For Those Who Just Don’t Get It……..

Sales are the same as always?……..

Was there a grain of truth in the market opinion piece that drew so much fire?
Sale report for Corsica, South Dakota’s November 16, 2009 sale.
This is available on their website http://sdhorsesales.com/ for each month of the year.
This was written by the sale staff.

SOLD 320 HEAD – Buyers & Sellers registered in from Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota and all across South Dakota. Lots of Buyer interest in the award or money winning proven saddle horse, (supply & demand is the name of the game) but with the economy and recession going on right now, a lower cattle market, plus going into winter feed costs, Buyers were pretty conservative with the amount they want to spend on that easier to find or a average looking & broke saddle horse. We are thinking after the 1st of the year, Buyers will feel a little more confidence in the economy coming back and let loose on bidding prices. Now would be a good time to take advantage of the lower horse market and get into the buying end. The market could bounce back fast, and right now, one has a opportunity to make some good money. I would think, we are now bottomed out on horse prices. The horse industry seems to follow the stock market and cattle market and once those bounce back more, look for the horse market to come around just as fast. I expect we will be seeing a
big shortage in the finished saddle horse before long. Check out our top sale horse pictures to see the conformation and proven record that brings in the top prices. Note, that one of the top sale horses was a non catalogued horse that sold at almost very end of the sale - proof, that a good broke horse with the correct conformation, good bone & muscle, will sell well anytime, early or late in the sale. Also note, that our 3rd top sale horse was a grade pony that sold for $2600. The pony had a proven horse show record and came with a lot of shape, disposition and conformation & that is what makes the difference.
The high selling horses were FINISHED barrel horses bringing $2,750.00 each for an 11 year old gelded son of Easily Smashed and a 9 year old daughter of Runnerelse. Not much money for the caliber of horse they were. The sale staff is well aware of the role the economy plays in the pricing of the upper end horses. We in the horse business do GET IT……It’s the economy stupid…..Ummm Duh, I think we may have mentioned that a time or ten…..

The comments about things improving after the first of the year are speculation. First, prices are better after the first of the year and continue to rise as spring approaches no matter how bad it is the fall before. Second, auctions operate on commission so it is in their best interest to bring in GOOD HORSES in larger numbers. It’s a circular thing……..Good horses in the catalog bring buyers with money to spend. Buyers with money to spend entice sellers to bring good horses to the sale. Good sales bring both at least that’s the plan.

NOBODY wants to see the owner who got in because horses were a dime a dozen show up with 15 generations of “I am a pretty color but nobody studied nutrition or conformation”. NOBODY wants to watch crippled starved out, run down racehorses or any other kind of used up horse sell.

And on that note here is the loose horse report of the same sale.

Loose Horses – sold 128 Head. The big cleanup of over production from when the horse market was at its high peak 10-12 years ago is about over. We have been selling lots of stallions & broodmares these past several years as people got out of the business when the price of weanlings dropped drastically due to the over production that had been going on. Again, foreign slaughter horse plants taking big advantage of the fact all horse processing plants closed in the U.S., no alternative but to use them & show it by prices paid. PETA & HSUS has hurt the economy a bunch. NOTE – our loose horse sale will now be starting later - at 11 AM instead of 9 AM . 7 % commission, $30 minimum. Sorry, we can not accept crippled, blind and very thin horses, per USDA rules & regulations.
Loose Sale Averages:
700 lb to 900 lb sold $20 to $100
900 to 1000 lb sold $100 to $150
1000 – 1100 lb sold $160 to $200
1200 lb & over sold $200 to $325

Please take note of the statement about foreign buyers “taking advantage” of the lack of plants in this country. I think it might contradict the b.s. comment “the foreign markets are tired of the U.S. shoving its contaminated horsemeat down their throats”. Hmmm……
We have mentioned “loose” horses often do go for other purposes the same as any other horse in the auction. The top loose horse prices below represent horses bought out of the loose horse pen for other purposes. These geldings will likely be tried as saddle horses in another sale.
Heck, one of them may be on the internet next week as a “kid broke” pasture buddy to someone with no more sense than to spend $3,500 on a horse they have never seen from a person they have never met. Anyone following the infamous Patricia Wilson scandal on several forums can see the absurd concept of reality that abounds on both sides of that aisle. Really that has nothing to do with the subject at hand it just strikes me as funny people tend to blame sales or anyone other than themselves when things go to crap. It’s getting to be a disturbing trend.

