Rescues breeding? OK. Rescues breeding badly? NOT OK!

I've said before that I don't mind hearing that someone both rescues and breeds (assuming obviously that they keep the two things financially separate). It's par for the course in dog and cat breed rescue, where most rescue is done by breeders who actually care where the animals wind up! And heck, if they rescue a superstar mare with papers, I have no issue whatsoever with them putting her into their program once rehabbed. HOWEVER, when a rescue contributes to the problem by breeding absolute crap with bad dispositions, I have to speak up.

This is the case with Ponytales Rescue, which for some unfathomable reason thought this aggressive stallion that they acquired because it killed another horse should be bred. In her own words from a post on Alex Brown Racing:

"Before I got him he killed a gelding that someone turned out with him not knowing , this is what landed him on a feedlot in Maine awaiting shipment to slaughter. He has attacked several geldings that people brought within striking distance depsite being fore warned."

Alright, let's see what we have here. Bad disposition. Homely and unrefined. And apparently his greatest accomplishment is being ridden in his stall by a small child. Which is really super smart considering that he attacks horses that get "within striking distance." Yup, that's what I'd put a child on. And the riding in the stall thing is SUCH a good idea. Broken leg, anybody?

No responsible breeder would breed this rank, nasty stallion and make more of him - why is a rescuer doing it? Hell, why is she breeding anything when her main source of income seems to be the Alex Brown board? Beg, beg, beg - but make another mouth to feed? What is that about?

Oh and here's the beauty queen she bred him to. Long as a train, straight shoulder, just as common as he is. Blech. Can't wait to see that foal. $10 says donations from the Alex Brown Board, aka the Suckers R US! board, go to pay for foaling expenses!

(I LOVE you people who donate to rescues, truly I do, but PLEASE make wiser choices. If I have to hear about one more Fair Dinkum debacle, I am gonna throw up. Give to LOCAL rescues that YOU can visit and check out. That is all I ask!)

This is why I hate the round pen

Before the round pen became commonplace, people who decided to "just get on" a horse without putting any formal training into it were often taken out via natural selection. Now, they have this fluffy sand-covered enclosure where they can bounce off their scared young horse, laugh idiotically, and get up and try it again.

*sigh*

The underweight Clydesdale photographer e-mailed me. She got the standard response - I don't edit posts, and you may sue me if you so choose. Apparently she missed the whole point that I wasn't accusing the horse of being uphill. I rather like uphill horses. I simply said he was fugly as sin, and underweight, and should be a gelding - opinions I absolutely stand by!

"Hello,

As the copyright holder of that picture you put up on your “FUGLY” site, I’m asking that you remove it immediately. You do not have any permission to steal the picture. I know this for a fact as I took the picture myself, and you may tell your “posters” that the picture WAS taken in the pasture as well as Westin was going up hill. The farm my aunt has is extremely hilly, so yes they do sometimes look like they are “uphill” it is only because they are literally standing UP HILL OR DOWN HILL… and if her horses were so bad then how is she selling them to bigger named trainers around the country for jumping, dressage, and 3 day eventing?

There are also some things that were said that are very untrue about my aunt’s horses. One in particular was someone claimed to be on the same board as the owner…. Not true, I’m on the board, NOT the owner, and she does NOT “know” this stallion, I had found her ad looking to trade a mare, and mentioned it to my aunt, then when my aunt learned more about the mare and her ‘lameness’ my aunt said NO, this person didn’t tell her no.

This is a warning to you, that you must remove the picture of Westin and comments about the horses and mules of Brookhill Farm. Being that it is your blog you are responsible for the content and what you have done is slander, theft, and copyright infringement.

Amanda Wilson
http://www.dreamscapesunlimited.com/"

This was sent to me and it DEFINITELY deserves a mention:

"With all of the bad raps that run rampant across the net I wanted to at least mention that since day one The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse has always had a policy of "No questions asked, can't keep your horse? Send it to us". This year alone they have already place 4 horses. When the driving force behind The Foundation was at the helm of the International Andalusian Horse Association, it implemented microchipping for all stock and was also working to get livestock yards to scan all horses so they could keep Andalusians out of the auction yards. If they needed a scanner it would be donated. How many breed assoc or groups will take the unwanted purebreds amongst their membership? I don't think there are too many with formal programs."

I agree. All of the breed registries, ALL of them, DO need to step up and do their part. Is your breed association even donating to rescues?

All right, back to work - I am trying to catch up on e-mails, I really am! Hope everybody had a great weekend. If I met you at the SAFE Show, thanks for coming out and supporting SAFE. I have already forgotten your blog name, 'cause I'm braindead like that, but one of you brought your wonderful 19 year old tobiano who was in beautiful condition and an EXEMPLARY example of how an older horse should look and perform. What a sweetheart!

