The Economics/Greed Factor……

I was reading some old copies of Horse & Rider the other day. I don’t subscribe so my information is not hot off the press. One of the issues was November 2007. 2007 the last year we slaughtered any horses domestically. You might say it was the black wall cloud in the perfect storm of events that have put the horse industry where it is today.
Here are some quotes from that issue, great insights the author of the article calls them. I think they are common sense things you should have already known if you have owned any horse for more than three days.
“We as owners are not just responsible for feeding and caring for our horses. We also need to train them”. “60 % of the horses entering the rescue have never been handled. Period. It’s not uncommon to get 5 and 6 year olds who have never been ridden. It’s horses like these who slip down the slope toward unhappy endings.” “This means one of the kindest things you can do – and possibly one the best defenses against an uncertain future – to teach a horse of any age the ABCs of equine manners: to be respectful of your space on the ground; to lead and tie quietly. If and when he is old enough, either break him to ride or pay someone to do it for you. A broke horse is saleable.”
“It’s simple: if you buy an unbroke horse and don’t train him, or breed him and don’t train the youngsters, you could inadvertently fuel the unwanted horse problem. If you lack the skill, time, or money to the training done, you shouldn’t be buying young or green horses, nor should you be breeding. Even trained horses need refresher courses. A lot of people want their horses to be pets. That’s okay, but don’t allow them to be dangerous pets. It’s not good for you or him.”
If you think those comments were written by a trainer, breeder, or some other horse industry professional, guess again, they were made by the proprietor of a very prominent Midwestern rescue. I started thinking about the fixed cost of horses. The costs incurred no matter the value or lack thereof.
Training and upkeep……it doesn’t really matter if you subscribe to NAHSC theory of the economy causing the current market chaos or feel it is a combination of several factors not the least being a VERY compromised culling system. The basic procedure (training) to produce a reliable, useful, saddle horse anyone can handle and safely enjoy will remain the same. The cost to feed and house (upkeep) him is the same whether he is a pasture puff who will never turn a wheel or a good horse working overtime every day.
Let’s examine the statement of “when he is old enough, either break him to ride or pay someone to do it for you.” Here is where the economics come in. I have spent the majority of my adult life riding for the public in one capacity or another. I firmly believe anyone who can’t start their own colt has absolutely no business riding a 30 day colt, more than likely on a 60 day one either. In the What’s He Worth blog several months ago I outlined what I feel a “saddle horse” broke horse should be able to do. Saddle horse broke is a term I use to describe a good foundation. Foundation, meaning the horse is “broke” enough to start work on his “career”. He is trail ready but needs to be finished and seasoned too before he is a made horse for a specific event. If he is kind minded the average rider can get along with him safely. If he is one of those kind minded horses all of the above will take about 4 months, or an average of $2,400.
We have books, website, and DVDs, all telling us anyone can start their own colt. All you have to do is attend this or that clinic, buy all the support material. There is natural horsemanship, touch technique, clicker training, and a host of clinicians to help us in the quest for the best. And best of all, you can do it in one or two days not all that months crap those trainers try to wring out of you. Little hint to the wise here, it’s not working. Every year I get several “broke” horses that would scare the life out of me to ride from here to the mailbox. Of course every one of them is gentle but……….riding a horse without any knowledge of how to teach him anything will result in a tired horse not a trained one. No matter what we have been led to believe, good honest horses are still made the same way they always have been. Wet saddle blankets under experienced hands, there are no substitutes or short cuts and there never will be.
All kidding aside, how likely is the average rescue horse or the $100 horse to get any education by anyone remotely capable? While preparing the training speech these people forgot one thing. What happens when the first 10 days of training cost more than the horse will ever be worth? Fugly had the sand to suggest trainers donate their time to a rescue in their area. Donate their skill to an organization whose horses will compete in the same market as those the trainers sell themselves or train to sell for clients. This is also after the professional horse trainer has been insulted and maligned as greedy selfish uncaring people for expecting profit from a horse in the first place.
Upkeep is another unchanging cost. The 2007 article addressed the fact in most rural counties the cost of caring for horses seized in abuse and neglect cases falls on the county agencies, hence the reluctance of these agencies to prosecute. Upkeep is a problem for them too it would seem. Of course there was the age old and now proven untrue argument about shipping horses out of country to slaughter being unprofitable. The co-authors of HR-503 knew this to be true even when told differently by both national vet organizations. Anyway it’s all old news so we won’t talk about that. The vets have since been proven right on that one.
Trivia for the day: AQHA registrations have long been used as statistical proof of over breeding causing the problem. The statistics in the 2007 article quoted 2005 AQHA registrations at a bit over 165,000. The 2007 total registered in the U.S. and all foreign countries 135,787, down 29,327. The 2009 registrations for same were 112,005, down 23,025 from 2008 and 53,000 from 2005. According to the breeding police half the unwanted horse problem has been solved already so why are we in worse shape than ever before?
I guess I am waiting for the leveling off they predicted. The law of averages says no one not even the NAHSC can be wrong all the time.