Top 10 Loose Horses:
9-yr grade black gelding...........1305 lb...........$735
Grade bay gelding.....................1225 lb.......... $725
Reg. sorrel gelding.....................1130 lb..........$685
Reg. 10-yr roan gelding.............1280 lb..........$685
Reg. 9-yr chestnut gelding........1085 lb..........$685
Grade 10-yr black gelding........1140 lb............$500
Reg. sorrel gelding....................1115 lb.......... $425
Reg. sorrel gelding....................1205 lb..........$400
12 yr grade sorrel gelding.........1160 lb.......... $375
Reg. buckskin mare...................1245 lb........ $360

The New Age Horse Saviors would like to do away with horse auctions entirely. Alex Brown wants to use “grants” to add “euthanasia stations” to the auction’s list of duties. Let’s do some math on the “grant” theory.
128 head is about an average loose horse sale for Corsica. If we estimate one third go from the loose horse run to other purposes that’s around 40 head. 128 head – 40 head = 88 head of straight “killer” horses. Of the 190 or so cataloged horses a conservative estimate of one fourth will go to slaughter in spite of being represented, add back in another 45 head. Total number to be loaded on the big trucks roughly 130.
130 head not bought to rescue, to ride, or for ANY other purpose. Alex Brown’s grant based system would necessitate 130 horses destroyed by the auction facility at taxpayer/grant expense. This particular sale at present charges a $ 125 disposal fee for “unmarketable” horses left at the auction. If we use the present cost of disposal as the base cost of Alex’s Grant System, $125 per head x 130 head= $16,250 each month or $195,000 annually at this one sale alone.
Alex wrote a few months ago the cost of the loose horses would adjust downward to allow more horses to be purchased by rescues and private buyers. I don’t see much room for “downward adjustment” do you???? What is the future of a $20, $100, or $200 horse even in a no-slaughter world????

BY RH1

Cup-O- Soup Challenge

We all hear things we can't quite believe, and wonder if there's any way to prove or disprove them. Well, in some cases, we can, and pretty simply, too. Take Jim Gath of Tierra Madre, and his claim that he lives on a diet of 1 Cup-O-Soup a day. Before we begin, for you youngsters, let's clarify. There IS a product called Cup-O-Soup. It's kind of like Ramen Noodles. And it is NOT the tastiest thing in the world. I recall eating them in my teen years, and that's been awhile. Back to the challenge. Jim, as we all know has 29 horses (hoping for 30) on 3 acres. Due to his financial situation, he allows himself the barest of sustenance to get by. It is claimed that if you send Jim extra money for food, he won't buy it, he'll just continue to eat that one Cup-O Soup a day. The women in Jim's Thong mailing Fan club love this story. Some have even taken to sending baked goods to assure that Jim gets some extra nutrition. But I'm getting off track here. The question at hand is- Can one live on 1 Cup-O-Soup per day, do all of the physical work required to take care of 29 (hoping for 30) horses, and remain healthy, or even semi-healthy? Would one even feel like getting out of bed? I'm not suggesting living like Jim. That's just crazy. I Don't think even JIM really lives like Jim. But for the sake of Science, let's all try what I call the Cup-O-Soup Challenge. It's easy, and you can post your findings here in the comment section. I'd suggest you plan for no more than a day. But if you want a true Jim-like experience, go ahead and shoot for two. You'll need 1 Cup-O-Soup. If you're planning on a 2 day Jimathon, go ahead and buy 2. If your store doesn't carry Cup-O-Soup, you can buy Soup in Hand, or Ramen Noodles. Now You're ready to go. The experiment is easy. Pick a day. Get up. Have some soup. I'm not sure when Jim would be having his soup. I generally get up, have a cup of tea, go out and do my morning chores. Then I come in and eat Breakfast. So, I guess, I would probably have my soup then. But, you figure out when you want to have it. Or, space it out into three meals. I am guessing Jim drinks water, as well as walks on it, so you can have as much water as you can drink. Make sure you keep busy all day. With 29(hoping for30) horses, Jim has got to be going all day. No cheating-don't even LOOK at a cracker! At the end of the day, just hit the sack, and get a good, restful night's sleep. If you're going for the two day plan, either look in the mirror and say "What am I, an idiot?" and make yourself a good Breakfast, or continue on with day 2. Now, how are you feeling? Ready for a full day of physically demanding chores? And don't forget-Jim does a lot of doctoring, so he's also mentally stressed. I'll be interested in reading the results of the Cup-O-Soup challenge. For those who liked this one, I'll be posting the "Live Like A Horse With A Chance Challenge" soon.
By RH2

What’s He Worth?????