Let's talk about sensible stallions!

In my travels through cyberspace, I came across this Arabian stallion and I thought, wow, now THAT'S what should be reproducing!

His name is WL Intruder. Among his wins are 2003 Youth National Champion Hunter over Fences. Yes, youth. He has also won jumping competitions bareback and bridleless. He's got a brain and he sure as heck doesn't "jump like an Arab." He jumps like a damn good jumper.

I thought about this today because I was at a show that didn't allow stallions. I was thinking about how the people who insist upon bringing out their rank pieces of crap ruin it for everybody else. This stallion knows how to behave himself in mixed company. So do many others.

Many years ago, when I decided to breed my mare, one of the main reasons I chose the stallion I did - an AQHA stallion and Superior Halter Horse called Barlink Frosty Boy - was that you could just grab him out of the stall and go ride him. He didn't care if there were mares in the arena. He didn't whinny and scream and drag you down the aisle. You never had to worry about what he was going to do. I also used to know an APHA stallion whose registered name was Okie Jewpauls Hope that you could shove into a two horse trailer with a mare and go trail riding. No issues. Never. He had a crappy lowlife BYB owner at the time but I know he got upgraded and went to California and got shown successfully over fences. I think both of those boys are dead and gone by now but they were classic examples to me of how a good stallion should behave.

So tell me- in your breed of choice, who would you point to as a stallion who won/is winning at the shows and knows how to behave himself? I'm looking for horses who have that winning combination of talent and a disposition where people who stood next to him at a show say "I never knew that was a stallion!" I don't want to hear about the neighbor's stud that his kids ride double bareback, but has never been to a horseshow.

And hey, if you want to use this opportunity to mention a few rank SOB's that should get cut, feel free! I have been at horseshows where the Gelding Bus SHOULD have been there and the judge SHOULD have had the authority to send a stallion to it!

Forget the bitchslap tour...

I think what we REALLY need to concentrate on is a mobile gelding bus! I mean, I can come up with 500 much-needed stops without hardly trying.

First Stop: Paris, Ohio!

"10 y/o Painted Quarter Horse stallion. Stands 15.5 He will come up to you,he walks and leads. He throws loud colored foals. Last few years he has just been running with mares. Has not been under saddle for a few years. This horse will need retrained. MUST be an experienced rider. Asking $500.00 FIRM. Located in Paris , Ohio ... Call for further questions... 330-265-3381."




Second stop: Heading north to Holmen, Wisconsin! OK, how ungodly fugly is this Clydesdale stallion? Heck, there's not a single gelding at that draft rescue I just showed you that isn't 10x the quality of this critter.

I LOVE their page of justifications for not doing jack shit with the horses (you know, like, um, GROOMING THEM) "I don't have 'show' pictures up as that is not what our horses do. Not that they aren't capable, they are very much so. But we are selling you a horse. If you love the horses in the natural you will really love them cleaned up. We don't want to sell you glitz and glamour, we want to sell you a horse. "





All right, we're heading west to Utah to ask the question: Did ya steal that front end from Donald Duck? This is a Missouri Foxtrotter stud. All I can say is that it needs to be a Missouri Foxtrotter gelding. NOW.

These folks brag that they have over 100 horses. Yup, a hundred horses and no eye. That's how it usually goes!

I also LOVE that they have a broodmare whose barn name is "Snarly." Yup. That's one you wanna make some more of!

And - par for the course - you can see how wonderful their horses are based upon the rider lying all over them like lawn furniture while they're loose in the field.

Just remember, as you carefully evaluate your breeding stock for conformation and athleticism...it doesn't really matter! Color is everything!

Yes, I think we need to make the Gelding Bus a top priority! Any vets want to volunteer to do the snipping?






For the Seattle Area Locals: Don't forget, the SAFE benefit horse show is tomorrow! You don't need to pre-enter, you can just show up at Bridle Trails and show. And if you don't have a horse to show, you can come and watch the fun, including special Rescue Horse classes and an exhibition by Cowgirl Spirit Rescue Drill Team at lunch.

Cowgirl Spirit will be showcasing three of its adoptable horses: Class, Salsa, and Prince Caspian. "Caspian" has only been under saddle for a few weeks and is already proving himself to be a superstar. He is a Varian bred Arabian and would love a new home for fall, so come by and check him out if you're in the area!

Will anything stop Dean the Horse Hoarder?

