MORE FROM JOE'S JOURNAL...
From AlexBrownRacing
Contents |
March 2007
Friday, March 16th... The killer who lives in the small trailer has gobs of horses. All colors, all breeds, mostly young and old. The weather is warm, bugs are beginning, and the poop is not picked up. The killer speaks little English, but he sure knows how to yell out prices. Point to a filly and he says three hundred. Point to an old man gelding and he says two hundred. Ask him where these horses come from and he looks confused. Shrugs his shoulders.
We know a horse dealer in Sacramento, and he tells us the killer who lives in the small trailer actually speaks very good English. He will answer an ad on the internet or in newspapers. He comes to your house with children, an all American family. The kids act excited about getting your horse, so you hand over the keys. The dealer in Sacramento says these horses are sent to Texas slaughter once a week. The killer in the small trailer is paid by the pound. And he sends home large sums of money to his real family in Mexico.
Of course the killer in the small trailer is not blazing new trails. Many other horse killers follow the same path. Giving them a horse is like giving them three or four hundred dollars. The killer in the small trailer sometimes makes two thousand dollars a day. He has a brand new bright red truck.
It is not the sadness. It is the madness. In America, where horses should be honored, they stand in piles of their own poop and wait to become dinner in Europe. And they know. You see the faces, just like at the puppy pound. Eyes with hope. And as you pass by those eyes quickly change to despair.
I tell the killer I want the hairy filly who looks like a thoroughbred. My brain wants to scream. This man in not even legal in our country. Yet he is allowed to kill our animals.
Gary Duncan comes with his trailer, and he has an ice cold Coke for me. We talk about basketball scores. The traffic on Interstate 5. And who will go home on American Idol next week?
We cannot talk about all the faces we leave behind.
Nothing ever changes. Internet letters saying hey Joe, slaughter will soon stop. Breeders will quit having babies. The President will sign a new law. Blah blah blah. Hope on the internet allows others to feel relieved. But nothing ever changes. It is the madness. Why on earth would someone have their mare become pregnant? You should see the young horses who are doomed.
It is Friday, and a gelding will arrive from the race track. We could be 80 degrees. The sunrise is spectacular. Another day at the office...
Joe
April 2007
Wednesday, April 25th... A beautiful thoroughbred mare came to us from the killer pens yesterday. We named her Susie, and there is a racing tattoo which says she is 9 years old. Another trailer of horses began the long trip to slaughter in Mexico, but Susie was purposely left behind. The horse killer in Elk Grove knew I would want her. We concentrate on thoroughbreds with racing tattoos, and Susie becomes the 100th horse we have rescued from this particular killer. Last year he allowed us to bring in the public. 74 horses were saved on three different visits. Susie has good weight, and the killer said he bought her from a breeding farm. Apparently Susie has reproduction problems, so off to slaughter she was sold. I seldom thank a horse killer. But yesterday I told him how much we appreciated the phone call. Susie is a sweetie, and we are glad she is with us.
This is the only horse killer who is kind enough to tell us about thoroughbreds with racing tattoos. Any horse with a tattoo and he phones me.
The going rate in Northern California is 47 cents a pound. This figure changes often. When slaughter in America first stopped, the price shot up to 60 cents a pound. But now that horses are crossing both borders, we are once again paying normal fees. Our world of high finance. Our world of continued sadness. Killer auctions are popping up all over California. Turlock and Petaluma. Chico and Redding. Last weekend there was a livestock auction in Pleasanton, mostly cows and goats, but several horses passed through the sales ring and killers bought them all. It is difficult to stay tuned. A million channels to choose from...
Andrea is 11 years old, and in the mail comes a letter with a ten dollar bill. Her weekly allowance. Andrea wants me to put the ten bucks towards saving a horse. She writes it is not much, maybe just a few hairs from a mane. Andrea asks please do this for her. She wants to be part of the process. She wants to rescue a horse.
Despite killer auctions, overflowing feed lots, doomed trailers crossing both borders, a letter comes from Andrea and the room lights up. There is a juggling performance. Dealing with horses who are unwanted. And then dealing with kids who ignore the obvious, because they only see beauty. The possibilities are forever.
Gary Duncan brought us Susie yesterday, and he would not take any money for shipping. Gas prices are ridiculous so I said here, take at least forty bucks. The drive from Elk Grove to our ranch and then back to his home in Sacramento. More than a half a tank of gas. But Gary said nope, he would have walked Susie down Interstate 5 just to get her out of those pens. He is sick of this. Tired. Gary has to look at the faces he leaves behind. He does not want to go back there. He sees those faces in his sleep.
I showed Gary the letter from Andrea. The ten dollar bill. Her entire allowance. I cannot have Gary quit. Dave Barrett, Brian Gill, Sarah McDowell and Gary Duncan are the only horse haulers the killers will allow. Dave is retired and Sarah is in Utah.
Gary Duncan wrote me a check for $320.00. He spent time with an older mare at the feed lot and the killer told him $330.00. The mare had her head drooping, and she was hairy and unkept. Gary said put his $320.00 with the ten bucks from Andrea. He will go get the mare on Thursday and bring her to us.
Enjoy your day, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
May 2007
Thursday, May 3rd... For over two years Gary Duncan has been hauling horses for us. Twice he has written a paragraph for the morning journal. For you new readers, Gary does not talk the way he writes. He is a remarkable man who does not need much sleep. Gary works the night shift at a grocery store, but is always willing to help a horse during the day. Both his previous paragraphs brought fan mail, and he received each letter. Gary wanted to write another paragraph. What a day he had. Here we go:
Interstate 80 was a crawl, but the gelding in my trailer was quiet. Joe phones and says please go to Martinez and pick up another gelding. All I want is to go home because my wife Jean taped House and I need to slumber. Jean says I seldom sleep, I only slumber. Joe says the gelding in Martinez is in serious trouble, and he needs to be picked up right now. Joe says the lady is going to kill her gelding, so call the police if I get in trouble. I finally make it to Martinez and the lady calls me a fat f***. She says wow, you really are a fat f***. And tell Joe that I hate all you animal loving miserable pricks who put horses above humans. I should have killed Gus just to piss you both off. Gus is skinny and lame, but he jumps into my trailer like Flicka is inside waiting for him. The lady cusses me out some more, and even insults my mother. Back on I-80 and the traffic is still bumper to bumper. A little kid in front of me, and through his rear window he sticks out his tongue. I stick my tongue back out at him. So the little kid gives me the middle finger. I have to look at this kid for the next 10 miles, and all I can think about is watching House and eating a chicken pot pie. Joe phones again. Says please go to Elk Grove and pick up a mare at the feed lot. I feel like a Yellow Cab driver. I wait in the driveway, and pretty soon the killer brings out the mare. She loads easy, and all three horses in my trailer are quiet. I see an older mare and I think she is dying. I tell the killer maybe she needs a vet. The killer said no, she is just old and tired. I go to her pen and her head is drooping. There is a new flake of grass hay, but she only nibbled. This mare is not tired. She is devastated. Depressed as can be. Back on the freeway, and screw this shit. I like helping horses and I like helping Joe. But I have had enough with these horse killers. Joe is always saying we just do our job and go away. If we get killers mad they will not sell us any more horses. Joe names the mare Susie, and puts her away. Joe changes Gus to Martin, and puts him away. Joe names the other gelding Lennon, and puts him away. I tell him I cannot do this anymore. I can deal with an old lady calling me a fat f***. I can handle being flipped off by a 5 year old kid on the freeway. But seeing that sad mare who will soon be butchered, I cannot get her out of my mind. Joe brings out a letter from a kid named Andrea, with a ten dollar bill. He says we gotta keep doing this. Long after we are dead and dusty, it is the kids who will take over. We have to keep kids excited about horses. I am not sure how it happened. But I now own an old mare with a kid named Andrea. We are partners. We talked on the phone. I am no longer just a horse hauler. A Yellow Cab driver. I am a horse owner. I helped rescue an old mare, and her name is Andrea. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
Gary Duncan
Yesterday Andrea left our ranch for foster care in Fairfield. She has green grass with daily tubs of supplements. Already a sparkle has come to her eyes. The farrier will see her on Saturday. Andrea has an appointment for her teeth to be floated next Tuesday. We think she is a quarter horse mix, and around 20 years old.
Enjoy your Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. Not a bad gig if you can get it...
Joe
Thursday, May 10th... Sarah McDowell phones from Utah last night and says look for her on TV. She is at the playoff game, sitting about a million rows above the basket. Sarah tells me I should be there. The crowd is incredible, and her ears hurt from all the noise.
I was at least 15 acres away from the nearest television. In the north field with dozens of horses, and I tell Sarah she should be here. The San Francisco breeze cooled us off, and the sunset was a postcard. Horses looking for that last bite of grain, and the old man Limo somehow knows about the peppermint in my pocket. Flies were calling it a day. Marvin Gaye returned to us from foster care, and he looks like he could easily win the third race at Golden Gate. Nicholas was once skinny and sad, but now he is healthy and happy and his wife Shellac likes to boss him around. The old mare Bunny pees when she eats, and when Red River Valley eats he moans. Bass recently arrived from an auction, and he has yet to make a friend. So Bass follows me around the field, hoping for one more pat on the back. A small chunk of flesh is missing from the neck of Bambi, no doubt a quarrel with other fillies who are in heat. 103 horses on our ranch, and all seems to be well. Love Songs By Request on the barn radio, and Pinkie likes to poop in his water. Two points. A shower and dinner, and Jordin gets to stay on American Idol. We could not see Sarah behind the basket. But Rachel Ray gives us tips on restaurants we will never visit. Cities we can only imagine, far away from our 103 horses. In Woodland, having our weekly chocolate shake with horrible french fries, and the girl asks why not save every horse who needs saving? Why just thoroughbreds? Um, because we only have 30 acres and usually 30 cents in checking. For someone so young, the world is her stage. She has yet to learn about boundaries. Thoroughbreds bring it all to the table. There are no secrets. Race horses have arrived with their teeth missing, bloody gums, broken legs, ruptured tendons. They never shy from telling you the truth. To own a thoroughbred means you own the purest form of honesty. You may not like what they sometimes say. But once a thoroughbred loves you, there is no escape. He will love you for the rest of his life.
I think about Roger Thomas, and at the boarding stable where I once worked Roger showed up one day to say hi. He had not seen Sadie in more than two years. Roger kept Sadie at his house, but then he moved to an apartment, so he gave Sadie away. At the boarding stable Sadie heard his voice and came running. A happy scream of pleasure, even after more than two years. Roger said they were always close. He gave Sadie a carrot and a quick hug and then he was gone. I felt so bad for Sadie. She loved Roger like crazy, but he could no longer share his time. Often I am told how thoroughbreds are stupid, and they remember little. Believe me on this, thoroughbreds are not stupid. They remember all. Thoroughbreds choose carefully what they will share with you. Their silence is mistaken for stupidity. But they are only protecting themselves from generations of mishandling.
Living with over 100 thoroughbreds, and my wife Cathy and I are amazingly blessed. We have made mistakes. Trusted the wrong people. Hoped for a better outcome. And through it all, having horses means never having a bad day. Just like the young girl over a chocolate shake. Having horses means the world is your stage. You learn how everything is possible...