I haven’t weighed in with an open opinion column for a while and I need to vent. I have come to realize none of the New Age Horse Saviors have the first f*ck*ng clue what it takes to produce a good horse. We are living smack in the middle of the information age but there are more people with less knowledge involved in horses than ever before. The proof is at every sale I attend and in nearly every forum I read.
The constant panhandling and finger pointing irk me to no end. It escapes me how any competent horse owners would allow their stock to become fodder for these people. If these so called rescuers were legitimately trying to save as many horses as possible they would opt for animals with a future. Young horses who could be trained and fitted to a better market, sound horses that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that can be polished up for a better market. The other wretches would quietly be put down. If you want to buy 25 pasture pets to pension that’s your right. It’s your right if you choose to do it properly with your own money while not affecting what I choose to do with my horses or my own money. When politics and panhandling enter into the mix, it pisses me off. It doesn’t just piss me off, it disgusts me. It disgusts me because as one of our followers so aptly put it “they are pissing away the lives of horses that deserve better”.
I sold one Sunday. I have known the mare since she was a baby. I board her sire. I have started most of her sire’s offspring for his owner. He has the most correct set of feet and legs I have seen on ANY horse. His babies have all had good minds and lots of ability. He is one of the few paint studs I have seen I feel deserved to be a stud. Her mother was a thoroughbred mare who, according to the record on her papers, broke her maiden as a three year old, winning a mile and seventy yard allowance, earned over $13,000 in that one race, and never raced again. Not only could she run she was a classy bred, classy looking mare to boot. That’s the family history on the mare I am going to write about and she was a pretty baby.
The pretty baby was weaned into a situation that went from bad to worse as she aged. At the age of three she went down sick from what I am told was a “bad reaction” to wormer. I think the “thoroughbred” side of her finally gave in to less than ideal living conditions. I love thoroughbreds but poor living conditions affect them more it seems. Maybe the conditions break their hearts and they give up, I don’t know. Long story short the humane society was called and the filly was going to be seized if something wasn’t done. I became something and I should feel good about it. Most likely I’ll never be “somebody”, but for this filly I was the “something” that had to be done. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with a rack of bones that looked like every joint in her legs was sprung but I figured she had a better chance of staying alive with me than as a county seizure.
A friend with many “rescue” tendencies saw her and loved her color. (Have we heard that one before????) I told her the story behind the filly and asked if she wanted her. Of course she did. It wasn’t the perfect solution but I knew the filly would be fed “enough”, have room to move around, and a dry place to sleep.
Why do the personal lives of people who feel compelled to rescue horses have a penchant for being unstable? ………I’ll leave that for someone else to answer.
A year later, again due to chaotic crap with her humans the filly, now mare, came back to me. A truly heartless b**ch, I still didn’t want to kill her. Self and I had a talk the second day of throwing feed to this mare. I told “self” I can’t make her legs straight or make her pretty but I can make her fit and broke. Maybe, just maybe, if she has talent, I can sell the talent with her pedigree to get someone to over look the faults I believe were caused by poor nutrition to give her a chance. “Self” answered we had to try so in the stall she went, into a regular exercise and training program she went. She was worked up on feed until she was on full hay and as much grain as she could stand. The stronger she got the better she felt. The better she felt the more she trained. The more she trained the more strength and frame she built. The more strength and frame she built the more her ligaments straightened. The more she straightened the more structurally balanced she became. The more structural balance she built the more ability she had. The more she used that ability as she trains the more muscle she built. The more muscle mass she built the better she looked and felt. The better she looked and felt the more her good family started becoming apparent.
Roughly 60 days of consistently good feed and regular exercise, 45 days of consistent training later, the ugly duckling began to reach “swan” stage. Sardine Sanctuary readers, take note (R.M. started that nickname and I think it’s really catchy), ….Exercise is using all three gears on the lounge line with limited saddle training for the first couple of weeks until this mare was physically adjusted to the routine, then less lounging and more riding as she learned and got stronger. At the end of the 60 days she could lope circles for 20 or 30 minutes and never draw a long breath. She was being schooled for about an hour to an hour and 45 minutes daily, six days a week. Her sweat was clear, her belly was tucked up, her hip, chest, and forearm were muscled up and defined. She was fit. She has turned into a tremendously talented barrel prospect. She was still green as grass but was the real deal. She could still stand a bit more weight to be perfectly conditioned but she was really coming on. A good judge of horses could see what she would be if she stayed in good hands.
THE POINT…….exercise is VERY important for horses. Exercise is VERY important to their overall health. Exercise is VERY important to getting them back into condition after they have been neglected. Horses who do not feel good will not EXERCISE themselves. If a young horse is going to be incapable of being EXERCISED for an entire lifetime maybe his quality of life is compromised to the point it may be best not to “save” him. A horse’s entire physiology has evolved around his ability to be ambulatory. EXERCISE is a priority for mental and physical well being of a horse, ANY horse. EXERCISE is not walking across a 30’, 40’, or 75’ pen. Annyyywwaayyssss back to my mare……
I called a connection who markets to pro barrel racers to come watch this mare work. I priced her (FYI she’s no longer in danger of being bought by a rescue or the awful KB’s). We did some trading. The mare is going to have a chance to be a good horse. I have some cash and a nice gelding. Now the gelding is in the barn and he’s for sale…….not at rescue price (adoption fee) either.
Speaking of geldings…….I have another gelding for sale. He started out as a “loose” horse or he would have been had he been taken to town the day he got here. He was payment for pasture rent on three yearlings. Lucky for him he never had to go through the sale because he wasn’t pathetic enough to even make a “good” rescue. He made the horrible mistake of being a sound, registered, well bred, and well built but unhandled four year old. He’s now a broke to ride five year old. I have invested a year’s feed and several months training. He’s sane, he’s attractive, he’s an athletic mover, and he’s gentle.

