In memory of November Rain

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=findeight;3853182]
So, the underwriters take possesion and AUCTION THEM OFF?:eek:[/QUOTE]

Where ya been, Findeight??

Short answer - yes. The insurance companies are too cheap to euthanize, so they either have auctions themselves or send them off to the low-end feedlot auctions. That’s how I got HRH Avery.

So be REALLY careful to read the fine print if you insure for LoU.

Edit: Unfortunately, Angela, a lot of people just don’t think about it like that. They just HAAAAAAAVE to have a new horse to move up the levels with (like it’s a God-given entitlement or something) or they just HAAAAAAVE to do a winter in Fla. at $5k a week and they just CAAAAAAAAAAN’T afford to maintain an old horse and do all the things they WAAAAAAAAANT to do. Sad but true.

[CallMeGrace]

@Angela Freda;3862657

Why isn’t there?
If owners were willing to give just a small percentage of what they paid originally for the horse and what they spent on showing to retire that horse to such a place… why wouldn’t they?
If one built it, would they come?

Some are trying that with TBs (http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/about-us.shtml). You need someone with endless energy, loads of contacts, and persuasive abilities!

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=CallMeGrace;3862693]
Some are trying that with TBs (http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/about-us.shtml). You need someone with endless energy, loads of contacts, and persuasive abilities![/QUOTE]

To me, it’s a shame upon our industry that the race horse people have put in MORE effort at rescuing/retiring TBs as a group than we show people have.

I gotta tell ya, one “extra” show fee I would NOT whine about paying would be a little “retirement tax” to help out the grand old show horses of this world.

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=CallMeGrace;3862693]
You need someone with endless energy, loads of contacts, and persuasive abilities![/QUOTE]
I think I know someone JUST like that!

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=Angela Freda;3862657]
Why isn’t there?
If owners were willing to give just a small percentage of what they paid originally for the horse and what they spent on showing to retire that horse to such a place… why wouldn’t they?
If one built it, would they come?[/QUOTE]

I agree with you in theory I suppose. But why should the horses become the insurance companies responsibilty? To maintain that and the horses etc etc etc would all cost money and there goes the vicious cycle.
I think the more poignant question is why don’t the owners be responsible for their animals, take a lesser payout and keep the animal themselves? Oh yeah, then they would have the added expense of a lame horse etc etc etc. So instead they just use it up and send it on. And here we are.

[MLP]

[QUOTE=Jaegermonster;3862786]
I agree with you in theory I suppose. But why should the horses become the insurance companies responsibilty? To maintain that and the horses etc etc etc would all cost money and there goes the vicious cycle.
I think the more poignant question is why don’t the owners be responsible for their animals, take a lesser payout and keep the animal themselves? Oh yeah, then they would have the added expense of a lame horse etc etc etc. So instead they just use it up and send it on. And here we are.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with you here. Just like this whole mortgage bust issue, banks aren’t in the business of selling houses and they used foreclosure as an insurance assuming that the value of the houses would always increase - Oops. Same for insurance companies, they aren’t in the business of selling horses and as we all know, older horses aren’t worth much EXCEPT for the nostalgia that they should hold with the owner who enjoyed their youth. That is NEVER going to happen, they would lose TONS of money and that’s not the way they want to run their business. I think it’s the owners greed for the loss of use $$$$$$$$ that sends these horses there. The owner decides to take the full pay out and that’s that, why would it be anyone elses responsibilty??? I don’t get that and also as for the fee, I guess an extra $5 wouldn’t kill me but again why should I be responsible for something that the OWNER doesn’t even care to be. I am not knocking on your door asking you to feed my older horse, I took that upon myself.

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=MLP;3862919]
As for the fee, I guess an extra $5 wouldn’t kill me but again why should I be responsible for something that the OWNER doesn’t even care to be. I am not knocking on your door asking you to feed my older horse, I took that upon myself.[/QUOTE]

Trust me, hon, when it comes to cleaning up other (so-called) BNRs’ equine messes for them, I have been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the hoodie, the engraved coffee cup, the baseball cap, and alllll the other merch in the shop. That might be why this topic makes me so hot under the collar!

Let’s face it, no amount of legislation or NGB ruling that could conceivably happen would successfully force irresponsible people to take responsibility for their horses. It ain’t gonna happen. So to my mind, the next best thing might be establishing a fund to take care of the horses, with MANDATORY contributions from everyone showing. At least this way, the irresponsible would be contributing something to the future care of the horses every time they show.