Joe
Friday, May 11th... A family living not far away, and in our driveway they say there is $1,800.00 saved up for summer vacation. Their vacation has been planned for months. A few days at Disneyland, and one day at San Diego Zoo. There is dad and mom and two young daughters. The oldest daughter is 13, and she reads the morning journal. The 13 year old convinced her family they should stay home this summer. She instead wants the $1,800.00 to be used for saving doomed horses.
What a day it was. Mostly gloomy, mostly disturbing. Hundreds of horses in trouble. Just when you think no way can it be any worse, there is a phone call telling you yes it can. The frustration mounts. But then a family appears in your driveway, and they need directions to the nearest killer auction. With $1,800.00 they can probably save the lives of 4 or 5 horses. The 13 year old daughter says a trip to Disneyland will be over before you can say Donald Duck. But 4 or 5 horses can live on for years, and just think what a major rush this will be.
Both parents are proud. A new arrival from the feed lot yesterday, a hairy gelding with skin fungus. The 13 year old daughter helps take him off the trailer, and she names him Kodak. In the past we have had two other horses named Kodak, and both found great homes. The 13 year old girl says he may not look like much now, but one day he will be a Kodak Moment.
I tell her parents this is amazing, they made my frustrating day much better, and I would like to share their story on the morning journal. Mom says sure, just no names please. Her 13 year old daughter recently read in the newspaper about a family which could not afford to pay for a funeral. The daughter raised $550.00 all by herself, and sent the money without a return address. Just a note saying hope this helps. The daughter is always doing for others, and she likes to stay in the background.
When her daughter was 2 years old she began to love horses. Horses on her walls, sheets on her bed with drawings of horses, and last year Cathy and I apparently mailed her an old halter once worn by my mare Amydid.
I have the best job in the world. I get to meet the most giving people. Saying no to Disneyland so horses can live on.
Three more horses come to us from the race track today. There is employment at another ranch, and hopefully there will be time to rake poop from our fields. We are not a pretty sight. Enjoy your 80 degree Friday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
June 2007
Friday, June 8th... Graduation time for Jessica Taub and Daniel Sorenson. The ceremony takes place tomorrow morning on a football field, and then Jessica and Daniel must rush off to compete at a jumping show. Tomorrow night there will be a graduation dinner in San Francisco. A day they will forever remember, and congratulations to both...
School is out, and the summer show season is here. Dozens and dozens of our former horses with their second careers. Cathy and I sit at home and wait for the videos. Sky Matt is training for the Olympics. Ridgewater can jump over the moon, and he was resold for a zillion dollars. Our friend Erin of Vacaville was offered more than a zillion dollars for Half A Decade, but Erin said no. Half A Decade once had a torn tendon, but now she jumps and also dances. From big money jumping events to small schooling shows, we love watching our former horses shine. Better than any feeling on earth.
Boston Pops did not come from our ranch. He did come from the race track with a bowed tendon and puffy knee. Holly Meeks rescued Boston Pops at a killer auction. His price was $325.00. And now Boston Pops takes Holly around her neighborhood. He eats ice cream cones. Small kids touch his nose. I saw Boston Pops last weekend, and he is the star of his street.
Thoroughbreds are versatile. They can jump and they can dance. They can sit with you under the moon on a night time trail ride. Five of our former horses are now with police departments. Members of the mounted patrol. At the race track Cat Craze was a tad crazy. As a police horse Cat Craze gives riding lessons to young officers. Give them time away from the race track, and anything becomes possible...
We continue to have dial up problems. If you have sent us an e-mail please just phone instead. And sorry, but I must air some important messages. Here we go:
All 4 shoes from Devil Badgett are spoken for. And there is only one shoe remaining from Smokey White Eyes. The Devil Badgett halter now has a new home. Cynthia in Los Altos, Banji (probably spelled wrong) in Denver, Rueben in Hollywood, Jamie in Redwood City, and Nicole in Newport Beach. We need your home address please. Just phone, or write to us in the regular mail.
Will the lady from Sacramento who called about cheap castrations please phone me again. I lost your number, sorry.
And to the young girl who left a message saying I was slow and lazy, please phone me again. We are having computer problems. Sorry you are so upset.
My cell is 530-383-2120.
To all of you who wish to be foster parents, it is true, I am slow. I will visit you soon, and thank you so much for your willingness to help needy horses.
Speaking of slow, hungry horses are wondering where I am. A new day begins, and the man on the radio is saying we will be 82 degrees. Brian Gill arrived in Las Vegas last night. At a small diner he ate a turkey burger smothered in grease and cheese and the whole thing fell apart. Brian moves into his new apartment today. Jennifer Wright flies down tomorrow to help him unpack. Tomorrow night Brian and Jennifer go dancing at The Palms Hotel. And now you know all that I know. Keeping you in the loop...
Joe
Tuesday, June 12th... It was so hot yesterday my Hershey Chocolate Bar only lasted a few minutes outside. A big glob of goo on the hood of my truck...
Congratulations are in order for Tess and her gelding Victor, who on Sunday won 4 classes and a brand new dressage saddle. Tess adopted Victor from us in 2003, and this is their second year of showing. Victor does dressage, he jumps, and at his barn he gives lessons to beginning riders. We also say way to go Kelli and her gelding At Dawn. Kelli adopted At Dawn from us last year, and this past weekend was his first show. Later this month there is a big event in Denver, and Kelli and Dawn will try for the money. Our former horses have been doing well on the show circuit. Over the weekend Christmas and his owner Patti won 3 of their classes, and the grand prize was $250.00. Christmas came early for Christmas...
A nutty week in store. Foster home screenings, employment at another ranch, a trip to the feed lot in Elk Grove, a trip to the feed lot in Vallejo, and all of this while summer temps reach 97 degrees. County fair racing begins in Stockton. Slaughter has resumed in America, and it is difficult to stay informed. Our courts say one thing, but their minds are easily changed. There is a tale to tell, but I cannot use real names. In the dead of night a person went to a feed lot and (we do not use the word stole) put 4 doomed horses into her trailer. The horses are safe, the killer promises to raise his rates, and life goes on because it is all we have. Here we are, comfy in our house with maybe a movie or a Law And Order marathon. But the real world is conflicted. One day horses are honored, and no way should anyone eat them. The next day slaughter begins again, and is anyone really in charge? Horses are butchered in Mexico, and the trip from Northern California is just 15 hours. You learn the lingo, and there is always room for one more. A killer in Elk Grove sent a Thank You card to a breeder in Vacaville. The card said please keep breeding, my family in Mexico needs the money. A killer can make up to five thousand dollars for every jam packed cattle trailer he sends to slaughter. For that kind of money slaughter is not going away. We all have to be on the same page. Tougher laws. Border patrols are a joke. The killers hand over a few dollars and are allowed to pass. I cannot haul a horse to Oregon without a coggins certificate. But killers can take dozens of horses out of our country daily, and they are never stopped. We bang our heads against the stall wall.
And in the dead of night someone tried to help. 4 horses may not bring Paris headlines, but 4 horses will see the sun come up tomorrow. And we cannot question the route others take, because when you love horses you automatically love life. Our court system is a mess. So a girl with a trailer took charge.
It is Tuesday without American Idol, but somehow we will survive. The coffee is from Folgers, and a big thank you to Allison Martino for the delicious blueberry muffins. 105 hungry horses await room service, and a billion flies are starting their engines. Always remember to hug your horses. Anything is possible. I know this for sure...
Joe
Tuesday, June 26th... (after the fire in Lake Tahoe) Just like when Gary Duncan blew out a tire on the freeway, and 4 motorists pulled over to help because there was a horse in his trailer. Just like when Katrina hit, and Sarah McDowell is on the next plane and for 5 weeks she takes care of lost dogs and cats and sheep. My phone kept ringing yesterday. I wrote about taking in a horse from the Tahoe fire, and readers jump in. There is Candy Davenport in Placerville, and Julia in Lincoln. A lady named Alice and a young girl named Julie, and both live in Folsom. Craig has an auto dealership in Reno, and there is room on his ranch. Barbara in Loomis. Alexis in Winters. Michael in Sparks. Jim and Christine in Wheatland. James and Nicole in Reno. Colleen in Reno. Mindy in Reno. David and Jill in Reno. Jessica in Vacaville. Tobi Geter lives in Davis, and she is willing to pay board on a needy horse from the fire. Allison in Auburn. Toni in Lincoln, and on her ranch is room for 10 horses and she also has dog kennels. Debbie Peters has room for several cats. Over the years Marty in Wilton has rescued rats and lizards. Horses and raccoons. Marty says send her anything, she will gladly help out.
And you have to know how all of this makes me feel. Strangers coming together to help those who need it most. We saw the footage. More than 240 homes lost, and many did not have time to save their animals. The heartbreak is overwhelming.
I could call Jodi in Dixon and ask if she could house a thousand more horses, and Jodi would put out the welcome mat. I could call Megan in Fairfield and ask the same thing, and her gates would swing wide open. I could call Cheryl in Auburn, Jenny in Santa Rosa, Tess in Novato, Jessica in Elk Grove, or Mike and Kathy in Ione. The only thing they would all ask is how can we help some more?
Horses up and down our driveway. The same chores, poop on top of poop, and flies feast in 90 degree weather. You think about all we have, but nothing counts most than having each other. Animals do that. Our little circle.
Joe
Saturday, June 30th... I have been dealing with a certain horse killer from Turlock, and he currently has many skinny horses. In the last few days we have bought three of them. Thin as can be, wormy, and the sadness is overwhelming. The three new skinny horses are thoroughbreds with bad feet. Our shoer Tim Gee is coming to help their with new life. One of them is young with a racing tattoo. He does not weigh 750 pounds. Last night he literally jumped into his supper. Dove in feet first. A routine will be set, and starving horses soon adapt. We keep music playing day and night. And constantly they are touched.
Allison Martino is 12 years old and blah blah blah. Her favorite saying: blah blah blah. Ask Allison to bring you a bucket, and she replies blah blah blah. Allison says she visits our ranch for an attitude adjustment. Being with horses who were about to die puts her back on the right road. Yesterday Allison spent over an hour grooming one of the starving horses. And then her mom came to take her home. I said bye Allison. There was no blah blah blah. There was no see ya later dude. Allison was silenced. Starving horses, and all they suffer, will do that. Hang out with a starving horse, and you will soon realize what is most important in this world...
On three different occasions Allison has mowed lawns, washed cars, walked neighbor dogs, and money earned was spent at the feed store. Allison brings us bags of grain. I tell her this is not necessary. We certainly appreciate all your hard work, but it is not necessary.
And Allison says oh yes it is. It makes her feel good inside. And blah blah blah Joe.
The way we live. A thousand stories a day on a rescue ranch. And here we are, the last day of another month, poop on top of poop. The coffee is from Peets, and warm blueberry muffins come from Jessica Graham. We might be 86 degrees today. Enjoy your beautiful summer day, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Courtney in Arizona. I think Jordin has been adopted, but we will not know for sure until next week. Give me a call when you can Courtney...
