yes… it really is… i am often known for sneaking out REALLY late and taking Thunder(my pony) for trail rides when we have a bright full moon… and from on top of the hill in our wods the nights are magnificent…
Musical_Jumper
“Event riders leave no ring unrode, no jump over turned, and no ditch filled in.”
“Your competition just got better today, did you…”
http://accopmanyme.tripod.com/tiffanyswebwonderland/ ~~ Come check out my site!!
By being at school, I think I missed the allegations… But my 2 cents is that the best way for MJ to gain face is to come completely clean. There are a lot of very forgiving people here… But I don’t think any of them want to be left in the dark. I mean we are all here because of horses right? I think then that it is self explanitory as to why people are concerned… If MJ stays away, there is always going to be some doubt as to what actually happened, but if someone can actually tell the truth, or verify what has been said…
A horse, a horse, of course, of course, unless he’s worth a million and five.
I will add that I hope someone involved has contacted the ASPCA. It does not sound like MJ or her family have learned from this experience and I for one fear for the well being of the other pony.
Behind every good woman lies a trail of men
Your post is outrageous and at the point that I think, ‘ya know this day really can’t get any worse’, you prove me wrong.
How dare you make such a cruel and unjust accusation towards ETBW! If we can personify a BB conscience, ETBW is certainly one of them. Read through her posts about bottle-feeding the orphaned Maddie, or consider the time and effort that she devotes to feeding her BB family; search through her posts and the expressions of love and support that she so kindly bestows upon others. You owe ETBW an apology. 
This issue, at a certain point, really isn’t about MJ but about the collective posters on this BB who sacrifice their own comfort and needs for the benefit of their horses; the expressions of shock and outrage is an indication that there are many who regard their horses with as much unconditional love and dedication as they would their own child.
Being a teenager sucks, and so does adulthood, at times. Everyone suffers through stress, occasional depression; we all at times feel lost and wonder, ‘just what the hell am I doing and what’s it all about’? The hardships that we all confront at times in our lives suck; but LIFE, kindness, compassion, integrity, friendship, and dedication do not. Horses and their willingness to combat their instinctive needs to please us – well that certainly doesn’t suck; and in fact for many of us it’s what gives us the strength and perspective to trudge through another seemingly horrible day, week, or month.
Winglet, egads, how much longer do I have to wait until my own children reach similar conclusions. You done your mother proud.
I can say that I can relate very well, having had to lost three of my own in just two years, at least you know that Seger was loved until he had to leave you … and you were there for him until the last and now he is playing and grazing in the fields among the stars with my Lacy, Addy and Cece. I will give all my horses a big hug for Seger tonight… don’t think that tears will show weakness, have a good cry and give Thunder a big hug, Thunder will understand I find they always do! Take care M_J
I have feelings that agree with almost all the postings–feelings that it doesn’t seem possible the way it has been explained & feelings that we should all be sympathetic & supportive because it is negative to be otherwise & I think emphasis on the positive is essential.
At the same time, I know it is possible for a horse to go down, absolutely without reasonable explanation, and eventually be euthanized, without anyone being able to explain why. A friend of my daughter had a relatively young (maybe 8 or 9) TB go down in the field. She nursed him where he was (with vet help) for about 24 hours. Then the local volunteer fire co. came & tried to move him into the barn for further nursing under more convenient circumstances. However, the horse’s vital signs were so unstable with every attempt to move him that he was euthanized there. This was a horse with no known medical problems.
So it can happen & yes it can happen to you! We all want an explanation, because it is human to look for one, & also because we feel that if we know “why” we can avoid the problem in our horses. But sometimes there isn’t any explanation.
Now, I do have a suggestion for M_J & this is something I feel strongly about. Each & every one of us needs a support group–it is nice to have a support group of friends on the internet, but that is not enough–we need a support group of people who live physically near us. Adults need such supportive friends, and young people & teenagers need them even more. M_J, somehow, you need to find people who you can turn to.
I know you once belonged to Pony Club & have made negative comments about your experience there. I could say plenty of bad things about PC after about 10 years of my daughter being in it. But I can also say good things–and support group is one of those good things. People with horse trailers–even if you have your own trailer, you need to know others with trailers in case, in an emergency, you go to hook yours up & find something major wrong like no brakes or no lights. People with knowledge, who can come & help you assess how serious a situation with your horse is. People who may have medications readily available & know how to administer the medications–for example, Banamine. People with blankets they can bring to your horse RIGHT NOW, if the horse is sick & needs to be blanketed. You might rejoin PC for the reason of learning, and forming friendships, rather than the reasons of uprating or competing at rallies or whatever.