We can see the barn isn’t perfect, the horse isn’t stood up, and the photography is far from professional. Fugly can have a self righteous bitch party with one of my pictures. All that aside, he’s a good gelding and I can honestly say he is a good gelding. I have been riding him 5 or 6 days a week for quite awhile. I read commentaries about a rescue raising $4,000 for the surgery to save a colt so what’s this good horse who’s done nothing wrong worth? He’s in the prime of his life and ready to go to work for anyone who knows how to ride. What is he worth???
I’ll get back to that. Let’s move on to the term “broke”. This has become a loosely applied term. We hear ranch broke, kid broke, well broke, green broke, and the forever special natural horsemanship trained. I like to use the term saddle horse broke, broke enough to finish in the event of your choosing. I don’t care if you are “just trail riding” or going on to working cow horse classes, the basic steering gear is the same. All horses need it every day of their working lives. If a step is missed, if the clock is cheated, someone somewhere will pay. Often it will be the horse.
Here’s my idea of “saddle horse broke”.
1. Good ground manners. If a horse doesn’t mind you on the ground it will get no better when you step up in the middle of him. Ground manners…..leads up at my shoulder, doesn’t drag on the rope behind me, doesn’t try to charge ahead of me, doesn’t weave into my path, and doesn’t look at the horse two fences across from him. Stops when I stop. Backs when I ask for his face and step toward his shoulder. Will move his shoulder or hip away when I ask as far as I ask every time I ask. I can bend his head softly around to his barrel either way when I stand at his shoulder and ask for his face. He will stand this way to be saddled, groomed, or have his feet picked too.
2. Lounges, all three gaits, as I ask. Whoa when I ask. Changes direction when I ask him to stop and step to the “front” of his direction of travel. Doesn’t lug in or lug out.
3. Stands tied. My personal horse is antsy. I hobble her when I leave her tied so she can’t paw. The point…. I know she paws I don’t allow it so she is hobbled. I also hobble all the horses I own as part of their ground work. Keeps limbs attached sometimes if they are caught and if nothing else it teaches them patience and respect without fear or question.
4. Soft in the bridle laterally and vertically. Understands both direct and indirect rein. Backs straight, framed and light. Stops with light bridle contact, whoa and weight cues. I refer to it as when I stop riding them and say whoa.
5. Responds to leg commands for all lateral work involving shoulder and hip control. Sidepasses.
6. Walks out flat, smooth, relaxed, and with purpose. Rates off at a trot and lope and maintains the same rate as long as I ask. Accelerates or rates back easily on cue at both trot and lope.
7. Picks up either lead on command from a walk or trot within a stride or so and lightly collected whenever he is asked.

If the rescue colt is worth a $4,000 surgery as I have been told WHAT IS my gelding that can do all these things well worth?
When the “rescues” can take one from unhaltered to saddle horse broke with no drama fix or forum huddle like real horse people have been doing as long as there have been horses, I will listen……till then spare me the fancy words and figures. I and those like me are busy keeping good, young registered horses working while the rescue dollar is being spent to make sure the sound usable horses the anti-slaughter movement set out to save are the only ones being shipped. The others just aren’t pathetic enough to draw in the donations and the proper amount of drama.