Joe
July 2007
Monday,July 2nd...Yesterday I posted two pictures of recently rescued starving horses. Several parents phoned to say how unhappy they were. Their young daughters were terribly upset. A lady in San Francisco informs me she will no longer allow her daughter to read the morning journal.
There is abuse and cruelty which I never show you. Also horrible injuries from the race track. I know most of our hits come from young girls. The letters and phone calls say so. Posting pictures of a shattered left front leg, or showing you a horse that has been beaten with who knows what kind of tool, what good would that do?
I might have crossed the line yesterday, and I apologize. I should not have posted those pictures.
I disagree with adults who say kids need to learn about the real world. Kids need to see those kind of pictures. I disagree with all my being. And I screwed up.
Because young girls believe horses are romance. Horses are magical. Evil is not allowed. They already see enough bad things on the evening news. Horses are the epitome of beauty and all that is good. And it is many of these young girls who will grow up to own horses. To keep them safe. We must never destroy the magic.
We might be 94 degrees today. We might be 106 on Wednesday. There is employment at another ranch, earning the big bucks, and also a trip to the feed store. Brian Gill phones from Las Vegas, and he ate jumbo shrimp with wasabi and sage at MGM Grand Hotel. Enjoy your very warm Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Gabby in Los Altos. Also Michelle in Sacramento, and on the 4th of July Michelle is hosting a barbecue at her barn. Huge amounts of food, and then kids will ride horses and there will be dancing and running through the sprinklers.
Joe
Wednesday, July 4th... The girl was in our driveway, holding a beautiful appy gelding. We have known this girl for several years. She says your journal this morning convinced me this is the right thing to do. There is no money to pay his July board. Please find him a good home.
We have a list. Young girls taking riding lessons, waiting for their first horse. Next on the list is a girl who lives in Woodland. She has told me over and over not to find her a race horse. She prefers quiet and well trained. The appy gelding is black with a white blanket on his butt. He has been to many shows, but trails is what he loves most. The girl and her mom came right over. I said here, Happy 4th of July. The girl has a deal with her mom. She will continue with riding lessons, and money earned from her summer job cleaning stalls will go to help with boarding costs. A big thank you to Stacy Youngblood for providing the transportation. What a day for the gelding. He went from a show barn in Dixon to a rescue ranch in Woodland. And then to a boarding stable in Davis. The girl changed his name to Jet. In her dreams all her life, she has owned a horse named Jet. And now she really does...
An older thoroughbred mare from the killer pens arrived yesterday, and there is a racing tattoo which says she is 17 years old. Holly in Woodland is anxious for Hollywood the gelding to be shipped to her home. But we decided to wait until after the 4th of July. Just in case there are booms and bangs. On our street things stay quiet. Except from the telephone poll, where you can sometimes hear chatter. Jessica Spriggs goes for a trail ride in Cache Creek today, and in her picnic lunch is chocolate cake from The Nugget. Lindsey Davenport goes for a trail ride in Grass Valley today, and in her picnic lunch is chocolate cake from The Nugget. Jessica and Lindsey are cousins, and both love The Nugget. Sandi Smythe phones to say Mr. Thatcher went to his first show, and placed in two classes. Play Misty For Me placed in her very first halter class. Jewels On Top finished on top in his halter class. Julia rides Chet in a parade today. Cassie rides Angel in a parade today. Ryan rides Mercedes in a parade today. Becky and Rachel go for a trail ride in the Oakland hills. Jennifer Wright phones from Yosemite, and the sunrise each morning takes her breath away. Michelle at the race track is now working nights at a vet hospital. An exercise rider each morning, and a vet tech each night. Andrea from Woodland found a summer job in fast food, and she phones to say stay away. Andrea says you would not believe how dirty this place is. Well golly gee. Dakota Blue will watch fireworks tonight in Lake Tahoe. Katie Cooper will watch fireworks tonight in San Francisco. Gary Duncan and his family will watch fireworks at Cal Expo. Sarah McDowell plays in a softball tournament today. If her team keeps winning, there could be 4 games in one day. Lose once, and you go have a picnic. Mike Baker is helping with lunch at another softball tournament. Mike is in charge of the grill. Tobi Geter goes for a trail ride in Benicia. Nikki Peters goes for a trail ride in Wilton, and Nikki phones to say there will be chocolate cake. Joe and Cathy Shelton will spend the day scooping poop from 103 horses. No place on earth we would rather be. Enjoy your 107 degree holiday, and be sure to hug your horses. A very special hello to Madison, and I hope you recover quickly. Summer bronchitis is no fun. Put Tabisco on your scrambled eggs. It helps, honest...
Joe
Two new additions to our family. Say hello to Seven and Eleven. We let the hose run so they can play...
This multiple stakes winner came to us in 2005. He earned just under $800,000.00. Below on the right is his first night on our ranch. We call him Murdock.
Thursday, July 5th... The first call came before 10:00 in the morning. Hey Joe, my wife and I would like to drive into the city. Have some dinner, maybe stay for the fireworks. Would you be able to come feed our 9 horses tonight? We will pay you $60.00.
Okay sure.
The next call came around 1:00. Hey Joe, I would like to meet my niece in the city. Have some dinner, maybe stay for the fireworks. Would you be able to feed my 15 horses. And be sure to let Big Willy (a hoot of a pit bull) outside for his potty time. I will pay you $100.00.
Okay sure.
Big Willy followed me around with the feed cart, and he did two giant poops. Good thing I went there, or my friend would have come home to a stinky bedroom. For the day I made a nifty $160.00. And I stole a creamsicle from the freezer, and within two minutes the whole thing melted. It was 105 degrees.
Back home, feeding 103 horses, and at 7:00 p.m. it was 101 degrees. I watched as flies packed their tiny suitcases and left for Portland. Jodi phones from Dixon where it was 108. We are all miserable. Water tubs are filled with dead insects. Whatever made them think they could swim?
I saw my friend Paul Sedgewick, and he brought me a Daily Racing Form. There is an article by a man named Jay Hovdey, and he writes about how old race horses are being sent to slaughter in Mexico and Canada. This bothers me beyond words. All the race tracks in California know we will pay the same prices as a killer.
A recent conversation with a trainer at Bay Meadows, and he tells me how he sold a classy old horse to slaughter because he thought my ranch was filled. Huh? I explain there is always room for one more. We have almost 100 horses in foster care, and new foster parents are being approved all the time. The trainer says okay sorry, but the horse had bad wheels.
Bad wheels? Horses have legs, not wheels. Horses are living breathing souls, not an old junk of a car sitting in a back yard somewhere. To be butchered alive is the ultimate disgrace. I cannot imagine the horror...
Katie Cooper phones from San Francisco, and she says you should see this crowd. Katie is next to the Golden Gate Bridge, waiting for darkness and the fireworks show. Katie just turned 15, and she tells me how much she loves America. This is the best holiday. Strangers coming together to celebrate a birthday. Before hanging up Katie once again says you should see this crowd. And how lucky are we to have all of these freedoms?
5:45 on a Thursday morning, and I am rambling. Already I have been to the barn, and Pony Boy was waiting at the gate for his first peppermint. 103 horses begin to move around. On the barn radio is Roberta Flack singing about seeing your face for the first time. A gelding from the race track, his name is Capricious One, but we call him Cap. Sometimes we call him Captain. The sweetest gelding on earth, and he may be leaving us soon. There is a girl in Sacramento who has been here to see him twice. She calls everyday, wanting to know if Cap is still here. There are 4 piles of poop in his stall. A busy night. Porky Pig gives a snort and waits for her banana. Barn cats circle my legs. How lucky are we to have all of these freedoms?
Late night ESPN, and they show an older lady at a ball park. She is eating a pretzel, and there is mustard on her mouth. The lady wears a shirt saying God Bless America. She waves to the camera. And I know she is feeling exactly what Katie Cooper is feeling.
I have always loved American Idol, probably because of the possibilities. Anyone can reach their dreams. And it is our dreams which we hang on to. Our dreams provide the courage to keep going.
It cannot be about a cold, indifferent horse trainer. Or a killer who sits in his trailer watching Wheel Of Fortune while ignoring hungry horses waiting to be butchered. There has to be more than that. There has to be Katie Cooper telling me over and over you should see this crowd. There has to be an old lady at the ball park with mustard on her mouth. Early on a hot Thursday morning, there has to be Capricious One greeting me like he is working the front door at Wal Mart.
I wish we could stop horse killers from crossing both borders. But this will never happen. Still, when there is a dream... Joe
Wednesday, July 11th... Right now, 5:45 in the morning, and the sky is lighting up and there is thunder and rain. Our dog Bojangles is trying to hide under the coffee table. He hates loud bangs. The rain smells wonderful. A middle of the summer treat. Through the open windows we can hear 107 horses yelling and running. The man on the radio is saying this rain will pass quickly. And then it is on to our 91 degree day...
Lisa came from Elverta to adopt Crockodile Rock, and he leaves us this morning. A former race horse with two big ankles, Crockodile Rock has lived with us for over a year. At a very cute ranch in Elverta, Crocodile Rock will become best friends with Tony The Pony. There is green grass, and twin neighbor girls come to give treats and baths. Tony The Pony recently lost his long time companion. Crocodile Rock will help ease his grief...
And over the weekend Blake, one of my forever favorite geldings, was adopted by Eric and Debbie of Placerville. The mare motel will feel so empty. Blake is just 3 years old, personality plus, and Eric will introduce him to trails. A big thank you to Georgia Hartman for providing the transportation. We say goodbye to Blake tomorrow.
177 adoptions so far this year. It is too bad adoption number 177 did not occur on 7-7-07. Now that would have been something to write about...
If you have a hard time dealing with horse slaughter, please click off and come back tomorrow. The following is rated R, for Repulsive.
I just hate it when horse killers do the I Told You So dance. Two, sometimes three cattle trailers filled with horses are leaving Northern California each week. The horses are slaughtered in Mexico. When slaughter was outlawed in America, horse killers told me no big deal. They will just take them to Mexico or Canada. I tell the killers getting across the borders will be difficult. They laughed at me. Hand over a few dollars to patrol agents and you can take an elephant across the border. Hand over a few dollars and you can cross with a van load of farm workers.
Horse killers are doing the I Told You So dance, rubbing it in my face. We have worked for years to stop slaughter, and when finally the courts said enough is enough, killers only grinned and pointed their trucks south. More horses are being butchered today than ever before. The demand for horse meat is at an all time high.
And I suppose this bothers me because I am getting old, tired, and more broken down than any of the race horses we rescue. I wanted to see an end to this crap. Horses should be respected. If you have ever been to a feed lot to look at doomed horses, you never forget the faces. The despair hangs in your brain for weeks and months. There is no respect. There is no dignity.
Yesterday I had a man who earns his living by selling horses to slaughter, this man told me Americans are f****** stupid. All you goodie goodie right to lifers with your websites and chat rooms. Trying to end horse slaughter. When all the while you should have focused your attention on morons who breed their mares. And then this man ended our conversation by asking how do Americans even put their shoes on? They are so f****** stupid.
He was doing the I Told You So dance. I just hate that.
