In memory of November Rain

[Trixie]

People who show at a high power level should be financially able to purchase a retirement farm for their retirees

That’s an interesting perspective, but you’re crazy to think that everyone who can afford to show rated at some point in their lives will always be able to afford to keep horses. Even with the best of intentions and the best of plans, things happen. Divorces. Deaths in the family. Accidents. Illnesses. These things turn people who were once financially secure and physically able to care for horses into being forced to make decisions that are not ideal, sometimes that includes selling a horse, no matter how much they love the animal.

What was it someone else said? Focus on you. Make the best decisions you can for your animals, and if you have some time or money left over, help out those that can’t. I’d never justify letting a horse in my care get this skinny, and it’s inexcusable when someone does, but I feel obligated to point out that your statements are a twee bit in lala land. Even with the best of circumstances and the best of plans, things don’t always go right. Until we actually know what the backstory is, yammering about how irresponsible everyone else is and what you think they should do isn’t helping anyone.

[mortebella]

[QUOTE=jumpingmaya;3816339]
Maybe you guys should start a new thread on opinions regarding what to do with your retired or non usable horses rather than going on and on about it… This thread was about a horse that found a great home… Do I think what is happened to him is fair or normal?? HELL NO… :no:
But I just think everyone should tell Tazer what a wonderfull person she is for being able to take this guy in and that’s it…
Otherwise, their is no right or wrong answer… I have my opinion just like every one else but we all have different motives when it comes to horses…
I ride and I horse show… but I do it for the love of the horses and the relationship that comes with it. If my mare could no longer do the high levels, well I’d have to turn her into a trail horse (or whatever she could be suited for) and keep her until she crosses the rainbow bridge. Some people see horses as money, some as pets and some as whatever the hell they may be thinking… :eek::eek::eek:
My point is… don’t argue on this thread! This is way too good of a thread with a great ending to point fingers and criticize… Tazer is probably the only one that has the right to do this… and she’s not even doing it…:eek:
So grow up people :yes:[/QUOTE]

2nd these emotions: fine to learn from the story, but if there’s a persistant need to hash over all the points in detail, please spin it off to horse care forum or somewhere. This is Tazer’s thread about Dux. How about walking the walk on responsibility by showing the simplest of courtesy to that?

[BeastieSlave]

:sigh: I just knew this would happen! I came to the thread hoping for an update on NR and Tazer…
I’d welcome a spin off thread too.

[spoiledsweet]

I do think that those who show at Lexington, Vermont, Saugerties, WEF etc…should be able to come up with a retirement plan for their aging equine partners. It costs at least $1000.00/week to show at those places and you can get about 3 months retirement for that.

Three months is nowhere near oh, I don’t know, 10 years. There are many competitors who sacrifice a great deal to show on these circuits, and carrying an older horse - particularly one who shows the infermities of a lifetime of high level competition - is a large financial burden. It often takes more feed to keep a senior in good weight. Their shoes are sometimes more expensive due to navicular or other problems. Their veterinary needs are certainly greater. Not everyone can do both. And not everyone would be happy simply hanging up their show gear and trail riding 2x week. Frankly competing successfully at that level takes years and years of hard work and a considerable financial investment during those years. Yes, it would be nice to have a rambling farm where one’s old show horses can live out their years, or to write multiple board checks to retirement facilities every month, but for many people - show riders and not - these are not realistic options.

[system]

Tazer - Get your story straight especially before YOU post! When I emailed (by accident)the people who posted the ad they knew nothing about this particular horse and were just posting it for a friend. I then emailed the “owners” and they confirmed that the people just did them a favor…when all of a sudden someone with no life and nothing but time on their hands decided to start trouble (no doubt to get kudos from everyone here to boost their self worth) instead of just doing the “right” thing by helping the horse out - the owners decided to ask the people to remove the ad! That’s the thanks you get for trying to do a good deed and get the horse a better life - SHAME ON ALL OF YOU - especially the one who started all of this nonsense! THERE IS ONLY ONE JUDGE and none of you are it! SMALL MINDS DISCUSS OTHER PEOPLE - MEDIUM MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS - LARGE MINDS DISCUSS IDEAS! Try being a bigger human being next time!

[maddyh]

HUH??
There was a wierd post, ranting about Tazer, but it was quickly removed. Did anyone else read it before it was deleted?

[Beezer]

[QUOTE=maddyh;3817655]
HUH??
There was a wierd post, ranting about Tazer, but it was quickly removed. Did anyone else read it before it was deleted?[/QUOTE]

No, you’re not seeing things. It was a first-time post by someone with the handle of FOCUS ON YOUR OWN DAMNED FAMILY … caps his/hers, not mine. Quickly deleted, I assume because of all the venom, complete with the obligatory misspellings and grammatical errors, being spewed at the person who took in the horse.

[Addison]

SPOILEDSWEET Again, if you can afford to show at that level and pay anywhere from $50 to 150 for daycare, $100/braiding, $400 new coat, $4500 custom saddle, …need I go on. It does take years to become competitive at that level but that has nothing to do with the fact that these show horses are not disposible.

We are responsible for these animals. I don’t think it is possible to follow every horse that is sold but that is not the case here. The people that had him (recently) knew where he was going and turned a blind eye on him. They dumped him. Period.

