Check out this blog post: Mississippi horse owner under attack.
Reporter claims animal control may seize the 'hungry' horses within the week, but among the three horses (out of four) that they show on video, you can't see one rib!
Yeah, they may be underweight.
But neglected? Abused? Not even malnourished ... just a bit "skinny" and being cared for, not abandoned.
Will be watching this case.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
This is not emaciated.
re: Too bad lasik doesn't fix barn blindness!
I don't get why people see this and think it is starving, sad and malnourished.
[photo removed due to copyright holder's request]
He's a young horse, just 3. I hate to see a hog-fat horse, but especially a hog-fat young horse still growing.
He's an ungelded colt. Studs are going to burn up more calories being silly boys than mares or geldings.
[photo removed due to copyright holder's request]
He could use some weight. It is possible he may need to be dewormed. It may be an awkward stance or a speedbump in a young horses' growth rate.
But the attacks on the person who posted these photos on their Web site are generally ridiculous.
Wow. I like to vent and all, but I try—at least TRY—not to judge, least of all without having some kind of background information or input from both sides.
...
Blog update: Adding a cropped (so as to be non-identifiable) image as an example of what viewers considered "starving" ... yes, the ribs are visible, but look at the fat padding along the spine, hip and rump ... owner claims the horse came to him in worse condition and is gaining, getting special feed and has been wormed regularly. I was impressed with how the subject of the mostly volatile comments handled himself in response—for the most part.
Takes all types to make the world go round, people. I'm looking around, and not seeing ANY glass houses in sight.
I don't get why people see this and think it is starving, sad and malnourished.
[photo removed due to copyright holder's request]
He's a young horse, just 3. I hate to see a hog-fat horse, but especially a hog-fat young horse still growing.
He's an ungelded colt. Studs are going to burn up more calories being silly boys than mares or geldings.
[photo removed due to copyright holder's request]
He could use some weight. It is possible he may need to be dewormed. It may be an awkward stance or a speedbump in a young horses' growth rate.
But the attacks on the person who posted these photos on their Web site are generally ridiculous.
"Now if only someone would feed him..."
"Poor things. They don't have enough meat to warrant being put undersaddle."
"That first picture makes me want to cry... Why is it that assholes like this have horses coming out of their ears..."
"Just because your hick-ass is a boney sack of twigs doen't make it ok to sit on your equally boney horse."
"Somebody please upgrade that poor colt, give him a year off and lots of groceries, then get him a saddle that fits and a rider whose weight doesn't hurt him so much his neck goes upside down."
"Last night I rode a young OTTB ... SHE had more muscle than this thing. Of course her body also wasn't consuming her muscles in an attempt to save itself from starving."
"...shouldn't even be under saddle as underweight as he is!"
"Poor things. They don't have enough meat to warrant being put undersaddle."
"That first picture makes me want to cry... Why is it that assholes like this have horses coming out of their ears..."
"Just because your hick-ass is a boney sack of twigs doen't make it ok to sit on your equally boney horse."
"Somebody please upgrade that poor colt, give him a year off and lots of groceries, then get him a saddle that fits and a rider whose weight doesn't hurt him so much his neck goes upside down."
"Last night I rode a young OTTB ... SHE had more muscle than this thing. Of course her body also wasn't consuming her muscles in an attempt to save itself from starving."
"...shouldn't even be under saddle as underweight as he is!"
Wow. I like to vent and all, but I try—at least TRY—not to judge, least of all without having some kind of background information or input from both sides.
...
Blog update: Adding a cropped (so as to be non-identifiable) image as an example of what viewers considered "starving" ... yes, the ribs are visible, but look at the fat padding along the spine, hip and rump ... owner claims the horse came to him in worse condition and is gaining, getting special feed and has been wormed regularly. I was impressed with how the subject of the mostly volatile comments handled himself in response—for the most part.
Takes all types to make the world go round, people. I'm looking around, and not seeing ANY glass houses in sight.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
This is what emaciated looks like.
Heartbreaking, disturbing video screencaps ahead.
This is the living dead.
Update on abandoned mare.
What a horrendous fate—being turned loose to die. At least someone could have given her the gift of a bullet a long time ago... this is incredibly sad.
XP
This is the living dead.
Hiker discovers starving horse [link]Brace yourselves... I've seen a lot of graphic photos in recent weeks, but I can't believe this mare can even blink, much less stand and walk.
KOB.com | Aug 13, 2008
Jacob Romero was hiking on a road from Los Lunas to the Manzano Mountains Tuesday when he came upon something that broke his heart: A horse so emaciated that each of its ribs could be counted. Romero stayed with the horse for a couple of hours giving it water and then tried to get it some assistance.
"We called the state police, we called a livestock inspector, we called the sheriff – nobody showed," said Romero. Eyewitness News 4 notified Animal Protection of New Mexico which, in turn, contacted the livestock board. A representative of the board is supposed to look at the horse Wednesday.
Update on abandoned mare.
Emaciated horse rescued in Valencia Co. [link]I don't think I've ever seen a horse in worse condition—alive. Generally when horses at this stage are rescued, there is so much internal damage that euthanasia is the only kind thing to do.
