Taken For A Ride
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Our family has been in the Saddlebred industry for 24 years. We truly love the breed and have all poured our hearts and souls into promoting the Saddlebred in order for more people to be able to enjoy these amazing animals. We have had many ups and downs in our journey, but what we just recently experienced has caused us pain beyond words and certainly constitutes our lowest low.
Our whole family does this for the love of the Saddlebred. Our goal has been to give our horses the kindest, best start possible and to see them go to good homes. We cannot say it has not been a huge struggle and effort to do this. We breed for show horses, but everyone knows that not all horses are meant for the show ring. In an effort to honor our horses, those who do not wish to be show horses we do not push to the extreme. Due to some physical limitations of two people in our family, we made the heartbreaking decision to cut back some of our horses. We wanted to find homes where they could be well cared for and loved for the horses who did not want to be show horses and some broodmares who were hard to get into foal, but who would make wonderful companions for people. We set out to find homes where our horses would lead happy, productive lives.
We were beyond thrilled when we found a gentleman who claimed he had people who could provide wonderful, loving homes where they would trail ride the horses. Two friends of ours had worked with this gentleman before in different capacities and had recommended him to us. We also thought it was a great way to spread the word about the versatility of Saddlebreds by giving them to good homes where they could see how smart and sensible they were. We gave the horses away with their papers so that their heritage would be preserved and the people who received the horses could call us with any questions about the horses and their breeding. We truly thought it was a win/win situation all the way around and that this situation would be a viable option for finding good homes for our horses that we were very saddened about having give up. We were wrong on every level and it ended up being a complete recipe for disaster.
The gentleman assured us our horses were going to good homes and there was no possible way they would be sent for slaughter. He told us elaborate stories of what great homes the horses went to, how much the people loved them and how great this was to promote Saddlebreds in our area. The new owners were just thrilled with their new horses and the horses with their new homes. We were ecstatic. We were all so happy with how this was working out. Then, right after the Syracuse International we received an email from Pat Johnson representing Saddlebred Rescue asking for information about some of our horses that had gone through the New Holland Sale. WHAT? None of our horses has ever gone through the New Holland Sale and we never planned on any of our horses ever going through that sale. But right there in print were the names of three of our horses that we were told were placed in amazing new homes. We were all feeling so many things at once: disbelief, shock, anger and sadness that we were blatantly lied to and now our horses’ lives were in jeopardy. We found out that a two-year-old we had given to this man had somehow injured her neck and was in terrible condition. All of our horses were in perfect condition when they left our farm and we were in disbelief to hear what had happened to her.
To be honest, I do not know if we will ever know the truth of how this horrible situation transpired. When people can look you in the eye and lie to you I do not think you have a great chance of ever finding out the truth. All I know is our family has been devastated by this whole experience. We thought we were doing the right thing and it could not have been more wrong.
We have no answers for this situation. We truly wish we did. We have written this to raise awareness of how easily your beloved horses can end up in the wrong hands when you thought they were in the right hands.
Karen Hall
Hallston Manor
Postscript:
Fortunately Nealia McCracken and Pat Johnson of Saddlebred Rescue happened to be in the right place and the right time to help three of the horses that that this family thought they had done the right thing for. McCracken and Johnson were very surprised to see these horses at the sale where in all probability they would have gone to slaughter as the kill buyers and Saddlebred Rescue were the only bidders. This was because of the age of one mare (22), one appearing to have an injury, and a soft back and age on the third (16).
Saddlebred Rescue is happy to say that all three mares that came home with them quickly found new happy forever homes.
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend has found a home
as a broodmare and is located in Simpsonville, Ky.
Attaché’s Oh! Suzanna has joined
a lesson program in Princeton, Maine.
Highland Miranda has also found a new home
in a lesson program in Evansville, Ind.,
and may even be seen at local shows.
Saddlebred Rescue understands that everybody needs to sell their horses and many will be sold through sales. Saddlebred Rescue in no way condemns anybody for selling their horses but just want to be certain that people are aware of some of the things that can happen. Please help support their efforts. Information can be found at www.saddlebredrescue.com or by calling 908-304-3560.
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