We have to change channels. Other options must be explored. Why on earth do we let illegal people into our country to make money from slaughtering our horses. Why? This a not racial thing. This is about protecting our horses. Protecting all that is ours...
Joe
Thursday, July 11th... All day the little cell phone was bonkers. Twice I had to recharge. There was even a phone call from a bigwig in politics, and she said they are aware of the Mexican border problems.
A horse killer in Elk Grove, and you might as well know his name is Mick Ruiz. We often buy thoroughbreds from Mick, and I never knew he had a computer. Mick phones to say he finds my morning journal amusing. And he wants me to know not once has he ever bribed a border patrol agent. He does not have to. Mick says he is always waved through. A cattle trailer full of doomed horses, and the patrol person waves him on with a smile.
These are American horses. Slaughtered on foreign soil.
Mick says he likes it when I write about different kinds of food. Makes him hungry. He plans his meals...
Great. This is what my life has come to. Helping to plan the daily menu of a man who sells horses to slaughter.
If you would like to save a horse, then give me a call at 530-383-2120. Two more trucks will soon leave for Mexico. Most horses are between $400.00 and $600.00, depending on how much they weigh. You will not be able to pick out your own horse. Sorry. This is California, where killers refuse to permit browsing. If you can foster horses for us, please let me know. We are screening new foster homes as quickly as possible.
I would like to take this time to thank Jessica Graham, Jennifer Wright, Jodi Tuft, and Sarah McDowell. All they do for Cathy and I. All they do for horses.
We send our sincere gratitude to Friends Of Tbfriends. Thank you so much for helping with our new fencing. And for the never ending support. Everything has changed for the better since Friends Of Tbfriends came into our lives.
I would like to thank Mike Baker, who spent the day on the phone with Animal Control, the highway patrol, and Mexican border police. We were trying to stop a trailer filled with horses from leaving our country. But just like magic, the trailer disappeared.
I would like to thank Ann Marini, who always has great ideas. Jessica Spriggs for working the phones. Julia Bridge for working the phones. Jodi Tuft for running my errands. Allison Martino for running my errands. Cassie Hayes for running my errands.
Surrounded by others who love horses. Not once are you asked to explain your feelings.
A special hello to Andrea, who I have never met. On the phone Andrea wants to know if we can talk about horses. Andrea is 11 years old. If we talk about horses, then she feels close to horses. What is Pony Boy doing right now? Is Smokey White Eyes really mean? Did you put fly spray on Devil Badgett?
Andrea ends our conversation by saying they should invent a smell phone. Instead of a cell phone, a smell phone. Odors could come from those you are talking to. And then she could smell our horses...
Surrounded by others who love horses. And how great is that? Joe
Friday, July 12th... Please please please... if someone saying they are Joe Shelton comes to your house, do not give him your horse. This man answers ads from the internet and newspapers. Cheap or free horses. He says he is Joe Shelton and your horse will always be well taken care of. This has happened twice now, and possibly three times. And how many more cases do we not even know about?
I have never been to a private house to pick up a horse. Not once. This is not my style. We buy our horses from auctions, feed lots, and over the phone from killers. We do not answer ads. We barely have an internet...
The man is in his 50s, and a very distraught person in Sacramento who gave this man her mare says he is a charmer. He is also very handsome, which should give you a clue. This man is not me. We can think of only two reasons why he is doing this. The obvious is he sells these horses to slaughter. Or maybe he runs an ad somewhere else and sells them for a cash profit. Whatever. He is a deceit, and a fraud.
I can understand pretending you are Jay Leno. Or maybe Larry The Cable Guy. But to call yourself Joe Shelton? Taking advantage of a down on your luck lady who only wanted a good home for her mare because she was unable to provide one. Our world down the sewer. It is enough to make you reach for that last piece of Kahlua cream pie.
Thursday, July 26th... Up before the roosters, and we are cold and foggy. Weird. Yesterday was warm, and the radio continues to predict a massive heat wave. But the ocean fog is here, and a jacket was needed to do the morning barn check. Our shoer Tim Gee comes today. A gelding from a feed lot comes today. A young girl who wants to ask me questions comes today. She is curious. And I will bet the farm I already know what those questions are.
Because the same questions come all the time, and I am more than happy to answer.
Pressly lives in a place called Baldwin Park, and on the phone she wants to know how can I possibly associate with horse killers?
I just buy horses from them. We do not jump into a hot tub together.
Alanna lives in Michigan, and she wants to know what the going rate for a doomed horse is?
Right now we pay between 35 and 45 cents a pound. Depends on the killer you are buying from. We also have to pay shipping fees, and we include those fees when you adopt a horse from us. We only ask for our money back, and owners are usually puzzled when we tell them the price of a horse. $937.50. Or $826.30. We recently sold a gelding for $888.80.
Julie lives in Arizona, and she says I recently wrote about a horse being cast. What is cast?
Horses do this all the time. They lay against a stall wall, or a fence, or panels in a round pen. Suddenly there is no room to throw out their feet and stand. They are stuck like an upside down turtle. You have to be careful of 4 flying feet when you help a horse become uncast.
Katie Marlow we have known for a long time. On the phone Katie wants to know how I emotionally handle not saving them all. How can I pet a doomed horse at a feed lot and then walk away?
Tbfriends stands for thoroughbred friends. We rescue thoroughbreds. I love all horses, always have. And lately trips to feed lots have grown more difficult. The sadness never ends, yet it was suppose to. When slaughter was stopped in America I truly believed feed lots would go out of business. Instead they are thriving like never before. And so lately I have been buying doomed thoroughbreds over the phone. Instead of a personal visit. The frustration can be overwhelming. Two and three cattle trailers filled with horses are leaving Northern California each week. The horses are butchered in Mexico and British Columbia. A cattle trailer with 17 horses left yesterday morning.
Because of a rogue reputation, there are killers who will no longer sell horses to me. Not even for a bigger profit than they would have earned from a slaughter house. This website does not earn me brownie points with a horse killer. Some tolerate, some could care less. And there are those who would like to see me go away.
I suppose I danced around the question from Katie. I cannot explain what it is like to leave a horse standing in his own muck, knowing in a day or so that horse will experience a brutal death. There are no words to describe the personal hurt. Years ago I quit moaning about what an unfair world this is. How can we, in a country where freedoms were in part given to us by horses, how can we allow disgraceful death by slaughter? There is no solace from the 400 or so horses we rescue each year. Because it is not about the horses we save. It is about the horses we cannot save. One more question, this one from Amy in Pleasanton. Can she come help? Maybe walk horses, or scoop poop?
I wish. For years we had students from UC Davis coming to clean our stalls, and help with rehabbing a race horse. But liability insurance continued to rise, and now Cathy and I can no longer afford the insurance premiums. We have never filed a claim for a horse related injury. Yet the costs keep growing.
Enjoy your who knows what temp Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Katie Cooper, and I wish we could be there on Sunday. Cathy and I will be doing chores on another ranch. Earning the big bucks. Hit one out of the park Katie...
Joe
Friday, July 27th... If I ruled America? Huh? A young girl interviewed me yesterday for a school project she is working on, and her questions were not the usual. Normally I am asked about slaughter houses and feed lots and prices per pound. This girl put me of course. She wanted to know about cartilage tissues, strangles, skeleton structure, founder, and race track steroids. When the girl was leaving she asked what would I do if I ruled America? I stumbled and stuttered and said something about a Krispy Kreme store on every corner.
Of course you always think of the best answers when it is too late. If I ruled America there would be immediate change. Issues like war and unemployment and poverty could wait for a week. My first act of power would be to tell foreign countries, if you want to eat horse meat then eat your own horses. You will never again eat an American horse. All feed lots and death camps would be shut down. All police and highway patrol would pull over any horse trailer headed south or north. Just for a peek inside. Anyone caught selling horses to slaughter, or driving horses to slaughter, would be arrested and given a 5 year prison term. Since I rule America I could even order life in prison. I guarantee horse slaughter would stop.
Allowing foreign countries to eat our horses. The ultimate betrayal.
My second act since ruling America would be to shut down all puppy mills. And how simple this would be. You go in, you take all the animals, you hang an Out Of Business sign, and lock the joint up. If they dare to once again produce puppies, you put them in prison. Simple. Maybe 5 years. Maybe life. The puppy mill convicts could dine with the horse slaughter convicts. They could play cards for cigarettes.
Anyone caught fighting a dog, fighting a rooster, abusing animals in anyway, they go to prison. It is time to begin respecting all life. It is time to be kind.
If I ruled America every school teacher would be rich. It is school teachers who shape the future of our country. Each one would have a million dollars in the bank.
And now I need to tell you about a little white mare. On the phone with a horse killer, and he says the mare is too sore to travel. Her feet hurt. Do I want her? On a long trip to slaughter she would probably lay down and be trampled. The killer paid $150.00 for the little white mare. She was living in a back yard, and her owners took the cash and never even hugged her goodbye. The killer said he needs $200.00. The little white mare is being kept at a cock fighting farm in Vallejo. I said okay.
Not far from the cock fighting farm is one of our foster moms. She is currently housing 3 of our horses. I phone and tell her the story of the little white mare. Foster mom says she will move one of her own horses outside, so the little white mare can have a stall.
Gary Duncan lives in Sacramento, and he hooks up his trailer and drives to Vallejo for the little white mare. She can barely walk. Gary Duncan is a big man, and he has to lift and push to get her inside his trailer.
Two days later, and on the phone foster mom says this is not good. The vet came, and the little white mare is suffering from rotated coffin bones. There is no cure. She is around 25 years old, probably an arabian mix. Her pain is severe. The little white mare was euthanized.
If I ruled America, young kids at school would be taught about kindness and respecting life. A required class. Millionaire school teachers would cover this subject every single day.
The young girl who interviewed me yesterday was long gone. Too late to give her my true feelings. In her school paper she will probably write the Krispy Kreme response. Whatever...
I will never rule America. It is all mumbo jumbo inside my head. Something to think about while watching moths crash against the barn light. I was not able to meet the little white mare. Foster mom says she was an old sweetheart. I owned her, but never met her. For two days, standing in a stall with a foot of fresh straw, the little white mare was hugged and given carrots. She was groomed. And she drank orange soda from the palm of a hand. For two days she was loved like crazy. I send a special thank you to foster mom and Gary Duncan.
A new day ahead, and time to face the chores. 101 degrees today, 103 tomorrow, 105 on Sunday. Make the most of your weekend...
Joe
Tuesday, July 31st... It was so hot yesterday vultures were circling a tree stump. They were a tad confused...
But what a good day it was. A reader from Marin, and on the phone she asks what is your checking account number? Take this money and save them all. Now these kinds of phone calls come every so often. Mostly they are fake. But the lady in Marin I knew was serious. She wanted every single horse from a feed lot of my choice to come live on her property. 90 acres of grass and trees. Her only request is I must check for sickness.
All chores were put on hold. At a feed lot near Elk Grove there were 14 horses waiting for the butcher truck. Some young and not touched. Some old and sad. A beautiful paint gelding who came from a lesson barn. A 13 year old thoroughbred gelding in decent shape. A 10 or 11 year old quarter horse mare who followed Gary Duncan around like he was royalty. The killer says give him six thousand dollars for all 14.
