Fiction Brings A Better Profit Than Truth

http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=47876.1
VERY interesting thread here. It seems an author had an image of a horse in her head. She wanted to write a book about a horse saved from Slaughter that looked like the horse in her head (NO, I do not make this stuff up). A horse was found at an Auction horse that looked like the horse in her head, so a "Rescue" began fund raising efforts to purchase this horse. Here's the problem-or problems, actually. #1- The horse in question had a price tag of $900 on him. #2- The "Rescue" LIED during the fund raising process-the horse was not a horse in danger of going to Slaughter. #3 The funds raised were done so in order to purchase the horse because the author of the book claimed that while she had the money for the horse, she was not in possession of a debit or credit card to pay for him (huh?). #4 The purchase of this horse was in direct violation of the mission statement of this "rescue". There is now concern that horses who WERE in danger of going to Slaughter were passed by so this horse could be purchased for this author. The Anti people are more amazing every day, aren't they? There are lots of other interesting points brought up in the thread. A few highlights- Post #62-one of my all time faves on ABR states that one of her 6 "Rescue" horses is in training-this one just happens to be a 3 year old STB she feels is gonna make her some money. She has convinced herself her motives are pure though. She has stated in past posts she "owes" it to this horse to put her back in training because her sire is a money earner, and she was never given a chance because she was put into training too young, and other excuses. Greed is a word that pops into my head, but of course, our Kathy would NEVER stoop to making money off of a beloved horse- That is after all, what the nasty PRO HORSE people do. She goes on to tell us she has two other STB's she's "just never bothered" to train, or put in training. (They must not have any money making potential-ooops, I mean, she mustn't "owe" them anything:)
Post #73 states that the Auction House should offer a Euthanasia service for a fee. I suppose the fact that people are trying to sell their horses is lost here. I like post #92. It states that with the going rate of prices for Slaughter bound horses, the $900 for the Author's horse could have saved 9 that were really in need. Good call poster #92! Post #111 discusses the EU records, and the wording concerning the records. It seems that there is something in there stating something about records "as can best be determined" The poster is concerned that in some cases, NO records will be required. Gee, ya think????? Another good post-no surprise to us, but perhaps a newsflash to the ABR's- #114 lets them know that not all horses that go to loose pens end up at the Slaughter Plant. This is always news, it seems. Post #158 is good, a description of how business is run at the Auction House in question. Big surprise. The guy seems pretty decent, and is trying to get horses homed, while making a profit. Welcome to the world of business, folks. There's lots of other good stuff to read. The fact that a "Rescue" would purchase a horse so an author can write a book that is basically a lie is worth the read alone. There's bound to be a rainy day soon-this is definitely one to save for that!

#27 - Appy gelding, 3 yrs old, registered, walk/trot thru ring, flashy, sweet in stall $900
The "lady from Ohio" (**********) said she'd take him, but not paid for yet. So, if anyone wants him, Call. If he's purchased by a private party, it will save room for D**** M/Voice For Horses to pull another next week or from the PA broker lot.

____

Hi 63Magnum,This Appy at Camelot is the spitting image of Hayseed with the zig-zag blaze and colorful spotted blanket! I have been drawing Hayseed for nearly thirty years now, since 1981. My publisher 'discovered' him in a blog I had up about him last September, and the rest is history with him as the star of my very first-ever children's book, "Hayseed's First Race"! S***** S****** of The Second Race horse rescue and I have been keeping our eyes peeled for that real-life Hayseed to promote my book, .......
http://forums.delphiforums.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=47843.12

BY RH2

The Wheel in the Sky…

or my April auction face of the saved one year later


There is an old rock (Journey) song called Wheel in The Sky. The sun is the “wheel” and the future hidden in tomorrow. “The wheel in the sky keeps on turning. Don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow.” It’s true to a certain extent. The outcome of even the best laid plan often comes down to a turn of fate. The message of the NAHSC is all horse dealers, breeders, trainers, and owners are supposed to be accountable for every twist of fate any horse we own/breed will ever encounter in their lifetime. Really??!
Last summer I wrote a Saturday Satire blog about a little bay horse I bought a year ago this April. I think it was called The Anything for a Buck Rescue.



