But they're worth a lot of money...lying there dead

Here we go again...

29 dead horses, 100+ horses seized. This time it's up in Canada, and it's Arabians. Here's video. The evil scumsucker this time is some guy named Axel Hinz-Schleuter. Just some quotes from the article:

“They didn’t have any feed or water, or nothin’. But the worst part was the barn – it was so full of manure that you couldn’t stand it, and the ammonia smell was actually killing animals, killing the rabbits in there.”



Mr. Hinz-Schleuter has been starving these horses for a long time. In August 2005, he was fined a whopping $1000 (insert sarcasm). I did a little internet research and tried to figure out who this guy is. He's had some very good stallions and I wonder if some of them are among the group now waiting to be auctioned? He owns or has owned *Feniks and *Edykt and Arwitraz. Apparently he owned *Enrilo - a post on a message board tells us "*Enrilo spent the end of his life w/Axel Hinz-Schleuter in Canada. He died there w/him on his farm." Yeah, I bet he DID.

More info from a local, who will be involved in rescuing some of the horses: "Another negative from an inside source has said that not all his animals were taken - his boyfriend took 10 days off work before this was done and was hiding horses. According to Arabian datasource, stallion reports for 75 mares were filed and he owns 174 head. Nothing under 4 yrs is registered. Bastard."

More information off A Black Horse, which is a very popular Arabian Horse forum online: "Someone from ABN yesterday saw the horses and reported: only 20% fairly decent condition, 50% more in critical condition, the rest, mostly young and old, in absolutely "horrendous" condition. The youngsters are stunted and growth impaired and the person commented that probably would not make it in this market too damaged. The old may be too feeble to haul cross country right away. IMHO there will have to be much sorting to do so that the animals which are in too poor condition to haul will be either euthanized or treated at Humane Facilities. "

A Black Horse is trying to coordinate an effort to buy up as many as possible in an organized fashion. Please join the discussion over there if you have space for one or more of these horses! It would be very helpful if you are in Canada, as many Americans are trying to buy these horses and if you can foster some until transportation is arranged and health papers/Coggins tests are obtained, that's what they need.

Obviously if you also have experience with starved horses, so much the better but I'll tell you right now from my own experience - just fill them full of well soaked orchard grass or timothy hay pellets. That is what we do. It's not rich enough to hurt them, they can pretty much chow it down free choice, and if their teeth are bad, this is something they can still eat. Just tons of mush and they will start to regain safely.

All of the remaining horses will be auctioned off on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Nilson Brothers Auction in Clyde, AB. The auction house isn't answering their phone. Go to the forum noted above if you want to help.

I've always thought that the reason we see SO many Arabian hoarding cases - and truly, we do - is that the poor things are pretty. They fit right in with unrealistic expectations - they're pretty, they look nice in your yard, and it's easy to believe they're worth lots and lots of money and breeding more will make money, right? After all, one just sold for $2.8 million! This guy probably had a decent operation at one time - but he lost control. He got financially overwhelmed and he was a stubborn SOB who wouldn't sell them for cheap (this seems to be a particularly common phenomenon in the Arabian world - remember the old lady in Tennessee or whatever who ALSO thought she shouldn't "have to" let them go cheap since she paid so much money for them 20 years ago? Folks, it's a horse, not a vintage car. TWENTY YEARS LATER, it's not worth the same or more money!). He couldn't feed them but he sure as HELL wouldn't put out the cry for help. He was a stubborn, arrogant SOB and now 29 horses are dead. Great.

One final word: It's my understanding the "owner" wants $1000 - $2000 a horse for the papers. If any of you pay that, I'm coming to your house to smack you a good one. Go through the legal system, go through the registry. You will get your papers if the horse can be positively ID'd. It will take longer, but you cannot reward an abuser. The registries are almost always helpful in these cases. They want the papers to go with the horse. Please don't reward this man for his unspeakable behavior.

It's also my understanding that no charges are being pressed at this time. 29 dead and he's going to get off scot free? OK, Canadians, you probably have a better idea of what to do about that than I do - who do we need to contact to demand Mr. Hinz-Schleuter get what is coming to him?

NHR: For those of you not already wasting the entire workday here

50 most influential blogs

Some of these are so much fun. I admit I'm a Perez Hilton/TMZ addict!

Of course, now I'm reading The Sartorialist and thinking it's highly unfair that horse rescue means you can't have cool accessories and killer boots...