I took temperatures of 12 of the feed lot horses. There were two wild youngsters who would not let me near. No runny noses, no strangles, no flu. I phoned the lady in Marin and said all is good. I need six grand. Gary Duncan and two other amazing friends are helping with transportation. They ask for no gas money.
And just like always, it is the wild youngsters who go into the trailers without hesitation. Older horses at feed lots always stop to investigate. And then we became a caravan. 98 hot degrees outside, but it felt like 198 hot degrees. As the three trailers left Interstate 5 for Interstate 80, I continued north. Back home to catch up on chores. Gary Duncan phones later, and says the 14 horses are living in paradise. Creeks and tall trees. A nice cool ocean breeze. The beautiful paint gelding rolled and rolled, and kicked his heels. Dancing in the tall grass. He knew he was safe.
This is the fifth time in 9 years someone has rescued an entire feed lot. Three of those times the horses went to live in Marin.
If I were better on paper, I could describe to you what the feeling is like. The overwhelming happiness. One of the other transportation guys called to say he has never experienced this kind of glow in his heart. He was stuck in traffic, looking at Gary Duncan who was looking back at him through his door mirror. They did not make it back to Sacramento until after 7:00. An entire day sacrificed for 14 horses they had never met before.
Today will automatically be a good day. Despite the heat, the flies, the forever chores, despite total disrespect from other killers, today will be a good day. Nothing can erase this high. From the bottom of my heart I thank the lady in Marin. I thank Gary Duncan, and also two other wonderful men who were always joking and making the day funny. I thank Jennifer Wright for checking on my ranch, and filling the water buckets. Enjoy your hot Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses...
Joe
August 2007
Saturday, August 4th... At 9:00 last night it was still 89 degrees. The man on the radio was talking about a cool down, but maybe he meant Wisconsin.
Maddie Taylor phoned to say how much she loves Flaming Al. Eve Gregerson phoned to say how much she loves Santana. Jennifer Potts phoned to say how much she loves Rascal Flatts. Three calls within a few hours. Horses who once were doomed, and now they are loved and spoiled. Flaming Al is on tall green grass, and he yells each time he sees Maddie. Rascal Flatts lives in a fancy stall with his own fan. Every morning he is treated to a microwave pancake with blueberry syrup. Santana came from the killer pens, and he weighed less than 800 pounds. Now he weighs over 1,000 pounds, and neighbor kids hop on for a ride around the block.
186 adoptions so far in 2007. Adoptions have slowed a bit, with the heat not helping at all. And recently I have had to turn away several because they were just not ready for a race horse. One girl was so upset she screamed at me, and then blew her horn all the way down County Road 92C, hoping to scare my horses. Probably she should sign up for an anger management class. It is nothing personal if we say no to you. Race horses take a special kind of handling, patience, and understanding. Not to mention riding abilities. We do not rescue horses just so someday we can rescue them again. I have made some amazing and life long friends. I have also made many enemies who took my rejection very personal. If you are not ready for a race horse I will tell you so. But I will also help you prepare. If you are willing to put in the time...
A young girl from Davis and despite her confidence, she was not experienced enough for a race horse. I sent her to a trainer not far from her home, and 5 months later a new young girl came back to me. Her trainer gave the thumbs up, and now the girl has her own gelding. But in the beginning she might have been killed. She was careless and over confident. Not a good combo...
Finding the right horse is important. But the horse must also find the right person.
I once turned away an incredibly sweet young lady who did not have the support of her husband. In our yard he berated her. Told her if she insisted on getting a horse he was going to get a dirt bike. All the time the husband was here he moaned and groaned. Now if the young lady had come alone, she would have taken home a horse. She was impressive, and her horse skills above average. But with the moaner and groaner going on and on, I had to say no. It never would have worked out. I felt terrible for the young lady.
Ah, the stories. Over 2,000 horses adopted the last 10 years, but many people were turned away. One young girl said screw you, I can go to the race track and buy my own horse. Yes you can. Here are the directions.
Cathy and I do whatever is possible to make sure you adopt the right horse. And if you need help we get you help. Even years later, if you need help with your horse we will be there. If you are far away then chances are good we know someone who lives close to you. Our network is huge. We understand a support system is sometimes needed. These are big fragile animals, and often unpredictable.
104 hungry horses are wondering where the broken down old man is. Time to begin a new day. The coffee is from Starbucks, and we thank Jennifer Wright for the Mrs. Smith apple pie. Good stuff. Enjoy your 95 degree Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Sarah McDowell, and have fun. Today Sarah climbs a mountain in Wyoming, and at the top there will be a food fest. 10 climbers will dine on oysters and tabisco. Large prawns which have been kept on ice. Fresh crab salad sandwiches, and it is all washed down with cream soda from a bottle. The view is suppose to be spectacular. Just you and the sky. In Wyoming they do this every Saturday. 10 new climbers. Forty dollars, which includes the food.
Joe
Sunday, August 5th... 102 degrees yesterday. The cooler temps never came. Welcome to the deep heart of summer, where everyday is a brand new wasp nest. On the phone with a man who makes large sums of money by selling horses to the butcher shop. He brags how 2007 is his best year ever. This week the man has sent two cattle trailers filled with horses to a slaughter plant in British Columbia. He earns about eight grand a truck load. Most of these horses are bought cheap from the internet, newspaper ads, or livestock auctions. The man has a mare fresh from the track, and she was taken away in the horse ambulance after a race. He is not sure what is wrong with her, except she is lame. 40 cents a pound, which makes this mare $425.00, plus shipping. The horse killer also has a standardbred gelding, right off the race track in Sacramento, and he appears to be healthy. I called my friend Julia in Lincoln. Julia has been saving standardbreds all summer, and on the phone she says sure, there is always room for one more. The horse killer has a young thoroughbred gelding who came from a breeding farm. Because of bad conformation he will never be a race horse. The breeding farm actually gave the horse killer this young gelding for free. Dumped him off like roadside garbage. The killer tells me 40 cents a pound, which means the young gelding is $280.00, plus shipping. The killer has an older thoroughbred mare, maybe she is 15, but he is only guessing. She could be 20. The killer answered an ad in the newspaper, and was given the mare for free. She is 40 cents a pound, which brings her price to $360.00, plus shipping.
All of the above horses we rescued. The man has other horses of course, he always does. Breeds of all kinds, all ages, broke and unbroke. But I only listen for thoroughbreds. When he talks about other horses at his feed lot, I forbid my mind from painting a picture. I have visited his feed lot dozens of times, and I already know how the sadness feels.
What are we gonna do? Slaughter was suppose to cease, and government agencies and private funding was going to help all needy horses. Instead a horse killer from Elk Grove is having his best year ever. Two brand new Dodge Rams. His family in Mexico is building a big fancy house. This man exploits American horses, killing them for cash on the spot, and there is no way to stop him.
Those of you who follow this journal (all 18 hits a day) know I often get in these moods. A day on the phone discussing prices per pound with horse killers is not the most uplifting way to spend your time.
But then a young girl comes to see a horse, and his name is Twister. The girl recently saw a picture of Twister on the morning journal. We bought Twister from the killer in Elk Grove, and he is 10 years old. The young girl waited patiently in our driveway, and her back was to me. She did not see me coming with Twister. And when she turned, Twister was right next to her. You should have seen her face light up. The girl says he is the one. She knew it when she saw him on the morning journal, but now in person she knows it even more. The young girl began to cry. Twister put his head on her head. I left them that way, and for over an hour they walked and talked and got to know each other. And first thing this morning the van comes for Twister. For the rest of his life he will live like a king.
A day of discussing prices per pound is saved by another young girl who loves horses.
I am old, and one thing I know for sure. As long as there is a demand for horse meat, horses will be slaughtered. We need to take away the demand. We need to stop allowing foreign countries to eat American horses. Promise them government penalties. Promise them a major uprising. Whatever. We need to take away the demand.
It is like what Oakland did. Several neighborhoods have been cleaned up, because they took away the demand for drugs. Residents got their streets back. We need to stand up for our horses.
Joe
Wednesday, August 8th... The 2007 quote of the year comes from a horse killer in Vallejo. On the phone yesterday, and he says to me: I stay in America because people breed their mares on purpose. And also because I love the biscuits and chicken at Popeyes.
I deal with horse killers all day long. A new one on the scene, and he is just 17 years old. His girlfriend is 16, and she is usually with him. I first met this kid at a feed lot in Elk Grove, and he said his name was Biff. Honest. Put out his hand, and said my name is Biff. A few weeks ago I saw him again at a livestock auction, and he said his name is Leo. I asked what happened to Biff, and he said Biff never did catch on. Biff or Leo or whatever is a hustler. He works the internet and newspaper ads. Shows up with his girlfriend and tells you they have just been married, and your horse will have a forever loving home. But within a few days that same horse is on his way to slaughter in British Columbia. Biff or Leo or whatever gives gas money to another horse killer named James, who does all the driving. At the livestock auction was a little morgan mare, maybe 15 or 18 years old. Biff or Leo bought her for $160.00. A sweet bay lady who was more interested in old hay than her fate. I approached Biff or Leo and said how much would you resell her for? Biff or Leo said $600.00. I said if you let me take her now for $400.00, I promise you future business on your thoroughbreds. Biff or Leo said $500.00. I said nope, you are only 17, and you need to learn how more money can be made by working with rescue people. Your expenses will be erased. I explained to him about overhead. So Biff or Leo sold me the morgan mare for $400.00, and my word is good. Since then I have bought 3 thoroughbreds from him, and paid regular prices per pound.
It is just the fact that I am doing business with a 17 year old kid who goes to your house with his girlfriend and takes your horse and then has it butchered. You can expect this behavior from a 50 year old man who years ago lost his soul. But a 17 year old kid, who could still be in school and pondering his next Saturday night date, should not be exploiting our horses for cash.
I buy horses from all kinds of killers. The loud, the quiet, the suspicious, and one man who can hardly walk because his hip is shattered, yet he still finds his way to low level livestock auctions and loads his own horses.
I have young readers who hate when I write about horse killers. They prefer the more positive approach. One girl phoned to say it is okay to ignore Bad. And then Good will take control.
But how many times can I write about Pony Boy staring at the big moon while eating a fried egg sandwich and you can hear owls and there is poop on top of poop and in the morning flies start their engines?
The killer in Vallejo who likes biscuits and chicken had 8 doomed horses sitting in his pens. One was a wild thoroughbred filly and the killer said be careful, she will knock you over. But to me she was nothing but nice. I got a halter on, and she stood still while I rubbed her stomach. Gary Duncan backed his trailer right up to her pen, and in she went without a fuss.
Pony Boy was in our driveway, waiting to greet her. The filly goes into a brand new round pen, and then later she is moved to a stall in our barn. The 17 year old horse killer named Biff or Leo phones, and says he has another thoroughbred filly. She is young and wild. I tell Biff or Leo it is always in cycles. Old horses all come at once. Then race horses. Then injured and starving. Right now it is young thoroughbred fillies. This will be the third young filly in three days.