If you absolutely cannot stand the thought of being in PC again, even a different PC than the 1st time, then you need to look for other sources of support–possibly 4-H, possibly your local CTA (combined training association), possibly your state horse council, possibly your local horse show association or professional horseman’s association. You need to find other horse people & get to know them. You need to volunteer your help & knowledge to them & learn from them in turn.
I feel very, very strongly about this–that you need to get off the internet & get out there in the real world & find a support system. If you can’t find one already in place, build one: put up ads at your local tack store or feed store or even your vet’s office. Say you want to start a club for horse people & then do it!
I agree totally with how you feel. I have run the gamut with my feelings about the whole situation.
I truly believe the the fault ultimately lies with MJ’s parents. Where were they during all this?? Are they that ignorant?? She is a minor, and whether they like it or not, they are responsible for what she does and how she behaves until she’s 18. I don’t care how much they do or do not know about horses,it had to be obvious how ill Seger was and it was their RESPONSIBILITY to take care of the situation. The horse was on property that they owned. I love how people decide to have children but don’t want the responsibilty and obligations that comes with raising them…but that’s a whole other thread. 
“May the happiest days of your past be the saddest days of your future.”
since I haven’t spoken yet. which is-this makes me sick, absolutely sick. But it does remind us of reality’ boundries.
I’m in envy, will you all please stop talking about how it’s cold? 
I’m SO sorry about Seger AND about what you’ve been going through. Hang in there, kiddo. Huge Cyber HUGS to you!!!
This whole story sounds really weird to me! The vet put down the horse, but no one seems to know what was wrong with it? Sorry to everyone who feels we should not be passing judgement, but posting this kind of story on a BB full of horse lovers is asking for judgement! This story does not add up. I’m not telling anyone else what to do, but I personally would not be keeping my horses at home if I didn’t have the support/money/knowledge to do so. I have learned how to get a horse up from just about any crazy spot they get stuck in. I have also learned that a horse losing weight for no apparant reason is cause for concern. Ulcers can be diagnosed and treated. Don’t expect to tell me a story like that and not get a response.
that I felt tremendous responsibility to my animals, and that I really am PETRIFIED of doing something that “isn’t right”, or in their best intrests. I think what we can learn from this is that a horse, or any animal, but ESPECIALLY a horse, b/c of it’s size/need/etc isn’t like a goldfish. You need to have a certain amount of knowledge, ability, time, and I’m sorry to say it, money, in order to care for these animals correctly. I live in manhattan. Basically, I know next to nothing about how to care for a horse on a day-to-day basis. Because of this, my family is especially careful about boarding our horses in places where they will get the best full care with someone we trust. Everyone has a right to have horses touch their lives, but not everyone has the right to be totally responsible for another life. Horses are like children-- they cannot be an “experiment”, in order to have the RESPONSIBILTY of caring for one, you must have the CAPABILITY to care for one. Of course, they will teach you things as you go along, but there has to be a base of resources and knowledge first.
charter memeber, Thread Killers Anonymous
(yes, this means you should yell at me when my posts are too long, and bump threads that I kill)
If you look at MJ’s pictures, I am afraid you will see her every bit as thin as her horse was.
The over-whelming bids for attention, the large latitude with the truth, the skeletal thinness point to some severe disorders. Counseling is absolutely in order. Pray for the child and her horse.
I just read your story and it brought tears to my eyes. You poor dear. We had to put a horse down this summer after a sudden and traumatic illness so I know what it is like. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Oh my God!!!
See, I knew there was way more to this…it was just a gut feeling. I feel bad for the girl…I really do but christ how can you sit and post and post and poat and not do anything?
Well, some of these posts have been downright mean and venomous. And I don’t believe that most people can stand and say those things to someones face. It brings to mind sneaky terrorist attacks, and I want no part of it.
No one is infalliable; no one has perfect judgement; I believe from what I have read of this girls history that she desperately wants to fit in somewhere and can’t find that place. I believe that she loved her horse and just didn’t make good decisions. She is not alone in the world in that respect.