Note: he did not look like this at the sale!!!!!!
Known to the AQHA as GA Smokey’s Jet, he had a respectable pedigree. Not out of this world but respectable enough to work to his advantage at least once.
“10 year old bay gelding, registered, thin, rode green bit seemed quiet, $175.00, to kb.” That’s how he would have been listed in one of the many “auction reports” so often read in the Fugly blog or any forum site designed to keep everyone informed on the plight of the auction horse.
Due to the irresponsible heartless nature of his owner/breeder this little bay horse was at the auction where Jimmy the horse dealer bought him and I bought him for $15 over what the greedy ass hat paid for him in the sale ring. He cost me a total of $198.00 with the yardage and vet inspection. I noticed him because of his breeding. The next two owners would say “you don’t ride the papers”. No, but you are riding my training and that would never have happened had he not been bred the way he is, so in a way you are all ready riding the papers.
The ability his papers said he should have was virtually nonexistent. Pedigree wise, cow over speed is usually a pretty good combination. Where all the AAA speed of his ancestors went is anybody’s guess. What he lacked in talent he made up for in honesty so we did the home work, put the buttons in place, and he learned what a good horse should know. His work ethic and personable demeanor earned him his first home after mine. Her grandkids lost interest or really had no interest in the first place. I suspect he was a confidence builder for a past middle age rider coming back from a bad horse wreck. The grandkids made a good excuse. Anyway, early this spring he was sold again to another family. The new little girl thinks he’s Doc Bar crossed with my friend Flicka.
No, this story is not new. It’s not original in content. Those of us who work in horses have been doing it for years on various levels. I thought the horse deserved a chance and I could make a buck. It worked out for both of us. I made a decent profit. The horse got a good home. Everybody’s happy. It’s been going on long before the NAHSC gave us the politically correct terms of rehome, rescue, upgrade, and adopt.
An all important detail that the anti-slaughter/anti-auction one horse wonder tales publicized by the NAHSC always leave out, had the owner euthanized the horse at home as is their “proper” solution for the unwanted horse problem, the animal would not have been alive to come to the auction for them to save. The favorite phrase used by the NAHSC to “justify” neglect is “a horse starving in a field has a chance a horse at a slaughterhouse does not”. Using that same logic, “a horse taken to an auction has a chance but a horse euthanized at home does not”. Euthanized is a $25 word meaning killed. Let me repeat that since it seems the NAHSC has lost touch with the meaning of euthanized. A euthanized horse is still a dead horse.
I didn’t make a fortune on him, not enough to make an economical difference to anyone but me. He did pay a month’s rent and buy some hay and groceries. He added to my adjusted gross income for the year so in a miniscule way he contributed to not only the federal tax revenue but my state coffers. Remember how I feel about 501C? This is why.
He didn’t require any charity of any sort. He certainly didn’t require any taxpayer funding. No one was asked to change any laws. No personal or professional insults made or implied. No larger agenda or drama involved. Had he been “saved” by the rescue pipeline would he have been trained and placed or still taking up space getting older and less marketable by the year? Who can answer that truthfully? I know I have my suspicions but I could be wrong.
The 2010 poster child of the Anything for a Buck Rescue was laid in at an even cheaper price. He cost $30, has a darn breedy looking little head, the good buckskin color, and a very correct frame. I know his frame is very correct since I can see all of it.