I know all about how Good overshadows Bad. But it is often hard to separate the two.
Joe
Sunday, August 12th... On the verge of fences bursting. We are oh so crowded, with at least one dozen more horses coming to us this week. Several new foster homes will be helping with this rush. End of the summer blues. Owners dump their horses, while killers giggle all the way to Wells Fargo. A slaughter house in British Columbia is paying top dollar for horses, and the sadness never ends. Major thoroughbred breeding farms are suddenly out of business. County fair racing casualties. Mom and pop ranches who phone for horse killers in the middle of the night. They do not want their neighbors to know. The stories are long lasting. Each one a sign of our times.
It is mostly young girls who follow the morning journal. The letters and phone calls say so. And it will be these young girls who keep the magic alive. A slow introduction into how things really are. We dictate your knowledge by age. If you are 11 or 12 there is romance in every horse you touch. If you are 17 or 18 we teach you about prices per pound. There is Sarah in Yuba City, just 16 years old, and already she has saved the lives of 5 older geldings. There is Jessica in Elverta, 19 years old, and 4 times this summer she has bought a horse from a killer not far from her home. There is Jenna in Roseville, and she is also 19. Jenna twice this summer has rescued a mare with her new foal. Another Jessica, and she lives in Vacaville. Tessie in Citrus Heights. Ann Lee in Park City, Utah. Rachel Jeffers in Oakland. Jennifer Wright in Elk Grove. Noelle Carter in Auburn. Ryan Andrews in Vacaville. Kaitlyn Cooke in Sacramento. Holly Meeks in Woodland. Julia in Lincoln. Megan in Fairfield. And Hannah Crist, only 13, and already she has been to two livestock auctions and rescued two old geldings who are both around 25 years old.
One life at a time. Young girls who are the future of horses.
A text from Ann Lee in Utah: Hey Joe, I just bought an old paint mare from a feed lot in Layton, and she only has two teeth. I mixed her a mash, and I swear to God Joe she cried. Real tears. So my mom cried. Then I cried. We are blubbering fools here in Utah. Peace. Ann Lee.
Ann Lee is 17 years old. Making a difference. One life at a time.
Enjoy your 86 degree Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Monday, August 13th... I am not privy to etiquette of chat rooms. Never been to a chat room in my life. Typing with one finger can sometimes take an hour to complete a sentence. By then the person I am in a chat room with will be long gone. But yesterday my friend Jessica tells me there is a chat room where people are planning to destroy the feed lot in Elk Grove. Jessica instructs me on how to enter that chat room, and of course I never find it. Instead I am reading a conversation about runny noses in cats. Interesting, but not what I was after.
Please please please. Do not do any damage to feed lots. You will not be helping horses. There once was a feed lot in Dixon, and Animal Rights people threw tomatoes and walked up and down the freeway off ramp with picket signs. The killers packed up and moved, and we could never save another horse from them.
Tipping over a trailer where the killer lives, and tearing down his pens will not help doomed horses. The killer will only set up shop elsewhere, and there is a 99 percent chance he will never sell us another horse.
I know the frustration that builds. Year after year, promise after promise goes down the toilet. The same old killers, the same old feed lots, with nothing being done to stop horses from becoming dinner in France. A lifetime of one foot forward, two feet backwards.
I once went a little crazy in Turlock, and two deputies escorted me to my truck. One of the deputies actually said stay out of this town. A horse killer was treating an older arabian mare in a very abusive way. I reacted strongly, but then for several years I could not rescue a horse from any killer in Turlock. I was told to never again attend the Turlock auction. Trying to help an arabian mare was costly. I was forbidden to buy who knows how many future doomed horses.
And so we begin a new week by pleading our case. Trust me. Destroying a feed lot will end any hope of saving future horses. It will be the horses who pay for your damage.
A special thank you to Cora Adelizzi. Stephanie Breaux. Dakota Blue. Eric Loveless. Hannah Crist. Holly Meeks. Ben Jensen. Patti Lu. Thank you all for taking the time to phone yesterday.
And thank you to Jenny Hartman for the delicious Boston Cream Pie and ice cream. I also thank Allison Martino for the gooey chocolate chip cookies. Incredible stuff.
Put up a photo of a gray gelding with a white tail, and you would think Justin Timberlake was living on our ranch. R Tax Man was adopted yesterday morning by Stephanie of Woodland. Disappointment came from other readers who phoned or arrived too late. Sorry. Keep watching the morning journal for more handsome gray geldings.
A big Happy Birthday to Michelle Henderson, who yesterday turned cough cough. Michelle treated herself to a birthday present. She adopted Dixieland Jam, and he is now living on the same ranch as Flaming Al, who a few months ago was adopted by Maddie Taylor. Congratulations Michelle, and I hope your birthday celebration last night was a blast.
And Stanley Cup found a new home yesterday with Debra of Folsom. Stanley Cup will be best friends with Sam, an older quarter horse gelding who recently lost his long time companion. Stanley Cup will live on green grass, and there are apple trees to keep him busy.
195 adoptions for 2007. Enjoy your 89 degree Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Alexandra Garcia. Anything is possible. We will help in any way we can. A horse with you Alexandra will be a very lucky horse.
Joe
Excerpt from Joe's journal (Aug. 16, 2007):
Often death threats comes over the phone. Take my horse or he is gonna die. Emotional blackmail. Yesterday a phone call from a veterinarian in Wilton. He has been told to euthanize two older arabian mares. Their owner is terminal. The veterinarian does not want to do this. Can I help? Both mares are older than dust, and also skinny. Plain and simple, I have no room for them. Obviously I cannot put skinny old arab mares out in the fields with thoroughbreds. They would be terrorized.
The veterinarian was with the old mares, ready to kill them. The rendering truck to pick up their bodies was going to be there at 11:00 a.m. It was 10:30. For the last 15 years, whenever I need something really important accomplished, I call Jodi Tuft. And the network was put in motion. A series of quick phone calls, and then Jodie is in her truck, pulling her trailer, and on her way to pick up the two mares. The veterinarian goes home. The rendering truck is cancelled.
A giant thank you to Jodie Tuft. Shannon Ramsey. Cheryl Rankin. Three wonderful and amazing young ladies who yesterday took charge. The two arabian mares are safe in a new place. I would also like to thank the veterinarian who took the time to phone me. A decent guy. Knowing there are always options...
Last week I told you about a vet in Wilton who was about to euthanize two older arabian mares on orders of their owner. Jodi Tuft, Shannon Ramsey and Cheryl Rankin went to work, and soon the mares were safe. Here they are , and their names are Lilly and Tyra. Bookends. Already they are looking so much better.
Wednesday, August 22nd... They said go ahead. Write anything I like. I can even use their real names. There is Kristin, Noelle, and Alex. On a hot and dusty Tuesday afternoon we sat down to talk. Kristin and Noelle are both 17. Alex is 18. They call themselves New Beginnings. Old dudes like me are becoming yesterdays breakfast. Kristin, Noelle and Alex are doing what needs to be done, because the rest of us have let all that is good go down the sewer.
Kristin says on my morning journal I brag about the numbers. Yet it is the numbers which need to stop. Kristin met her first horse killer when she was 10. At the Roseville auction, and she watched as the killer loaded doomed horses into his trailer. She saw the expressions of horror on those horses. They were looking back at her through slots in the trailer. Kristin went to bed dreaming about those faces. It is those faces which give her courage.
Noelle bought a gelding from a killer in Folsom. She was 15 years old. The killer made fun of her new horse. Called him a piece of ****, and said he would never amount to nothing. Two years later, and her gelding is her life. Her best friend. And the horse killer is in jail for robbing a house.
Alex is the oldest. In a few weeks she begins college classes, and her goal is to become a large animal vet. Alex loves cows. When Alex was 12 she saw a documentary on television about beef slaughter. Since then nothing from a cow has passed her lips. Not meat, not even ice cream. Alex will be attending college on a partial scholarship. She has a 4.4 grade point average. She plays basketball and chess. She thinks my morning journal is just so much fluff. The numbers are silly. A drop in the ocean.
Cathy and I bought this ranch in 1997, and in 10 years we have rescued almost 2,500 horses. The three girls say more than 100,000 horses are butchered each year. Over a million horses in the last 10 years. 2,500 horses saved, a million horses lost. So much fluff.
If you saw these three beautiful young ladies you would think fashion magazines. The very last thing you would think is conspiracy to commit felonies.
But the girls say enough is enough. They are on a mission. There are several other young horse loving girls in their network. Already they have done damage at two feed lots. This is only the beginning. They want me to know it is nothing personal. Alex says they waited and waited. Our government kept promising horse slaughter would end. But horse slaughter has continued to grow, with record numbers. New butcher houses are being built. A slaughtering plant in Illinois is stacked up. This is where the east coast horses are processed, and often a sick or injured horse is trampled as he waits to become dinner. The three girls have videos. Pictures. They wrote letters, gave speeches, and politicians expressed outrage and said they would do everything in their power to stop the slaughter of our horses. But nothing has changed.
The three girls say it is time for New Beginnings to take over. Kristin says **** our political leaders. It is all about money and power. Horses are the last thing on their minds.
I told the three girls tbfriends would be out of business. If they trash a feed lot, killers will no longer sell horses to me. The killers will hide under rocks, and no one will know where their doomed horses are.
I told them horse killers are stronger than they are. Nothing has stopped killers yet. Not our government, not border patrol, not stupid laws which no one understands, and certainly not Animal Rights groups. I applaud their passion. I love how they are fighting for horses. But their mission will fail. I know this with all my heart.
We have a gelding from a feed lot, and he is starved. His name is Doc Holliday, and Noelle went into his pen and gave him hugs. She cried. Said it is horses like this which pave her path.
The girls have friends who are promising to stop dog fighting in America. And there is a group of young people who are concentrating on rooster fighting. Alex says young people are fed up with the way things are. It is time to get serious.
We sit back and wait. Just like the old folk song. I think the times they might be changing.
Enjoy your 97 degree Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Thursday, August 30th... Manny Phelps is a horse killer who lives in Elk Grove. The things that come out of his mouth. The other day I asked Manny how much for the little old mare with a red stripe down her back? Manny said with or without mustard? And would you like to turn that into a combo meal?
Manny Phelps recently sent a thank you note to many breeding farms. The front of the white card said Thank You. Open the card and there is music by The Doobie Brothers. And the card says: How thoughtful you are. Putting shoes on my kids. Keep breeding those mares, okay? My new house is almost built.
Manny Phelps likes to mess with people.
Manny Phelps has a wife and family in Mexico. All the time he eats at a chain restaurant called Fresh Choice. Last year he met a young girl who was working at Fresh Choice, and in only a few months she became wife number two.
Earlier this week I was at the Elk Grove feed lots, hotter than heck, and Manny Phelps tells me to buy a bunch of horses today, because I cannot buy anymore until after Labor Day. I asked why? Manny Phelps says he met a beautiful young girl, she said yes to marriage, and so he is taking her to Las Vegas. A long weekend of casinos and fun. Wife number three.
