Kate (Katherine Leigh) Ostermeier Situation

[Summit_Springs_Farm]

I am posting this for Chip Leonard:

Hello, I am new here. It takes something of great importance for me to reach out to our Industry. I have heard that there was a previous stallion owner/breeder who was involved in an abuse situation, compromising a number of fine mares. Sadly I entrusted my broodmare to a similar, if not worse, situation near Lexington, KY.
A number of us, the “Owners Group,” were able to discover this situation when an Owner from Indiana (she will most likely post, herself) arrived unannounced to visit their Balta’Czar maiden mare a couple weeks ago. Thank goodness, they did so. We are all forever in their debt.
In short- and to the best of my ability to retell-upon arrival to Kate (Katherine Leigh) Ostermeier’s newest/latest lease farm on Leestown Road, Midway, KY (Woodford County) access to her young mare and further pickup became adversarial; Kate even attempted to block off the very driveway to the subsequent truck and trailer. An altercation ensued and the Sheriff’s deputies were called. They, in turn, called Woodford County Animal Control upon seeing the condition of this young mare and many others being free- leased by Kate Ostermeier for her new stallion, Cobra One.
I have so much more to tell. We all do and will. We have found out that this story goes back quite a ways with Ostermeier. Financial affairs and animals are not her strongest suits from what you are about to hear. We will answer questions. But I have been asked by the owner’s to start by posting some photos of the poor mares, valued mostly for their pedigrees and uteruses.
Lastly, we ask for help in finding the Owner of one last mare, close to foaling, who’s identity we have just ascertained. Her name is SK SUNNY (Acrobat II/Cantus), barn name POPPY. Her owners might live in SC or TX. She is a flea-bitten gray. Please spread the word so her family is found and Animal Control can be contacted.
Also, a mare desperately needs a home. She is by ZEUS! Perhaps one of his last living daughters. Over 17 hands and the dam of David Wright’s approved stallion, EMBRACE, she will lose her life if no one has a heart and place for her. She is sound, a babysitter/guest horse and ET candidate. Please share this also.
If you have had any personal experiences with Katherine (Kate) Ostermeier which you wish to share, please post; if it relates to animal neglect and would benefit Woodford Animal Control ( they have this case in the investigatory/ follow up stages and are visiting Kate’s lease farm until her non-pay eviction, upcoming), please contact either Susan Jones (Supervisor) or Officer Jodi Mullins at #859+879-0598.
Lastly, if anyone free-leases their broodmare, I cannot beg you enough to visit in person often…or forego this travesty altogether. The followup cost is going to be in the thousands, the heartbreak has been immense and one grand mare may yet lose her life.
Any and all assistance will be appreciated. Thank You!
Clarence “Chip” Leonard, Middleburg, VA

[Laurierace]

I heard about this yesterday. Sad to hear.

[SGray]

these mares?[URL=“http://www.stellar-sporthorses.com/broodmares.html”]

http://www.stellar-sporthorses.com/broodmares.html

[pony_grandma]

[QUOTE=SGray;7524477]
these mares?[URL=“http://www.stellar-sporthorses.com/broodmares.html”]

http://www.stellar-sporthorses.com/broodmares.html[/QUOTE]

Yes - these mares, these bloodlines, these owners.

Before anyone wants to speculate …

here are the befores: Ava is her barn name

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/1003236.jpg.html?sort=6&o=1

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/100_3051.jpg.html?sort=6&o=72

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/1000025-1-1.jpg.html?sort=6&o=209

the nows:

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/Hala3_zps04f6e778.jpg.html?sort=6&o=194

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/Hala4_zpsfd112ef9.jpg.html?sort=6&o=193

This is the mare that I leased for breeding and how I care for someone else’s horse.

http://s272.photobucket.com/user/JMAM_photos/media/100_1087.jpg.html?sort=6&o=135

Now the usual lies and denial follow.

Anyone can make a horse look bad in a photograph. Especially the ones that we have had vetted and scored a 2 on the body condition scale. I think one mare is a 1 and will probably be euthanized because of founder. Keep in mind that when the body runs out of muscle protein (to feed a developing foal) it then starts taking from the heart.