Valerie Castro, Joshua Panas | Aug 13, 2008
With help from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department's helicopter, a starving horse can now rest easy in the care of professionals. The emaciated horse was spotted late Tuesday wandering east of Valencia County High School. And when rescue teams were organized to pick up the animal Wednesday morning, it was nowhere to be found. After driving the dirt roads and asking if anyone had seen the horse, the animal was finally spotted, covered in flies.
April Riggs of the New Mexico Livestock Board says there's no telling where the mare came from, but she says chances are she belonged to somebody. "She's in bad shape, so I don't think she's been out here that long. I think she might have been dumped off or just let out of the backyard," Riggs said. The horse is currently being treated in Valencia County. Animal Protection of New Mexico is offering up to a $5,000 reward to anyone with information about where the animal came from or how it ended up in such bad shape.
What a horrendous fate—being turned loose to die. At least someone could have given her the gift of a bullet a long time ago... this is incredibly sad.
XP
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Look what I found!
Neighbors with lanterns and pitchforks!
Some of the article comments seem to be posted by the owner:
Alleged Animal Abuse In Polk County [link]Want to see these STARVING horses? Get a load of this:
Jason Law | Aug 1, 2008
In the middle of a fenced in field in Polk County, a freshly dug grave conceals the body of a horse that neighbors say died from severe neglect. "Everyday you see these horses, they're almost starving to death. You see their rib bones, their back bones, their tail bones. They walk around. They look pitiful," says neighbor Denver Fields. According to residents on Upper River Road, three horses have dropped dead on this property in just under a year. The most recent casualty occurred earlier this week when one horse fell over and went untouched for four days. Denver Fields and his wife have made several calls to police, hoping for some kind of intervention to save the animals. "The horses are ultimately suffering for it. They're literally dying over there," he says. Jeff Scott lives next to the horse farm. One look he says and it's clear—these horses are starving. "They don't feed the horses. They've gone all winter long without being fed. Maybe a couple of bales of hay here and there. Just neglect. Real bad neglect," says Scott. Sheriff Bill Davis tells News 12 his department has received multiple complaints. "I've seen the sheriff over there two or three times telling them [to feed the horses]. They'll feed them for about a week then that's it. It's back to the same situation," Scott says. Another neighbor who declined to go on camera says he has donated hay to his neighbor just so the horses would have something to eat. Fields and Scott say the horses barely survived last winter. They're not sure if they can make it through another one.
Some of the article comments seem to be posted by the owner:
I can not understand what gives any of you the right to post such hateful comments. You have no idea what kind of person I am. I have had to bury three of my "family members". I have had to endure the grief that my two children have shown for the loss of each one. I am not "evil" or a "killer."I can't say what these horses looked like over the winter, but with neighbors who are out of touch with reality enough to think that they look emaciated right now, a shaggy winter coat might have put them right over the edge!
There is always two sides to every story. I will let you and all the "concerned" citizens know:
Horse #1 died of a heart defect diagnosed by a vet.
Horse #2 died of old age, he was close to 40. He had to be put to sleep when he was unable to get up after he had laid down to rest. They do lay down to sleep.
Horse #3 had a kidney condition which she had inherited from her mother. Just like a human, when a horse goes in to kidney failure the go down hill quick. Treatment by a vet was not enough and we lost her.
These horses are in no way abused. They are very well bred horses and have always been well cared for. It was a shock to them to leave a home they had been at all of their life and be moved to a smaller field. I am sure some of weight loss is stress related.
As far as letting the horse lie without being buried for days, you try coughing up 300$ and finding someone with a backhoe that is not on a job elsewhere to come out on the spur of the moment.
Learn the facts about horses and the owners before opinions are formed. Donkeys are not meant to be obese animals. He is also 25 years old.
Went to court Wed. with vet records on ALL the horses. We were there maybe 2 min.—case dismissed!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Beyond skinny. Another sad story.
Another new case, this time from Oregon.
A couple of stories about these horses follow.
I only point this out because of my research into the Turn 3 Ranch case where the county seized 69 horses plus the land, vehicles, tack and items it took from the off-site residences of the accused. Things seem to have been handled much differently in Oregon.
Difficult to say at this point what factors may have contributed to the present condition of these horses, and why the other four seemed to be doing well in comparison.
XP
A couple of stories about these horses follow.
Malnourished horses taken into custody [link] Aug-11Interesting to note: in this case, it appears they only removed the horses pertaining to the neglect charges, and not the healthy ones as well.
Three owners are under arrest for animal neglect after sheriff deputies find malnourished horses... Seven horses were on less than two acres of land, and four of the horses were healthy. Three, however, were not and taken into custody and transported to approved local foster care facilities. The three owners of the horses were arrested for animal neglect.... they were booked and released.
I only point this out because of my research into the Turn 3 Ranch case where the county seized 69 horses plus the land, vehicles, tack and items it took from the off-site residences of the accused. Things seem to have been handled much differently in Oregon.
Sheriff Says Horses Were Neglected, Malnourished [link] Aug-11
... deputies there are investigating an animal neglect case involving several malnourished horses. "Three of seven horses on the property were examined by a local veterinarian. Two geldings and a mare were seized for malnourishment and neglect." Local volunteers assisted with transporting the horses to approved local foster care facilities. The three owners of the horses were arrested for Animal Neglect II.