A few tips on realistic pricing

Sometimes people send me sale ads and I really do wonder if the person who posted the ad just landed from Mars. The prices are so completely wacko that it's like seeing a 1987 Yugo advertised for the low, low price of $35,000. You can't see a single reason the animal in question would be worth anywhere NEAR the advertised price. It's like the new grad who walks into his first interview and wants a $100,000 starting salary, a company car, and an expense account. If you're the person across the table, you just want to whack 'em with the clue stick.

As an example, here we have two APHA stallions for sale for the same price - $20,000.

Based upon the description, I will bet money this critter doesn't have a single point in any event. And when you tell me he's been ridden at the rodeo, my first question is did the rider make it the full eight seconds?

"Very easy breeder. No horse is as beautiful as him. when bathed he shines like champagne. His coat feels like a rabbits. all foals have been Palomino. All foals have also been amazingly large and gorgeous. My father kept one of his foals he is a cream color with a dun stripe and light milk chocolate color on his knees. Can send pics. Also will have better pics on ad of Charger soon. My young children have ridden him - the stallion. He has been ridden at the rodeo. He is magnificent. a dream horse. words cannot describe. I do not want to sell but have to, serious inquiries only."

Here is another $20,000 stallion.

HE'S A WORLD CHAMPION!

He also has 224 PtHA halter pts.and 3 halter ROM's in 5 shows AND he rides AND he's HYPP N/N. What is not to like? Here's a horse worth spending that kind of money on.

Folks, I don't care how much you LOVE LOVE LOVE Old Yeller, when it comes time to sell him, PLEASE surf the internet and make some attempt to price him in keeping with his actual quality and accomplishments. You look like either a fool or a scammer/con artist when you put these ridiculous prices on horses.

(While we're at it, I find it humorous when someone says their stallion is an easy breeder. Do they mean easy to handle for breeding? Because I have YET to meet the intact male of ANY species that says, eh, no, I'm not really in the mood, I think I'm going to be difficult about this...)

And another note - the amount of money you "have into" an animal DOES NOT in any way, shape or form affect their value. It doesn't become the buyer's responsibility to reimburse you by paying more than a horse is otherwise worth. If you chose to blow $2,000 rehabbing a horse that is a $500 horse, it's still a $500 horse. It did not magically become a $2500 horse because you had $2000 worth of vet bills. You are a Very Good Person for picking up the tab, but the karma is all you get back! Or if you put $2400 of pro training into the $300 grade gelding that you bred, that also did not elevate its value the same amount. It elevated its value somewhat, but probably nowhere near enough to break even. This is why I constantly tell you all that breeding horses is not a way to make money. It's just not. Putting training on horses and flipping them can make you money if you can do the training yourself or if what you're flipping is, say a Hanoverian that's a fantastic mover. The same strategy does not work on the Morab-TWH cross you saved at the auction. I'm all for rescuing, but stop thinking you're going to break even - you're not. And then there's my favorite - when people calculate up all the BOARD they put into the horse and tack that on to the sale price too! Good grief, folks. Nobody is going to reimburse you for all of that.

(I see dog rescues do the same stuff and it's like...folks...nobody is giving you $500 for a 10 year old cocker spaniel. They're just not.)

Do you think Parelli even knows big words like "anthropomorphizing?"

I seem to recall someone mentioning the concept of "horseanalities" to me at one point, but no doubt it seemed so ridiculous that my mind blocked it until an alert reader sent me the latest $250 piece of Parelli crap - the Cradle Bridle.

Basically, what this does is pull the bit upwards a bit to provide tongue relief. As far as I can see, this is the exact same effect as the rubber bit holder used in racing, which as you can see, retails for $9.98.

Man, I just LOVE the cheesy cartoon horses in the drawings. What happened to the one up top? Did someone cut off his back leg? And why is this one on the right sucking on a lollipop? And did something make the one on the left smoke crack like Pete Doherty's cat or what?

Anyway, the Parelli Pony Psychology here is that horses, like people, are either left brain or right brain oriented (the mind boggles - does this mean that some of them would rather draw a picture than trot a circle?) and are introverts or extroverts. As Parelli says, "Characteristics of a "Right Brained" (RB) Extrovert include being frantic, fearful, and may have a tendency to bolt and rear." What? Just humoring you Pat, but shouldn't an extrovert be confident and outgoing? Well, no. According to Pat, if you are high energy and want to run, you are an extrovert, and if you are low energy and want to stop, you are an introvert. Say what?