If we could ask him I think Tim would be pretty pleased with his turn of fate so far. All he knows is things have been looking up for him the last couple of days. He’s not a rescue. He’s a prospect and he will pay me back when he can. What have I got to lose besides $30 and some feed?
I don’t use my personal operation as an example of anything for the greater good because these are just two horses. I will handle, buy, and sell several others through the course of the same year. The impact they have on anyone but me is pretty small. My stories/their stories are nothing on which to base legislation that will affect an entire industry. I don’t expect a pat on the back or big a high fives from the “community” for doing right by my stock, something I enjoy anyway.
One last thing…. when the rescues aren’t retraining and remarketing horses… when all the many other small dealers/trainers like me are gone... when all the money is taken out of the equation … when only donations and pure thoughts are left… when no one can “dump” horses… will there be anymore Blairs for the next little girl? How many of the anti-slaughter fanatics that you’ve “met” here sound like anyone you would want to buy a horse for your child from? Matter of fact, how many sound like someone you would want to do business with period?

BY RH1

Bashing the Good...

Recently, I've been accused of bashing Jim Gath of Tierra Madre. I'll be the first to admit, I don't feel good about the amount of horses he has on less than 3 acres. I think that he has hoarding tendencies. I think the horses pay for his need to have more. Those are my opinions. The bulk of what I write on Tierra Madre comes directly from what Jim himself writes in his daily blog, and on the discussion site he calls home. I don't hate Jim. I don't even know him. But I don't agree with what he's doing. I think I try to be fair, so I decided to take a look at Jim's blogs, and see if maybe my feelings about the whole situation in general have been coloring what I wrote. I went back through a week of blogs. I wasn't surprised by most of what I read. And to put it bluntly, a little pissed off by some of it, too. Read on- APRIL 11- Bentley- mild Colic incident. APRIL 12, Heighten- Gastro issues (treated with Gastro guard, mention of cost of $51+ per tube). APRIL 13-Heighten-vet out, swelling down, some filling on outside of hock, vet drained. Mention on possibility of moving vaccine date back-will depend on picnic turnout, which is not looking good. APRIL 14-Cadence- colic incident-vet out and tubed. Bentley- mild colic (described as "spell". Found out to be weed issues, which will be cut down. APRIL 15- Bentley-had a piece of lip removed by vet. (Jim claims he fell down while sleeping which is very common in horses. Note: in my 20+ years of equine ownership, I have never seen this happen. I plan to look into this, I've just never heard of it being a commonplace event). Upon walking Bentley off from vet, it is noticed he is off. Rather than pay the vet to check his hoof, Jim will do it himself. Jim notes Bentley had an abscess in his hoof a few weeks ago. Also noted he is too lazy to clean his hooves with bleach water. Jim's words-more on that later. APRIL 17- Bentley has cellulitis-4th time in 5 years. also has sore upper lip, and hoof abscess. Jim mentions that he may have to wrap hoof with Elasticon at $10 a roll. Mentions that when Bentley's "human" dropped him off MANY years ago, there was mention of hoof issues. Heighten still convalescing, but no limp. 1 volunteer on vacation, 1 did not show up. On ABR Jim doesn't go into as much daily detail. On the 13th, he mentions the colic, the weeds, and states they will get rid of the weeds in their spare time. On the 14th, fortunately, the weeds have been removed. On the 16th, he explains that Bentley's cellulitis was caused by the abscess in his hoof. Tells us it is time and energy consuming as well as expensive to treat. States Bentley, Heighten, and Big Charlie all have had cellulitis. States he deals with it with "maddening regularity". Granted, I've left out Jim's method of telling the story, but here is a bare bones week at Tierra Madre. Am I surprised at the amount of health issues? Not really. We've discussed them before. Although, looking at a snapshot