Conference noted::equitation

    Janice,
    
    I'm glad he's in Maine, otherwise I'd be tempted to go see him,
    and since I'm waiting for a horse to be vetted out this week, I
    kind of wished his description didn't sound so much like what I've
    been looking for.
    
    I definitely think this situation can be improved with the horse.
    Was he young?  When I got my horse he was pretty head shy, and you
    could see an old scar at the base of his ear which made you wonder
    what happened.  It took a lot of patience, rubber cross-ties and
    rewards until I could finally raise my hand towards his ears to
    even brush his poll or ears, and eventually approach him with clippers.
    Now he'll let me do most of his head, but the ears are still a touchy
    situation (with scissors or clippers).
    
    If the barn owner or someone spends a lot of time with the horse in
    the barn, and brings him carrots or something whenever they want to 
    go into his stall or take him out of the
    stall he should start to see that no one is there to hurt him. 
    
    They might also want to spend some time with him in a large box
    stall, brushing him and feeding him, and eventually giving him some lessons
    on leading in and out of the stall in a calm manner.  I say eventually,
    because they may have to raise their voice to reprimand him during
    this part, and they want him to be over his fear of having them
    in his stall when they do this.

    There are a number of possible reasons for the horse's behavior.
    For one thing, training methods on western ranches tend to be a
    bit brutal - they don't feel they have time to do it slow and 
    easy.  Another possibility, and I've seen it here in Colo, is
    that the horse may have been used to the pasture/loafing shed
    environment out west and was panicked at the box stall.  Our
    old (ranch-bred) mare took out the back wall when the vet tried
    to examine her in the stall, but didn't blink in the open pen.
    As for getting the horse to trust humans, a lot of gentle 
    handling, grooming, talking and caring does it almost every time.
    Horses remember, but they also seem able to distinguish between
    people, especially between man and woman and adult and child.

    I have come across several horses that have been abused. While they
    will never entirely forget their experiences you can alter their
    attitude. Positive reinforcement is the trick. So if a horse is
    difficult to catch, feed him a carrot every time you catch him.
    I knew a horse that was difficult to bridle so I fed him a carrot
    every time I bridled him I fed him a carrot. Eventually he was diving
    for the bit when I bridled him because he knew the carrot was coming
    afterwards. Whatever the horse didn't like to do, he should be rewarded
    when he does it.
    
    It can happen that after you have turned around a horse's attitude
    somebody abuses him again. I found that new stable hands in a boarding
    barn may do that. In those cases more patience and carrots regains
    the horses confidence.
    
    If you come across a horse that doesn't respond to food you have
    a loser anyway.

    There is an 3 year old App at the barn where I board my horse.
    This horse was VERY abused by her pervious owner.  Her first
    owner put a small halter on her and never took it off.  The App
    was growing and the owner did'nt replace her small halter with a
    larger one.  When she arrive at our barn she was wild, you couldn't
    ever go into her stall.  The owner of the barn had to corner her
    in the stall with a ten foot long 2x4. He did this to remove
    the small halter.  The poor thing has an indentation in her
    head in the shape of a halter.
    
    This barn is full of little girls, they all made a fuse over
    the app.  Everyone made a point of going to her stall (from the
    outside) and coaxing her to eat carrots.  Ater a few months she
    was beginning to calm down.  Now this app will run up to any one
    in the pasture and demand to be petted.  You wouldn't beleive
    that it was the same horse that would go into a panic is you just
    put your hands over the stall wall.
    
    Mary Ann

    
    I own a horse that is "from out West", Oklahoma to be precise. He
    sure did have a trust problem mostly with men, but in general to
    anyone he didn't know.  He was bred for the Paint race track and
    when he didn't make it there, ended up at the dealers.
    
    For my horse, getting out of a big barn and moving to a small barn
    has done the trick.  At the small private barn he is turned out
    all day with buddies and doesn't have a lot going on in the barn
    during the day.  It's a quiet calm atmosphere. He just didn't like
    having hustle-bustle around as is common in most
    boarding/showing/training farms.  
    
    I think a lot can be done with abused horses if they are put in
    a quiet understanding careing environment where they can learn to
    trust people again.  Some barns just have too much going on for
    a horse who's had his little mind blown.
    
    I wouldn't want to say all abused horses can be helped but patience
    and TLC can do wonders.
    
    Dani                 

    One of our horses didn't trust people when we got him.  We don't
    know exactly what happened to him, but he almost trampled my husband
    one day when I walked past him holding a riding whip by my side
    on my way to ride another horse.  Seems like someone must have hit
    him at some point in his life (he was 8 when we bought him).
    
    The thing he responded to the most was the TEAM work we did with
    him.  Just having someone make him feel good really helped get his
    trust.  He was responding slowly to us before we tried it, but made
    a big improvement after doing it with him a few times.  We also
    used the whip to stroke him all over his body and now he doesn't
    even blink if you come near him with a whip because he knows we're
    not going to hurt him with it.
    
    I think most abused horses can be helped except perhaps those that
    have become really vicious.
    
    						Jan

    I got a standardbred off the track last year that was severely abused.
    His main problem was that no one handled him on the ground when
    he was a baby, and they never spent any time teaching him the basics.
    It took 7 people to put shoes on the horse, and we found out later
    that he had been beaten with brooms and shovels.  When we got this
    horse, we made a decision that if the horse turned out to be dangerous
    in any way, that was it, he was heading west, especially with all
    the children that are around the barn.  We started very slow with
    him, teaching him to lead, lunge, stand on cross ties etc, and never
    had any major problems, except that he was 16.3h, which can be 
    pretty scary, considering his background.  This horse has turned
    out to be one of the nicest animals I have ever worked with.  He
    still doesnt trust men, since men beat him, and I feel he wil always
    be a womans horse.  Just keep in mind that your and your stablemates
    health and happiness should come first in case this animal does
    turn out to be dangerous.  Good luck.
    