Pat, it might be good to understand the original meanings of words you co-opt. Just a thought.

*snort* Love the horse ON WHEELS. I haven't seen one of those before - do you suppose they are for sale on parelli.com? (I do recall having a mare that we referred to as a "bitch on wheels" but I don't think that is the same thing.)

Well, anyway. I am highly amused at Pat's analysis of horses AND his far better analysis of people (after all, am I getting rich selling people $250 training bridles? Why no, I am not...If asked, I would do something idiotic like point out that most horses can be trained/schooled just fine in a $25 schooling headstall and a plain old $8 snaffle, or our friend the sidepull which has been around for years, works great on a horse that wants to put his head down and buck, and can be acquired for the princely sum of $27.) Pat knows the score though. There are just a lot of people that can't waste their money fast enough, and Pat LOVES those folks!

Now, I do think horses have personalities, so I'll tell you what I think the three types are, and you can tell me what you think of MY analysis. And no, I don't think it has anything to do with energy level - I think energy level has more to do with specific bloodlines. I met an APHA stallion today, a real sweetheart, and the owner told me he didn't do a darn thing when she first sat on him. I asked his breeding and it was Sonny Dee Bar. Not surprising. Those SDB horses wouldn't blow up if a bomb exploded at the next-door neighbor's. Good luck getting them to ever gallop, but they are not typically going to kill you.

1. Pushy. This is the foal who tries to mow you over to get to food, and has to be constantly reminded that you are not a chew toy. As an adult, he'll instantly sense weakness in a prospective rider and do something like gallop them straight to where the hay is stacked in the back of the arena and dig in. He pushes other horses around, too. He eats first, and the other horses had better not forget it. The great thing about him is he's not spooky, he's probably tough as nails in general, and he can work all day. The bad thing is, if you aren't in charge, he'll HAPPILY be in charge and his interests are probably highly diverse from your own!

2. Scaredy. OMG it's a noise. OMG it's a butterfly. OMGOMGHOLYSHIT it's a mini! *whirl, bolt* This horse will try to jump in your lap at the slightest sign of a Scary Thing. No matter how old he is, he never gets over his fear of pretty much everything in the world. Paired with a confident rider, he can be a great performer, as he draws his confidence from his rider. Paired with a scaredy rider - you have a train wreck. These horses often do very well with a job that keeps their mind busy. They are like a human being who needs to be busy all the time or they overthink everything and drive themselves nuts.

3. Sensitive. This horse isn't scared of the outside world, and he's not pushy. He's just sweet and wants to do the right thing for you, but you need to be consistent or he'll get confused. He isn't tough enough to tolerate a rough rider like the Pushy horse. He's easily traumatized by so much as a harsh word. These are the horses who are easily turned dangerous by bad handling. The good thing is, it doesn't take much to discipline him (voice is usually enough with this kind of horse), and he truly wants to please you. He may also be a wimp physically - if you want to see a (love this term!) drama llama, watch this kind of horse with a hoof abcess. You will be convinced he's dying. He thinks he's dying.

What do you think? Did I miss any major types? What type is your horse?

If this is a stallion prospect, I am a high fashion model prospect!

That was the most appropriate analogy I could come up with! I will not be gracing any catwalks at 5'3 and 40 years old with a big nose and no chin, and this shaggy little critter with a straight shoulder, super short thick neck and godawful looking legs (what have you people been feeding him, he looks like the poster child for epiphysitis) is not (or at least SHOULD not) be a stallion!

Of course, they share their motivation for his purchase using the type of English we have come to expect from breeders who think this is a stallion prospect - "This guys sire and dam really done something for me- So I decided on this colt."

He ain't done nothing for me, pardner. It gets better - they go on to state "Pedigree doesnt get any better then this." Well, that is QUITE a claim, so I looked up his sire...whose one claim to fame seems to be that he is a 100% roan producer with over 200 foals on the ground.

Great. 200 foals by Mr. I Am A Pretty Color And Not Jack Shit Else. That's what the world needed! And hey, I'm sure he'll grow up to look JUST like his dad...except with a bad shoulder, too.

Hooray.

P.S. In case you're not into roan fugly QH's, these folks also breed Shih-tzus, Gypsy Vanners and Friesians! They have FOUR stallions. So far. I am sure every colt born to one of their mares will be "breeding quality" in their barn-blind eyes, so that number is SURE to go up!

Marestare: Showcasing bad breeder behavior for all to see!