of just a week, doesn't anyone find this excessive? And now to what really pissed me off. Bentley. One of Jim's "favorites". By Jim's own admission, the Abscess in that horse's hoof came about as the result of nothing more that sheer laziness. Jim has always known this horse has hoof issues. I am so weary of hearing the "original" owner blamed for anything that happens 3, 5, 10, 15, years later. NEWS FLASH- once you take the horse, IT'S YOURS!!!!! Your responsibility. Do you think Jim ever wonders WHY Bentley's "human" mentioned this problem? Possibly to give Jim a heads up so the horse could have a chance at having the issue managed? Now, if you look past Jim's story telling talents-and he has them, what you'll find is that this poor horse had an abscess in his hoof recently. KNOWING that, Jim's decision for this horse he loves, and can provide the best care for was to do-nothing. Not because he was tired. Not because he was over worked, or under staffed. But, according to Jim Gath himself, in his own words, because he was too lazy!!!! And he's got the cajones to complain about the cost his laziness entails! As my son would say-are you friggin' serious right now??!! But, there's more. If we believe Jim, and I know I do, the abscess caused the cellulitis. So, this one act of pure laziness by the most caring rescuer in Arizona has caused this horse quite a bit of pain. For those of you who support Jim, and rave about the wonderful care he gives each and every horse, what's your opinion on this one? Or were you so enthralled in Jim's way of telling the story that the truth got lost in the words? When Jim vows to do the "bleachy water thing", he's really saying that he has to take care of this horse's hoof issues properly, or pay the vet bill. If he doesn't do the "bleachy water thing", he will cause the poor horse more pain. "Bleachy water thing" sounds a little more innocuous than lack of proper care, though. Maybe you just don't understand how painful this is to a horse. Maybe Jim would rather you didn't. Jim, of course has excuses. Bentley insists on standing on the ground where there is urine. It's muddy. Maybe, Jim, but daily hoof cleaning and disinfecting would go a long ways towards making sure that nothing gets in to start an infection. And since you know this is an issue, why aren't you on top of it? I don't know who pisses me off more, Jim, or the faithful who read this and don't understand the words right in front of their faces. If you read Jim long enough, and can read between the lines, it is clear that the horses aren't very well trained. ( In a few recent incidents where Jim has had to fetch loose horses, or lead an unwilling one, he likens it to fighting a marlin). A well trained horse will lead quietly. And yes, I've had horses get out, and have had to fetch them. Once the lead rope is on, they know to walk quietly. A well trained horse will stand, even for things he doesn't particularly like. Jim had an incident recently where his mini bit a child. The tales about that mini, while on the surface, are wildly entertaining, show a horse with absolutely no respect for any human. I own a 9 year old Miniature stud. He would never push me out of the way to get to his food, nor would he bite anyone. He is respectful in every way. I would also never leave a child unsupervised around him, as even little horses can injure you. Jim seems to think the bad behavior of this little horse of his is in some way cute, even calling him an "assassin" from time to time. I read untrained horse. It's clear that, contrary to what the faithful would have you think, the horses do not receive the best of care. Jim has told us that himself. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Nothing I have said about Jim or Tierra Madre is unfounded gossip. It has all actually come from what Jim writes. I simply strip away the story telling, and look at the facts. They're not as entertaining as Jim would make them seem. Maybe Jim's true calling is as a fiction writer. But as a rescuer with too little land to house these horses, too little manpower and money to provide proper care, and the obvious inability to say no to more horses, I believe what I have said about Tierra Madre is true. Too bad Bentley can't write a daily blog.

