This thread offers quite an education
i know so little about this part of the horse world
1 Like
You don’t need to feel guilty about anything! 
End of day, your new horse is so much better off, and has a chance at a really good life, because you cared enough to become active on her behalf.
What matters is that you did the best you could with what you knew at the time, and that is all anyone, anywhere, can do.
That is the thing that is so hard for those who care about these horses. Yes it feeds the system to work with the system to get them out - but if someone won’t work with the system, then they are just left to their fate. Some people come down on one side of that equation, some on the other.
I personally would never say it is wrong to rescue that one horse that someone connected with, someone who had the means, the knowledge and the wherewithal to truly save that horse. :yes:
OP you seem to be realistic about the situation. You did a very good thing for your new mare, you are her angel. I hope you feel very good about your role in her journey.
2 Likes
Thank you for saying that :tickled_pink:
Obviously her new life SUCKS. (Furry kid is mine, tiny human is not mine, but her new friend!)
[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“custom”,“height”:“330”,“title”:“IMG_3599.JPG”,“width”:“330”,“data-attachmentid”:10254588}[/ATTACH]
4 Likes
Yeah I can tell how desperately she is trying to escape and run away! :winkgrin: :lol: 
1 Like
Its a risk buying any horse sight unseen, no matter who is selling. The risk goes up as the price goes down, typically. The feedlot/kill lot buyers are horse dealers who are in it to make money. Pretty or trained horses are potentially worth more than meat price. Sob stories are also potentially worth more. A smart dealer knows this (so do rescues).
If a buyer goes in with low expectations, I think you can luck into a good find. If the buyer goes in looking for a kid safe show horse who is ready to go out and win next weekend, you are SOL.
But then I made the emotional purchase from a feedlot, with no expectations other than upgrading a set of long ears and sad eyes. I was super lucky that she was fairly easy to handle, never spiked a fever in QT, trailered home well after her 30 days and settled in well.
and I lOVE seeing her fluffy big ears in the morning and listening to her grumbles when dinner is late. She is not -and will never be- my Next Big Show Horse. But I knew that going in.
You enablers might remember my thread:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/10002147-why-i-don-t-need-a-mule-update-pictures-post-146
2 Likes
YES! Crazy sight unseen auction buyers unite! I got similarly lucky in what could have been a very expensive roll of the dice on another pair of sad eyes.
Saw the stupid “Kill Pen Rescue Network” (read: people at home all over the US helping these dealers market their horses on FB, really nice ladies but feeding the machine 100%) photo, couldn’t forget the eyes. Thought about the eyes for a week. Kept going back to check the post so that I could stop thinking about her but nobody else took her… I never stood a chance
2 Likes
100% get it. That thread chronicles my attempt to deny the pull of those sad eyes. And NOBODY here helped me do the smart thing!
but I’m positive that I did the right thing (for me!) So +1 for COTH enablers!
5 Likes
Not to put a dent in the flipper’s profit scheme … or, well, I don’t much care about that scheme …
Anyone who is thinking of buying from a killpen, know that the QT of 30 days before shipping to the buyer is NOT NECESSARY. There is no requirement for it anywhere, not in any state.
These sellers make a big production of QT based on assumptive selling, presenting it as if it is a done deal, a part of the buy, a decision you already made. Lordy but they are good at this!
There is no knowing exactly what QT procedures are actually practiced. And it frequently keeps a horse in a difficult, overcrowded situation for 30 more days, without meaningful QT.
Do what you would do for any horse bought on the assumption that it has never had regular vaccinations or a Coggins (because there is no way to know for sure). Bring it home, and if you have other equines, QT as you are able. Keep all of your horses on your own property for 30 days just in case. In fact, do that even if you did the QT thing at the killpen, because who knows what they really did.
If you are in another state, all you need to do before shipping is whatever is required for interstate transport and inbound equines into your state. Have your own vet do the real examination and whatever other basics are needed by the horse.
4 Likes
^ This.
And for anyone reading this this thread that is thinking of pulling a Kaufman horse, PM me because the local lady that my shipper connected me with that went to get her from QT is an absolute angel on earth and I’d recommend her in a second to anyone. She will go get your horse and actually keep them at her family home until your shipper gets there or she brings it to you (she trailers depending on distance). She arranged vet and Coggins for my horse and helped her get home cross country when I felt completely helpless. Didn’t charge me a thing other than the hay she ate there.