BY RH1

GoodBye to an Old Friend....

Today, I'm going to depart from my regular writing. But I think what I'm going to talk about lends itself to what we're about. I'm preparing to say good-bye to my dog. She's been with me for 12 years now. It's particularly difficult because she's one of those dogs you'll never replace. She's a mama's girl-always at my side. She's the first one I see in the morning, the last one I see at night, my constant companion. I can't imagine life without her. She was diagnosed with Cushing's last year, and I was told the expectancy was 1-2 years. We hoped for 2, we got 1. Although there's not going to be a big thing that will happen, we're seeing her get to the point where it's on those who love her to make the decision that's best for her. And this is where the struggle begins. I love this dog. Love her. She's lying here on the floor next to my chair as i write this. Her presence in my life is a constant. Those who own and truly love animals understand this. But the promise I made was not to continue fighting to the end, but to do the right thing by her. The right thing is now to let her go with dignity. To allow her to leave us while she is not starving, not so underweight that she can no longer get up by herself. To leave us while she can still understand the basic commands she is being given. Those functions are slowly leaving her. The episodes that were lasting a day or two stretched into a week or two. The last one lasted a month. When we went to the vet, instead of drawing blood, he took her face in his hands and said "Oh, sweetheart". I knew. And, I'm not entirely selfless, I'll admit that right now. I do not want to let her go. But, I do not want to have her here at her expense so I can feel better. So, after a consult with the vet, we've reached a compromise I think I can deal with. My girl will spend Thanksgiving with us. She can have anything she wants to eat. She's been on a restricted diet for a year, so that will be a treat for her. She'll get all the extra love and hugs and kisses from those who want to say goodbye that she can stand. Then, my husband and I will take her, and we'll say goodbye to her on our own. We owe her that. Sometimes, it's not how long and hard you're willing to fight that counts, but how willing you are to give up when it's time. Not for your sake, but for theirs. So, we'll be having a few more days, and I'll be glad I have them. Does responsible ownership suck? It sure does. But I think my girl is counting on me to do right by her, she's always done right by me.
By RH2

Hoarder of the week..... 30 on 3

Yes That's 30 horses on 3 acres!




This picture was sent to me by one of our readers. While I found it amusing it also brought back just how sick and tired I am of these so called rescues and sanctuaries getting away with the abuse of horses in the name of love. All the while pointing the finger at those of us who are educated in equine management and calling us greedy, blood thirsty, horse murderers.
RH2 has written a couple posts about the Tierra Madre Sanctuary, “5 out/4 in” and “Coloreado to Arizona”. We make fun of places like this, we show our disgust, but what exactly can we do to get places like this shut down? Why are hoarders given the luxury of tax exempt status? And why don’t their “followers” see the harm they’re causing these horses.
I’ve seen Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary called “The Hotel California”. You know the place... The Eagles say “you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave”..... Well I suppose maybe some leave ( 5 of them just recently) but it’s on a rendering truck or in whatever manner Jim gets rid of the carcasses. Or maybe they just checked out and maybe Jim buries them on that whopping 3 acres he has??

Jim,
Please allow these horses to be “adopted”. Give them a chance at a normal life where they get to see day light, roll in the grass, and get out for a ride every now and then. What did any of them do to deserve to be jailed by you? Why are you allowing them to rot and die packed in like sardines with no purpose and no hope?

By RM

Equine Version of Cap and Trade

Equine Version of Cap and Trade to Buy Thoroughbred Racing Industry Points with PETA………..Or What in Heaven’s Name Do 33,000 BLM Mustangs Have to Do with Racing?