By RH1

Humane Society of the United States, the biggest scam artists in the Country

The HSUS is a fraudulent organization only after your money. I don't know how many times and ways we can say this. Please people do not support this fraudulent, unconstitutional, animal abusing organization.
Here is yet another article of just how horrendous they are as well as how ignorant some law enforcement agencies are and just how scary it is that Judges are allowing such behaviour.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Jolley--They-Shoot-Horse--Owners---Don-t-They/2010-04-05/Article.aspx?oid=1034823&fid=CN-LATEST_NEWS_

"Lies, damn lies and no feed:
The seized horses were supposed to be placed under expert care with regular access to clean water and a sufficient supply of food. It was an implied promise that didn’t seem to be kept. Malott and Smith spoke with Jerry Linville who had rented the pasture for the Rescue Wranglers. He said Chapman told him the horses were coming in from Missouri. It was only after the seizure that he knew they were Malott’s. When he realized no one had been feeding the horses, he brought over six square bales of hay and called Jim Brunson of Rescue Wranglers. The horses, forced to scrounge for what little forage remained in an overgrazed pasture, were nearing starvation. Brunson brought in 8-10 round bales of hay while a concerned Malott was at the Highway 87 location. The Wranglers still showed some concern but HSUS seemed to have left a lot of the care and feeding of the animals to others. "

"Back room maneuvering?
Before the hearing started, the judge and both attorneys went into a back room and evidently discussed how the hearing should go. The judge had already made the statement that he wasn’t familiar with the law. Witnesses said Desiree Bender of the Arkansas HSUS went into the room followed later by Betty Jones of the Arkansas Horse Council. Further tilting the legal table, none of Malott’s witnesses were called during the hearing. The prosecuting attorney’s witnesses were summoned and Carmen Skelly, an HSUS investigator from Missouri. She testified that on Nov. 12 her agency was ‘dispatched’ to assist the sheriff’s office and the HSUS with Desiree Bender as the primary contact for HSUS.The only question that Malott's lawyer asked Mr. Snodgrass was, "What's your assessment of this photo of horses?" The photo was of some of her horses, where they had been pastured after the raid, drinking out of a muddy pond. His comment was, “These are some good looking horses drinking out of a pond”. Malott's lawyer said, “No further questions.”
Read the whole story here -
Jolley: They Shoot Horse (Owners), Don’t They?
Chuck Jolley is a free lance writer, based in Kansas City, who covers a wide range of ag industry topics for Cattlenetwork.com and Agnetwork.com.

You folks in Arkansas aught to be passing the hat to help Ms. Marlott and damn sure aught to be demanding better law enforcement officials who know the Laws and who know that HSUS is a private organization. Making "donations" to political groups certainly does not make them a Government agency even though they often lead people to believe they are.