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=Jaegermonster;3862786]
I agree with you in theory I suppose. But why should the horses become the insurance companies responsibilty? To maintain that and the horses etc etc etc would all cost money and there goes the vicious cycle.
I think the more poignant question is why don’t the owners be responsible for their animals, take a lesser payout and keep the animal themselves? Oh yeah, then they would have the added expense of a lame horse etc etc etc. So instead they just use it up and send it on. And here we are.[/QUOTE]
If you read my quote again I was talking about the owners paying for the retirement, regardless of insurance money.
They spend a small fortune [compared to some average incomes] on buying, training, and showing. A very small percentage of that could also retire the horse whether they get a payout when they’ve used him up or not. JMHO.

[Jaegermonster]

I got what you were saying, and in theory it’s a great proposition.
But there would still need to be people there for the day to day care and so on, and once you really get into the reality of it, wellll…
ultimately people just need to be responsible, and then there is the reality of that too.
It won’t happen.

[Tazer]

Sure they would

[QUOTE=Angela Freda;3862657]
Why isn’t there?
If owners were willing to give just a small percentage of what they paid originally for the horse and what they spent on showing to retire that horse to such a place… why wouldn’t they?
If one built it, would they come?[/QUOTE]

Sure they would!

Ryerss Farm For Aged Equines has a waiting list with hundreds of horses on it, and the anticipated wait is 6 years. They charge a one time admittance fee of approximately $5,000.00. Ownership is turned over to them, they are nonprofit and they fundraise and solicit donations to help with costs.

http://www.ryerssfarm.org/admissions.htm

If someone else could replicate that program, I am sure they would be full also.

If the insurance companies partnered up with such establishments, part of the payouts could pay for the 20+ clique, no?

Hey, there I go dreaming again…

[CallMeGrace]

@Tazer;3864328

Sure they would!

Ryerss Farm For Aged Equines has a waiting list with hundreds of horses on it, and the anticipated wait is 6 years. They charge a one time admittance fee of approximately $5,000.00. Ownership is turned over to them, they are nonprofit and they fundraise and solicit donations to help with costs.

http://www.ryerssfarm.org/admissions.htm

If someone else could replicate that program, I am sure they would be full also.

If the insurance companies partnered up with such establishments, part of the payouts could pay for the 20+ clique, no?

Hey, there I go dreaming again…

Tazer, you and Angela’s friend need to get together! I will come work at the farm when Grace & Major are ready to retire (of course, I will be 80 then, but surely there would be something for me to do).

[Tazer]

Of course there would be

[QUOTE=CallMeGrace;3864473]
Tazer, you and Angela’s friend need to get together! I will come work at the farm when Grace & Major are ready to retire (of course, I will be 80 then, but surely there would be something for me to do).[/QUOTE]

Chief Executive In Charge Of Carrot and Peppermint Distribution

[CallMeGrace]

Oh, I could surely get into that!!!

[Tazer]

A Quickie

Dux has put on a little bit of weight and the rain rot and scratches are clearing up. His ankles look better, though I expect he’ll always be a bit stiff first thing in the morning and stocked up when stalled.

His personality is really coming out and he’s quite the character. Tonight I brought in another horse first, and he STARED me down from his paddock, making me feel guilty that he was not the first in to the barn.

The farrier trimmed his feet the other day, and what a gentleman Dux was. Manners were impeccable, ears were pricked forward and he seemed pleased with the work performed.

He is a good eater, and has not turned his nose up to a meal, even with his meds and supplements.

Dux has been enjoying his peppermints, although the other day I had only one of my son’s lollipops handy (I know, shame on me), so I crunched up the blue raspberry candy, and to make me happy, he ate it. He then shook me down to make sure I was not holding out on the candy canes…

Please know I went out of my way this evening, to make sure I had a candy cane in my pocket for him

Helping this chap is such a pleasure, and all is well in Dux’s horsie world this evening.

[theoldgreymare]

Tazer…any new pics? Glad to hear he is doing well!

[Tazer]

Pics

They are dark, but they do show him getting his farrier care.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=264449546/PictureID=6731203343/a=11885983_11885983/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=264449546/PictureID=6731199967/a=11885983_11885983/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink

[Sebastian]

He’s a sweetheart, Tazer. And you are an angel. :yes:
Seb

[Addison]

OK, we want more pictures!

He is such an old pro, well mannered and obviously used to being coddled. I think of you guys every day and can’t wait to see more photos of him.

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=Addison;3865430]
I think of you guys every day [/QUOTE]
Does it warm your heart as it does mine?
I just get misty about him shakin’ Tazer down for treats…

[Addison]

Yeah it does. And I’m glad they are stuck with each other for a long, long time!