But it was a hard winter. Pregnant mares (other people’s horses) were left standing outside thru the worst winter in 20 yrs with no shelter and grass round bales with no protein. Pasture waterers were green with mildew and slime. The first thing our mare did when she got home was suck down an entire bucket of fresh clean water, devour a Himilayan block and lay down in a deep bed and sleep for 2 days.

But I lost my sponsor. So we were friends and you could have called me! and we would have sheltered and cared for ‘our’ horse.

But everything will be fine when the grass comes in in two weeks. I will leave this one alone, it makes me that angry.

You can’t take ‘my’ baby!! Like the mare is just a portal, as exemplified by the care they were given.

I’m not even going all the places I could go with this. I will leave it here b/c the welfare of my horse is my point and my business.

[Hattawayfarms]

So heartbreaking

[SGray]

all 13 mares in trouble? is the stallion owner nuts or stupid or both? mare owners should take SO to court to recoup the cost of getting mares back into good health/condition

[MountainDog]

Poor mares

I am in Lexington, KY and am caring for 3 of the mares removed from this situation. One of the mares in my care has cellulitis of the leg. Per the vet, it has been neglected and this mare has a guarded to poor prognosis. Body conditions are very poor, hooves neglected. Moods are depressed.
Please, something needs to be done so this doesn’t happen again.

[Home_Again_Farm]

If this is as outlined, it is another example of why selling broodmares cheaply or free leasing them to people that you do not truly know is unwise.

[MountainDog]

Yes.

[ponygirl]

I know of 2 mares that were removed about a month or so ago. Also in poor condition. I am sorry to hear that there are so many more.

[ShannonD]

OP, I tried to PM you but your box was full. I found something from KO saying Poppy is/was owned by someone named Christian Woschenko. Hope that helps?

[SilverBalls]

This is absolutely horrific and SHAME ON ANYONE who had any idea this was happening and did nothing. I cannot believe this went undetected!

[Sakura_Hill_Farm]

I personally know the former owner of the Zeus mare as well as the person who had leased her locally either last year or two years ago. This mare was much loved and esteemed by both and regally cared for. She is an outstanding producer, as her pedigree attests. Kate bought her from her previous owner, who has been contacted btw, by the authorities and told of her predicament. The previous owner tells me that Kate refuses to release the mare to her or to any of the kind and responsible people who have offered her a home.

Let me add that I have been requested to post this by the previous owner, who is deeply concerned by the situation.

[pony4me]

I’ll let David Wright know about Embrace’s dam. Thanks for posting this.

[bingbingbing]

Very sad.
The Zeus mare is 24 years old. Surely she has served many well and deserves and soft landing. Is all breed correct? Was she bred to a pony for a foal born in 2011?

[dianehalpin]

On Facebook, this Cobra One owner states that she is the owner and founder of Equine - Wellness.net. I suppose that anyone can ‘found’ anything without qualification. I find this ironic but not funny.

Diane Halpin
Laurel Leaf Hanoverians

[MountainDog]

I am posting for Wendy Liopiros:

I really want everyone to know that I sold my mare Zena to Kate for $1.00 which is reflected in the bill of sale. She virtually paid nothing for her [edit]. Now she is refusing to give her up to any of the very good homes that are being offered.

[pony4me]

[QUOTE=Sakura Hill Farm;7525241]
I personally know the former owner of the Zeus mare as well as the person who had leased her locally either last year or two years ago. This mare was much loved and esteemed by both and regally cared for. She is an outstanding producer, as her pedigree attests. Kate bought her from her previous owner, who has been contacted btw, by the authorities and told of her predicament. The previous owner tells me that Kate refuses to release the mare to her or to any of the kind and responsible people who have offered her a home.

Let me add that I have been requested to post this by the previous owner, who is deeply concerned by the situation.[/QUOTE]

Got an email from David and he says the same thing. Kate will not give up the mare.

[MountainDog]

Any decent and prudent horse person would put pride aside and turn over the mare.

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=MountainDog;7525329]
Any decent and prudent horse person would put pride aside and turn over the mare.[/QUOTE]

A decent person would not be so heedless with a living creature in the first place especially one entrusted to you by someone else.