Another Sardine for the Sanctuary...

http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=37974.6048

Spring has arrived, and apparently, a new horse at our favorite Sardine Can, Tierra Madre. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. On March 26, Jim wrote in his blog how worried he is about "you-know-what" (money) and how he had implored the faithful to get the word out via e-mail to their friends, acquaintances, etc. Only 3 had done so. Not good, Thong Club. So, he is hoping more will take the time to get the word out. Jim is worried sick about finances, and his "kids". Having just called the vet out for one of his horses, and run up another bill, I can understand how he must feel. Surprisingly, (not) on the ABR forum, on the same day, he made the announcement of the new arrival. If he didn't take her, there was a chance she would end up at the Slaughter plant, or in a "not so good" home, as compared to the wonderful life she will have at Jim's place. Does this make any sense at all? I'm not sure what the count is up to there, but I think it is over 30. Of course, Jim, our allegoric hero plans to get her riding well and adopt her out. Or not. I'm betting on not. According to Jim, his vet made this match in heaven. I gotta meet this guy. He's got to be something. Here's a place that has horses with revolving issues, vet bills that continue to mount, and he feels a horse with an injury should recuperate at Hotel Tierra Madre, where exercise, room, even time for human contact is limited? I think Jim Gath is a man who truly loves horses, don't get me wrong. But I also think he's a hoarder, and that's a dangerous combination. Anyone enabling his behavior is complicit in what happens to those horses. For that person to be his vet, who KNOWS the situation, and space limitations, it's even more troubling. I'm sure Jim is convinced that Tierra Madre is the only solution for this horse. But I can't believe that others, especially a Vet would enable this hoarding behavior. Welcome to Hotel Tierra Madre, River. You may be not yet 3 years old, but I believe you've just entered into retirement.

By RH2

July 31st....

Just want to keep everyone up to date with the EU regulations. This article concerns Canada, the feasibility of enforcing these regulations, and what may conceivably happen come July 31st. Nothing we haven't talked about, but good information for those who are wondering. The idea of horses bred and raised for Slaughter is touched on, as well as the subject of how these regulations will affect the general well being of horses, which we've also discussed. Horses possibly going to Slaughter cannot be given many drugs. This will bring up many issues. Strangles is touched upon, and it is just one example of what we will be dealing with in the fight to end Slaughter once and for all. How many horses will now struggle with pain and disease? Time will tell, as it has in the past how we will deal with this issue. Interesting reading.
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/finaldisc100314.pdf

By RH2

One State at A Time...

This is a foreword we received about the Wyoming Governor signing legislation HB122, providing the option of horse processing to deal with abandoned horses. I feel there is hope that we can get this mess turned around.... Even if it is one State at a time.
For those of you who don't know, Dr. Temple Grandin is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She is an awesome woman in more ways than one. You can read about her and her research here http://www.grandin.com/
Again my hat is off to the State of Wyoming.

