A 'LITTLE" Underweight?

Welcome to Monday everyone. Hope your weekend went well. We woke up to an air conditioner unit that decided that it only wants to blow warm air, and only about half of the time at that. Repair people are on their way, but as its a unit that has not only seen better days, but is close to 10 years old, I don't have much hope. Since this is my fathers house and he is our landlord of sorts, he is mostly responsible for getting the main unit fixed - however we are looking at smaller room sized ones that are at Home Depot for a couple of hundred. 


What a fun way to wake up to a new week - nearly 90 degrees inside a dark house at 7 am, huh?


This blog was highly active over the weekend, look into the past few posts and catch up if you will, but today I'd like to move on to our normal scheduled programing.


So, over the weekend, Nick sent me todays ad. 


Rehoming my beautiful gelding -$1 

I have a 3 year old Saddlebred Gelding, that I'm hoping to rehome for a fee due to moving. He's very flashy, tobiano, has great disposition and is gentle. He has not had any formal training thus far, but leads and trailers well and is very willing to learn. I think he has a potential to be a great show horse, but I would just like to see him happy in a good home. He's currently a little underweight, but healthy otherwise. He is sound and has great confirmation. To meet him, please call me and we can discuss this further. Wendy 720 --38.

She says he's 'currently a little underweight'. 

HMMMMMM. Ok. 

Lady, I think you need your eyes checked, like yesterday. 

This is not a horse that is 'a little underweight'. 

Now, there is the very good possibility that she got this horse in an even worse condition and she has gotten the horse to this point. 

I'd like to think thats the case, yes? 

However, she doesn't MENTION any of that in the ad itself. 

A very good friend of mine who lives in Illinois, just took in an older gelding from the HGS boards in somewhat worse condition than this guy above because the person that had been rehabbing him no longer could. She posted pictures of him on another message board that I admin, and honestly, this saddlebred is in better condition than Happy is in. 

BUT - the biggest difference here is Happy was advertised specifically as what he was. An older horse that had come from a horrible, horrible home, and the guy that had saved him out of that situation was forthcoming with all of that information up front. Anyone that took Happy in KNEW exactly where he had come from, and the history. (And, he is now eating nearly 4 pounds of soaked mixed feed a day!)

This ad.... is NOT that. Even if this is the same situation, she's not coming across that way. She's trying to act as if the bones sticking out of his hips, spine, and neck are not that big of a deal. 

This horse may very well be show quality - but the problem is in his condition now, your average person isn't going to be able to see past the skin and bones to visualize that diamond he could be. 

What I don't understand is you can see there's a pile of hay in the background. Its either been eaten down, or she's way underfeeding him. She's feeding on the ground, so throw into the mix the potential for sand colic, nor does she mention anything about vaccines or a worming program.


Here's the ad link. He's in or around Denver, Co, for anyone looking for a great summer rescue project. 


If you do not have serious plans to upgrade him, I will not condone you sending hate mail to her. I am posting the live link only to UPGRADE him. Traffic to this blog has increased substantially the last few weeks, and I will not support any reader that sends hate mail, calls only to scream at her about her horse keeping practices, harasses the owner, or anything of the like.  


I will repeat that there is the possibility that she inherited this gelding the way he is or worse and she is trying to find someone that can rehab him. So when contacting, please keep that in mind. 


Hate to have to go there, but sometimes it must be said. 

Valora's Story Continued...

The next chapter in Valora's story has been revealed tonight, as another news station was able to snag an interview with the Farrier accused in the beating of the 14 year old Thoroughbred mare, previously named Susie-Q. 


I gotta say, this is getting more and more complicated, and the more of the background of this horse that gets out, the worse this whole situation gets. 


Wayne Tolliver, who is the local Farrier who is said to have been seen beating Valora in the road, while trying to get her to get into the trailer, claims he never beat the horse once. 


His story is this: The lady that owned the mare for nearly her whole life contacted him about him taking the mare off her hands, as her husband had just passed and she couldn't afford the vet care on the mare. 


This mare, has been through hell and back her entire life. Joey, the founder of LUV Shack Ranch, has gone on camera and stated that this mare had NEVER left her stall her entire LIFE. 