There is a horse killer in Vallejo, and he operates a large cock fighting farm. He works nights buffing floors at a hospital. There is a horse killer in Pleasanton, and he works as a long distance truck driver. There is a horse killer in Roseville, and he just bought his third small ranch. Property values are at an all time low.
Remember, one single trailer filled with doomed horses can bring 15 to 20 thousand dollars. Some killers, like Manny Phelps, fill up one trailer a week. That is 60 thousand dollars a month. Manny Phelps is not legal in our country, so there are no taxes. He is building a beautiful estate in Mexico. He has a house in Elk Grove. Three wives and bunches of children. All from killing our horses.
From the morning journal if I can teach you anything, please be careful. If a family shows up for your free horse, or cheap horse, ask if you can accompany your horse to his new home. Manny Phelps and many other killers come with their young wives and kids. They dance and hug with excitement because you are giving them such a nice animal. But within one week your nice animal will be slaughtered.
Every morning I write to you about the amazing and giving people in our lives. One letter writer said enough already, tell us about the other side. Almost daily I deal with horse killers. Some, like Manny Phelps, are sarcastic and nothing scares them. Other horse killers are silent and evasive. Most horse killers hate each other. They compete for the same horses at auctions, and over the internet. The slaughter house in Canada is paying almost double what Mexico is paying, so most of the horses go north.
A million times I have looked at a horse going to slaughter. You must understand, when I write about all that is good surrounding Cathy and I, it is because I have to. When I tell you about Allison Martino baking a fresh cherry pie. Or Jenny Hartman coming with a cake. Friends Of Tbfriends, and all they have done for us. I must write about good, because bad is what I live. Who cares if Manny Phelps has three wives and kills 26 horses a week? Sweet Holly Meeks and her trail ride this weekend in Tahoe is much more important to me.
Horses are my heart. They are everything to me. And I hate so bad they are still being slaughtered. It was suppose to stop. But you should see the feed lots. More crowded than ever. And every day there is at least one phone call, sometimes many more, asking please take my horse. The callers are afraid of killers showing up to their house. We are talking young, well trained horses. Their owners have either moved on, or can no longer afford the rising costs. Yesterday I accepted a beautiful Hanoverian mare. She has shown, and also does trails. 15 years young, and I gave her to a person in Vacaville. The right home. But we are quickly running out of the right homes.
106 degrees in Woodland yesterday. Miserable. Today might be the same. But now they have changed the weekend forecast. Only 96 for Saturday. Burrrrrr. Enjoy your Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. Anything is possible. There is good all around...
Joe
September 2007
Sunday, September 9th... Manny Phelps is a horse killer, and on Friday he shipped another trailer to British Columbia. 21 doomed horses packed together like cattle. Today Manny Phelps will attend an auction in Roseville, buying horses for less than $275.00 each. He does not buy skinny horses, and he does not buy old and crippled horses. Manny will wait until the crowd clears before loading his horses. Often he waits until the next day.
You asked for details, I give you details. At his feed lot in Elk Grove, Manny will unload the doomed horses and put them together in large pens. Often horses do not get along, so there are fights. Manny throws them alfalfa. The last thing he wants is a horse with colic. Manny pays a young relative to scoop poop and fill water buckets. The girl is maybe 15, and not legal in our country. Manny has applied for American citizenship, which will be granted, because he married an American.
If there is a thoroughbred in the new group of doomed horses, Manny will phone me. I send Gary Duncan to pick up the thoroughbred. Manny charges 40, or sometimes 50 cents a pound.
There is a group of young people called New Beginnings. Their goal is to run horse killers out of California. Manny Phelps and New Beginnings are approaching each other on the same road. A head on collision will soon take place.
I have visited Manny and his horses at least 50 times. He always offers a coke. Tells me to look around, and if I see a horse I want then I must ring his bell. There is a buzzer next to a gate, and a bell goes off in his trailer.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a horse is a thoroughbred. How many times have I brought a horse home, only to find out later he is probably a mixture of this and that? Which is okay. I would bring them all home if I could.
One of the questions I am asked most is do horses know they are going to be slaughtered? My own opinion is yes. They are depressed. Many horses will come running to me, hoping for a way out.
There is a little dog. A Jack Russell I think, or maybe another mixture of this and that. His name is Felix, and he carries around an old rag doll. Every time I have visited, Felix jumps in the back of my truck and leaves his doll. The doll has no eyes, and she is filthy. I give the doll back to Felix, and he looks sad. One of these times I might keep the doll. Maybe this is what Felix wants.
You asked for details, I give you details. The ride home sucks beyond words. All those faces at the feed lot. I stop at A&W Root Beer in Natomas. Never gone to Elk Grove without stopping at A&W. Usually I get a float. Sometimes just a plain root beer. My dog Jewels licks what is left in the cup. He knows the routine. Waits patiently for his taste.
The second most question I am asked all the time. How can I leave all of those other horses behind? I have no clue. And sometimes I think since their faces remain in my brain, then I am not leaving them behind. They stay with me. For days and weeks they stay with me. Until the next batch. And we do it all over again.
103 horses on our hot and dusty ranch. Kelly Pickler sings at a park today not far from us. Songs In The Park. Life goes on, and always remember to hug your horses.
Joe
Monday, September 10th... One thing I forgot to mention yesterday. The feed lot in Elk Grove is kept clean. Poop picked up, and fresh hay is given. Feed lots in Vallejo, Pittsburgh, and Turlock are a disgrace. All three are filthy, and there are fighting roosters and guard dogs. Feed lots in Pleasanton, Folsom, Redding and Petaluma no longer exist. There is a major horse killer in Roseville, and often he will bring doomed horses to his house while they wait for a trailer to slaughter. There is a major horse killer in Fresno, and he actually pays board on doomed horses until they are shipped. There are horse killers in Martinez, Concord, Los Gatos, San Jose and Livermore. They keep their horses in several locations, and some must pay board. Those killers will not sell to me.
All the time there are the same questions asked. I have been hesitant on answers, afraid killers would not do business with me if I revealed locations, but now America has completely turned its back on horses. Slaughter continues in Illinois. Horses are also butchered in Canada and Mexico, and crossing both borders is no trouble at all. If I want a can of spray paint from Ace Hardware, I must wait for the girl with keys. They keep the spray paint locked up like it contains the secrets to life. The manager of Ace Hardware watches the girl with keys. She just might slip me a can. But every day of the week beautiful healthy horses are illegaly taken out of state and country, and nothing is done to stop their slaughter. There were 4 phone calls yesterday. Take my horses please. Two of the callers said if I do not take their horses, then the killers will be summoned. The other two callers said they will be forced to take their horses to auction. Over the phone extortion. Winter is coming, and horses are in deep deep trouble.
It would not matter if Cathy and I owned ten thousand acres. Those acres would be filled up fast, and there would still be more horses.
On the front page is a girl on an airplane who wears her skirt too short. But never, not once, has there been a story of young healthy horses butchered illegally. I have never seen a story about killers conning families out of their horses. I have never seen a story of a stakes horse from the race track, who one day is having his picture taken in the winners circle, and the next day he is slaughtered in British Columbia. The indifference is tragic. The indifference is enough to make a person hide on his couch.
Mares and foals at feed lots, waiting to be transported to slaughter, is the biggest tragedy ever to me.
A letter from a rescue group. They rescued a mare, was given a free breeding, so they bred the mare and the resulting foal will be sold to raise funds for their rescue group. Say what?
Which brings me to Jodi Tuft and Cheryl Rankin. There was a thoroughbred filly of 2007, just weaned, but I have no space. Pony Boy has raised 3 foals, but we do not have a round pen available. Jodi Tuft picked up the little filly yesterday, and Cheryl Rankin will open her gates and the filly will be treated like royalty. I cannot thank Jodi and Cheryl enough. They always come through, even in the most difficult of times.
And I would like to take this moment to thank Amy English, who lives in New York. An overall crappy, break your heart kind of weekend. But Amy English calls and holds her phone up high. Amy is a big Mets fan, and she is at the ballgame. I listen to cheers and moans and some guy who said oh brother, this stain will never come out. A five minute escape to another land, and thank you so much Amy.
We might be 90 degrees today. Our skies are gray with smoke. Pony Boy waits for his morning peppermint, and alfalfa will be delivered soon. A new week. One thing I know for sure. Concentrate on good, and good will take over.
Joe
Wednesday, September 12th... Of course all the time the little cell phone rings with tales of horses in trouble. From feed lots to race tracks to Animal Control. Not to mention private citizens who need to unload their horses. It is like the front counter at Pizza Hut. The phone goes off every few minutes. I constantly change the cell phone music, as if switching gears will quiet this rush. Going through the day with 104 horses, plus two senile old dogs who will potty in the house unless you take them outside every 12 seconds. Wondering if Visa will give me a free flight to Maui because I owe them 27 billion dollars. And then, through the flies and the dust and the constant changing of ring tones, pure honesty appears at my front gate. She is 10, her name is Brooke, and her mom waves from the street. Brooke has a nervous voice, and asks if she could bother me for a few minutes. Brooke says she loves horses more than anything in the world, and could she pet one? I let Brooke sit on Limo, the most agreeable old gelding ever born. I showed her how to fly spray Pony Boy. When Brooke touched Gidget she began to cry, because Gidget is not your typical centerfold. I showed Brooke how to brush Always Calm, especially the one spot on her withers where she falls into a trance. Brooke forgot all about her mom waiting on County Road 92C. Brooke brushed a stain out of Devil Badgett. She gave carrots to Misty and Georgia. A recent arrival from the race track is Diamond Shine, and he stood very still while Brooke put on his fly mask. After 30 minutes or so Brooke was no longer nervous. Chatting away like old friends having tea. Brooke wants to be a nurse, a horse trainer, a rescue ranch owner, an equine vet, and in her spare time she wants to camp in the mountains with just a horse and a dog and tell God thank you for all the animals on earth. Little Brooke Wyatt is 10 years old, she lives in Sacramento, and she has no clue how she changed my day.
Pure honesty at my front gate. A reminder of what is most important.
Saturday, September 15th... Twice the little cell phone went dead. Over 100 calls yesterday, and how can we ever say thank you to our readers? Casey Michaelson, Rachel Jeffers, Ron & Staci Anderson, Stephanie Diaz, Lois Richter, Holly Meeks, Jeff & Annie Wheeler, Taylor Hall, Brandon Montgomery, Michelle at the race track, Julia in Lincoln, Colleen in Grass Valley, Debbie in Grass Valley, Megan in Fairfield, Jean in Stockton, Ron & Petra in Loomis, and Wendy in Walnut Creek. All are confirmed as new owners of needy horses. You have my forever gratitude.
In addition there are 37 readers who await the screening process. I was truly stunned from the response. Thank you everyone. I know winter is coming, and the last thing you need is another horse to feed and maintain. I often get down on this crappy horse market, but yesterday was a reminder of how many people truly love horses.
