A Very Sad Ride

[kathy k]

On Tuesday a friend and I set out for a quiet ride. Moon was doing really well after a 10,day break. We had been riding for about an hour, and going around an area I had not ridden since AnneM had last rode with me before going to BC. Our horses got very tense, then we noticed there was a dead horse in the large field, where a herd of horses run free. We were upset at the sight, but it got worse, further along was another one, it had died caught up in the fencing. Must have been there for a week or two. We were both in shock, upset, tears and all. Our horses were really stressed. We get a little further along, her horse bolts, Moon goes flying sideways, I land flat on my back. It was a deer stuck in the fencing, the deer was ok and got away. I was in one piece but sore, my friend stayed on and was ok. Then a big beaver ran between us, so much for a quiet ride. Glad to get back. Now to let the owner of the horses know they have horses that have suffered horrible deaths, wonder if they care.
The next day a trail ride planned at St Williams, although very sore from the fall, I still went, I had to make myself or it would be harder next time. Moon got on the smallest trailer I have ever seen, which was great cause we have had trailering problems in the past, and worked through it. Had a good ride about 2 hrs. Boy it was hot. Got back and you guessed it, she would not go back on that trailer, got half of her in, but not the back half. After 3hrs trying we had to call for a bigger trailer, we were in the heat waiting for 2 hrs more with hundreds of flies, we were eventually drinking the horses water. I was black and blue from catching my arms and legs on the side of the trailer, rope burns on my hands. Wanting to be home in a bad way. Moon went on the other trailer within 10 mins or so.
What a week, resting my sore body for the rest of it, and trying to figure out how someone could leave their horses to fend for themselves and suffer.

[seerfarm]

Oh my how horrible.

Sending healing thoughts your way, and confidence that you get Moon more confident about the trailer.

[BklynCwgrl]

Sounds horrible...I hope you recover soon.

[cameo05]

Oh no, I am sorry that all this happened. I hope that you recover with no issues and I hope that you and Moon can recover from these 2 experiences.

[NoniMe]

I am so sorry you experienced that....what a horrible thing.

Best-
Noni

[Pony express]

How horrrible for those poor horses.

[horselady]

How horrible, any news on the owner of the horses ?
Hope you are feeling better.

[thumpersgirl]

I am so sorry you guys had to see that. I'm sure the horses were scared by that smell. Sad that they owners left the horses there or possibly don't even know about it.

[Gotta Love Duns]

What a horrible ride, sending lots of hugs your way.

[annem]

Oh Kathy, I didn't realize there were two dead horses. I thought there was only the one stuck in the fence. That is terrible. Give Danielle a big hug from me as I know you said she went to investigate. How double horrible that must have been for her.

[BabyMay]

How terrible.

[corporate cowgirl]

What a nightmare! Hopefully that is the worst riding weekend you'll ever have--anything will seem easy to deal with after those two experiences

[mustang_hope22]

how horrible! I couldn't imagine and I don't think I want to. I am very sorry and I hope you two both get over what has happened soon.....

[Sassy]

Sounds liek you have been riden hard and put away wet! What a awfull week! Sorry to hear you had to endure it all... Any news from the dead horses owners. That is terriable someone ought to contact the police or animal authorities that is shameful to allow horses to die in that manor!! Rest well and hope the weekend goes better for you!!

[jjsimsez]

owners must not care enough to do a head count when they feed and water.if they even do that.bet you was madder n heck that moon wouldnt just go in so you two could go home.some horses just do not like small trailers.glad your ok and just have bruises,nothing broken.

[kathy k]

Thank you for all your responses, it was nice to unload the stress of it all. It is a very delicate situation, we are working to make sure this never happens again. The horses are usually bred, then left in this very scenic setting, with natural water sources, to run as wild horses do. They do not get fed as the grazing is good. But that is no excuse for total neglect. To some people horses are just another way to make a couple of dollars.
Moon will be back to trailering 101 next week. I will let you know how that goes. Thank you again for your support.