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Contact:
Sue Wallis
307 680 8515 cell
307 685 8248 ranch
sue.wallis@unitedorgsofthehorse.org
Wyoming Governor signs landmark legislation providing the option of horse processing to deal with abandoned horses
The United Organizations of the Horse is working with Dr. Temple Grandin to implement an Equine Assurance Program to ensure meat quality and address animal welfare concerns
CHEYENNE - Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal has signed HB 122-Disposal of livestock into law which provides the Wyoming Board of Livestock three options to deal with abandoned, estray (animals whose ownership cannot be determined), feral, or abused animals which come under their control. The first option is taking the animal to a public sale, which was the only alternative before passage of this legislation. Additional options provided are sending the animal to slaughter, or destroying the animal.
While the legislation applies to all classes of livestock, the need arose because of the current lack of a market for low-end horses that are small or are in poor condition. Since the closure of the last US horse slaughter plant in 2007, the only unusable horses that have any value whatsoever are those that are big enough, or healthy enough, to be worth the transportation costs to Canada or Mexico. This has resulted in a huge increase in abandoned and neglected horse cases in Wyoming, and across the nation. Wyoming has seen more than a tripling every year in these numbers, which has required emergency funding through the Governor since they are unable to recoup the cost of care and feeding by selling the horses.
If the Board of Livestock chooses the slaughter option they are required to provide the meat to Wyoming state institutions or nonprofit organizations at their cost. They are authorized to sell the meat to profit entities at market price. Meat intended for human use will be state inspected and used in Wyoming.
The United Organizations of the Horse is coordinating a working group that includes state agencies, private meat processing businesses, nonprofit relief organizations, Dr. Temple Grandin, veterinarians, and other experts to design a system for the processing of horses, and the efficient and practical use of valuable meat and byproducts. The product of this working group will be a pilot Equine Assurance Program which will be a model for other states to utilize to address animal welfare concerns, and ensure the humane handling, transportation, and processing of horses.

Historical photo from Seattle's Pike Place Market that reminds us that horse meat was appreciated nation-wide during World War II as a delicious, healthy and high-quality meat that is 50% higher in protein, 40% lower in fat than beef.
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Horses for Humanity

The United Organizations will provide horse meat at their cost to Wyoming relief organizations for distribution to those in need. Once the roadblocks to federal inspection of horsemeat in the US can be lifted, the United Organizations of the Horse is planning to implement a partnership with national and international relief organizations to provide wholesome, healthy, humanely harvested horsemeat to the hungry.
Through this program horse owners have the option of donating a horse that would otherwise be disposed of. Owners are assured a quick, humane death for their animal, and the comfort of knowing that the meat is going to a good and useful purpose.

Squirrel Season?????

Okay, I Admit to Slacking a Bit……
It’s spring, a wet cold spring, but after the winter I have been through, it’s welcome all the same. I have been busy trying to get things shaped up where I keep my privately owned pieces of American Cowboy Heritage in holding pens, cruelly pitching feed to them, cleaning up after them, washing blankets, hauling hay, bedding, riding, all those things dreamed up to keep horses from their free roaming natural destiny. No one will march for them. They are stuck with the open market and me. They actually have registration papers to prove which branch of “history” they came from.

Annywaaayssss, this was forwarded to me with the comment “hmmmm, looks like it’s squirrel season in the east”. Pretty much.

The rally in Las Vegas was less than successful.
Imagine that, the good taxpaying citizens of Nevada would rather have a tax revenue producing business of any kind on their public land than worry about 10,000 or 30,000 non productive feral mutt horses. The ability to be swayed by facts or practicality is a perhaps the most important characteristic required for membership in the *NAHSC. So in an attempt to find more of their kind they have opted for a change of venue. What can I say? It’s worked so far. The further you remove the CAUSE from people who actually know if a horse runs up a tree or down a hole at night to sleep, the better your chances of gaining warm chanting bodies.
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----- Forwarded Message ----
A Rally and Lobby Day for Mustangs and Burros
When: Thursday, March 25thTime: 1:00-3:00pm, Press conference and speakers at 1:30pm (Filmmaker/Advocate Ginger Kathrens, Author RT FItch and many more- including special guests to be announced)
Where: Lafayette Park (northside of Whitehouse, on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets, NW). At 3:00pm protesters will march with sign to the BLM office at 1849 ‘C’ Street.
Plus Mustangs on the Hill II: On Friday morning we’ll gather and brief people for meetings with their Represenatives in meetings to save the mustangs. Please schedule an appointment with your Representatives for Thursday morning or Friday. (Morning briefing location TBD)
Why: BLM’s cruel and poor mismanagement is destroying a vital piece of the American west. The American public is standing up for our horses and burros- please join us in a “March for Mustangs”, rally and protest and schedule meetings with your Representatives for Thursday morning or Friday. More information here at the Cloud Foundation. Please consider joining the march.. Many of us have sent emails to Congress and the White House, but little action has resulted. Protests in Nevada have had little impact. Let's bring it to Washington.http://thecloudfoun%20dation.wordpress%20.com/2010/%2002/24/march-%20for-mustangs-%20dc-protest-%20mustangs-%20on-the-hill-%20ii/