Jim Gath's comment on how it was normal for horses who were sleeping to fall over got my interest up, and as promised, I did a little checking. Nowhere did I find any information stating it was normal equine behavior. I did find this, and given the circumstances poor Bentley finds himself in, it makes more sense.
http://askthevet.smartpak.com/equine/misc-topics/sleep-deprivation-in-horses/



BY RH2

It's Foaling Time, and It's All Our Fault

"http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=47223.1"

Who doesn't love a baby? I do, and so do most people. My favorite moderator on ABR, Mary L, began a thread to allow those with new babies arriving to post pictures of them. Now, to be fair, all of the babies, I am assuming are out of mares already pregnant when the Rescues took them in. I am hoping none of these Rescues are breeding-it kind of defeats the purpose. I was reading along, enjoying the pictures, and as always, it didn't take long for some astute reader to figure out a way to blame those of us who are Pro Horse for this. I know, there's the obvious "just stop breeding" ideal. It's preached all of the time. (By the way, Mary L., if you are really committed to this, isn't a thread dedicated to totally adorable new babies kind of at cross purposes?-but carry on). One of the posters feels that those of us who are Pro Horse really need to look at these babies and that will somehow make us understand how awful we are. Hmmmm. And in case you weren't aware-and I certainly wasn't, in post #72, it is revealed that pregnant mares are actually SOUGHT OUT for Slaughter. I have never read any reports supporting this "fact", but if you read it on ABR, it must be true. Do pregnant mares end up at Slaughter Plants? I would imagine so. Anyone who has actually dealt with mares in foal know that often times it is difficult to know if they are in fact pregnant until confirmed by a vet. And in some of the situations these horses are coming from, where they have been running with studs (Phoenix Rising "Rescue" always comes to mind), we are often dealing with multiple mares, and owners who cannot afford, or who do not care to have a vet come out and check. Add to that the time frame in which a pregnancy can be confirmed, and at times, the mare has already been sold. But, back to the thread. It is our fault that these mares have these babies. And now that they are in good hands, they will be constant reminders to those of us who are awful enough to send them to Slaughter what we have done. I love how these connections are made, don't you? One of the mares of course, comes with a story of how she got to the sale, and I have no reason to dispute it. I'm sure the person telling it was there to hear the words spoken, and in that case, is not re-telling a tale heard and embellished several times. Because when that happens, we know the tale often gets spun a bit. They have managed with love and patience to re-hab the mare, and I am glad for that. I am in full agreement that there are far too many people out there who have no business owning a horse because they don't know the first thing about the importance of good training. But that's another story for another day.
I'll tell you what I AM looking forward to. I'm looking forward to seeing how the ABR babies of 2010 turn out. Given proper care, they should have at least 25, maybe 30 years of life ahead of them. Hopefully, they have already been handled, and haltered. I am anxious to see what kind of citizens they will become in the Equine Community. I've found that it is very easy to point accusing fingers at "our side" for darned near everything that happens. Let's see how they deal with these babies, and what mark they make with them. Yes, there's already talk of a Calendar- Faces of the Saved or something like that. (by the way, there was mention of little Wilbur Gregory, the poor little Donkey cross who passed away under the "care" of one of those "Rescues" we love so much. I'd pass on putting him in the Calendar-he wasn't really saved when he didn't even make it to his 6 month birthday). It would be a money maker for the Anti Side. Great Idea. But I'm hoping the future for these babies holds plans for more than that. Those of you with ABR babies have a lot of work ahead of you. The work should have already begun. Good luck, and I hope you provide the future these babies deserve. Nothing is better for a horse than a solid foundation of training and respect-no matter what side of the issue you're on.

BY RH2

Apple Pie...

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/wyoming%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cslaughterhouse%e2%80%9d-sue-wallis-gets-a-dose-of-red-white-and-blue/
I just had to share this. Not because of it's newsworthiness, but because of the humor I find in it. We've heard from R.T. here before-(from what I understand, that is his given name). He's a champion of the Anti Slaughter side, and with articles like this one, I can see why. I have no problem with campaigning in the political arena, and I'm a huge fan of our veterans, so I wish this guy well. Have at it, and if with $380 in your pocket, you achieved the American dream, good for you! While R.T. extols the many virtues of the obvious patriotism and all around good guyness of this new upstart, he seems to thoroughly enjoy showing his disregard and lack of respect for Sue Wallis. But then, he doesn't seem to care for anyone who disagrees with his gospel. He doesn't seem to care for women much, either, from some of the comments he left here on his last visit. I enjoy a good conversation, even a debate on any issue. I like a well written article. I never see the need to out an out insult people, but to each his own, I suppose. I don't agree with everything Sue Wallis says or does, but I don't feel that gives anyone the right to bash her as R.T seems to feel entitled to do. But, enjoy the article. You'll feel like havin' yourself a nice ol' slice of American apple pie-or you'll just wonder if anyone takes this stuff seriously.