Difficult to say at this point what factors may have contributed to the present condition of these horses, and why the other four seemed to be doing well in comparison.
XP
Rescuing horses requires more than a big heart.
The means to feed them is pretty important, too.
Sad news story out of Florida.
Brief synopsis of news story:
Don't rescue what you can't care for
Full article from July 29:
Dozens of horses need homes now
Authorities in our area would have seized the horses and pressed charges against the owner of this rescue.
This is one image from the photo gallery. I'm starting to think to myself, maybe ALL of them are not as skinny ...
But then I kept looking.
The nearest horse, on the right, is in thin, poor condition. Even in the distance, I can see very pronounced spines.
So I decided to watch the accompanying video.
We get a pretty good look at this horse, as she walks it past the camera, through obstacles. Another very thin horse.
Another really thin one, on the left in this screencap. Spine and hip bones clearly protruding. Ignore the size of the belly (not a good indicator of body condition); note the young foal lying in front of her.
She has just passed that skinny horse (right behind her now) and approaches this one, in similarly bad condition. You may not see ribs, but there is no fat padding along the spine or tail head, and you can see how thin the hindquarters are in relation to the "fat" (post-pregnancy) belly. And look, another young foal.
A final screencap ... some hindquarters (second from left) show adequate roundness, while others (pretty much every other horse visible here) clearly drop away from the spine and tailhead which is a sign of extremely poor condition.
This is another time I agree with some of what the Fugly Horse of the Day blogger has to say, especially concerning what is a rescue and what isn't. (I do not agree with her anti-slaughter stance.)
It's not just about money, either, but the amount of time spent checking over legs, hooves, skin, eyes, vitals for any problems or changes on a regular basis. Keeping water supply full and clean, applying fly spray, separating some individuals to give supplements as needed, etc.
There is no way that over 60 horses are getting adequate care from ONE person working full time and also supporting dozens of other animals including cats, dogs, poultry and smaller livestock.
This isn't a rescue. This is a needs-to-be-rescued. If you're in the Naples, Florida area and can give one or two horses a good home, please check into that.
In closing, I wish her, her family, and all of her animals the best.
XP
Sad news story out of Florida.
Brief synopsis of news story:
Don't rescue what you can't care for
Full article from July 29:
Dozens of horses need homes now
NOTE: Video on news site showsNow, I'm not one to call a skinny horse STARVING ... but I see worse than simply "underweight" in that video!
many more malnourished horses
than photo gallery does.
Authorities in our area would have seized the horses and pressed charges against the owner of this rescue.
This is one image from the photo gallery. I'm starting to think to myself, maybe ALL of them are not as skinny ...
But then I kept looking.
The nearest horse, on the right, is in thin, poor condition. Even in the distance, I can see very pronounced spines.
So I decided to watch the accompanying video.
We get a pretty good look at this horse, as she walks it past the camera, through obstacles. Another very thin horse.
Another really thin one, on the left in this screencap. Spine and hip bones clearly protruding. Ignore the size of the belly (not a good indicator of body condition); note the young foal lying in front of her.
What are the chances that these mares were bred—by any ungelded colt on site—while at this "rescue" home?
She has just passed that skinny horse (right behind her now) and approaches this one, in similarly bad condition. You may not see ribs, but there is no fat padding along the spine or tail head, and you can see how thin the hindquarters are in relation to the "fat" (post-pregnancy) belly. And look, another young foal.
What are the chances that these mares received adequate care and feeding throughout pregnancy?
A final screencap ... some hindquarters (second from left) show adequate roundness, while others (pretty much every other horse visible here) clearly drop away from the spine and tailhead which is a sign of extremely poor condition.
This is another time I agree with some of what the Fugly Horse of the Day blogger has to say, especially concerning what is a rescue and what isn't. (I do not agree with her anti-slaughter stance.)
I'm not out to pick on this poor woman who has by all accounts had a rough streak of luck. I don't think I'm better than anyone.I know the costs of hay and grain for two horses. The costs of dewormer, vaccinations and routine farrier care. Fly spray and joint supplements as needed. The cost of emergency farm calls when a horse is critically sick or injured.
I'm here in hopes of educating those who might otherwise believe that they can run out and "rescue" unwanted horses since they've got a few acres for them to live on. Horses are very expensive to maintain properly.
It's not just about money, either, but the amount of time spent checking over legs, hooves, skin, eyes, vitals for any problems or changes on a regular basis. Keeping water supply full and clean, applying fly spray, separating some individuals to give supplements as needed, etc.
There is no way that over 60 horses are getting adequate care from ONE person working full time and also supporting dozens of other animals including cats, dogs, poultry and smaller livestock.
I can point to many current neglect cases where there are charges pending against owners whose horses are in this condition, or not even as bad.
Please, if you feel the need to send money, support the Estates Feed store in Naples that is donating feed until the horses can be placed.
Or maybe a local vet who will geld all the colts for a reduced fee.
This isn't a rescue. This is a needs-to-be-rescued. If you're in the Naples, Florida area and can give one or two horses a good home, please check into that.
In closing, I wish her, her family, and all of her animals the best.
XP
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Screencaps from news video.