Every damn year, there's some debacle on Marestare involving bad breeder behavior. Last year I believe we had dying twins because someone didn't ultrasound and whoopsy got surprised. It's so great when the public can watch your foals die live on the Internet (usually while you panic and run around like a chicken with its head cut off).

This year, an alert Fugly reader sent me this thread from the forums about a mare who was observed to be down for most of the day. While some of the concern was, um, ill-considered (one chick wanted to "call 911" for the mare...um dumbass, that's a good way to get in a HEAP of trouble, 911 is for HUMAN emergencies!), at least the posters were concerned about the mare - more than I can say for her breeder. Someone called her and got the following update:

"Am talking to Cindy now, the mare is just crippled and on medications to help her. Cindy is watching all day at work, and is not concerned. Cindy is very appreciative of all your concerns and watchful eyes, and your messages. Thank you to individuals concerned enough to talk the time to research and call Us to contact Cindy at her place of work. Thank you Very much! This mare has somehow hurt her back or back legs and chooses at times to lay down for as long as 6 hours, so thank you, say a prayer and hope for the best, as she is due in about 1 month."

Then here comes another watchful poster, who chimes in that the mare's been like this for years!

"Oh, I wish I'd been here during all the hullaballoo. Rose is a favorite of mine, and I've watched her three years. She is crippled from an old injury (if I am remembering correctly - so many mares, so little memory!) and she spends a lot of time recumbent during late pregnancy. I think she has trouble getting up. But she does fine."

SURE she does. Here she is on the left. She looks JUST FINE to you, right? Well, if you think so, you can buy her for $1500, they've got her up for sale.

Here's another Mensa member:

"I've watched her foal out twice, and she has done just fine. They do have to get her to her feet afterwards, so that she doesn't harm the foal trying for it while in range."

What is JUST FINE about that?????????????????????????????

I predict that friends of Cindy's are gonna come here and blast me, because this isn't at a shithole farm, this is at an otherwise nice farm. They have a gorgeous halter stallion that I like very much and he's HYPP N/N. They show and do extremely well. Their horses aren't the typically "at risk" horses I normally showcase here. But people, YOU GOTTA STOP BREEDING THESE CRIPPLED MARES! It is NOT okay to have a mare who has to lie down half the time in late pregnancy because her old crippled legs will not support her. This mare, according to their web site, has punched out the following:

Open Superior Trail

Amateur Superior Showmanship

ROM Halter

ROM HUS

ROM Trail

ROM WP

ROM Horsemanship

Futurity Money Winner

MY GOD! Hasn't she done enough? Hasn't she put enough money in yours or someone else's pockets at this point?

She is eighteen and she is hurting. LET THE POOR THING BE A PASTURE PET. And if she's not even comfortable for that, do the right thing and put her to sleep.

I don't have a problem with a mildly lame mare (from a performance injury) being used for breeding, but there's a big difference between mildly lame and crippled. This one's crippled, everybody's seen her hobbling around in pain live online, she's done her time and she needs to be retired. Not re-sold to punch out more babies until she winds up dying in agony in a sling like this mare.

Today's collection of people who need to read this blog

My comments in blue, as usual.

Free mare needs some TLC
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Reply to: sale-597455422@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-03-06, 10:14AM MST

I have an older Registered AQHA broodmare to find a home for. she is not rideable... please don't email me asking this. She is a broodmare only. She is is need of groceries.. I got her this way and I just can't afford to feed her up.. This mare is well bred and could produce a nice foal for you. I have 2 APHA stallons to choose from and will sell you a breeding for $100.00 for this mare at the time you come get her... If this mare won't settle I will breed another mare of you choice. Please only email if you are serious and you will have to come see her in person. I do not have pictures. to a good home only

1. Why did you get a mare you can't afford to care for? Did fairies drop her off on your doorstep? Did Santa Claus stuff her down your chimney?

2. Why do you have two APHA stallions when you are broke? $100 says you don't have the money to train and promote them.

3. Do you really think a good time to breed a mare is when she's "in need of groceries?"

4. Do you even know why she's lame, and how lame is she?

5. Did you know that breeding horses creates more horses to feed and that results in having even less money?

For Sale Stud Horse~PLEASE DON'T FLAG~ - $250

Reply to: sale-596313140@craigslist.org

Date: 2008-03-05, 11:45AM EST

I have a 4 year old stud horse that I need to get rid of ASAP. I have more pics and can e-mail to you.