By RH2

It’s In the Genes...

I started out some time ago to write this blog about the traditions, the stockmen/women, the good people who cherish a way of life made possible by the horse industry and the entire business of animal agriculture. These people work every day to produce good horses and good livestock. I wanted to portray them in the same light I know them, as friends, peers, and caring stockmen/women. I became sidetracked in the angry insulting venues used by the so called “educated” side of this argument. You know the “smart” ones who think we should get a real job. What would the shelves of their local Walmart look like if everyone involved in animal agriculture were to follow their advice? What would the horse industry look like if all the professionals both small and large were to adopt the *NAHSC philosophy?
I don’t know Gary Hughes but he sounds like the kind of person I am referring to in this blog when I talk of the good horsemen and good people in the industry. His interview written by Journal editor, Christine Hamilton, thanks his Savior, his nephew, his friends, and an older gentleman who helped with his horses years ago for all they have done for him. He also gives credit to the friend who sold him BB Quick Hancock and the horse himself. Gary Hughes works for the BLM in mustang management. Wonder how many of those it would take to trade him out of the good gray gelding? Read the entire article here http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/09winningrun/amaheeling.html

I do know the breeders of Walking X Hancock and they are examples of the good people in livestock you would be lucky to count as friends. When you think about it, Walking X Hancock is actually a combination of evils according to NAHSC stereotypical bylaws. 1. The breeders of Walking X Hancock, Jan and Bill Wood have ridden horses to make living their entire lives. They put together a small band of mares from those who carried them well for so many years of those good horses. They have paid attention to sound conformation, working genetics, and trainable minds but haven’t been all that impressed by show points or promotional campaigns when choosing their breeding stock. BYBs with a really big backyard? 2. He sired BB Quick Hancock during one of the last years Warren and Kim Boles were involved in PMU ranching. The PMU industry is legendary fodder for the NAHSC.

The Woods no longer breed any horses. The Boles have left the PMU industry and scaled back their breeding program drastically. Haythorns, Cragos, and Lapkes to name a few others have or will be making drastic reductions in their breeding programs. We are losing the produce of these horsemen and gaining Fuglies, Eponas, John Hollands, and Karen Sussmans, yet we haven’t even begun to solve the unwanted horse problem. How’s that for selective breeding?
The American Association of Equine Practitioners honored the North American Equine Ranching Information Council with the 2009 Lavin Cup December 8 at the 55th annual convention. The Lavin Cup is the association’s award for outstanding equine welfare initiatives.
The North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC) was established in 1995 to promote the production of quality horses of many breeds while producing pregnant mare urine. Whether or not the estrogen and estrogen replacement therapy is, was, or ever will be safe for women is not my point today. I don’t wish to debate that or even discuss it.
These people were horsemen long before they became PMU ranchers. The 64 family ranches currently involved with the NAERIC have organized programs and marketing campaigns to ensure quality breeding and good animal husbandry. These animal husbandry practices include at least twice a year veterinary herd health reviews and third party oversight. The NAERIC placement fund has been instrumental in placing more than 26,000 broodmares in the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 2003. They also support research at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. The NAERIC Advantage program paid out $60,000 in incentives to owners of AQHA horses competing in approved events alone in 2009. I used the AQHA data since I am a working quarter horse fan and we started out talking about a world champion quarter horse gelding.
The Lavin Cup is named for AAEP Past President Gary Lavin. Past recipients of the Lavin Cup include Hanover Shoe Farms, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Inc., and the American Quarter Horse Association. The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse.
For more information and discussion about the NEARIC visit these websites.
http://www.naeric.org/ http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/62383.php http://www.equinevoices.org/tusconcitizen-sept10-2007.php , http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v10n1/10n1luba.htm
You can read more about the Boles’ program at their website http://www.bbquarterhorse.com/ and you can enjoy Jan’s column as well as other equine related articles at http://www.tsln.com/

Written By RH1

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