If you try to make out the tattoo, you may miss what I did the first time I watched the video ...
Poor old gal has NO TEETH! Yeah, that will definitely make a difference in how you manage and provide available forage.
This brutal camera angle shows her poor condition as well as any could.
However, these other horses, which the video clip infers were seized from the same farm, look more than adequately fed.
I know I caught an awkward stance here, as this young-looking horse had just stood up from rolling, and comes quickly straight for the camera so I captured what I could. Still, from all angles, she appears well fed and healthy from what I can glean from the small bits of video ... the media focus was certainly not on the horses that looked fine.
I do not condone animal abuse or willful neglect.
I also do not believe it is right for law enforcement and/or the government to take one's property—especially considering the other four horses seem to be in very good condition—and sell or otherwise dispose of it before the accused is convicted of any crime. It goes against what our judicial system is supposed to represent.
Without having any additional information, but simply playing devil's advocate for a moment ...
It is possible to pick up a horse that looks like this at nearly any weekend livestock auction. Horses are being given away because owners cannot afford to feed them. They could have picked up this horse in an attempt to save it.
Attacking the owners without knowing the full story is a knee-jerk thing to do. Personally, I would like to know what led to this seizure. I would like to know why authorities seize horses that are plainly in good health if just one is questionable.
This is especially important for any horse owner who has older, hard keepers who sometimes fall below preferred weight suddenly, anyone who takes in neglected animals to rehabilitate them (which must be done slowly—neighbors may see the same "skinny" horse for weeks, with a slow gain not apparent to the untrained eye). You could lose your horses and any other possessions that the government chooses to seize, spend your savings to clear your name, lose your job while enduring prolonged court battles ... and even if you prevail and win in court, your horses will be long gone.
Speak out against the abuse of horses, but also speak out against the abuse of American citizens' rights being trampled in front of us.
Poor old gal has NO TEETH! Yeah, that will definitely make a difference in how you manage and provide available forage.
This brutal camera angle shows her poor condition as well as any could.
However, these other horses, which the video clip infers were seized from the same farm, look more than adequately fed.
I know I caught an awkward stance here, as this young-looking horse had just stood up from rolling, and comes quickly straight for the camera so I captured what I could. Still, from all angles, she appears well fed and healthy from what I can glean from the small bits of video ... the media focus was certainly not on the horses that looked fine.
I do not condone animal abuse or willful neglect.
I also do not believe it is right for law enforcement and/or the government to take one's property—especially considering the other four horses seem to be in very good condition—and sell or otherwise dispose of it before the accused is convicted of any crime. It goes against what our judicial system is supposed to represent.
Without having any additional information, but simply playing devil's advocate for a moment ...
- Do we know how long this horse has been with these owners?
- Do we know what measures were being taken to get this horse to safely gain weight?
It is possible to pick up a horse that looks like this at nearly any weekend livestock auction. Horses are being given away because owners cannot afford to feed them. They could have picked up this horse in an attempt to save it.
Attacking the owners without knowing the full story is a knee-jerk thing to do. Personally, I would like to know what led to this seizure. I would like to know why authorities seize horses that are plainly in good health if just one is questionable.
This is especially important for any horse owner who has older, hard keepers who sometimes fall below preferred weight suddenly, anyone who takes in neglected animals to rehabilitate them (which must be done slowly—neighbors may see the same "skinny" horse for weeks, with a slow gain not apparent to the untrained eye). You could lose your horses and any other possessions that the government chooses to seize, spend your savings to clear your name, lose your job while enduring prolonged court battles ... and even if you prevail and win in court, your horses will be long gone.
Speak out against the abuse of horses, but also speak out against the abuse of American citizens' rights being trampled in front of us.
No arguments here.
This horse is not merely skinny.
Yes, older Thoroughbreds are notorious for being skinny, hard keepers.
But she is malnourished, plain and simple. Whatever they were doing, wasn't working.
The attending vet gave her a 40% chance of survival.
You can't throw hay and grain at a horse in this condition without dire consequences—she needs to be slowly, slowly brought back around due to the stress on her internal organs.
More as the news (the real news from those involved, not the written-for-ratings version from the media) unfolds surrounding this case.
The video is here:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1111405973/bclid1137706675/bctid1703414360
XP
Yes, older Thoroughbreds are notorious for being skinny, hard keepers.
But she is malnourished, plain and simple. Whatever they were doing, wasn't working.
The attending vet gave her a 40% chance of survival.
You can't throw hay and grain at a horse in this condition without dire consequences—she needs to be slowly, slowly brought back around due to the stress on her internal organs.
More as the news (the real news from those involved, not the written-for-ratings version from the media) unfolds surrounding this case.
The video is here:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1111405973/bclid1137706675/bctid1703414360
As an aside—I'm concerned that the tendency seems to lean toward taking ALL of the animals, including healthy ones, and dispersing them (the rescue claims to be looking for homes for them) before the accused go to trial.
Remember: innocent until proven guilty. Proof is important.