Her front legs are deformed from never being let out of her stall. Apparently she has also lost an eye, but whether it was prior to this incident or from the incident, I am unclear on that. The picture of her hooves on the prior post is apparently the way she's been living for some time. 


According to Tolliver, she'd never BEEN in a trailer before, and thus got more and more upset. He claims he never pushed her into it, and after numerous attempts to her her to load, she became more agitated, and thats when she bashed her head against the sides. 


Now, neighbors say they saw a man beating the same horse on the head. So who's telling the truth here? 


We have a mare with serious, possibly life threatening injuries to her skull that has suffered neglect and abuse her entire life. She's never been out of her stall, or at least hasn't been in several years. 


I have already spoken briefly to the head honchos of LUV Shack, and hopefully will be heading out there monday or tuesday to visit, see how I can help - maybe sign up for some volunteering - and also see if this blog can be used to help them in the future.



LINK to ABC 15 story


I don't believe the farrier for one minute. 


What do you all think?


EDIT: Its been a few minutes since I hit publish, and the news video started playing once I did that. I watched it a second time, and then a third time.


I want to point something out - the neglect that this mare suffered at the hands of her prior owner has nothing to do with the fact that the husband died, and she's loosing her house. That mare is 14 years old, and the prior owner claims to have owned her most, if not all of her life. 


10 years... we'll be generous here... is a AWFUL F'ING LONG TIME to NOT LET YOUR HORSE OUT OF ITS STALL,  wouldn't most of you all agree??? 


I can't wait to see what the Maricopa County Sheriff's investigation comes up with on this one. 

LOCAL Asshat beats a horse nearly to death

I know I don't usually post on weekends, nor do I comment about news stories (maybe I should!), but this story from a local tv station just really Pissed Me Off. Not only did this happen in MY backyard, but this is something that can happen to any one of our horses, at any time when transferring ownership. I don't want to be a fear monger, as I know that often its without any alternatives that we have to give up or sell our beloved horses. This is still a classic reason why even when giving horses away for free, maybe a background check wouldn't be such a bad idea....

There are two news videos that I'll post, but here's the background in case you can't view the videos. 


A lady has a mare that she's willing to give away for free. She advertises the mare, and a 'gentleman' says he'll take the mare. Last Thursday, (April 15th) he arrives to pick the mare up, a little 14 hand Thoroughbred bay cutie called Susie-Q. 


The story is simple, the mare doesn't load into the trailer, for whatever reason. Her rescuers at the LUV Shack Ranch and Rescue swear she already KNEW what a f'ing jerk this guy is, and was refusing to go with him. they go on to say that they think she knew she'd be killed if she went willingly, and I will agree with them whole heartedly....


Now, most people would stop, and try to come up with a reasonable solution to this problem. Note I said "MOST PEOPLE". 


This ASSHOLE (I'm refraining from using stronger language) decides that instead of asking for help from the woman giving her away, he's going to start punching little Susie-Q ON HER HEAD! Punches her so badly and viciously, that she, in her desperate attempt to get away from her attacker, slams her head into the side of the trailer!!!


Would you all like to know why the 'new owner' wanted her? 


The rescue group states on their website and facebook feed that the "new owner" - who is a FARRIER!!! - was planning on taking her, putting a bullet in her head, and selling her body for the meat price at a rendering plant.


Video 1: 





LINK to story.

Can you believe that??? If you watch the video, you'll see the lady from the local rescue attempting to get her to load into a trailer. Thats Joey Ogburn, the founder of LUV Shack. 
Note that she's doing it slowly, without anger, and without stressing the poor mare out again. This mare went through hell standing at the entry of a horse trailer, and now her rescuers have to do the impossible and get her to trust them enough to get her into another trailer. They had to load her in backwards to get her in the trailer, how bout that smart thinking!


Maricopa County Sheriff's Office got involved too, thanks to the calls of some astute neighbors, when they saw the guy beating the horse. The prior owner claims that she didn't know he planned on killing the mare, and sending her off to the rendering plant. They are now investigating the Farrier - but so far any planned charges won't be filed / released publicly until next week.  MCSO Officers 'requested' that the prior owner call and PAY for the vet services to get her injuries taken care of. Names have not yet been released yet either.