1. Do you even know what breed it is?

2. Why is it not gelded?

3. $250 says it's not broke!

4. Did you really tie it to a wire mesh fence for this picture? Why yes, I do believe you did!

5. Nice roach back. Even better legs. Yes, stud quality for sure!

Stud Muffin - $1000

Reply to: sale-574594983@craigslist.org

Date: 2008-02-14, 11:50PM CST

Small Flashy Black and White Quarter Horse Stud. No study attitude, handles gentle, lets you do anything to him you want, grooming, saddeling, bathing, follows us like a little dog. You would not know he was a stud unless he is with a mare. He is very cute and curious he would make a child a great show horse with the proper training, he would be nice guelded. We call him Rascal because he is a stinker, but in a funny way. You have to see this 4 year old full of personality to appreciate him. For more information or to visit Rascal contact Dinell at dinelle@fidmail.com or at 314-503-7494. Please leave a message.

1. Quarter Horses do not come in tobiano.

2. I agree, he would be nice gelded. So why haven't you done it?

3. "he is a stinker, but in a funny way." $50 says they flunked Stallion Handling 101!

4. I do like to see that stallions are rideable but if this picture is the best you can do on that score, you might have been better off with a halter shot.

5. Another $50 says Rascal is not his registered name and there are no papers for this critter! Well, maybe from the Tobiano Quarter Horse registry that Dinell started with a box of faux parchment paper from Office Depot and a $45 color inkjet printer from Wal-Mart.

(Final comment, do you know how to spell your own name? I once got a cover letter and a resume where the first name was spelled differently, and no, he did not get an interview!)

FREE PAINT STUD COLT

Reply to: comm-576562448@craigslist.org

Date: 2008-02-16, 9:23PM EST

This guy will be one year old in May 2008. He is very flashy. He is running wild and I do mean wild on 60 acres of open pasture located in Tellico Plains TN. He has NEVER been handled. His Father and his mother are natural rackers. He is a Heinz-57 but he is absolutely FREE! His dad is 1/2 TN walker and 1/2 Morgan. His mom is 1/4 TN walker 1/4 Morgan and 1/2 Kentucky Mountain Pleasure. He is also a natural racker and too intelligent to get CAUGHT! If you would like you may bring your own roping horse(s) and rope. The bay filly in the pic was 1/2 Arabian 1/2 quarter horse we had a guy say he wanted both but when he showed up he could only catch the bay filly. He last week called and said he didn't want to fool with him. We cannot catch him it is up to whomever decides they want him to catch him. You must bring your own halter and lead rope, some feed and you load and you haul away with your own trailer. I would like for someone knowledgeable and experienced with horses to get him. My in laws says he must go now! We had a couple say they wanted this horse they came and they brought three quarter horses he outsmarted the horses and the three men. He is very intelligent.If interested please email. Please only serious inquiry's.

1. Damn, I do not know WHAT to say to that one. I'll get a trailer and be RIGHT over. That sounds like a GOOD time.

2. I can get a registered, broke, quality horse absolutely FREE! right now. Just did about a month ago as a matter of fact.

3. May I suggest you borrow a couple of panels? You do not need men with ropes, you need a catch pen. I know this sounds just wacky to you, but it generally works better when they don't break their neck or legs gettin' caught!

4. He is not "smart." He is scared shitless because you have never gotten off your rump to teach him that human beings won't hurt him. He is having a natural reaction for an animal that is prey in nature. It is not cute
.

5. Heinz 57? He's more diverse than Angelina Jolie's family! Who thought breeding him in the first place was a good idea? Let me guess...you couldn't catch the sire and dam either.

AMHR reg miniature horse colt - $500

Reply to: sale-573906641@craigslist.org

Date: 2008-02-14, 12:16PM ESTAMHR reg buckskin/ white, with 2 stunning blue eyes, miniature horse colt. He is currently about 30" tall and will mature 32-34" tall. He is 10 months old. He is correct with a good bite. Sweet boy, I must place asap for we need bill money. He is UTD on everything. I just did his, flu-rhino and evwt shots, farrier, worming and coggins was just done. I am only asking $500. Good home a must and you must have a horse or pony/mini for a companion. Thanks.

*giggling* I'm sorry, but this one just cracked me up. It's the mini-me Abominable Snow Yak! Sounds like it's well cared for, but how about gelding it before you sell it? Oh wait, you don't have any money either, that is why you MUST SELL ASAP...