Comments on the news story already harken to villagers with lanterns and pitchforks, but personal experience and knowledge of the conditions at local horse auctions tells me that I should hear both sides of the story before rushing to judgment. Here is the comment I added to the article feedback:
I would love to hear the horse owners' side of the story. I was one of few who thought that Jackson County should not have seized the 69 allegedly neglected horses at Turn 3 Ranch and it turns out I was right—a judge ruled in their favor and ordered Jackson County to reimburse the owners. (It couldn't return the horses as it sold them all, some to slaughter!)
The media convicted the owners on unsubstantiated rumor, such as saying they hadn't been fed or watered for months, but the sworn testimony of the case led to the dismissal of the felony torture charges. Check turn3vsjcac.blogspot.com for more.
I will reserve my judgment on this case until I hear both sides, but a photo I was emailed of one of the horses shows an emaciated horse. Perhaps they did receive her in that condition; have you seen some of the horses at auction these days? The owners will have to prove that they were taking measures to improve her condition. I don't believe the authorities should have seized any healthy horses on the premises.
XP
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Skinny on Fugly
Sometimes I agree with the FHOTD blogger.
Sometimes I don't.
Today, I'm not so sure I can agree with both her assessment and some of her readers' assessments on this horse:
Comments:
"Are you one of the ignoramuses who thinks it's skinny because it's old and that's normal? ... why DIDN'T the judge and/or show management tell these people they could not show this horse? ... If you don't have the money to feed/vet/figure out WHY the horse is so thin AND FIX IT, you don't have the money to compete!"
"Yeah and look at the lard-ass family! Obviously THEY aren't going through a food shortage. ... Maybe the family has been eating the horse's feed and that's why they're fat and the horse is skinny? ... But the fact that they're overweight is even MORE brutal because some fat kid is going to be bouncing off the back of that emaciated animal."
"to all the 'leave the fat people alone' people- If it were just a picture of some fat people, perhaps I would agree and say leave them fat slobs alone. BUT IT IS NOT just a picture of fat people, it is a picture of several people who eat VERY well standing next to, and having just competed with, a STARVING HORSE.."
Sometimes I don't.
Today, I'm not so sure I can agree with both her assessment and some of her readers' assessments on this horse:
Comments:
"Are you one of the ignoramuses who thinks it's skinny because it's old and that's normal? ... why DIDN'T the judge and/or show management tell these people they could not show this horse? ... If you don't have the money to feed/vet/figure out WHY the horse is so thin AND FIX IT, you don't have the money to compete!"
"Yeah and look at the lard-ass family! Obviously THEY aren't going through a food shortage. ... Maybe the family has been eating the horse's feed and that's why they're fat and the horse is skinny? ... But the fact that they're overweight is even MORE brutal because some fat kid is going to be bouncing off the back of that emaciated animal."
"to all the 'leave the fat people alone' people- If it were just a picture of some fat people, perhaps I would agree and say leave them fat slobs alone. BUT IT IS NOT just a picture of fat people, it is a picture of several people who eat VERY well standing next to, and having just competed with, a STARVING HORSE.."
Among those respondents whom I agree with:
"Before one judges people solely based on weight, one should first thank god they don't have any medical condition which would affect their skinny ass."
Friday, July 25, 2008
Preferences
Generally speaking ...
Sometimes, that means work.
Money, too, perhaps—but mostly research and effort.
- I'd rather see a horse a little overweight than a little underweight.
- I'd rather see a horse a little underweight than a lot overweight.
- I'd rather see a horse a lot overweight than a lot underweight.
Sometimes, that means work.
Money, too, perhaps—but mostly research and effort.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A day at the 4-H Fair
Walked through the horse barns at the local fair the other day.
Most horses — and I was actually a little bit surprised by this — were in really good weight.
Many, more than half, had a mild "crease" down the center of the rump that showed they were certainly not malnourished. There was nothing I would call obese. No disgusting fat bubbles.
There were a few that were on the thin side of average. Nothing I'd go calling the police about. Overall health and attitude of the horse reflected alertness, maybe a little nervousness. The stress of a week away from home in a crowded barn with tie stalls and hundreds of kids and adults coming through at all hours is pretty rough on a horse that is pulled out of the pasture once a year for this.
There was one horse, however, I would have talked to the owner about if I'd been able to locate him or her. I had a few questions about this animal's condition:
Now, you don't really see any ribs. I don't consider whether or not you can see ribs a very good indication of whether or not a horse is in good condition, because just like an overweight woman can be apple shaped or pear shaped, an overweight horse might show ribs, and an underweight horse might not ... you have to look at more factors. High withers are also a fairly common conformation issue rather than a clear indicator of condition.
What gives me concern is the pronounced spine at the top of the rump and tailhead area. The rump of a horse in good weight is generally flat or somewhat convex from the spine to the point of hip. When you see a dip as shown, and a sharp slope away from the spine at the top of the rump, there is reason for concern. I don't often see a "high spine" as a common saddle-fitting issue ... narrow shoulder, high wither, narrow back, no withers ... but not pronounced, bony spine. (Except in the case of my fattie, poster child of the Obese HOTD blog. Of course.)
Now, the overall health of this animal appears fine, and the exhibitor was not sent home, so the horse must have been able to perform soundly. I would not be surprised if the judge made a comment to the rider.
Some may comment that a horse in this condition should not be ridden. That is an opinion that you are welcome to share. I'd like to know more before I pass such strict judgment.