She regularly acts as “boots on the ground” for those that fall in love with these horses sight unseen and will make sure your new baby gets to you in much better condition than mine finally did.
10 Likes
I was just there last week. Yes, it is a muddy swamp. However the horses listed on the kill pen page are under large indoor arena type shelter with round bales. The straight to slaughter horses are out in the other pens.
3 Likes
I have a friend who pulled a horse from Tar Heel. Registered half arab/half trakehner mare. Put 3 or 4 months of professional training on the horse, tried and failed to sell it a few times. Then her beginner husband’s horse retired and now this mare is packing him around the trails.
4 Likes
My horse came from Kaufman. Never in a million years did I think I would get a horse in such a way. I had just lost my 31 y.o horse and wanted another Arabian. I looked online and usual places and couldn’t find anything. A friend sent me a link to a horse in a KP. I joined the FB group Arabian Auction and Kill Pen Team. Arabians in KP’s all over the USA are listed by them. (A gal from the group went to Kaufman and was able to tell me about the horse. He followed her around. He was sound. Elegant. Let her pick up all four hooves). I was horrified to see how many were in these pens. The gelding I got went to QT for 30 days and was treated for an URI for a week with Penicillin. The QT cost was about the same as boarding him for a month. Less actually. My poor horse went from his home, to auctions, to Kaufman, then to QT then finally to the place I decided to board him. Within two weeks Hurricane Harvey hit and he had to be evac’d to the GSWEC in Katy. Then back to a much changed barn. He was a bit of a wreck and seemed mad at the world - but looking back I can’t blame him. He has turned out to be a very nice horse. Out all the horses I’ve owned he is the one I feel most safe on. Go figure. There are very nice horses in the pens. Would I do this again. Yes, absolutely. But I would first check with the “second chance” homes who have taken in KP horses and rehome them. Thereby allowing them to take in more.
2 Likes
Further - I’m sure those involved with kill pens are laughing all the way to the bank. Bash them - but please don’t bash the horses. You know - the animals we love so much? They don’t want to be in those pens. They are the unlucky ones that fell through the cracks. I’d be happy to share pics of my horse when he was at Kaufman and pics of him today. Send me a PM.
You can see pics of Arabians and part Arabians currently at Kaufman and other pens by joining the FB group:
Arabian Kill Pen and Auction Horse Team
My Kaufman horse is on there from last year. Tag no. 1349.
You can see before and after stories on the FB group:
Arabian Horse Rescue Success Stories
My Kaufman horse is on there as well - gray gelding I named Remy.
Love This Horse Equine Rescue does excellent work with horses they take in/adopt out from KP’s in the U.S.
Another FB group for Arabians and part Arabians:
Arabian Re-Homing Group for the US and Canada
A FB group formed to hopefully intercept Arabians before they go to auction and end up in a KP:
Arabian Owners Who Need Help
There are FB groups for other breeds to help get the horses out the pens.
Please have a look at the sites and the horses - then decide.
Please don’t discourage others from considering horses in KP’s and second chance homes.
1 Like
I’m in Indiana. I was sitting in Starbucks in Indiana when I commented “cute pony! Welcome in my barn any day!” On a feedlot’s page. A group of people promptly paid for it, arranged shipping, and shipped it from North Carolina to Indiana. It was in my barn less than 24 hours later. Picked up 45 minutes after I agreed to take it. I am only out $200 shipping and a bottle of SMZ so far.
6 Likes
post #65 reported
2 Likes
^^^^^ Reported as spam.
1 Like
but bumped up a very interesting thread with a lot of good links and info
3 Likes
This is a good thread to have bumped. A lot of horses ship during November and December. It’s a good reminder that if anyone has room or can make room, to consider saving a life before it makes a horrible journey to a terrible fate. Go check out your local auction and don’t feed the kill buyer’s wallet.
1 Like
Another botspammer that lost it’s way in the internet.
Spam reported.
I believe I found the trail that lead off into the woods…Kaufman… Kaufman Concrete Products is a leading manufacturer of concrete products
If spammer has had much contact with CoTH and is using Google as their search engine if they just did a random search for “Kaufman” knowing its relationship to their industry this thread would be one of their primary responses because of it’s internet activity
1 Like