[spoiledsweet]

Well, sorry, I just disagree. Yes, perhaps you can say that of some of the folks who do nothing but follow the circuit year after year with a string of horses. But that’s not everyone. In fact, that’s not the majority who do those shows. There are plenty for whom it is a stretch. When a horse becomes permanently injured or too aged to do its job, these riders are faced with a difficult situation.

And before you lecture me about responsibility, I have an elder statesman costing me nearly $1000/mo. in board plus shoeing and another $100/mo. in supplements, along with his 2x yearly injections. So I know exactly what kind of sacrifice it takes to keep a retiree. And he has a stall at a nice barn because that is the life he is accustomed to and I am 100 percent certain he would be extremely unhappy if he were not working and not receiving daily attention. He is a star who has won for many different riders and deserves his happy retirement.

Clearly, Addison, you know something about November Rain’s situation that the rest of us do not. Either that or I missed the post about riders “turning a blind eye” when it came to this horse.

[Carolinadreamin]

Tazer, looking forward to seeing more pictures of Dux as he enjoys his new life with you.

[wolfatbay2002]

People, It seems to me that we are losing the real focus. We are here to watch unfold a heart warming story of a horse that needed and deserved a home. Taz was horsewomen enough to come to his aid and become his guardian angel. If you want to talk about how we as a community need to take better care of our older horses, then please go some where else to do this. Those that have been on this BB long than me should know that the MODS will take it off, if it turns to ugly.
To Taz and Dux there will be a special place in heaven for the both of you!

Best of wishes from me and my hubby(who balled like a baby) and our 2 spoiled rotten four legged horsey kids, 3 over indulged dogs, and a cat that thinks he’s a dog.

[FalseImpression]

I agree with Wolfatbay

Can we please refocus on Tazer and NR. It was a wonderful story, but this thread is making me feel uncomfortable. I really do not want the mods to close it.

Can you please do a spinoff thread regarding retiring your horses, expenses of showing, etc.

I think Tazer and NR deserve a positive thread and we would love to hear how he is doing.
Thank you Tazer and all the ones that were involved.

[yadayada]

I’m thinking that the former owner of Dux is fully aware of this thread, why else would so many posts be deleted?

[yadayada]

I also agree, but why would you feel uncomfortable? I think the only person that should feel uncomfortable is the former owner of this wonderful horse. Something tells me that this isn’t the first time they have done this.

[FalseImpression]

“uncomfortable” because the thread may be closed and we won’t know what is happening with Tazer and NR.

[theoldgreymare]

Tazer…how is the sweet guy doing today? Any updates for us?

An aside to those of you that feel that this thread should discuss nothing more than Dux’s rescue and that any other discourse should be moved to another thread…this thread was started about a horse in trouble, with a questionable ad. It was not specifically started about Tazer rescuing Dux. That was something that happened through the magic of the COTH. If the thread had never been posted for Tazer to see, who knows what would have happened to this grand old man? If we do not discuss how these horses fall through the cracks, how can we ever hope to prevent it?

I do not have the answers. I don’t think situations like Dux’s can ever be prevented as long as there are people in this business who lack a sense of what is morally right and wrong, or interpret right and wrong differently than those of us who are outraged here. As a retirement farm owner, I fully understand that some of these horses that move down the ranks are miserable when they no longer have a job to do. IMO, when retirement is NOT an option, for whatever reason, it is far better to give them a dignified end when they are no longer able to perform a job (be it lesson horse, trail horse, companion, etc) than for them to be sold down the line one last time.

[MLP]

[QUOTE=FalseImpression;3818526]
“uncomfortable” because the thread may be closed and we won’t know what is happening with Tazer and NR.[/QUOTE]

Ummmmm she could start another post if such a thing happened… It’s not as if she Tazer would be banned from ever posting and giving us an update… I think that is a bit overdramatic.

[trubandloki]

Since this thread insists on being about the evil-ness of horse owners I will comment.

With out facts it is unfair to say that the previous owners of this horse did wrong by him. We do not know if his last show owner thought they found him a great place to live, etc. There are threads on here all the time about people who thought they found a wonderful home and things did not work out like they were supposed to. Lets not shoot daggers at someone with out having a clue as to what is going on.

And to the person who thinks every person who shows rates had barrels of money, you could not be more wrong. Some people scrimp and save to show and do their own everythig to avoid those fees that you listed.

I think we should just be happy that this boy, who fell thru some crack some where, has found himself a great home.

[dogchushu]

Echoing the eager anticipation for any updates on Dux! I’d love to hear how he’s doing, any personality quirks of his, and what he thinks of his new place!

[Tazer]

No More Yobbo

We have dropped the Yobbo from Dux’s barn name. Not due to public opinion, but because now that we know each other a little better it does not work for him.

The gentleman who helps out around the barn, had tuned in to a country and western music station.

I bring Dux in for grooming, and the artist hits a high note. You had to see him eyeballing the speaker with this look of horror on his face. Needless to say, I shut off the music, and he calmed right down. Later, spa music and jazz music were played and he was quite happy with those stations.

Dux has made it clear he is no country and western fan, so we will not be keeping the Yobbo name.