    Linda

I'm not sure how many of you heard of the incident in 1983-84 wherein 
"Horses Unlimited" (a company started by two Texas businessmen) went 
under and thereby left thousands of horses dying of starvation in 
Falls County, Texas.  Well, originally these two men had bought these 
horses, had them shipped to central Texas where they were sold to 
local ranchers.  The ranchers had agreed to provide pasture for the 
horses for awhile and then sell them back to the businessmen who 
would, in turn, have them slaughtered and marketed in Europe for 
human consumption.

When the scheme collapsed during the hard winter of 1983-84, it left
countless horses starving and dying of thirst in cold, barren pastures 
by January.  The account of this whole tragedy has been documented and 
I'd like to just go ahead a little to a point regarding the (since 
this note is about rehabilitation of abused horses) two of the rescued 
horses from Falls County, Black and Paint.

The article tells of a Texas horse lover's efforts and those of her
colleagues (all students in that university town and not with high 
income and properties to keep a vast amount of animals), in trying to
save and rehabilitate these two rogue outlaws that were doomed for the 
slaughter house.  They also rescued other horses in that herd of 
"walking death" to be fed and cared for and sold to caring homes.

"On the same day, others of us returned to the site where the largest 
herd was held to bring back a few more horses for whom we had found 
buyers.  That day we witnessed an incredibly blatant display of 
cruelty."

"A young woman had seen a horse she wanted in the remaining herd.  She 
approached the pseudo-cowboys working the herd to inquire about the 
horse.  It happened to be a horse we had all noticed on our previous 
visits.  He was the classic horse-hero of children's horse stories: 
elegantly built, jet black with one white hind foot, and a defiantly 
arrogant attitude despite the dismal conditions under which he was 
held."

"Obviously we were not the only ones who thought he was exceptionally 
beautiful, because his skin bore the scars of six different hot iron 
brands, including one on his face.  Tragically, his mind was as 
scarred as his skin: he could not be approached within approximately 
50 yards on foot, and pinned his ears flat back at the slightest 
indication of human approach."

"Although we had been drawn to him at first sight, we had decided 
against trying to obtain him.  We feared he would seriously 
injure someone. He was always closely accompanied by a dramatically 
colored paint who was just as leery of people, and who also bore the 
scar of a hot iron brand on his face."

"Although a system of good, new catch pens and a chute adjoined the 
lot the horse was in, a half dozen mounted men with ropes and dogs 
entered the lot, apparently eager for a 'little sport'.  Immediatley 
the black horse and the paint began to run away.  They were obviously 
experienced with being chased and roped, for their flight distance was 
several times greater for mounted riders than it was for people on 
foot."

"Amid much loud yelling, cheering and laughter, the riders began to 
chase the pair relentlessly.  Despite the fact that the riders' horses 
were in much better condition than the black and the paint, the riders 
had to pursue the terrified horses in relays around and around the 
muddy lot.  The rest of the herd became panicked and began to stampede 
behind the black and paint, who remained far in front despite their 
malnutrition and fatigue.  It was a ridiculous spectacle of ignorance 
and callousness."

It turned out that the black was cornered and roped, causing the horse 
to be more terrified and bolt through new, tightly strung barbed wire 
fence.  Even though the horse was tangled in barbed wire and he had 
numerous gaping open wounds and profusely bleeding legs, still he 
tried to run.  More men and dogs were called to help the man who had 
cornered and roped the black.  A rope around the black's hind leg 
pulled him off his feet and landed him in a mass of barbed wire.  

After witnessing all this and seeing the wounds, the woman who had 
inquired about the horse no longer wanted him.  The men turned the 
black loose and no attempts were made to treat his wounds.  "Although 
the incident was graphically documented with photographs, the local 
grand jury that was later convened to investigate the horse disaster 
in Falls County concluded there was no evidence of any cruelty to 
animals."

The next day, the Texas horse lover and friends returned with a 
trailer and asked to purchase both the black and the paint.  The 
herd's owner tried to talk them out of it saying the horses were crazy 
and could hurt them. After much debate, the herd's owner was convinced 
that they were crazier than the two horses and agreed to sell them.

The weeks after that were hectic with busy schedules and taking of 
part time jobs to meet expenses of the rescued horses (besides Black 
and Paint, they had rescued quite a few other horses).  The land they 
kept Black & Paint on was rented by one of them.  "It took over three months 
for the Black to accept food from a human hand, and then only if the 
person didn't stand."

There was constant worry as Black and Paint had to be approached 
slowly and quietly with caution, or they'd bolt through any barrier 
denying them freedom.  If approached while corralled where they could 
not escape, they'd simultaneously kick while backing towards the 
person.

The article details the painstakingly slow steps that had to be taken 
in the first process of rehabilitation of Black and Paint.  They used
patience and TLC (as well as treats like carrots) to win the horses'
trust in them.  They had to apply medication to the Black's wounds
while he was in a wooden cattle chute.  While one person washed and 
treated the leg wounds (always remaining alert to prevent injury should
the Black spook or thrash his legs), the other person spoke in a soothing
voice, tried to pet him and offered food rewards such as carrots, feed, or 
sugar.

The long hours and months of patience and gentle handling of these two 
horses showed progress (though slow).  They had decided at the time
they purchased Black and Paint that it wouldn't matter if these two 
horses were never rehabilitated to the point of being ridden.  The 
object was to save them from any further abuse as they had suffered 
enough at human hands.  The goal was to habituate the horses to people 
and routine handling so that they were no longer a threat to 
themselves or others when in the presence of people.

Many "horsepeople" tried to tell them that the Black and Paint would 
continue to behave viciously if they were not strictly punished 
whenever they were aggressive.  However, they continued to use a 
gentle, rewarding system that finally paid off.  They could touch them 
without vicious retaliation.  Black even let one of his rescuers "kiss 
him on the nose".  They had "vivid proof that patient, consistently 
humane handling methods can change supposedly hopelessly hardened, 
vicious animals into trustworthy friends".  