I would not support a "midnight rescue operation" or anything of that nature that is often suggested by those who believe that only their own horses have valid reasons for being imperfect.
I would not offer virtual high-fives to those who proclaim that we should STARVE the owners and see how they like it. Personally, I find comments that wish pain, harm and death to other humans offensive.
Well, except when they are made as ignorant YouTube comments to my horseback riding videos — users claim they would like to see ME saddled, whipped and spurred instead of the horse — in which case I find them highly entertaining, considering you won't see a spur or crop anywhere near my TWH because I'd like to live, thankyouverymuch.
Peace.
Most horses — and I was actually a little bit surprised by this — were in really good weight.
Many, more than half, had a mild "crease" down the center of the rump that showed they were certainly not malnourished. There was nothing I would call obese. No disgusting fat bubbles.
There were a few that were on the thin side of average. Nothing I'd go calling the police about. Overall health and attitude of the horse reflected alertness, maybe a little nervousness. The stress of a week away from home in a crowded barn with tie stalls and hundreds of kids and adults coming through at all hours is pretty rough on a horse that is pulled out of the pasture once a year for this.
There was one horse, however, I would have talked to the owner about if I'd been able to locate him or her. I had a few questions about this animal's condition:
What gives me concern is the pronounced spine at the top of the rump and tailhead area. The rump of a horse in good weight is generally flat or somewhat convex from the spine to the point of hip. When you see a dip as shown, and a sharp slope away from the spine at the top of the rump, there is reason for concern. I don't often see a "high spine" as a common saddle-fitting issue ... narrow shoulder, high wither, narrow back, no withers ... but not pronounced, bony spine. (Except in the case of my fattie, poster child of the Obese HOTD blog. Of course.)
Now, the overall health of this animal appears fine, and the exhibitor was not sent home, so the horse must have been able to perform soundly. I would not be surprised if the judge made a comment to the rider.
Some may comment that a horse in this condition should not be ridden. That is an opinion that you are welcome to share. I'd like to know more before I pass such strict judgment.
I would not support a "midnight rescue operation" or anything of that nature that is often suggested by those who believe that only their own horses have valid reasons for being imperfect.
I would not offer virtual high-fives to those who proclaim that we should STARVE the owners and see how they like it. Personally, I find comments that wish pain, harm and death to other humans offensive.
Well, except when they are made as ignorant YouTube comments to my horseback riding videos — users claim they would like to see ME saddled, whipped and spurred instead of the horse — in which case I find them highly entertaining, considering you won't see a spur or crop anywhere near my TWH because I'd like to live, thankyouverymuch.
Peace.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Skinny article
Check out this indepth (quite long) article on caring for the skinny horse in the herd.
An excerpt:
An excerpt:
Some horses are metabolically inclined to be hard keepers while others have medical, psychological or environmental reasons for having difficulty in maintaining weight. Increasing the caloric intake of a horse is not problematic if careful attention is paid to the feedstuffs offered to the horse. Manipulation of the amount and variety of energy sources will often achieve the ideal body condition on the hard keeper.
repost: The skinny on skinny.
This is a post I made on another blog last November.
This is a skinny horse:
He is trim, but healthy and well fed. He filled out nicely on pasture, and stopped dropping grain after his teeth were floated. This is a summer photo, after taking him out of a dry lot where he shared a free-choice round bale of hay with another horse. He had to be gradually introduced to green grass, to prevent colic or founder. He had a nice protective fat layer by winter. His hooves were long, but he was sound.
This is a skinny horse:
This is a Saddlebred mare. I do not know how she came to find herself at Horses Haven rescue, but I am sure glad she did. Much more emaciated than this, and the only kind thing to do is euthanasia. Desperately malnourished horses do not always respond to attempts to "fatten them up" as their organs have already started to lose function. I think this horse wants to live.
This is a skinny horse.
While you can clearly see her ribs, her overall body condition does not look critical. She needs good food and good weather. She looks very typical of an aged horse having wintered outdoors during a harsh Michigan winter. There is a shine on her coat and a gleam in her eye. She probably looks like a different horse in the summer and fall.
This is a skinny horse.
For a young horse to be in this kind of shape in September, it must have not had access to the summer's green grass. The hooves have been neglected, and the bloated belly is a tell-tale sign of intestinal parasites; with the ribs showing, I'd guess an overload of them. The legs should straighten out some with corrective trimming. I would have to assume he had limited turn-out as hooves should wear down differently with exercise. His overall depressed look and dull coat is another sign of poor health. As he is young, he has the potential to fully recover with proper care.
Well, they're ALL skinny... so which one(s) should be taken away from their owners?
Skinny is subjective. What's your definition of skinny?
Some breeds are naturally more skinny than others, same with bloodlines within a breed, or types within a discipline.
Athletic horses tend to be more skinny, as do hot ones.
Acceptably skinny looks different with an older horse than with a younger, growing one.
Emaciated is never okay, for any breed.
I'm XP, and I approve this message.
This is a skinny horse:
He is trim, but healthy and well fed. He filled out nicely on pasture, and stopped dropping grain after his teeth were floated. This is a summer photo, after taking him out of a dry lot where he shared a free-choice round bale of hay with another horse. He had to be gradually introduced to green grass, to prevent colic or founder. He had a nice protective fat layer by winter. His hooves were long, but he was sound.