Check out the latest

I had been told about this but I wanted to confirm...well, I guess we have confirmation. Dean "Photoshopped Ass" Solomon is still killing horses. What a surprise, NOT.

Hey, any Dean supporters want to come on here and explain yourselves? The floor's yours! Go for it. I am DYING to hear how some of you justify still supporting her, and giving her money. E-N-A-B-L-I-N-G, look it up!

Trial's next month. Not that it will stop her...unless they actually have some balls and lock her up.

Previous blogs on Dean:

Dean and $am fighting all over the Internet - gotta say, that was a good time! Shame they finally shut up...

Dean finally charged with criminal neglect

Report from Dean's arraignment

And you people at Emerald Downs, for god's sake STOP GIVING HER AND HER MINIONS HORSES! I know it's an easy way out but a little investigation wouldn't kill you.

The good, the bad, and the fugly!

How cool is this? Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue did an expo at the Montgomery County Fair last weekend. Now this is what I like to see in a rescue. These horses are fat, shiny, and BROKE! People are actually riding them. As I've noted before, warehousing horses does not get them adopted. Training is paramount - most people want to adopt a horse that already rides. Gentle Giants is in Maryland for those of you who might like to check out these beautiful available horses!

Meanwhile, Horsetopia continues to make my brain bleed.







And I know we see this every day but I'm still sick of it. While I have no doubt that Frosty is a "good one," can't you make that point without risking your child's neck? He's 24 freaking years old, I think I'm gonna believe you if you tell me he's safe without the theatrical asshattery.

I just do not understand risking your child's safety to sell horses. If ol' Frosty were packing her around a ring and she had a helmet on, I'd have no problem with these pictures. Why must she be crawling all over the horse and doing acrobatics on him with a bare head? It doesn't show that he's fabulously broke. It just shows that you're a careless parent.






Sorry, I should have put an "eye bleach" warning on this one. This hideous monstrosity is a grade TB/Appy/draft mare offered for sale for $275 by Smilin Cow Ranch in Oregon. Long backed, short ewe neck, back at the knees, toes out, and I do believe her fugly head is longer than her neck!

OF-FUCKING-COURSE, she's BRED! Because why wouldn't you breed your fugly mixed breed unbroke mare that you are gonna dump before winter? Along with all of your other extra dude string horses and things you don't want to mess with?

*sigh*

She mite have a critter or two!

I love Horsetopia. Truly I do.

First we have this filly that these folks picked up at the "sell barn" for $70.

After someone observes that she looks like she might be bred (she's a two year old so, yes, it's possible), their response is not to, you know, call the vet and find out or anything. This is their response in its unedited entirety:

"We dont think is is prego so she mite have a critter or 2 but we have her out for just a bit longer & then bringer her back in to pour more feed to her & get her checked-out then she will be turned out again & As for her name my husband just calls her blue cause we have a pally & his name is yellow horse 7 then we a dun colt we are breaking & his name is dunny so they kinda get there name from there color & i think they need to have real name beside there reg. names"

They have another thread going about whether or not their baby palomino is show quality (if you have to ask, you shouldn't be breeding!). After several posters observe that it has a hernia that should be cared for, they respond (again, unedited) "I could be a herina but we havent even had her outta the pasture since she was born but we are bringin her in in a few days!!!"

Of course, they have, and again I quote "There are 24 mares 5 geldings 6 yearlings & 11 babies & 3 studs!!!"

See, I just don't know how there will ever be enough responsible people to clean up the unholy mess that is continually created by people like this, who live in their own world where, lalala it is just fine to let horses breed willy-nilly like bunnies in the backyard. The palomino filly IS cute (though not a halter filly) but the rest of what they've produced is a study in mediocrity.

You know, it's just like dogs and cats. I used to live in L.A. and if you mentioned casually at a cocktail party there that your dog wasn't neutered, at least one person would have thrown a drink on you. Then I moved to Oregon and almost immediately, a teenager bragged in front of me that they'd just had a litter of Shar Pei/Rott/Pit mix puppies and everybody in Oregon was like OMG that's so KYOOT (admittedly this was in Gresham, meth-cooking loser capital of the PNW). I was aghasted.

It seems fairly easy to educate the city folk about things like responsible breeding, but how do you get through to people whose families have been churning out horses like popcorn for the past 100 years that it's just not okay to do that anymore? I keep thinking the only thing that is going to teach them is not being able to sell and not being able to feed, but the horses suffer so much in that process. I'm curious, are any of the organizations like FFA and 4-H in your area actually addressing the changed market with the kids and talking about how reckless breeding is not such a great idea? Or are they still encouraging kids to breed, breed, breed?