by Lisa Couturier ~ Published in the July/August 2010 issue of Orion magazine
I WENT TO AN AUCTION last Monday. Not an auction for foreclosed homes. Not an auction for priceless art or jewelry or land. I went to the New Holland Livestock Auction in the Amish and Mennonite country of New Holland, Pennsylvania, where each week horses are sold—though I’d no intention of buying one. I know a thing or two about horses. I spend a significant amount of time with them and can groom them, bathe them, saddle them, walk them, run them on a lead, ride them, feed them, blanket them, work them in a round pen, give them medicine, soak their sore hooves, lift and stretch their hindlegs and forelegs, clean the undersides of their feet, bandage their legs, and minister to their wounds. But I could not foresee, in the spare few minutes each horse at such an auction is given to demonstrate its abilities, personality, strength, or lack thereof (whether young or old, muscled or thin), that I’d be able to determine whether any particular horse would be the one for me.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thank you R.T. for this article, it answers what I suspected.
Hilke
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My husband and I saw the preview for Secretariat yesterday. My stomach knotted up. I said out loud, “I hate horse racing…” I hate it because of all the “throw away” horses involved — all the horses that are ridden way too young and are damaged by racing — all the foals born and raised that are never going to be “winners,” who are therefore the losers of the industry.
This, sadly, is how Americans tend to use a lot of horse breeds. Quarter Horses go to slaughter in Canada and Mexico every day — horses that were once barrel racers or cutting horses — bred for a specific purpose, but they just weren’t “good enough.” Thrown away … It’s heart-breaking.
My rescue mare, Ginger, was going to be thrown away. I stepped in and saved her life. One of the best decisions I ever made.
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Amen, Nora…we have two throw-away Thoroughbreds in our pasture. One is my companion and trail buddy, Ginerous Legacy, aka – Harley, named after the motorcycle that my wife Terry will never let me own. (all his tack is orange and black, though…that much I am allowed)
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Alas, my husband is also a biker without a bike. I think you two would get along great. 🙂
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Thanks, R.T. This emphasizes the sad state of affairs for so many American domestic horses. As most of us already know, using and using up horses is a “tradition” and an accepted part of the “culture” of the Amish and the Mennonites.
After they get all they can out of a horse that has willingly given them the best years of its life, they throw it away with no regard as to the horse’s future – just the money in their pocket. I wonder how this practice will be affected by the new Canadian regulations. If the only option is over 1500 miles to Mexico, I consider that blatently abusive.
The plight of the copper mare is especially unsettling because, as you say, someone obviously cared for her. Not much effort on the part of the auctioneer and, I imagine, a disappointment to the owner. I wonder if she or he had placed a minimum bid on the horse and took her back. I don’t know how sale barns operate in that area. I can only hope an individual had expressed interest in the mare and she was taken back and sold privately to someone who will care for her.
Our rescue bought a poor, skinny weanling filly that didn’t get a bid at a Colorado sale barn. She had obviously been taken off her Mom and was crying frantically for her. A killer buyer argued with our representative and even brought the sale operator over to try and get her, but money ($50) and the Bill of Sale had already changed hands. He later offered $51 to “take her off (our) hands”, but it was no go on that one.
“Charlie” has grown into a beautiful, healthy 3-year-old. Unfortunately, she’s been turned back to the rescue by her loving owners due to economic circumstances. She’s a friendly, high-quality horse and we know we’ll find her another good home.
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There are some excellent equine owners whether thoroughbred, Quarter, Arabian, Standardbred, etc. Unfortunately, they appear to be the exceptions and the industry that reaps millions of dollars off the backs of these noble servants frequently support slaughter, hide the issues or just flat out ignore them; especially with that voluntary check off SH*T. The only consolation I feel is that they are killing the “golden goose” and in the end themselves with their cruel and reckless practices. I can’t watch races any longer knowing what I know about the industry and the horrid people within it that seldom get a slap on the wrist for absolutely some of the most cruel behavior I know of.
Ms Coutureir’s expose’ was hard to read, but so necessary.
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My family was on the meat truck headed to the slaughter house, when a Chestnut and White paint with the same destination saved us. Since that time he has caused us to save many more families and horses. A short story about Nitro is found at
http://www.horsesavers.us
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Frank, you’re a wonderful man with an equally wonderful family! Sticking with a difficult horse takes a world of patience and dedication. I wish horses could tell us their stories. Let us know what abuse caused them to act the way they do.
Speaking of stories, in my opinion this is material for a young peoples’ book and you’re the man to write it. Any illustrators out there? Have you been published before? If not (please pardon the “marina” reference), someone’s missing the boat!
And do you know the Bankrobber’s/Quick Release Knot?
Karen Scholl’s “Tying the Knot” video is the best I’ve found. It features a number of knots for different situations and she ties them normally, then slows down and repeats, unlike other videos I’ve watched (including Pat Parelli’s!). $20 on her website.
http://www.karenscholl.com/education_video-series.html
I bought Karen Scholl’s “Trust” Series last year at our rescue’s Open House ($30). She used to be with Pat Parelli before striking out on her own. She focuses on women, but her techniques should work for everyone.