The final paragraph in this story reads:

"Last Easter a friend, who has worked extensively with the horses, and 
I brought a group of mentally retarded men to the property where Black 
and Paint now reside, for a picnic and an Easter egg hunt.  Although 
we were a noisy and active group, Black and Paint came running out of 
the woods as soon as they were called.  They allowed the excited and 
eager men to approach and feed them carrots.  The men smiled and 
laughed delightedly as the soft muzzles reached out gently for the 
treats.  We couldn't care less that by normal horse-training 
standards, this was certainly a meager accomplishment for two years' 
work.  It was the most beautiful sight we had seen in a very long 
time."

Pat

    	 I bought a appy about 6 months ago and he had been abused.
    I worked with him and got him calmed down and very confident again.
    I ended up selling him because my girlfriend and I broke up.  I
    sold him to a friend of my roommates who has 5 other horses.  The
    man asked me if he could pay me on time and I told him sure but
    he wouldn't get the bill of sale until Majestic was paid for completely
    He paid me $150. and was supposed to pay me weekly.  He never did.
    I saw this man about a week ago and asked him how the horse was
    doing and he told me fine, except he started rearing up for no reason.
    I went to see the horse 2 days ago and I found up why the horse
    was probably rearing up.  He had been abused again.
    
    	   When I first went in it took me probably 1/2 an hour before
    the horse realized it was me and came up to me again.  I talked   
    to him and finally he came to me.  While I was patting him I noticed
    some marks on him and checked them out.  It looks like someone has
    taken a riding crop to him.  I wanted to take the horse out of the
    barn that minute but couldn't.  I didn't have a horse trailer with
    me to transport him.
    
    	  The next day I came into work and contacted Linda (one of
    the moderators) asked her what I could do, and how to go about getting
    the horse back.  She suggested I called animal control and the local
    police and tell them what I was doing and why.  I did that and animal
    control was behind me 100% and so were the local police.  Last night
    I went and got the horse and moved him back to my mothers barn.
    I had to give the man I sold him to half of his money back, but
    I don't care.  I found out the man has been graining him and he
    hasn't been out of the stall for the 2 1/2 months that he's owned
    him.  This morning I went over before coming to work, fed him talked
    with him and won a little bit of his confidence back, and put him
    out in the pasture for the day.  He was kicking up his heels and
    having a good time.
    
    	  I know that I will have a long way to go to win his complete
    confidence back again, but I have decided this time not to sell
    him.  I think he's gone through enough abuse and my mother told
    me I can keep him there for just as long as I need to. 
    
    	 If you sell a horse and find out that its being abused, there
    are ways to get him out.  I have decided not to bring the guy up
    on charges, I'm just glad to have the horse back.  Contact your
    Animal control and your local police to cover yourself.  If you
    can't aford to keep him then the athorities will find a place for
    him.  
    
    	  I want to thank Linda for all the help she has been to me
    and for all the good advice.  If it wasn't for her I would have
    been the hot head that I am and probably gotten in trouble.  She
    was a real life saver.  Thanks Linda and keep up the good work.
    I am a contract worker and my contract is up tomorrow so I probably
    won't see any of the replies Linda asked me to post my experience  
    and I decided she was so much help that I could do this for her.
    
    			Thanks Linda
    			Jeff
    
    

    Jeff, I'm really glad you were able to take the horse back. I 
    hope everything works out for you.
    
    I too had a similar situation. When I was 15 I boarded a pony for
    a friend. She could no longer afford the pony, and had to find a
    new home for it. The pony ended up in a home in Hudson and the girl
    never looked into it afterwards for fear of finding something bad.
    It bothered me for years. When I was 21 I went looking, practically
    in peoples back yards.... I don't remember right now how I did end
    up finding her, believe it or not, the people I remember having
    a strange looking car, I saw the car in a driveway and decided to
    give it a try, it was them.... I'm sure that it wasn't as simple
    as that, but at the time, I was filled with so many different emotions,
    I let it slip by the wayside. Well, we were taken to where the pony
    was being kept. I jumped out of the car and ran over to the paddock.
    She was in an area the size of maybe four digital cubicles put 
    together with no GATE. There was no way in and no way out. She looked
    at me as though I was going to kill her. (probably a blessing to
    her). I had never seen such a sight, it was all I could do not to
    run to the MSPCA. Fortunately, the people were in the middle of
    some sort of family problem and they decided that it was in their
    best interest to give the pony to me. I did contact the previous
    owner to make sure she knew what was happening. (After 6 years,
    I really didn't care one way or the other how she felt though).
    The pony adapted better than I could EVERY tell you. We kept her
    for 1 year, she was being shown by the end of the year in pony
    hunter and was doing fantastic. She had learned to trust again,
    and was healthy (the the best she ever could be). She now lives
    at a beautiful home on the cape. I will tell you, if those people
    had not been willing to let me just take that pony out of that
    place, they would never have known what hit them. 
    
    Marianne
    

    I'm glad things worked out for Jeff and Marianne, but I wonder if
    it wouldn't have been better to bring charges against people like
    this.  It's possible that this kind of treatment is only going to
    happen again.  Bringing charges against abusers would help some
    other animals from suffering.

    I was just recently told about Judy Parker's Adopt-A-Horse
    program in Uxbridge, MA.  Anyone know about it?  Supposedly she
    rehabilitates thoroughbred racehorses and places them in homes
    with restrictions similar to the Mustang adoptions ( ie, cannot
    sell the animal).  It sounds like a great program - what have you
    heard?
    
    -Sarah

    Aside from being on Our Times the other night, she has a feature
    spot in the new Equine Journal that is published in this area. Each
    month she spotlights one or two horses with a picture and tells
    a bit about them. The horses are for sale animals. The asking price
    of each I believe is usually pretty reasonable, and most likely
    negotiable. I haven't looked into any rules she has pertaining to
    the home or animal once adopted or purchased, but the money from
    the animal is turned right back into the farm.  
    
    Marianne
    

       Adopt-a-Horse   Uxbridge, MA                  508-278-3677

   Thoroughbreds rehabilitated afer leaving the track. She gets horses
   from 3 year olds who never raced, to 12 year old steeplechasers. The
   prices range from $500-$1500 or so. She charges money to cover her 
   costs for vet bills, etc. She said she would do do terms (payments).
   She inspects the barn where the horse will be staying before approving
   the adoption and also makes visits to see that the horse is being cared
   for. We never did go to look at any because we found another horse.
     