This is a skinny horse:
This is a Saddlebred mare. I do not know how she came to find herself at Horses Haven rescue, but I am sure glad she did. Much more emaciated than this, and the only kind thing to do is euthanasia. Desperately malnourished horses do not always respond to attempts to "fatten them up" as their organs have already started to lose function. I think this horse wants to live.
This is a skinny horse.
While you can clearly see her ribs, her overall body condition does not look critical. She needs good food and good weather. She looks very typical of an aged horse having wintered outdoors during a harsh Michigan winter. There is a shine on her coat and a gleam in her eye. She probably looks like a different horse in the summer and fall.
This is a skinny horse.
For a young horse to be in this kind of shape in September, it must have not had access to the summer's green grass. The hooves have been neglected, and the bloated belly is a tell-tale sign of intestinal parasites; with the ribs showing, I'd guess an overload of them. The legs should straighten out some with corrective trimming. I would have to assume he had limited turn-out as hooves should wear down differently with exercise. His overall depressed look and dull coat is another sign of poor health. As he is young, he has the potential to fully recover with proper care.
Well, they're ALL skinny... so which one(s) should be taken away from their owners?
Skinny is subjective. What's your definition of skinny?
Some breeds are naturally more skinny than others, same with bloodlines within a breed, or types within a discipline.
Athletic horses tend to be more skinny, as do hot ones.
Acceptably skinny looks different with an older horse than with a younger, growing one.
Emaciated is never okay, for any breed.
I'm XP, and I approve this message.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Skinny has a sibling!
The Obese Horse of the Day blog is up and just getting started.
One of the first entries is a must-read on how harmful obesity in horses can be, and the shocking prevalence of it (over fifty percent of horses in a recent study were found to be overweight; with nearly a fifth of the 300 horses randomly chosen at the very top end of the scale).
Check out the linked articles at ScienceDaily.
One of the first entries is a must-read on how harmful obesity in horses can be, and the shocking prevalence of it (over fifty percent of horses in a recent study were found to be overweight; with nearly a fifth of the 300 horses randomly chosen at the very top end of the scale).
Check out the linked articles at ScienceDaily.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Skinny Horse #3
Let me preface this entry: no one said he was starved by his previous owner, but that could be due to his reported history of being rescued from a farm where horses were allegedly dying in the field, six months ago.
This is a 2 year old TWH.
He's fed and fit but not fat.
They aren't supposed to look like a halter bred QH.
(Most halter bred QH probably shouldn't be as fattened up as they are for the show ring, but what gets pinned? Maybe judges should penalize obesity.)
In horses as in humans, obesity in growing youngsters is a bad thing. I don't think he's far from a healthy weight. Obviously we should be sure to provide all the nutrition necessary for a growing horse, especially if they might have been lacking in the essentials their first year of life, but that doesn't mean they need to be fattened like a steer.
Comments?
This is a 2 year old TWH.
He's fed and fit but not fat.
They aren't supposed to look like a halter bred QH.
(Most halter bred QH probably shouldn't be as fattened up as they are for the show ring, but what gets pinned? Maybe judges should penalize obesity.)
"He's a little skinny..."
"He's a bit skinny..."
"Good of you to take him and get some groceries in him too."
"He's a bit skinny..."
"Good of you to take him and get some groceries in him too."
In horses as in humans, obesity in growing youngsters is a bad thing. I don't think he's far from a healthy weight. Obviously we should be sure to provide all the nutrition necessary for a growing horse, especially if they might have been lacking in the essentials their first year of life, but that doesn't mean they need to be fattened like a steer.
Comments?
Friday, June 27, 2008
Skinny Horse #2
Here, I see a horse that is moderately underweight.
I see a flat but not sunken rump, prominent withers (not a good indication of anything except just that ... a horse in any condition can have high withers) and the beginning of visible ribs.
The hip does not appear to jut out and I'd like to see more meat on her shoulder/elbow, but I'm not ready to call the brute squad.
Apparently, others see starved and neglected:
I'd like to see her sold to a good home and put on 50-100 lbs. but I don't see reason to send out a lynch mob or midnight trailer run.
I particularly object to the notion of causing harm to fellow humans simply because you don't agree with them. That is the animal rights extremist philosophy that brought so many death threats to myself and my family.
I see a flat but not sunken rump, prominent withers (not a good indication of anything except just that ... a horse in any condition can have high withers) and the beginning of visible ribs.
The hip does not appear to jut out and I'd like to see more meat on her shoulder/elbow, but I'm not ready to call the brute squad.
Apparently, others see starved and neglected:
"Unfortunately I am afraid as low scale as she is, she probably won't be around much longer. It is a shame that folks don't see anything wrong with how she looks. Maybe if we withheld proper nutrition from them they would get the point."
"Poor mare."
"... would love to see this poor girl get out of a bad situation that it appears she is in."
"Poor mare."
"... would love to see this poor girl get out of a bad situation that it appears she is in."
I'd like to see her sold to a good home and put on 50-100 lbs. but I don't see reason to send out a lynch mob or midnight trailer run.