Her injuries included 20 + stitches in her head and one hind fetlock, numerous scrapes, bruises and swellings, a laceration on her face, and her skull in fractured in two places. She is suffering from a concussion as well.


If this does not make you sick, then I don't know what would.


Last nights news update:





Link to story.  The anchor is reporting that the mare has found a new loving home, but that is no where NEAR the end of this for her. LUV Shack is so flooded with rescue horses right now that they had to find an outside foster home for her, and the kind hearted Gary and Amy Guthmiller took her in. 


There is so much more to this story too...


The lady that was getting rid of her, due to reasons being 'she couldn't take care of her' let her feet go for a very long time without farrier work. How ironic is that! The powers that be at the LUV Shack are pushing for the prior owner to face neglect charges as well - I think most of us will agree on that - either way it should be interesting to see how getting her charged plays out.

I know its a bit hard to distinguish between the sawdust and her feet, but if you look closely, you can see how overgrown they are. This is the work of the woman that was giving her away. This poor mare, who not only suffered a brutal beating, has suffered much longer, and in much more subtle ways. 

I am not a fundraiser type. I am not even a decent sales person. People say no once to me, and I don't push. I believe in helping out when circumstances deserve the help, and this is one of those times. I will be sending them what money I can afford. Unlike our roadside zoo-rescue-breeding-skunk-farm scam, these guys are the real deal. They are worthy of donations, and I will certainly be donating. 

As soon as I am done writing this, I will post the link to this blog post on their face book feed. I will offer to publish horses that need homes for them for free on this blog. I think I might even offer to come out and volunteer a time or two for them. The LUV Shack Ranch is less than 30 minutes from me - an easy drive. 

There is a good note to this story. Quoted from the news article, "Amy Guthmiller says, 'I immediately called and said she could come here. I have an extra stall and nobody's gonna mistreat this horse again. It won't happen here.'"


*STANDS AND CLAPS* Amy decided that along with a new life, the little Thoroughbred mare should have a new name too. She's been renamed "Valora". The name was discovered when Amy was searching for names that meant courage. 


I promise you all that every update I can find about Valora will be posted here. As soon as I know the 'farriers' name he will be posted on here as well for the entire world to see what an ASSHOLE he is. Alleged or not, the man was witnessed by several people beating the horse. The fact that he punched/abused the horse is no longer a question of if in my mind. I will not deem him guilty until the court does, but until then, I can still express my very LOUD opinions of the situation. 


I invite all of you to as well. 


FaceBook Fan Page for LUV Shack Ranch 


Luv Shack Ranch Website

FFFS #5: The Curly Stud, + Updating A Prior FFFS

There are breeds of horses that I will admit I don't know that much about. I am, however, all about education and furthering our knowledge of all breeds, so when I was sent this ad, my initial reaction was something.... different. 

The Curly Horse is a horse I am familiar with, but only through a distance. There was a girl I used to be quite good friends with who owns a solid chestnut curly gelding. She raves about him, and so my impressions of Curly horses were pretty much based on him. He however, was solid chestnut, and thus I just rather thought that all curly horses were solid colors. 


They are not, as I am finding out today. This particular stud is an appaloosa colored stud. 


I will admit, I first started out today with a title of "The AppaCurlyLoosa Stallion", but while searching google for images of Appys and Curlys to compare the two breeds together, discovered that Curly horses come in ALL colors - Pinto, Appy, Roan, etc. Some are quite wildly colored! 


Oh wait - that means we have a rare breed, with some unusual hair coat, with... can we all say it now... KOLOR! 


Some of the Curly horses I have been looking at this morning are of course, down right stunning. 


Lets look at those, before our ad, shall we? The lovely mare below is a pure Curly. 

Granted she's a buckskin or dun pinto but she's got a NICE shoulder, nice extension, a lovely hip, deep hocks, and a very pretty head. Her name is Painted Dunn Deal. 


I also found a very, very nice looking stallion by the name of Sandmans' Magic. Here is a link to a video of him competing at First Level, Test 1. Its so refreshing to see stallions out there, being used, and given a job, isn't it? 

Now, having brought forth these wonderful horses, who have owners that have given the horses jobs, are out there doing their thing, and trying to properly promote their breed, we have somewhat of a breed standard to go by. 