	This note was found on a "Public" bulliten board system called HorseNet.
It caught my interest and made me think a little. Just thought I would post it
here as food for thought.

 From: ROBERT SCHNEIDER       
   To: ALL                    
   Re: RESCUEING HORSES?

I saw the TV show OUR TIMES last Saturday night (Nov. 19) about the 
Adopt-A-Horse Program.  Personally, I don't think Judy Parker is doing 
those horses or anybody else a favor.  Most of the horses are beyond a 
pain-free life.  Some are so crippled that they can't lay down.  If they 
do, they'll never get up again.  Judy Parker was complaining about the 
cost of feeding and caring for those horses.  Does anyone know how much 
an artificial joint would cost for one of those horses?  Or what about 
the post-operative care that's involved after such an operation?  And 
then, after all that, is there really a guarantee that horse will suffer 
no longer?  I don't think that owners of race hroses should continue to 
race thier horses when they are injured as in the case of Duncan, the 
horse that was featured on the show.  The horse started out with bone 
chips in his knee but was forced to continue racing without any proper
treatment!  As a result, Duncan may be destined to a life of pain and 
suffering.  Has this horse been done a favor by being "rescued"?


    ?
    Nick
    

    I did not get to see the show, so I cannot respond to Robert
    Schneider's assertion that this woman is just prolonging a painful
    life.  The woman I talked to about it did not mention that.  Maybe
    she should be more selective in that area, but if she weren't around,
    a lot of healthy, if unraceable horses wouldn't have a chance. 
    The question is, then, does she only take in injured horses or does
    she also help those that have been abused or who just need a good
    home?  I don't have a phone number to talk to this woman myself,
    otherwise I could find out first hand.

    
    Judy Parker in Uxbridge, takes in all types, most commonly Racehorses
    however. They range in ages and condition...she takes anything that
    needs a new home. I believe she currently has 30 horses, most TB's.
    I think only about 6 of those are 100% sound right now. The others
    are recuperating. The degree of unsoundness varies in each case.
    The horses seem to be reasonably priced. 
    
    

    
    
    
    I saw a newscast last night on a woman in Eastham(?) with 9
    Arabian horses.  The state is in the process of taking them
    away from her because of a skin condition (looked like flaking)
    that they said was caused by being out in rough weather.
    It looked like a condition my horses get once in a while from
    a vitamin deficiency.  I've never heard of a skin condition
    from rough weather, afterall, horses are equipped to live
    outside right?  I think some people tend to forget this.
    They also mentioned that the horses stood ankle deep in manure,
    which  maybe isn't too sanitary but I've seen plenty of my
    horses standing deeper than this outside in the corral where
    they all seem to want to pick the same place to leave droppings.
    These 9 Arabians had a leanto to get in out of the cold, looked
    fat and well fed and generally sound.  I said to myself,
    is this a joke, right.  I mean, some horses are standing in
    stalls with their hooves curling up so they can't walk.  Others
    are drugged up like there's no tomorrow.  Some are whipped and
    beaten.  Others are starved to death.  How do these people
    expect me to react to a bunch of nice looking Arabians with
    some flakes on their thick winter coats????? Perhaps it it had
    been mange or lice it would have thought the horses just might
    be being abused but I didn't think the MSPCA's accusations in
    this particular case warranted swift removal of 9 horses that
    have shelter, food, and look better than a lot of other horses
    I've seen over the years.
    
    What is going on???? I know of another case like this with cows
    where a woman is being harassed by the MSPCA, taken to court,
    and they are trying to take her cows away.  Yet people that know
    her said she takes very good care of her cows, and grain store,
    vets, etc will vouch for this.
    
    I grimly thought after the news-story that GEE, if the MSPCA
    can confiscate 9 horses and put them up for adoption, why aren't
    they able to find homes for the pony's being abandoned on people's
    lawns.  Or the thousands of calls to vets offices about FREE
    horses that people can't sell because no-one is in the market to
    buy.  Yet 9 horses that don't particularly seem to be in any
    immediate danger may be in a LOT of danger when homes can't be
    found for them and they could be candidates for slaughter.
    
    I don't know how others of you feel about this but I was IRATE.
    This poor woman's name was included in the broadcast and sent out
    to every household in Mass.  And she hasn't even been proved
    guilty and the facts (if all were presented) were pretty flimsey
    at that.  Is this some kind of political game with the MSPCA??
    Are they picking on the little people because they don't have
    the guts to go after the big guns that are really abusing animals,
    like racetracks, breeding farms, commercial farms.
    
    I've heard of countless other cases like this.  A woman whose
    snobby equestrian neighbors sicked the MSPCA on her because she
    didn't turn her horses out with blankets on while they did.
    PLEASE!  Is this what we fund the MSPCA to do, chase people whose
    neighbors have some kind of grudge against them and turn them in
    for any infringement of animal care they may be able to get on
    them at some point??
    
    My biggest concern is this black and white rationality that
    says, if they're not kept up to par, take them.  Doesn't the
    MSPCA offer any assistant to people that may be down and out
    and unable to care properly for their animals because of their
    own sickness, financial problems, etc.  Don't they offer
    animal care advice or knowledgable information???  Is all they
    do to confiscate animals with no differing conclusions between
    occasional neglect and blatant abuse.
    
    The above comments are made on the basis that the information
    in the newstory was complete and correct.  No mention was made
    of any prior abuse, so I believe this is a first for this
    woman.
    
    I can only hope that if I was unable to clean my stalls for
    a couple of nights, some kind human being would be willing to
    pick up a shovel and help me rather than calling the MSPCA
    to take my animals away FOREVER.
    
    
    
    

    Given that the average reporter nowadays can't even spell, I wouldn't
    put much faith in the accuracy of this report. I have known about
    several situations where people, on legitimate grounds, tried to get
    the Commonwealth to act over animal cruelty and it proved very
    difficult. I have heard about many more situations where complaints
    were made to the Commonwealth or MSPCA by persons who had nothing
    better to do than mind other people's business. Even some of these
    complaints were looked into sometimes but quickly dropped. So, I
    wouldn't doubt that somebody complained about these horses to anybody
    who would listen, including the TV stations. 