I bought Karen’s “Trust” Series last year at our rescue’s Open House ($30). She was with Parelli before striking out on her own. She focuses on women, but her techniques should work for everyone. Production’s not as “slick” or extensive as Parelli, but who else has their money (or charges more)?
BTW, I searched for “used” Karen Scholl videos, but apparently folks are keeping them. I know I am!
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I’ve been using positive reinforcement/clicker training methods, specifically for ground work. Great success changing negative associations to positive ones, especially with my paint mare who was very abusively trained before she came into our lives. Clicker training is a great way to engage your horse’s mind without constant pressure, which many horses (especially abused ones) react very negatively to.
Google Alexandra Kurland.
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I have a throwaway QH at my house, he’s a short, older, cowhorse type cutie, sorrel, arthritic, possibly navicular starting, owner wanted a dressage horse, left him at my house after they begged me to let them board him with me because I was cheaper than the big fancy barn they were at. SO, I could send him to a sale, but, he’s a sweet ol’ boy who didn’t ask to be dumped because of his lack of height and graceful bearing, so here he is, and here he will stay.
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Sad how many throw-away QHs there are. My rescue girl was a brood mare. A foaling accident left her with a fractured pelvis and a dead foal. The owner would have let this mare stand around in pain for days. I provided bute and seperated her from the rest of the herd. The owner did nothing. I finally had enough and called in my own vet who diagnosed the fracture. The mare was then worthless to the owner. I stepped in and took her under my wing.
She can’t be ridden. She can never produce another foal. We’re still working to correct her feet, which the former owner completely neglected, and her hips look totally out of whack. None of that matters. She is and will always be priceless to me. Her value is in the friendship she offers me, not in the money I can make from her.
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Equines become throw aways based on the the breeder primarily and then the industries that use them. How does one breed an animal that can live well into it’s late 20’s or early 30’s and not calculate longevity, injury or disposal into that life?
Hmmm….must be the same mindset that won’t let their dog or colt get cut because it’s tooooo ouchy, hurty for them (the male humans). Great stewardship. Right up there with every bitch must have a litter (perfect name right?) before spay.
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Agreed, the main problem is the big breeders like the AQHA and the Jockey Club. They continue to breed far more horses than they could probably sell in a good economy, depending on slaughter to take the “excess” – familiar word – off their hands for a profit. There are some AQHA breeders that put 100 foals on the ground every season, and the AQHA continues to give them “breeding incentives.” Of course the AQHA makes money on every registration. Who cares what ultimately happens to all those horses, right? SICK.
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I want to see ALL these old time auctions get modern and be required to follow the laws of the state.
We do NOT all have to live like the Amish as if we are living in the 1700s.
The horses should be REQUIRED to have full vaccines, worming and a Vet health cert. to be accepted to any horse auction.
I am sick and tired of these cesspools of sick horses allowed to transport horses across the public roadways across america. They spread disease!! many of those diseases are airborn!
The auctions are also a front for horse thieves!! 50 thousand horses are stolen every year in America and these horse auctions take in ANY horse that walks in their door!!
Enough of these low class auctions..get them modern with proper ID checks and lets get the unvaccinated sick horses and stolen horses stopped.
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I agree, Laura. These kinds of auctions need to be closed down.
I haven’t been to New Holland, but I know it by reputation. I sent money to a rescue up there to help pull a few horses. Lots of former Amish draft horses up there. And they’re usually pretty young, still. They use horses and throw them away, just like other people in this country. Nothing special about the Amish in that respect.
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Good luck with that. The USDA and state vet agencies frequently have regulatory requirements for all that you highlighted…..they just don’t enforce them. They say they don’t have enough vets or money.
Look at the USDA when slaughter was conducted at the last three plants or the huge holding/transfer stockyards on the borders….nobody there, nobody checking the trucks, nobody checking the paperwork or deathpits, nobody checking injuries, food, water. If they are there at all they are sitting their butts in the a/c office shootin’ the sh*t with the perpetrators. Read some of the investigative reports from Animals Angels…absolutely sickening.
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You are SO right, Denise. It’s past sickening – I don’t even have the words to describe it. I’ve only been to one auction – in Texas when I lived there – that was enough. Here in IN we have one of the most notorious auctions in the country – Shipshewana. There are some hair raising videos on YouTube involving this hell-hole. Animals Angels consistently rate them as one of the worst in the country. I haven’t been there and don’t plan to.
The Canadians had quite an expose of their plants recently. The inspectors – the ones that were supposed to be on the kill floor at all times – were so afraid because the plant was using rifles instead of captive-bolt pistols, and the employees were so bad with the guns, they stayed on the other side of the building where they couldn’t see a thing to avoid getting shot. They did this for THREE YEARS! I mean, it would be slap-stick comedy if it weren’t so tragic. Unbelievable.
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Frank, thank you for a wonderful, uplifting story. Those are the kind of shared, personal experiences that keep everyone going. All the best wishes for you and your family.
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