Then - nasty 'ol craigslist comes along, and since its just a breeding cesspool for the cheapskates, the short-cutters, and the ones looking for a quick buck, you KNOW what comes is gonna make your eyes just BLEED. 




Are you ready for the ad yet? Oh, by now I'm sure you are. 

Ad Text: Curly Stallion - Available Stud, $200 Stud fee + $5 a day mare care - $200 (Fallon) My Curly stallion had his first baby born today. He had a Palomino Curly Stud colt with a white blanket on his but and Palomino spots. He has steel blue eyes, 4 white hooves and is a curly. I have included his picture on this ad so you can see what a nice foal he is. I've also included pictures of the dad when he is a blue roan and a red roan he changes during the year. If your interested in breeding your mare this year just give me a call. 

Mr. Curly Stud is on the top, and ..... we have another medicore, KOLORED, 'rare breed' stallion being offered for stud services that has done nothing to prove himself, and is nothing spectacular. That wild coat pattern on him they say goes from Red Roan to Blue Roan... so THAT must be why he still has his balls. He's a Majikal Kolour Changing Superstallyon! 

Kudos to "Sallywhoa" who sent it to me, her line about how her "mare would need a bucket of rufies before this would look appealing.  Curly AND Appy... double bonus!" made me laugh. She is right! Some roans are really nice... this guy just looks like someone melted a bunch of crayons together and dumped it over his back. Not terribly appealing, I will say! 

Before all you Appaloosa fans out there go bat-shit crazy on me for dissin' the color, lemme say that the color is just a side note. He's being featured because he's a no-name stallion that does NOT need to be breeding right now. 

See, even though I go on and on about the people that breed these wild colors, I really do not have any moral objections to seeing what you can get by breeding some of these colors together. Its when the stallion and mare are horses that haven't done JACK SHIT in their lives except breed and eat and poop and we get 'really nice foals' that AREN'T! 

There are just soooooo many horses out there that can not find homes that ARE well trained, and ARE wonderful family members for really low prices. 

I can't even tell what breed of mare she is! Is she an Appy? Is she a Quarter Horse? Is she a Curly? Whatever she is... she is certainly nothing special to look at in these pictures. 

This ad screams BYB to me. Just another family that needs to get a ride from the clue bus.

We ended up with a palomino horse with butt spots. Wonderful. Do you plan on keeping that baby forever? Because in this market, good luck finding a buyer for him. (Even if he's half/full Curly.)

_________________________________________________________________________________

In continuing with our run of updates this week, I was surprised to find in my inbox last night a note from Sheryl, who originally sent me the ad for the Saddlebred Stallion standing in a mud filled trailer park being offered for stud services. 

Well, I guess their pictures really didn't do any good OR bring in any mares (WHAT AN F'ING SURPRISE!) and now he's up for sale. 

Guess what! They also learned how to use a hose! 

Anyone in Fresno that can go save this guy? Or at least, know of any rescue groups, message boards we can mention him on? They ONLY want $500! I wonder if they might be willing to bargain down some, since they were willing to take $250 for the stud fees? If anyone is interested, please note that I posted the UN-Edited copy of the screenshot with the email address to contact the sellers, and HERE is the link directly to the ad. They did not post a phone number on the ad, so it is email only contact. If one of you all do go get him, please please let me know! I'd love to feature his story and you like I did with Comet if you want. 

More Updates, and Yes, An Ad.

I am still gathering information on the story of "Comet", the little Arab Gelding. Just as soon as I'm allowed to post the info, I will share, I promise!


For today, I think I might just continue the theme I have going the last 2 days... foals! Since I got all the happy news last night about Comet and came home from work to find that "Pearl" had foaled, I'm not in so much of a 'fire and brimstone' mood today. :) So I'm going to post a bit of a lighter ad today. Still blog worthy.....


.....'Cept... this guy NEEDS a happy ending. I have emailed the owner to find out if he's been placed yet, still awaiting any possible responses. If I were any where near FL, I'd be all over this guy. 

She rescued him from starvation, and now she needs to find him a new home. She is demanding $200 'cash only'. Is this normal for this situation? 

Ad Text: C A S H - O N L Y! 