I particularly object to the notion of causing harm to fellow humans simply because you don't agree with them. That is the animal rights extremist philosophy that brought so many death threats to myself and my family.
Skinny Horse #1
While the earlier May images of this mare have been deleted, the June photos show a mare that has put on a little weight but mostly just lost the dull and scraggly remnants of a slow-shedding winter coat.
Check out the comments made, even considering visible improvements (below) over a few short weeks:
"[IMO] 'a little thin' is an understatement. I would NOT even ride a horse that skinny ... there is no reason, other than neglect, for a YOUNG HEALTHY horse to be that skinny"
"[IMO] she is still very very very thin, you can see the top of her spine from withers to tailbone"
"I would also say this horse was 'thin' and wouldn't even stick a saddle on her"
"I WOULD NOT even consider putting a saddle on this horse and try to ride her at her weight"
"[IMO] she is still very very very thin, you can see the top of her spine from withers to tailbone"
"I would also say this horse was 'thin' and wouldn't even stick a saddle on her"
"I WOULD NOT even consider putting a saddle on this horse and try to ride her at her weight"
I left the authors' emphasis, but fixed some typos.
I am not an expert on using the body condition scoring system, but I sure don't see a starving horse here.
Welcome! The intro ...
I'm noticing more and more lately that some people tend to think that horses that are even slightly on the thin side of average are dangerously underweight and neglected.
I don't get this.
Should horses really be FAT, at any time of year? Any more than we should?
I'm going to pull some information from a PDF I recently downloaded. It does not use the Henneke Scale but a different model that rates a horse between 1 and 5.
"Average" weight for a "typical" 15hh horse:
"Typical" body score by "class" of horse:
Body condition should not fall below 1.5, but poor body condition is not always due to lack of feed. Other reasons:
The competitive horse: 2.0
The pleasure horse: 3.0
The halter/rail horse: 4.0
I know a lot of you are guilty of having a 5 out there in your field when you should have a 3 ... I know I am, even when I do my best to regulate his intake, my older horse seems to gain weight by sniffing food! But there is much more tolerance for obesity than there is for even slightly underweight. Visible ribs do not equal neglect!
If the rump is sunken, and the backbone protrudes (check the tailhead, some horses have a high backbone in any condition) then there is definitely cause for concern.
Save the lanterns and pitchforks for the people that deserve them, the people who won't even dump their emaciated horses at auction because they're waiting for the market to return, even if they can't afford hay ... :'(
Get ready to see more of it as the summer (and pasture) fades. But rather than attack anyone who posts a 2.0 on craigslist or dreamhorse (thankfully they are trying to sell before the poor thing hits 1.0), put your energy into something constructive.
As many people as claim to dislike the Fugly Horse of the Day blog for her confrontational approach, many of my peers could author Skinny Horse of the Day and be just as brutal if they simply reposted what they've put on the public message boards.
Hmmm... SHOTD has potential...
I don't get this.
Should horses really be FAT, at any time of year? Any more than we should?
I'm going to pull some information from a PDF I recently downloaded. It does not use the Henneke Scale but a different model that rates a horse between 1 and 5.
"Average" weight for a "typical" 15hh horse:
- Score 1 - 860 lb - poor
- Score 2 - 925 lb - moderate
- Score 3 - 1015 lb - good
- Score 4 - 1180 lb - fat
- Score 5 - 1345 lb - very fat
"Typical" body score by "class" of horse:
- endurance racehorse - 1.5-2.5
- sprint racehorse - 2.0-2.5
- harness racehorse - 2.0-3.0
- distance racehorse - 2.5-4.0
- typical riding horse - 3.0-4.0
- typical show horse - 4.0-5.0
- typical broodmare - 2.5-4.0
Body condition should not fall below 1.5, but poor body condition is not always due to lack of feed. Other reasons:
- parasite infestation
- poor dental health
- chronic injury or illness
The competitive horse: 2.0
- Flat rump either side of backbone
- Ribs just visible
- Narrow but firm neck
- Backbone well covered
The pleasure horse: 3.0
- Rounded rump
- Ribs just covered but easily felt
- No crest, firm neck
The halter/rail horse: 4.0
- Rump well rounded
- Gutter along back
- Ribs and pelvis hard to feel
- Slight crest
I know a lot of you are guilty of having a 5 out there in your field when you should have a 3 ... I know I am, even when I do my best to regulate his intake, my older horse seems to gain weight by sniffing food! But there is much more tolerance for obesity than there is for even slightly underweight. Visible ribs do not equal neglect!
If the rump is sunken, and the backbone protrudes (check the tailhead, some horses have a high backbone in any condition) then there is definitely cause for concern.
Save the lanterns and pitchforks for the people that deserve them, the people who won't even dump their emaciated horses at auction because they're waiting for the market to return, even if they can't afford hay ... :'(
Get ready to see more of it as the summer (and pasture) fades. But rather than attack anyone who posts a 2.0 on craigslist or dreamhorse (thankfully they are trying to sell before the poor thing hits 1.0), put your energy into something constructive.
As many people as claim to dislike the Fugly Horse of the Day blog for her confrontational approach, many of my peers could author Skinny Horse of the Day and be just as brutal if they simply reposted what they've put on the public message boards.
Hmmm... SHOTD has potential...
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