I’d hate to hear that this girl killed herself over guilt from her horse, and I’d hate to think a bunch of people with the ability to type faster than they think contributed to such a thing!
The horse is dead. Let’s have a little compassion for the living and try to do our own part to prevent it from happening to another horse/person/dog/cat rather than do any more browbeating.
[This message was edited by LAZ on Oct. 24, 2001 at 03:15 PM.]
Buenos Dias!!
Now that it is not so sunny and very friggin’ cold and I finally got my knickers removed…phew that smarts! I have had time to sit and review many of the more recent posts.
When I first signed up for this BB I thought how KEWL, a board designed around the Chronicle of the Horse. Now I dunno what that means to you all, but to me the CHRONICLE was the mag! The top of the heap, the best of the best so I was in, man!! What better a resource for getting hooked back up with the peeps that were living the lifestyle. Well, I was right! Here you all are live and in person 24/7. However, you junkies posting at 3 a.m.-DUDE, go to BED!!!
What better way to get all that info you just couldn’t get right at your fingertips. I am in Humper/Jumper heaven. 'Specially being away from it for so long. I had some ground rules that I gave to myself. BE HONEST!!! This is a horse community-MY LIFE-since horses are my life and my living. What an awesome opportunity to make great contacts and do some business, maybe find that elusive perfect kid’s pony, maybe meet some new friends, maybe get some education…all that and more is available if you are willing to accept it. I WAS RIGHT!!!
But as I have learned there is more. This whole unfortunate situation has really brought a reality to this cyber-vortex. That there was a horse, maybe only 3 hours away from me that I could have, would have, should have helped. But, can we save them all? No, way big bummer. But there are more probably even closer. Maybe right next door. Could be, I have been way too caught up in my own shit and just to busy to take a look around. But I will now. There is a bigger picture. I guess we all learned that on September 11th as well.
This poor, young, uneducated, immature girl made an extremely unfortunate, uneducated call. She will make more, I will make some too. We are only human, I suppose. Even tho I consider myself extremely capable and educated and unafraid to tackle darn near everything. I will make bad calls. As will all of you. That sucks but thats reality. Now, I have been one of the LOUDEST voices screaming about what happened and after a fitfull night and alot of thinking I am clearer today. Its over. I am just so glad to have had an outlet to vent along with other people who felt as helpless as I felt. But we got to do it together. How great is that!?!? Thanks all for a fabulous place to share anything an everything regarding the most awesome animals ever created. Okay dogs are pretty darn good too!!
Have an Awesome Day!!! Juli
So Sorry M_J, you are in my thoughts. I too have followed the happenings with you and Seger on the BB. Murphy and I send lots of hugs your way.
Member of the Baby Greenie Support Group of North America
Probably because that is her personal opinion and not facts and would not be appropriate given the guidelines of this BB.
Get a grip.
because of all the wonderful, helpful, knowledgable people on here. You guys are awesome.
Now I know everything’s probably been said, but I can’t help it…I have to add my 2 cents.
I’M a 16 year old girl…the same age as M_J. I DO believe that this is old enough to assume responsibility for a horse. I don’t own a horse, but I beleive I could care for one. I don’t mean to say that I’m knowledgable enough to care for it alone, but I do think that I have enough knowledge to provide basic care AND to know when outside help is needed (like a vet or a trainer). M_J SHOULD have known this.
I always did think that it was a bit worrisome that M_J kept horses at her house with no parental support and no trainer, farrier, or vet. However, what could I do? I didn’t want to be the sour grapes butting in.
I feel sorry for M_J…she seems to be a bit of an outsider. I do put blame on her parents; they should have come in with money when it was needed, gotten their child lessons so she could learn how to ride correctly, and called a vet WILLINGLY long before Seger, or Cherry Upper, came to the state he was in when he died.
Thank you, Touche, for telling us what really happened. I thought the horses’s death was fishy as well. I hope that M_J wakes up to see reality…horses are living creatures that deserve basic care and good health.
I feel horribly sorry for the horse…and the girl. But please remember…Seger’s death was probably still more peaceful than that of a horse who is unfortuneate enough to meet his end in a slaughter house. 
“Throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow.”
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by In The Gate:
Natty, when It says 3:00 AM, it isn’t three am for everyone 
Valerie
~VWiles02@yahoo.com~
http://www.geocities.com/vwiles02<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks Valerie!!! That’s what I was about to say!!!
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