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I didn’t go to the Cloud Foundation page.
I just don’t want too.
I read about Karen Sussman’s “Sanctuary”. I researched Dayton Hyde through well over twenty years of legal profiteering from “saving” breeding, and selling the offspring of the last chancers. I read about Jason Meduna playing with smoke and mirrors until it became obvious to even the blind mice, he was not the second coming of anything. I watched Ginger’s attempt to elevate horses to Born Free lion status. I have read the R.T. Fitch (a.k.a. Grey Mane) Harlequin romance fictional account of Christmas Eve in the BLM holding pen. I can’t take anymore “pink nylon bridle”, I can’t find words corny enough to describe how much I care or how much you should care crap. Actually they don’t care what you have to say as long as you send Paypal, check, or credit card donations. For now I wish they would just pick a spelling for representative/represenative and stick to it. I would hope whatever spelling is chosen, people in Washington are also too preoccupied with other real world pursuits to give them much attention. I assume that’s what stayed in Vegas.
Trivia for the day……
The friend who forwarded “Squirrel Season” not only has a wonderful sense of humor, she has raised some darn good horses over the years. A stud she raised and sold became a world champion sire this past fall when a gelding sired by him was named world champion amateur heeling horse at Oklahoma City.
Yep, there’s a difference in apples.

BY RH1
(*new age horse savior cult)

Just one (of many) of my observations that I found funny in the message from the cloud foundation....
" Why: BLM’s cruel and poor mismanagement is destroying......."
hmmmm, poor mismanagement? Wouldn't the mean good management?
As usual RH1 good post!
Thank you all for following our blog, hope you enjoy reading these as much as I do.
Sincerely,
RM

Rescue Requirements for FOB?

What criteria do FOB's have for rescues?
http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=44468.1
It's the new Year on ABR, and some of the members are ready for some changes. Alex and his merry band of Moderators? Not so much. I read the discussion about Requirements for Rescues, and honestly, there are some really good ideas. Ideas that would offer accountability. One of the posters made an excellent suggestion. Why not create a folder for Rescue reviews? Mary L, one of our favorite moderators, was quick to answer that the allotted amount of folders are already in use on ABR. A suggestion was made to combine the "Slaughter Issues" folders-they have two. Anyone want to guess how that went over? Alex, in his ever infinite wisdom, supported by his Moderators, feel that the WIKIs, created, and updated by the Rescues themselves are a wonderful way for those wondering about how legitimate a Rescue may be to find out for themselves. Have a separate folder where individuals can express their opinions? ON ABR? WHO CHANGED THE KOOL AID!!!????? There was a fair amount of deleting of posts on the thread. Who knows what comments Alex and the Mods felt were not "keeping to the subject". One thing remains clear, though. Alex Brown is in no way interested in promoting good, well run Rescues over the bad ones. He simply doesn't care. And any attempt made to differentiate between the two, even by those frequenting his discussion board will be stopped dead in it's tracks. One has to wonder just what Alex has to gain by encouraging the poorly run Rescues, and the Hoarders as Rescues to remain on his board digging for donations. And one can only hope that more of his followers will begin to see that his lack of caring is indeed hurting the horses. I have to believe that his policy of "deleting as he sees fit" is beginning to get on more than a few people's nerves. Ahhh Alex, be careful. You haven't sold those 5,000 copies of that book about the "Goodness and Greatness" of Barbaro yet. You may want to at least pretend to have some concern over how your faithful feel for just a bit longer. Cheers!
By RH2