    
    
    True, but look at what is going on here regardless of whether someone
    is guilty or innocent.  This could be anyone in this notesfile.
     You or I, anyone.  Our name is blasted over the tube, radio, and
    newspapers.  Our horrendous (unproven) deeds are broadcasted to
    everyhome in Mass. and surrounding states.  We will probably get
    hate mail and hate phone calls from animal rights activits and
    little old ladies that live with 40 cats.  Our co-workers, friends
    and family will think we are a heartless fiend.  All because some
    reporter got hold of the story and reported it?  It really isn't
    such a blatant abuse case (like we've seen in the past) that warrants
    all this coverage yet the woman will reap all the abuse from readers
    that a true abuse case would get.  I'm talking about the case with
    the pony kept in a stall knee deep in manure with hooves curled
    up to its knees and had to be retaught how to walk).  I don't think
    this case comes anywhere NEAR that abuse in the other one yet this
    woman is receiving just as much nasty publicity and is facing the
    confiscation of her horses.
    
    I have come across horses that haven't been fed enough to hide
    the ribs under their skin.  Did I turn the owners in?  No.  I
    threw the horses extra hay or suggested to the owner that they
    might have worms and recommended a wormer.  I've also picked up
    a shovel and cleaned out a dirty stall when the owner didn't
    clean it and most times, the owner got the message loud and clear.
    What's happened to people helping people?  I really don't believe
    these people that fink on others really care about the animals
    in question or they'd be the first to offer to help out themselves,
    like I do and like my friends do.  If they really cared, they'd
    care just as much about the owners of the animals by finding out
    why the neglect is happening (be it due to the owners health,
    financial state, etc).  I can only believe that the majority of
    people that pick up the phone to snitch are doing it against a
    neighbor that they have a grudge against or because they are not
    as fortunate to own the animals themselves.
    
    

    Linda,
    
    	I have to agree with you, I've suffered in a similar experience
    with neighbors...  We had some folks move from Worcester to North
    Oxford, MA, the first year they were there they called the board
    of health on me about my horses.  I've had horses on my parents
    farm for 20 years now and for the last 5 the board of health has
    been called out to inspect, at which time they just go next door
    and tell the people that the horses are in good health and clean.
    It seems that their biggest complaint is that they have flys in
    their yard.  Can you believe it!!  
    
    	This is aggrevating enough, I can't imagine having the MSPCA
    take my kids away. If that isn't heart breaking enough, having your
    name blasted all over the country side for abuse!
    
    	I wish I had seen the newscast, I think that I would have called
    the news station afterwards to find out more and who to contact
    if they couldn't give me more.
    
    	Keep us posted if you hear any more on this.
    
    Lorna
    
    

    I too saw the couple of minutes...there must be more to the story
    that what they are saying.  It is very difficult for the MSPCA to
    take animals away from people.
    
    Please keep us posted if anyone hears more.
    

    
    Does anyone know what station broadcasted this news story, and
    what town it was from?
    
    I talked to the MSPCA office in great detail one year ago. I was
    in a situation that needed some answers. A farm in Weymouth was
    closed down and the MSPCA stepped in. The rules for confiscating
    horses are not simple. The horses MUST be in life threatening 
    danger. The MSPCA will not take a horse unless something is dreadfully
    wrong. Also, The MSPCA does not have the right to come onto your
    property and just take the animals. You have two choices. You can
    either release them into the custody of the MSPCA relinquishing
    ownership, therefore they are immediately up for adoption, or if
    you contest, you are served with an immediate summons to appear
    in court. MSPCA always wins. If a complaint is filed by someone,
    the MSPCA checks into it. If they find severe conditions, they arrive
    with as previously mentioned, state and local officials to back
    them up. You do have the right to refuse them, but you won't win.
    I know many farms who have been checked out by the MSPCA but nothing
    was done, they just make suggestions. There really must be more
    to this story, unfortunately the case was badly misrepresented.
    The television crew and reporter should be corrected and more facts
    should be presented.  
    
    Marianne
    

  I saw this story on TV and I was very distressed by the poor 
  reporting. Legitimate complaint or not, they didn't bother to 
  get any facts about the case, no statement from a vet or interviews
  with anyone involved with the case, not even the name of the 'skin 
  condition' that horses suffered from. The story seemed to be a 
  statement prepared for them, presumably by the MSPCA, who, it 
  seems, is in a big hurry to unload these horses on prospective 
  adopters, since the story announced in the lead-in " Nine Arabian 
  Horses are up for Adoption after being confiscated by the MSPCA".
  They don't legally have the right to adopt them out yet, they 
  haven't even been to court!

  It would seem to me that the place to complain is the TV station. 
  If they had bothered to get the facts, the real culprit in the case, 
  be it angry neighbor/bureaucracy/owner would be brought out, and it 
  would make the guilty party/parties think twice before trying it again,
  as well as vindicating the innocent.
  

    
    
    I agree, but when I am shown a clean pasture with fat beautiful
    horses with thick coats and a healthy glitter and alertness in
    their eyes, things can't be THAT bad.  I can't think of many
    types of abuse that wouldn't have some PHYSICAL symtons for us
    to see.  Whipmarks.  Exposed ribs.  Sunken flanks.  Curled or
    cracked hooves.  Unthrifyness.  Open sores, cuts, wounds.
    
    And the reporters were not either for or against.  Just straight
    reporting of the story.  The visual depiction of the horses
    spoke for itself.  I saw no forms of abuse except for flakes on
    the horses skin.  I sometimes get this on my own head.  Perhaps
    it is some terrible skin condition, but I'm sure a vet can
    reccomend an antidote.
    
    I just think it's time for animal owners to form their own
    organization in opposition to the animal rights movement and the
    people that have nothing better to do than report other people
    for animal abuse.  Any one else interested in investigating this
    possibility?
    