MUST find a home.

"Gage" was severly neglected when he came to me. His body score was below 1. He could not get up for two days. It was absolutely pathetic to watch him try to move around.
He was lethargic for days.
Finally with good nutrition, and antibiotics he is gaining weight VERY rapidly!
His heath is increasing everyday.
Now he runs around, and is very active.

I sadly knew the owners of this baby horse and had to watch him deteriorate.
He is built like a GOD when is is back to full weight and health. Dont let his bony
figure frighten you off! This boy will make a wondfully athletic and family horse in
the future. Hes got it all.

hes a very gentle little boy, very respectful. He has a bright eye and is ready to be loved on! Gage still needs a considerable amount of weight but is SO much better than when he first arrived.
He needs an experienced horse person that is willing to give time to this baby horse.
Hes good natured and will grow up to be a wonderful horse!
$200 rehoming fee.

313 xxx xxxx
(Both parents are registered horses, with amazing temperments, however Gage was not registered, and the stallion does not belong to the person the colt did so unfortunately i do not believe he can be registered.)

She does not list breed, OR age, yet she knows the sire/dam. Why did she not list bloodlines at 

least? She knows them. I'd like to guess that he might be an Arabian judging from the hip and neck?  Kinda hard to tell. He sure sounds like an 'oops' breeding that the mare owners wanted real bad to just 'go away'...

She seems have done a good job starting the rehab process... I'm curious to know why he's suddenly got to go. 

Any body out there in this area that can maybe check on him ? I'm willing to pass along contact info on him via email. 

Isn't he adorable? That little snip is soooo begging to be kissed daily. 

Speaking of absolutely adorable foals - I was checking up on the progress of Pearls newborn colt this morning, and was so pleased to see some pictures of the little guy. Last night he was being a typical boy baby and had decided that after the first 2 or 3 bottle feedings of colostrum (milked and bottle fed because thats just what they do to make sure the baby gets enough), that he wasn't going to make any effort to find the milk bar himself. 

Well that made for some serious entertainment as the world watched as he'd suckle every part of mom except her udder. Donna and helpers were on hand and watching very closely, every so often you'd see her come in, hold Pearl, and they'd assist the colt. She said on the HGF's that they had to make him think he was just going to STARVE! :D *giggle*. 

There is still a feeling that he very well might be the worlds first smokey cream thoroughbred - she has already pulled the hairs for testing this morning. 

Ya'll wanna see him? I'm SURE you do!

Here is the link to the HGF forum thread, for those of you wishing to follow along in this little drama. 

LINK to Camera Feed

(Can't be all serious all the time, now can we! Not during foaling season I sure can't!) :D

The First Friday Featured FUGLY Stallion!

Thank you for our reader submitted ad for today!

This week I started the new WTF Wed, and today is the first Friday Featured Fugly Stallion. AAAANNNDDDD.... its a doozy.

Read it and weep.

Yes, it actually says: "hi i have a nise saddlebred stallion at stud $250 he is not for sale hes foal saddlebred/fillie". 

Oh, wait - it gets so much better!

Cause who just DOESN'T want to breed to a filthy, fugly, mud surrounded meat market level stallion surrounded by the luxurious trailer accommodations! 

I can totally understand the ground being muddy. Heck, its been raining the last 3 out of 5 days here in PHOENIX, AZ this week - but OMG. Is it really that difficult to find a decently clean spot, CLEAN THE HORSE UP A BIT, and take a half way decent picture? 

Also, studying the picture where the horse is facing left, while it is very difficult to see, it does at first glance look like the lead rope is wrapped around the horses front right leg, then trails off on the ground. I put the picture into paint shop and zoomed in a bit, and I actually think there is someone standing behind the horse holding the rope and allowing the end to trail under the horse for several feet. If you look very closely just next to the horses' front legs, you can see what looks like a human pant leg. This just adds to the stupidity in my book. These people obviously have NO FREAKIN CLUE what they are doing with a horse, much less with a 'breeding' stallyion! 

The sick part ... they ARE ACTUALLY GETTING MARES! Whether from their own herd, or outside its impossible to tell because they don't list a website (OH THE FUN THAT WOULD BE...) but look...