We can take action, one horse person at a time, and change not only the world's perception of ourselves—we can actually do something of huge merit. We can save the lives of horses.We have before us two opportunities to save horses' lives AND, a nice side benefit—prove to ourselves and the outside world that we're not the demon-possessed trolls we've been painted to be. Sweet: being rewarded for Doing the Right Thing.Opportunity #1: The 33,000Last week, (this was originally printed right before the Kentucky Derby 2009) Madeleine Pickens trekked to Washington, D.C. to speak on behalf of The 33,000 (as I'm calling them)—the beautiful Wild Horses who should be allowed to live out their lives on the 1,000,000-acre Sanctuary that Mrs. Pickens wants to create for them. A gift to the horses; the people of the United States and to the government—this proposed Sanctuary is running into opposition. In fact, as I began to write this, I received an email from James Magill of the BLM. He thanked me for emailing the BLM about the Sanctuary, and he provided a link to the BLM's official stand on the issue. I read this statement as being a government-sanctioned tap dance, all smoke and mirrors. Reading between the proverbial lines isn't so hard—the BLM is reporting their take on Mrs. Pickens' proposal. They're seeing the thing from only one perspective: that of the Ag lobbyists. You know the Ag lobbyists, those fun-loving, high-living drones whose pockets are lined in the blood of dead horses. They represent ranchers who've been sold the bill of goods that, if the Wild Horses are allowed to live their lives peacefully on the Sanctuary, or if horse slaughter becomes fully illegal—somehow this is going to take down the entire meat industry. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around how the Bureau of Land Management and the State of Nevada can think that the horses are a threat—to the cattle industry, or to anyone else. Maybe because they eat grass? Take up space? Breathe air that steers need? Whatever the imagined threat, it's all propaganda for the sake of greed. The hot pursuit of Filthy Mammon once again dictates that innocent horses must die. Just in case their existence is a threat to wealthy ranchers.
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Statements made in the Alpha Mare blog belittling ranching to justify???? What does any of this have to do with the thoroughbred industry practices being called into question by PETA, the HSUS, and horsemen not aligned with either?
Before I start sniping and venting, I would like to mention an organization called Guardians of the Range. Their website http://guardiansoftherange.org/ elaborates on their mission, issues, accomplishments, and the life style they are trying to protect. They are just one hard working group of people Ag lobbyists are listening to. There are two sides to the issue.
One would think the BLM would be ecstatic over the prospect of being free of these 33,000 unwanted horses. It should be a light at the end of the tunnel for them. They should jump at it right? Even though Madeleine (or T. Boone) will supposedly foot the bill for the Ecotourism land of milk and honey for these horses it still has a cost.
The research I have done suggests “last chance sanctuary homes” for mustangs have a way of going south as far back as 1988. Remember they paid Dayton Hyde to yard those 500 or so horses for three years so they could live out their lives “free”. He took the money, when the three years were up in 1991, got his first mustang studs, started raising, and selling baby mustangs produced from the same horses he had been paid to care for because they “had nowhere else to go”. I wonder how many of the “33,000” may have been adopted had even one “last chance sanctuary” not been breeding for the same “market”. Of course, there is the Karen Sussman thing and the now infamous Three Strikes. I don’t think any of this has entered into the BLM’s “big picture” but I’m developing my own conspiracy theory so hold on.
The Anti-slaughter Mantra Handbook chant #1, “over breeding is the main cause of unwanted horses, slaughter, abuse, and all other evils heaped upon horses since the beginning of time”. Does this apply to the AQHA, APHA, ApHC, all slaughter supporting associations, and NOT the BLM, any other mustang producers, or the Jockey Club?
The Madeleine mustang plan will change nothing in the Thoroughbred racing. Pensioning 33,000 mustangs is not going to make any thoroughbred last longer or run faster. The “saved” are mustangs not Thoroughbreds.
Does the Alpha Mare have any idea how much land a million acres is? Does she care? It’s not in her back yard. It will have no affect on her livelihood, the related jobs created both directly and indirectly, and in turn the tax revenue paying for the public services in her state.