    

    Re .5    

    > You can either release them into the custody of the MSPCA relinquishing
    > ownership, therefore they are immediately up for adoption, or if
    > you contest, you are served with an immediate summons to appear
    > in court. MSPCA always wins. 

     I got the story on video tape. (Happened to have a tape ready.)
     The story did not make it clear which process was used to take
     the horses. It looks like it may have been the former situation
     then. This brings up a whole new set of questions. Where's that 
     investigative reporting team they are always bragging about?

     

    
    Re.8 What investigators? MSPCA's or the newsteam??
    
    I agree with .7 if the public is only being shown what looks like
    Healthy happy horses, with what seems to be a minor problem, this
    doesn't look too good in the eyes of the public toward the MSPCA.
    This particular incident with bad reporting specifically doesn't
    portray any good rep for the MSPCA either...
    
    Marianne
    

< Note 849.9 by MEIS::SCRAGGS >
    
    Re.8 What investigators? MSPCA's or the newsteam??

     I was referring to the TV reporting team. 
    
     >>Where's that investigative reporting team 
       they are always bragging about?
         

    
    
    I called MSPCA headquarters in Boston yesterday and expressed
    concern about the news broadcast.  The gentleman was very
    defensive when I told him that the conditions seemed minor.
    I asked what kind of skin condition the horses had and was
    told that he did not know because the vet's hadn't looked into
    this yet.  I didn't understand this since how do they know
    the skin condition is due to neglect if they haven't determined
    what it is yet.  When I expressed this concern, he said:  "You
    could feel the skin problem right under the coats."  But that
    still didn't answer my concern about what is the condition and
    is it caused by neglect.  I only say this because one of my
    horses back in 1970 and 1971 always had this scaly lumpy skin
    condition that wouldn't go away and my vet didn't know what is
    was.  Someone told me it was a vit. A deficiency and to feed
    carrots.  The condition quickly cleared up.  So... this is one
    type of skin or coat condition not caused by neglect unlike
    mange or lice.  I'm sure there's others.
    
    I asked if this was a first abuse case for this woman and was
    asked who I was.  When I said I wouldn't say I was told he
    couldn't answer any of my questions.  But further prompting
    got him talking and he said this was all above board with
    the backing of vets., judges, and the court.  Which made me
    say to myself, "Then aren't trial records pretty much open to
    anyone who wants to go and look at them?"  If so, then why is
    this MSPCA person being so evasive and unwilling to answer
    obvious questions that the broadcast also failed to make clear?
    
    He asked about 4 or 5 times who he was speaking to and I just
    said a concerned taxpaying citizen and he curtly told me that
    the MSPCA is a non-profit organization supported by donations.
    (Oh, I see, I said to myself.  So that means the MSPCA isn't
    accounatable to the citizen's of Massachusettes, right?)
    
    Anyway, the horses had already been confiscated by the MSPCA
    and the video on t.v. was filmed there.  When the lean-to
    was shown, it appeared to many viewers to be part of the video,
    not a photo.  The MSPCA person said, "yeah, they did a pretty
    good job of making it look that way, didn't they."
    
    Perhaps so, but I always thought animals were removed because
    of life-threatening conditions that had been PROVED not in
    the process of being researched while the horses are broadcasted
    as being up for adoption.
    
    Anyone out there know about the way the MSPCA works?
    
     

    I'm not sure how they work, but I don't have very much faith in
    them.  I called them to report physical abuse against draft horses,
    severe enough to result in death of 6 horses, but because I didn't
    personally see them beating the horses they would not investigate.
    (I did see the wounds/scars).
     
    The particular incident I called them over, the person in question
    had been beating the horse until it finally hurt the person and
    put them in the hospital.  I told the MSPCA that they would kill
    this horse also and they refused to invesitgate unless someone
    could testify.  I told them to go check it out and they would see
    physical evidence.  They would not.  That horse is now also dead.
    It was killed when the person got out of the hospital.
                                                          
    The MSPCA doesn't seem to be very consistent to me.
    
    
    
                                                                 
    

    I am only familiar with the New Hampshire Equine Services, I'm not
    sure what the current price for adoption is, last check it was around
    200$, they do check out where the horse will be going and have the
    right to check back to see how the horse is doing.  They also have
    a clause that prevents you from re-selling the horse.  If you are
    unable to keep for any reason you then return it to NHES.  This
    prevents a money making operation and further abuse to the animal.
    Some of the animals do have problems both physical and mentally,
    but they are upfront with you about the problems.  It all depends
    on for what purpose you are looking for a horse.  Hope this helps.
    

    
    I brought this over from the Dogs notes file, since it relates
    to all animals. 
    
                 <<< CVG::WORK1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CANINE.NOTE;1 >>>
                             -< Gone to the Dogs >-
================================================================================
Note 2192.0                  CRUELTY Hotline Number                   No replies
WJO::BLOOD                                           20 lines  11-MAY-1989 12:12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    I receive a pamphlet in the mail called "MSPCA Animal
    Action".  In the issue I got yesterday, they have a
    CRUELTY HOTLINE number.
    
    To report suspected animal abuse in Massachusetts, call
    1-800-628-5808.
    
    The MSPCA's Law Enforcement Division can also be reached
    by Boston-area callers at 522-6008.
    
    To report animal abuse outside Massachusetts, contact your
    local police department or animal-protection organization.
    
          
    
    
    Joanne
    
    
    

    I was talking to my sister, who lives in Texas.  Seems that
    RL's & SPCA's vary across the U.S.  As long as the horses, mules,
    etc. in TX are fed TWICE a week, they can do nothing.  My H&R
    mag had a story of horse abuse in Ohio.  A RL group confiscated
    a saddlebred mare because of neglect/starvation.  This was the
    second horse from this owner.  They worked hard to get her back
    to health, only to have the Dept. of Agriculture demand she be
    returned to her owner.(???) The midwest is having problems with
    the wild mustangs being shot, but cannot fix the problem.
    