[Sunlei]

Originally Posted by kathy k

On Tuesday a friend and I set out for a quiet ride. Moon was doing really well after a 10,day break. We had been riding for about an hour, and going around an area I had not ridden since AnneM had last rode with me before going to BC. Our horses got very tense, then we noticed there was a dead horse in the large field, where a herd of horses run free. We were upset at the sight, but it got worse, further along was another one, it had died caught up in the fencing. Must have been there for a week or two. We were both in shock, upset, tears and all. Our horses were really stressed. We get a little further along, her horse bolts, Moon goes flying sideways, I land flat on my back. It was a deer stuck in the fencing, the deer was ok and got away. I was in one piece but sore, my friend stayed on and was ok. Then a big beaver ran between us, so much for a quiet ride. Glad to get back. Now to let the owner of the horses know they have horses that have suffered horrible deaths, wonder if they care.
The next day a trail ride planned at St Williams, although very sore from the fall, I still went, I had to make myself or it would be harder next time. Moon got on the smallest trailer I have ever seen, which was great cause we have had trailering problems in the past, and worked through it. Had a good ride about 2 hrs. Boy it was hot. Got back and you guessed it, she would not go back on that trailer, got half of her in, but not the back half. After 3hrs trying we had to call for a bigger trailer, we were in the heat waiting for 2 hrs more with hundreds of flies, we were eventually drinking the horses water. I was black and blue from catching my arms and legs on the side of the trailer, rope burns on my hands. Wanting to be home in a bad way. Moon went on the other trailer within 10 mins or so.
What a week, resting my sore body for the rest of it, and trying to figure out how someone could leave their horses to fend for themselves and suffer.

omg that just sucks, what a terrible thing for you and your horses to wittness Sounds like it upset your horse too. Does Canada have any kind of humane societies or animal control you can inform?

[Drafty]

The poor horses!!! Do you know why they died? Senseless waste of life is just sickening.

A friend of mine rescued an old horse from auction. It was a walking skeleton, barely any teeth, ready to die. She felt so bad for it that she brought it home so that it could die safe and loved with a full belly in a beautiful pasture. I am not sure how long she had it before it did finally die, but when it passed away it did so waaay out in the middle of a HUGE field. You could see the horse from the road -- it looked like it was just sleeping. My friend had no idea what to do with the body, so she left it right where it was until the smell made people realize that it wasn't "just sleeping." Not wanting to gross out the neighbors, and since there were coyotes in the area, she drug the horse to the back of the field where it wasn't visible from the road and left it for the animals. The old darling kept the coyotes and vultures fed all winter. It made a lot of people upset just knowing she was out there, but the trail riders just learned to go around and avoid that spot. To this day there are still bits of her floating around. I stumbled across one of her hooves one day and nearly had a heart attack thinking that one of the horses had been injured because there was an entire hoof just lying there!!!

Anyway, moral of the story: Everyone responds to death differently. The people above took in this mare to give her a peaceful end, and when she died her body was just an empty shell to them that did not bother them. They left her in that field not to be sick or morbid but to let her body be used by nature as death was intended to be used by nature. Had you asked me a year ago how I would feel about a dead body lying around on my property, or coming across a dead body on someone else’s property, I probably would have told you that I would have nightmares. But I have lost so many beloved pets in this past year to old age that lifeless carcasses do not affect me so strongly now (although it is still sad, just not shocking).

I hope your bruises are healing swiftly by the way!!!

[sepder]

How horrible!Isn't it amazing that the things we do for pleasure so often put us in peril.Hope your next ride brings you joy.

[annem]

In response to Kathy's very sad and upsetting experience, the humane society could not do anything even if you called them. These horses are well looked after in that they have food to eat, plenty of water and are not looking starved what so ever. In every aspect, they are being well looked after, really. Unfortunately, due to the size of the property, they aren't monitored in the same way as we would monitor our horses. Even the ones that are kept in stalls are well fed, sufficient water and look very good. Training methods are alot to be desired. So, all in all, we would not have a leg to stand on by reporting these people. And on top of all that, they are good people, but they are just business people. Sad but true.