A million acres is roughly 1,560 sections. A section is 640 acres. Each side of a square section is one mile. This means Madeleine’s privately owned sanctuary will cover 1,560 square miles. Compared in size to some western national parks ……..Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, covers 70,448 acres, Zion National Park in Utah 289,633 acres, Yellowstone National Park 2,219,789 acres or 3,468 square miles in Wyoming and Montana, and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona 1,217,403 acres gives some scope of the size of the proposed project. Keep in mind, though a controversial issue, there are grazing permits issued for many national park ranges. The ROAM Act and other legislation may have something to say about this in the future but as of now much of this land is productively grazed.
Just what are those greedy ag lobbyists and ranchers whining about? Assuming the proposed million acres is currently used as grazing land to run 33,000 head of cattle much the same as Madeleine will run her 33,000 saved mustangs after she makes her purchase. The Alpha Mare refers to them as steers.. However, steers and their heifer sisters must be born to producing female bovine commonly referred to as cows. The mother cow, balance sheet asset, source of every Big Mac or T-bone, and well spring of abundant cash for those greedy, wealthy ranchers/farmers supporting those fun loving, high living drones.
If the land is running 33,000 mother cows divided by a 350 cow herd size per ranch operation means these million acres are at work making a living for 94 families. Those same 33,000 cows will produce 29,700 calves based on 90% live calf crop figure. Using the October 10 markets from the High Plains Journal, steer calves weaning at 500 to 550 lbs., 100.00 to 107.50, an average of 1.03 or $ 540.75 per head assumedly half of the marketable calves will be the above referred “steers”. The cash sale value of those 14,850 steer calves, $8,030,137.50. Their heifer sisters weaning at the same weight 500 to 550 lbs., 91.00 to 96.25, an average of 93.87 or $ 492.81per head with a total market value of $7,318,228.85, producing $15,348,366.35.
The lion’s share of this money will be spent in the local ranching communities where these calves were raised and sold. Feed stores, breeding stock producers, insurance brokers, real estate agencies, local banks, schools, livestock auctions, truck dealers, implement dealers, vets, and so on. All will take a piece of the ranch’s calf crop income to circulate through the state’s economy. At every turn in their lives these calves will be providing labor and revenue somehow. The end result is around 18,000,000 pounds of beef at the grocery store. I read the average American eats 69 pounds of beef annually. You do the math. I did in “How Can This Make Sense” last summer, thought it might apply here too.
The shift from productive livestock to non productive livestock will not be without cost. The ones feeling warm and fuzzy about it will not be bearing the brunt of the cost. ……Mr. Pickens is a major promoter of wind energy. A mustang sanctuary “somewhere in the west” might be an excellent way to package a large wind farm. It could offer tax leverage, ecotourism, green energy, horse rescue, and saving the heritage of the west all in one package.
http://www.communityservices.nd.gov/uploads/resources/625/wind-turbine-lease-considerations-for-landowners.pdf has information about landowner compensation and much more. Compensation can be quite lucrative for a landowner. All concerned wish to make wind energy projects attractive to all concerned.
Anecdotal reports indicate most companies are paying $4,000 to $6,000 annually per megawatt of tower capacity for fi xed-compensation packages. For royalty compensate on packages, 3 percent to 5 percent of gross revenue from electricity sales is common, including renewable certificates. Landowners should negotiate for inclusion of renewable, pollution and environmental credits in addition to the sale of electricity.
However, if you are a rancher hoping this income will offset the cost of buying land, don’t get your hopes up. Especially if you have financed your purchase with a USDA FSA mortgage ……. Any land with a FSA mortgage needs an extensive approval process. The approval process is extensive enough that the wind developer may not want to deal with it.
I ended the “How Can This Make Sense” blog by stating Madeleine should get to making fence for her “paddocks”…..well it seems she might have help with that……according to the website…….
Fences, gates and cattle guards become an issue when a wind tower is on grazing land. The contract should specify who is responsible for construction and maintenance of any necessary fencing, gates and cattle guards. These costs should be the responsibility of the wind energy developer.
There are listed hazards but I’m sure mustangs could graze under the towers. The cows do around here. I don’t want to give the impression I am against alternative “clean” energy sources. I am definitely not. I do want to suggest, maybe; just maybe, this won’t be the huge benevolent sacrificial donation it is promoted to be.
And I still haven’t figured out what any of it has to with the destruction of Thoroughbreds by the racing industry…… ……..
By RH1