    Here in MA, we seem to have more power?  I think?  
    Do we (the U.S.) have rules/laws in place on animal abuse that are
    general for all, or does it vary from state to state?
                                                     
    L-
    
    

    
    
    Ok, I'll try to keep it breif... I need to vent some frustration
    and  here goes.......
    
    Riding home last night I drove through town, where I saw two horses
    being ridden... that's not so upsetting right?  I used to ride up
    town years ago in another town....    The thing that is upsetting
    me is the condition of the two horses, extremely boney!  When I
    say boney I mean sway back, pelvic bones too far out...ribs...
    now I know that some horses may be hard to keep weight on and are
    therefore somewhat thin with ribs that show slightly... this was
    awfull, not only that but they were cantering on the tar with no
    shoes ..... those poor horses!  I just keep wondering what to do?
    I want to call someone, I was told at the gas station that they
    always stop and buy butts when they come by... I have an idea of
    a couple local places they may be from...  I would venture to say
    if they were horses that were SAVED or something from a neglectful
    home that they wouldn't be ridden down town, they'd be home recouping.
    
    So here I sit here, mad I didn't follow them home, or do something...
    I feel I have to find them and let someone go check it out...
    
    I won't give this one up!  
    
    Nancy
    

    
    Nancy,
    
    Where did you see these horses?  Is it same town you live in?
    

    Hi Pat,
    
    It was in Milford.......  It was really a bothering sight....
    
    Good to hear... Joyce has been sick... when she's better I'll get
    that info on Pericles's breeding for you....
    
    Nancy

    Scope out the area.....ask the local kids in the area 
    if they know who has horses. 
    
    Kids always know!
    
    Once you find out where they are, write a letter to the
    MSPCA and/or Local Animal Control Officer requesting they 
    look into the situation.  Put your Phone # and Name (first name
    only-I did this) on the letter.....THEY will not give out
    your name, and putting this in writing makes them take it
    even more seriously then a phone call reporting *suspected*
    abuse.  This is what I did, and I followed up to find out
    what the results were. (BTW, it wasn't neglected horses, but
    rabbits.  40+ of them living in their own *you know what* in
    a dark, wet, unheated garage in cages stacked 5 up.  It was
    so bad it was dripping down from the top cages onto the bottom
    cages and to the floor.  This was this past DECEMBER, with temps 
    not above 0-20 degrees, and the cages were 24x24 wire with no house,
    pad,straw etc. for rabbits......you get the idea)  
                
    No critter deserves to live in those conditions, and if I can shovel
    manure, clean litterboxes and bunny cages, then they could too!!
    
    (They were raising, showing and selling these rabbits, too!)       
    
    GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRR!!!!!     
    
    L-
    

    .17
    
    Nancy, if it's Milford, NH perhaps the "Horse Rescue Service", Weare,
    NH could help.  Last I knew the contact was Joy Maine, 603-529-1783.
    
    Pat
    

    
    RE. 17
    
    It is Joy Pierce now, no longer Main after a recent divorce. She
    lives about a mile from myself. She is heavily involved in rescue
    -type things for horses, and I'm sure could put you in contact with
    someone who could help if it is out of her area.
    

    
    I have tracked them further back toward where they have come down
    the street (Milford Ma)  I have another farm to check... I checked
    one last night and they weren't there (they don't usually ride their
    horses anyway they are bought and sold... do need a farrier though!)
    
    Anyway, I have a few folks watching for them....  I'll keep you
    posted... I have a number from another noter to call for suspected
    animal abuse..   I also hear writing gets more attention sometimes
    and as soon as I find them and see their living space I'll get it
    checked out....... ...... ..... 
    
    Nancy 

    
    
    The Animal Welfare Act, passed in 1966 and amended in 1979 and 1985,
    regulates treatment of animals used for bio-medical, non-agricultural
    research.  Currently, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    (APHIS) is hearing public comments on their intention to enforce their
    control under the Animal Welfare Act of farm animals, including horses.
    
    According to Dr. D. L. Crawford, the director of the animal care staff
    of APHIS, the new enforcement will cover horses only as far as they are
    concerned in human research (such as for vaccine production or
    cardiovascular cancer research).  Research that is geared toward
    improving breeds, nutrition, husbandry, etc., or that involves animal
    welfare for racing or showing, will not be affected by the new
    enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, said Dr. Crawford.
    
    Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act for farm animals is scheduled to
    begin on June 4, according to Jay Hickey of the American Horse Council.
    
    The Blood Horse May 12, 1990.
     

I pulled this message off HorseNet and was curious as to what this was all
about also.  Any response would be appreciated.   

Thanks.

Message base MAIN

Msg #:  355   Security: 5
 From:  BILL STRICKLAND           Sent: 05-18-90 00:45
   To:  ALL                       Rcvd: 05-18-90 14:41
   Re:  USDA REG'S

I have just read an article in "the Rare Breeds Journal" which states the 
USDA is NOW in the process of making rules about safety, health, 
habitat, etc. which will apply to all horses. This cited as Docket No. 
90-006 as published in the Federal Register Vol. 55 No. 66, Thursday, 
April 5, 1990. This rule making is implementing the "Animal Welfare 
Act".  Has anyone heard of what is happening and what the intent of this 
rule making is???????
The period for comments expires on June 4 th. The article in the journal 
recommends contacting the USDA  Cheif, Analysis and Development, 
   PPD, APHIS, USDA, Room 868
    Federal Bld.
Hyattsville, MD    29782  requesting they extend the time period for 
comments. 
I have also written my congressman and asked what this is all about.
Would appriciate any information anyone has on this.
Thanks ....Bill
    

    
    Anyone catch the story on the 17 yr old gray mare in the
    Boston Herald today?   They show a picture of the poor thing.
    "Star" was starved, and a neighbor reported it to the Animal
    Rescue League, who confiscated Star. 
    
    All I want to do is bring her a carrot and hug her.....
    
    Lynne

    Well, I had a thrill yesterday with my previously abused horse I got
    almost a year ago.  I wanted to tell about it.