A "fillie". Did I mention that I wanted to slap these people already?

I quote the wonderful reader, Cheryl, when she sent it to me: "Why oh why would anyone in their right mind want to take their mare to this place to be bred to this stallion?  Junky trailer, crappy fencing, nothing but mud & stallion tied to a tree.  Ummm yea - I really want my mare bred in such pristine sanitary conditions.  All that for a $250 breeding to your fugly stallion.  I don't think so.  I do think that they should be nominated for poster child of BYB's."

EXACTLY Cheryl. This is why we have the over surplus of horses that we have. This is why we have the debate surrounding whether to have horses slaughtered within the US Borders. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE THE PROBLEM. I currently have in my ad possibilities list three other ads from IL, every ad has at least 5 horses that have all been bred together and not a single one of any of them has done anything other than wear a halter... and in one ad in particular, I have doubts about even that! (Check back monday for those.)

This poor guy needs a serious upgrade, to someone that will actually understand that he needs to put on about 150-200 pounds, needs WORMED, groomed, and just well.... he's in serious need of a small little surgery called 'GELDING'. His eyes are screaming "Save me!" He obviously deserves sooo much more than he's been giving in life. 

I have a serious feeling that once his owners are past the novelty of breeding horses, this guy won't find a great 'forever' home. He's in Fresno, and there are plenty of unscrupulous horse traders that wouldn't think twice about sending this guy up to Washington to the Eunemclaw Auction. For those of you that don't shudder with disgust at that name.... well start reading the fuglyblog.com and you'll understand.

Its these types of ads that make me want to scream, throw things against the wall, and smack the owners upside the head! This is why I started this blog... because otherwise my blood pressure would be 200/150 day in and day out, and quite frankly, my health is pretty important to me. 


**************************************************
OT: Off to the side of the blog you will see a new ad for EquineOneStop.com. I found them digging around on facebook I think, and discovered that they offer free directory listings for equine related websites and businesses. After a few minor stumbles in the submit page I managed to get myself listed. Please click on the ad or the link above and check them out. 


All right folks, have a good weekend, and I'll see you back here on monday! Keep searching those ads, and send em in. You just might find yourself quoted!

Sad state of affairs today

Today will be a 'worst' of blog. 


All three horses today are in dire - in one case very desperate - need of upgrading and re-homing. 





Ad Text: 
i have an horse thats is 27 ear old she is still riding me and my kids she loves trails just dont have the time to ride or take care of the way she needs she is a brown horse with a white diamond on her forehead and belly i am asking a 50 dollar rehoming fee plz text/call or email me my #xxx. 


(no picture)


These are our adults writing this. Its a 27 year old horse that way deserves to be treated better than I guarantee this person has treated her. 





Ad Text: 
Clydesdale for sale. she's 16 hands. Vet said she's about 4 or 5 years old. She's broke. Not shoed. Not trailor broke. She was recently dewormed. Good with kids. She's real smart. She's fast & strong and rides like a dream. She has a thick brown winter coat from all the snow. I'm selling her due to hard times (economy). Price is FIRM for she's worth ALOT more. 








*HEADDESK* Ok, at least... at least this one is broke. Supposedly. She's still not being taken care of decently and looks to be underweight and wormy, not to mention  but maybe someone with an eye for drafts will snatch her up - hopefully for a lot less than the $5000 being asked for her. Because, no, she's NOT worth that much. 


And finally... saving the "best" for last...





Ad Text: 
will be 3 in August. not broke would make good horse no time to break out to ride. 14.2 hands

$50.00 or best offer








I sincerely wish that at this time I had 1 million readers in all parts of the country so someone would see that arabian gelding and take him out of his misery, and get him looking like the superstar he so desperately needs to become. 


I don't think I even need to comment on that poor geldings condition. Any person with eyes that had a heart can see how miserable he is. 


I thought I was against licencing for horse ownership, yet the more I see this level of  'care', it makes me think more and more that maybe a licence for ownership wouldn't be such a bad idea. 


On a personal note, its been very rainy and cold the last few days, and been good weather to hole up and do things like read, and catch up on tv episodes on hulu.com, as well as get totally engrossed in looking at these horrible ads. Time to go find something cheery. Night.