5 out, 4 in....and send those thongs in!

When you lose 1 horse, it's sad. When you lose 2, it's a tragedy. When you lose 3, there's probably a problem. When you lose 4, the bells should be going off. When you lose 5, the bells, lights, whistles, and sirens should all be resounding in your head, heart, and soul. When it happens in a very short time span, what is the first step you would take? If you operate Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, you take in four more horses. And hint at wanting a fifth. (Thankfully, no ones biting yet). To do a quick re-cap, Tierra Madre is a Sanctuary in Arizona that houses 30 horses on 3 acres. And no, I didn't get the numbers backwards. This past summer has been especially cruel, and Jim Gath has lost 5 of his "kids" as he refers to the horses in his care. Jim is something. He knows how to tell a story, and anyone reading his blogs can attest to that. He's gained a loyal following by humanizing those in his sanctuary to the point of their having conversations with him. Jim really can get to you if you're not careful. He promises his horses that they'll fight until the end. The journey to that end is often long and painful for the horses, but Jim documents it with such style and love that often times you're unaware that you're reading a diary of pain and suffering. For each "Good______" (insert horse's name here) that one reads, one can almost imagine that human to human connection that Jim fancies to have with his Equine counterparts. But for those of us who haven't quite gotten the wool pulled all the way over our eyes, there's a "But". But why, if these horses are in pain, isn't Jim sitting down with his vet, and coming up with a different plan? I know, according to Jim, the vet is claiming that Jim is doing all he can. He's doing the best he can for these horse who would otherwise be in the hands of those who would just kill them quickly with no forethought. And since that vet bill continues to rise like flood water, one can only guess at what Jim CAN actually do. But why, when he is losing horse after horse, isn't Jim thinking that MAYBE, just MAYBE, his housing situation could be a problem? I know, he has said he has a wonderful set up, and not everyone has 100's of acres, and the show barns do it. But here's the thing-horses at show barns get taken out and worked and used on a regular basis. That is not the case at Tierra Madre. And Jim is so over-worked and understaffed, that who knows how often the horses actually get turned out in that corral he has set up for exercise. We know they aren't ridden. Jim claims to be in tune with Mother Earth and the messages she sends. Yet when it appears that she has done everything but grab him by the throat and shake him, Jim remains oblivious to the message. Perhaps Mother earth is telling Jim "ENOUGH"! 30 horses on 3 acres is too many. Jim does not seem to understand. While the fates seem cruel in Jim's loss of 5 horses, perhaps there was an opportunity presented. A chance to do something Jim could not do before. Manage the horses he had on those 3 acres a little better. Take the extra time he had to study up on the possible solutions to the issues plaguing Tierra Madre's "Kids". Perhaps move things around a bit to afford a little more running room. Save a little money. And Jim's reaction to Mother Earth's message? Why, he brings 4 more horses into the mix! After all, the universe must have meant for this to happen, right? Jim couldn't possibly understand that with the loss of 5 horses, he could to do a little re-grouping before taking in any more horses, could he? I wish he could have. But Jim isn't that kind of "Two legged", as he likes to describe his human counterparts. Jim can't fathom a world in which he would simply say "No". There are too many "Four leggeds" in need of Jim's love and devotion. In his blog about Quality Road, the horse who had the melt down at the starting gate recently, his suggestion was for the horse to retire to Tierra Madre. Thank Mother Earth that that's not happening! We all know that Coloreado now is a retiree there (see "Coloreado to AZ") . (For those interested, Coloreado has sustained his first injury at TM. He Banged his hip on a post. How could he not? Jim has determined after letting him run a bit that he's too sore to be turned out with the other horses, so now he gets to spend his time with Jim. Lucky Coloreado). As Jim continues his quest to keep his numbers up, and his massive vet bill down, his supporters have, in a bizarre twist, found a way to keep his spirits up. They have decided to send him a thong from each of the 50 states. Yep-Jim will be receiving an item of women's underwear from each state-some with a little cash tucked inside. I'm not sure what this has to do with Horse Rescue but it was just too damned bizarre to leave out of this! I know Jim is struggling right now. How could he not be? But I also find it a little strange that with the loss of 5 horses he holds dear- his "brothers" his "best girl", he can so quickly bounce back and move on. Some attribute this to a hoarder mentality. I'm not a doctor, so will reserve my judgment. We've lost 2 horses in our 25 years of ownership. We couldn't even think of replacing them for a long time. But, Jim must carry on, and do what he is put here to do. And he will draw his strength from his "kids" . Jim posted the Serenity Prayer in one of his blogs. "God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference". Perhaps instead of mailing thongs, Jim's supporters should offer up this prayer for Mr. Gath. I think his "kids" would appreciate it far more.You know, you want to like this guy- he spins a hell of a tale. The horses, well they seem human, with the conversations they have with Jim, and the emotions they evoke while you read of their antics. You almost forget they are not receiving the proper training to make them solid citizens worthy of adoption, or even trail rides. Jim IS thinking about offering a few of the horses for trail riding, but only to "experienced" riders. Those would be riders who are willing to train from the driver's seat so to speak. When Jim rides, the horse is in charge, so that limits their usability for the general public. And you almost forget when reading the poignant tales of suffering that these horses are living through hell on a daily basis until they "tell" Jim that enough is enough.Take "Little D", the most recent loss at Tierra Madre. While I didn't go back too far in Jim's blogs, I know she's been battling Laminitis at least since July. On November 10, Jim delivered a dramatic and tear inducing description of Little D's final walk- make that march to the end of suffering. Jim says his "kid" marched with a purpose to her final resting place. She enjoyed a flake of Alfalfa hay along the way. She was determined. To the reader who doesn't know better, it was like reading a great book, the descriptions so emotion invoking, so real, you were almost there. But for those of us familiar with the ravages of Laminitis, the thought of a horse with 25% hoof separation explains the "march", and causes perhaps, tears of a different kind.So, Jim, enjoy the 4 new horses, the thongs, and maybe, just maybe, next time you print that prayer, think about it......really, really, think about it, Good, Jim.
By RH2