    I bought a horse for my kids a year ago from a dealer (never again!)
    which, even though I had a vet check and xrays, turned out dead lame
    within a couple days, and was diagnosed with navicular. Since it was so
    disappointing and hard to believe, I hung onto him for a couple months
    hoping it was just a bruise in the navicular area, but we ended up
    having to return the horse. 

    The dealer would not return my money and would only 'trade' my lame
    horse for another.  After spending a lot of time and vet check money
    checking out  horses which were very sick, going blind etc. In total
    disgust, I finally  took what I thought was the best I would ever get
    from them, a very strong  healthy horse which, although he was gentle
    in the stall and isle, the minute you were on his back he was in a
    gallop.  He was so frightened of being ridden you couldn't even move or
    cough without terrorizing him into a bolt.  His head was in your face.
    
    Well, it's been almost a year now, his progress was so slow I was
    beginning to seriously think he was retarded.  I keep a record of our
    rides and when I get  discouraged I look back at what he was.  Over the
    last year he learned to trust me and is no longer jumpy, he learned
    what a walk and trot is.  I was still  thinking of giving up on him
    just last month when suddenly things seemed to start to 'click'.  His
    trot is suddenly steady, his tendency to race is almost gone.  He is
    really on the bit and round, lovely. I started cantering for the first
    time 10 days ago.  I thought this  was hopeless, even on the lunge he
    was so frightened of cantering he would bolt. Well, I circled a LOT
    until he stopped galloping and started to relax but I never expected
    what happened yesterday. I collected him up and asked for the  canter
    and...... 
    he cantered!, a slow rocking horse canter, I was so stunned I
    stopped and praised him half to death.  I thought about ending the
    session then but it was quite early so I asked him again later and he
    did it again and again. I was so thrilled, I put him away with lots of
    carrots and goodies. 

    I just had to tell this story, I'm holding my breath that today he will
    repeat it.  When I got him I was told to put a harsh bit in his mouth
    and a tie-down but I resisted all that figuring he would just be hurt
    more and therefore more frightened. I think sticking with a snaffle
    has paid off.  
    
    Sharon

    Sharon,
    
    While reading the first screen of your note, I began to wonder why
    you put up with such antics. By the end, I understood.
    
    Thanks, I needed that.
    
    John

    Sharon....
    I would like to congratulate you on not giving up.  I have two abused
    horses that we have worked on for two years now.  They are just
    learning to trust....they really are great now.
    
    It's really not their fault...someone like yourself needs to care.
    THANKS FOR CARING.
    
    Kathie
    

    
    	Sharon.. you deserve praise (and carrotts too!)..  Like John
    	I wondered for a moment.. but can see that what you've 
    	accomplished is really BIG
    
    	Congratulations!
    
    	and hugs for your horse.......
    
    	h

    I was just sitting here late on a Friday going through some old
    notes, when the title of this one caught my eye and prompted me to
    add a reply thanking the many noters in here who offered their 
    encouragement and support when I adopted Crackers and giving you a
    wonderful update!  
    
    For those of you who don't know, Crackers is an abused and neglected 
    Arab/cross pony that I adopted from the MSPCA last February.  Her story 
    is long and sad - I won't go into all the detail - she was born into a 
    feral band and had simply *no* handling until her rescue at age 5.  She'd 
    never seen a barn, been fed (they lived on forage alone), or been felt a 
    kind human touch.  Unfortuneatly, in those first five years she did feel an
    unkind human touch - that of a male human (I have many unkind
    adjectives for him) who thought he was a cowboy and would periodically
    chase the herd down and lassoe them around the rear legs.  He'd pull
    tight, and drop them to the ground in sport.  This was life as Crackers
    knew it, until the MSPCA intervened.  
    
    When I got her in February, she had learned the basics of domestication
    but was difficult and still had an overwhelming amount of fear.  She
    had a halter on, and after being allowed to follow the other horses
    into the barn, could be led around quietly. She would accept gentle
    grooming on her front half, and would accept carrots from your hand if
    you approached slowly.  She had allowed her front hooves to be trimmed
    a few times, but the rears were unapproachable. Attempts at much else 
    terrified her, although she was never agressive and the only emotion in 
    her eyes was fear - she still lived in a very dark place.  The MSPCA 
    staff had brought her a long way, but she needed consistent attention 
    and one-on-one time that no one there had.
    
    Since coming home, she has made progress in leaps and bounds.  I can
    catch her easily (thank you John Lyons!), she stands on the cross ties
    every night for a thorough grooming (right down to the tail!),  she
    lets me take off/put on her halter easily, she longes, she ground
    drives (well, sort of), she wears a bridle, a saddle, and I can even
    get on and sit on her quietly.  She has developed a sense of humor,
    has learned to shake hands, and nickers at me whenever I approach.  
    
    But, the most significant step came a few nites ago!  She allowed me
    not only to take ahold of her left rear hoof, I was able to hold it
    long enough to use a hoof pick and clean it out! Those of you who know
    more of her story will know what a huge step this is.  When I first got
    her, I could barely touch her rear legs - any attempt to actually lift
    a hoof was met by blind panic and she either bolted, or if she was
    restrained, literally sat down.  May not sound like much to most, but this
    was a pony who was repeatedly roped around the rear legs and pulled off 
    her feet - that she was willing to allow such a thing after 5 years of that
    treatment is miraculous.  
    
    So, thanks a lot to everyone who offered us encouragement, (and told me I 
    wasn't totally insane to take her in the first place).  Crackers will
    be fine! Will I ever ride her? I don't know.  I don't care.  Maybe,
    someday.  I have accomplished what I wanted to with her - to offer her
    a home where she feels safe, secure, happy, and where she no longer
    looks over her shoulder for a demon with a rope. 
    
    To the title of this string - Is there any hope for abused horse ? YES!
    

    Linda,
    
    Congratulations!  You must be very proud of Crackers.
    
    Thanks for sharing your story.  I love happy endings.
    
    Regards,
    beth
    
    

    
    
    	Good job Linda!!!  Crackers was lucky to find you!
    
    	It's not easy reclaiming a horse and establishing trust.
    
    
    	Regards,
    		
    		Janice