with a rig who is willing to transport. Veterinary Rehabilitation Services of Virginia is a close by rehab center that I’ve heard great things about. If you need any contact info, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank god it is still warm but we have rain and a massive drop in temps headed our way this weekend.
Goochland County AC is failing and these animals.
12 Likes
I’m sure she will report back when she can, but I think @Railbird is hooking up her trailer as we speak.
I am just sick over this… How does Byrd just stay shut in her house all day with this going on in her literal backyard?
16 Likes
The farm only became a non profit this year. This is her income. The foundation was set up to help owners with unexpected bills. (The irony of all of this) I would hate to be her accountant that’s for sure.)
6 Likes
Does anyone know if actual law enforcement is involved yet? Aside from the attempts at animal control.
I keep trying to find updates but because I’m not friends with most of the people posting on fb, it is limited to the names I can keep track of and keep going back to read the posts they’ve made. Thanks to @GPjumper and @Railbird who seem to be very on top of the situation.
3 Likes
What a terrible situation. Question: if there is no food for the horses, why is that not grounds for seizure? I thought food/water/shelter (need all 3) was the magic requirement, and lack of any of these 3 enabled seizure? And there are vets who are involved, and their input is not enough? Hoping to learn more about what needs to be presented to LE for seizure.
2 Likes
Shelters are not required for livestock in Virginia. My understanding is that there is hay and feed for her personal horses so there IS stuff on the property, it was just not being fed to the horses.
I’m sure after tonight, a fire will be lit. Animal control is part of the sheriff department. These horses are privately owned so they can’t just be seized. Some owners are defending her and believing their horses aren’t that bad. Apparently, she is not being very forthcoming with owners information.
4 Likes
Ok our sweet chestnut friend RUBY had a colic tonight and got taxi service to the clinic- she made the trip and is doing ok given the circumstances and getting tucked into bed. Brought one of her friends to hitchhike. Most of the owners had received recent pictures that indicated very different condition.
18 Likes
A couple of people have asked. Is there a go fund me or way to help support these owners? These vet bills will be massive. Should we work on setting something up with the involved vet clinics?
2 Likes
Another horse was removed last night, because she coliced. Thankfully Railbird got her transported to the clinic where hopefully she’ll be on her way to recovery.
@GPjumper I’m going to be working on that today with another local person to see about getting a mechanism in place for funds to go directly to the vet clinics. There are multiple different vets involved so we’ll figure out the best way hopefully to help these owners help their horses.
18 Likes
I just want to say, you all are amazing!
The horse community sure knows how to come together when there is a need and you (the posters here who are part of it) are making me tear-up with your wonderful efforts to help the horses and their owners!
16 Likes
Amen!! You all really are awesome. I hope all the owners now realize what is happening and that a community is out there helping.
4 Likes
Ugh this story is terrible. It’s stories like this that keep me paying New England prices for my two retirees instead of sending them south as many have suggested. I know there are good places out there, but stories like these keep me up at night.
Jingling for the horses speedy recoveries.
11 Likes
Same here. My mare is retired at a barn where I can see her regularly. It’s expensive. It keeps me from getting another horse, but when I looked into retirement board in Virginia, the places I felt would be good for her were expensive enough that getting another horse wouldn’t have been affordable anyway.
Nine years ago, it was different here. I got a filly and boarded her someplace inexpensive ($425). My mare’s board was $900 and I could handle both. The place where she was is now $1250 I think, with a weekly lesson requirement that brings the cost well over $1500. I ended up selling the filly after a short time, but it felt doable to have 2 financially.
2 Likes
I keep waiting for this story to hit the local news, and it hasn’t yet.
I wonder if any of the horse’s owners have called the local news stations or the paper?
5 Likes
I was thinking the same thing. Someone needs to “leak” this story.
7 Likes
I am still shocked at how little traction this story has gotten on Facebook. Usually neglected horse stuff travels thru facebook so quickly…but nothing in horse groups I follow (that I have seen, you know how FB is, it could be there and not see it).
1 Like
I’m in most of the VA horse groups and haven’t seen it in my feed yet. Not sure if Facebook algorithms at play or it’s just being kept hush hush.
2 Likes