All of the above horses are free. You must fill out a one dollar bill of sale, which gives you title. There are now more than 60 readers who are on the waiting list for a free, well trained horse. Krista has been on our waiting list for more than 7 months. Yesterday Krista was introduced to a morgan gelding who recently came to us from an event barn. Three times Krista has come to look at a horse, and twice before she said no. Which means we move on to the next name on our list. But in the driveway Krista asked is that him, and I knew a match had been made. Krista has been taking riding lessons for over a year. She previously leased a gelding, but now Krista is a true horse owner. The morgan gelding leaves us this morning. Krista promises to bake Cathy and I an apple pie. Well golly gee...
I have never seen so many unwanted horses. From now on, until this crisis is under control, I will continually ask readers to take horses. No doubt you will become tired of my pleadings. But you should see the feed lots. Killers are loading sometimes 4 and 5 cattle trailers a week. All trailers leave from Turlock, Elk Grove or Pittsburgh. It takes about 15 hours to drive to Canada, where the horses are slaughtered. Only 10 hours to Mexico. I have watched doomed horses load, and the image never leaves my brain. Which is why yesterday meant so much to me. Readers respond with love and support.
There was a phone call from Alicia in Oregon, and she is only 11 years old. Alicia was at school and it was assembly day. Alicia says sorry, I am only 11 and I cannot take a horse. But I am sending you 12 dollars to buy a bag of grain. Alicia said please feed some skinny horses. She wants one soooooooooo bad. That is how she talked. Soooooooooo bad. Alicia is a sweetheart.
A very busy day on the way. Enjoy your 77 degree Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. Autumn is in the air. My very favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. This year will be a biggie. So much to be thankful for.
Joe
Sunday, September 30th... The last day of another month, and we say way to go Holly Meeks, who tomorrow starts a new job. Holly will be working with troubled teens. Not long ago Holly brought 8 teenage girls to our ranch. A special liability policy was needed. Several of the girls had never touched a horse before. None had been bitten by a fly. The girls learned about race horses, wrapping legs, and each girl was given a horse to groom. Towards the end of the day we could not find Melissa. We searched everywhere. Finally I found Melissa on the couch, watching television, with our dog Sadie Mae in her lap. Melissa was eating Fritos. Drinking coke. She asked if I would make her a sandwich. Well okay then. Melissa is 14. She had no interest at all in horses. But she could tell me names and details of every rock star on MTV.
The other 7 girls wrapped themselves around horses. A good day indeed, and Holly will be bringing all of the girls back soon. Even Melissa, and I will have her grilled cheese ready. Holly is amazing with teens, and we congratulate her on this new job. We have known Holly for almost 3 years, and she is always helping needy horses. Not to mention kids who could easily go down the wrong path.
It happens right before your very eyes. The way a horse changes how a young person looks at life. Two years ago Holly brought us 10 year old Allison Martino. Holly asked if Allison could feed carrots to Pony Boy. Allison was here for maybe 45 minutes, which is all Pony Boy needed. And now Allison comes to see us all the time. Allison is 12, and horses have taken over her heart. From a sad young girl who came from a troubled family, Allison now has decent grades and plays soccer. Allison often spends all day with Holly, helping other kids, and introducing them to animals. A million stories in the big city. Everyone says way to go Joe, you rescue all these horses. Nope. The horses rescued me. Animals rescue kids. And then later kids grow up and return the favor.
All the time I am showing you pictures of teens with their new horses. What I am not able to show you is one or two years later. When the letters or phone calls come. How the horse changed their life. How the horse became their biggest influence.
Enjoy your last day of September, and be sure to hug your horses. Maybe some rain tonight. A beautiful day on the way.
Joe
October 2007
Wednesday, October 31st... Yesterday I told you about Free Horse signs popping up all over the place. A big collective nod. Here are some of the phone calls:
Nina Brown was on County Road 31 near Woodland when she saw a Free Horse sign. Nina stopped, and now she is the proud owner of a black and white paint gelding. He is thin, but not scary thin. Nina named him Elvis, because soon he will look like Elvis.
Rachel McGee lives in the hills of Vacaville, and 4 days in a row on her way to work Rachel would see a Free Horse sign. Finally she stopped to take a look. The owner of the house said here ya go, he only needs to learn how to lead. Rachel is now the owner of a grayish Tobiano colt, and she has taught him to lead and pick up his feet. Rachel named him Dusty, because he looks dusty.
The very last thing Cindy Jacobs needed was another horse. But every morning the Free Horse sign was calling out to her, so after a week Cindy stopped to have a look. She is now the owner of an older Tennessee Walking Horse, and he once gave lessons at a fancy barn in Santa Rosa. Cindy now has 5 horses. Her husband is Mark, who Cindy says is the most patient man on earth.
Sarah McDowell lives in Utah now, and in front of a ranch was a sign saying Free Horses, Bring Your Trailer. There were all kinds. Paints and Drafts and Quarter Horses and even a few thoroughbreds. The owner said he must give all of his horses away, or take them to auction. Sarah chose a giant Draft gelding. His neglected feet were so huge a farrier charged Sarah $150.00 for a trim. Sarah named him Bozo, because he is kind of goofy. Bozo is now with a family in Taylorsville, Utah. He eats peanut butter right from your fingers.
Horse killers are laughing all the way to Bank of America. If you see a Free Horse sign, stop and tell the owners to be very careful. Canada is currently paying double what Mexico pays. An average size horse slaughtered in Canada can bring a killer $500.00. With a truck load a killer can earn 8 grand or more. If the doomed horses come to him for free, his profit is huge. Drives me crazy.
It is like the solution is out there, but where?
Maggie is 22, and she has an apartment in Vacaville. The regular stuff. A boyfriend, a job, a cat, and high speed internet. More than 2 years ago Maggie told me she wanted to help. But how? She does not have much money, and she owns not an inch of land. Maggie wants to know, how can she help rescue horses?
Beats me. But let me know what you come up with.
High speed internet was her most valuable tool. Apartment complexes are nifty that way. Maggie began writing letters to large breeding farms. And she would send them photos of doomed foals waiting at feed lots. I was doubtful. Even told her so. But results came quickly. One large ranch in Ramona sent Maggie a Thank You letter. Said they had no idea. They were thinking of cutting back anyway, but now they will for sure. Maggie invades chat rooms, especially chat rooms in Kentucky. She talks to breeders who year after year produce the same babies from the same tired old mares. She sends these breeders a link to slaughter houses, showing foals who are about to be butchered. Of course there are those who defend their practices. But Maggie has made headway, and it is impossible to say how many lives she has saved from her apartment in Vacaville.
If you saw all the babies at feed lots. All colors, all breeds. You would wonder, why would anyone breed their mare? You never forget those hopeful young faces.
We bow our heads to Maggie in Vacaville. Our hero for this week. A long time coming.
Enjoy your foggy Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings open their season tonight in New Orleans. And Holly Meeks will be on the streets of Sacramento with 15 young kids. Door to door, looking for candy. Be safe out there...
Joe
November 2007
Thursday, November 8th... The month to say Thank You, and we begin with Tori in Sacramento. Tori attended a recent auction in Turlock, and in the parking lot she rescued 3 young skinny paint geldings from a horse killer. There is Rebecca in Castro Valley, and at the same Turlock auction Rebecca bought a beautiful race horse filly, still with her racing shoes, and she was only $350.00. We applaud a girl named Kat in Texas, who only went to an auction to observe, but she outbid killers on 2 horses, one of which is badly injured and might not survive. Kat said she would rather he die with a full stomach and surrounded with love, than at the slaughter plant. We say way to go Jennifer, who at a livestock auction in Reno saved the life of a grandpa gelding, and he is probably a thoroughbred. So old his teeth are gone, but Jennifer would rather he die in her back yard, with other animals by his side. We say Thank You to Regan, just 15 years old, and she saved $300.00 to send to Cathy and I. Regan lives in New Mexico, and she would like us to use her money to help rescue a thoroughbred gelding from a feed lot. We say Thank You to Jill in the state of Washington, who went to a feed lot and bought 2 doomed geldings, both thoroughbreds. One of her new geldings recently raced at the Fresno Fair, and how he got to a feed lot in Washington is a mystery. We say Thank You to Molly, her first year of college, and the last thing she needs is another horse. But Molly was at an auction in Portland, and a young unbroke Arabian colt was sold to a killer for $175.00. The colt is gray with a red nose, and Molly could not get him out of her brain. She approached the horse killer and asked how much, the killer said $350.00, and now Molly owns another horse. He will soon be gelded, and next spring Molly will break him to ride. We stand and applaud our friend Julia in Lincoln, who over the weekend rescued a very cute Standardbred gelding from the race track in Sacramento. The trainer told Julia the horse has never won in 8 tries, so enough is enough. The very cute gelding is either put to sleep, or Julia must take him home. Julia takes him home.
On and on. If I forgot you I am so sorry. New stories of horse rescue come to us almost every single day. We have never been in this alone.
Spring is for renewal, and autumn is for reflection. We thank our friends, we thank those we have never met, for helping horses in need. A horse market like never before. All the time we hear how California will be out of hay by January. All the time we hear about horse ranches shutting down. The rising costs of insurance, feed, gasoline, oh and did I say insurance? Our liability rates continue to rise because we have over 100 horses. All the time we hear about hopeful new owners being scammed by sellers who overstate the abilities of their horse. And every day we hear about horse killers who con horses from unsuspecting families.
And yet Jodi Tuft, Rachel Jeffers, Sarah McDowell, Tori, Rebecca, Kat, Jennifer, Regan, Jill, Molly, Julia in Lincoln, Megan in Fairfield, Allison in Auburn, still working the trenches, still helping horses in need. Gary Duncan, Georgia Hartman, and Sandy with Hoofbeats. Right there with horse trailers whenever I call for a ride.
On this cold and foggy 2 weeks until Thanksgiving Thursday, menu planning, appetizer practicing, Rachel Ray watching, it is horses who guide our hearts. For the first time ever I have no clue what tomorrow will bring. I only know we could not do this without others. A time to be Thankful, and boy are we ever.
Joe
Friday, November 23rd... The night before Thanksgiving, and in our driveway is 13 year old Cora Mason. Mom Angela waits in their car. Cora says hi, my name is Cora. I say hi, my name is Joe.
The night before Thanksgiving, and this is what Cora Mason has to say. Not exactly word for word, but pretty close: My mom asked me what I want for Christmas this year, and I keep thinking I already have all the good stuff. My computer and my Ipod and my Grandma just bought me a whole bunch of new clothes. I told my mom maybe we could take my Christmas money and help tbfriends rescue a horse.
(I have learned how to accept money. I know it is important to the giver. But it seems I never say the right thing. I only stammer and stutter and say Thank You.)
Cora Mason continues: I have the best mom. She supports whatever I want. Here is $500.00. Is this enough? I know you have to pay transportation too. Could you show the picture of my rescued horse on your website at Christmas. And could you name him Magic? That way I will know it is him.
(here we go with the stammering and stuttering. Mom Angela waves from their car.)
Cora Mason goes on: We live in an apartment and my mom has a job but there is not enough money to pay board on a horse. When I am older I will have my own thoroughbred. Can I get him from you? Well it is cold and I guess I better let you go. But could I meet Gone Cattin please? I loved his picture on your website.
(in the darkness of our yard I brought Gone Cattin to Cora. It is not normal to show horses after dark, so other nearby horses began yelling.)
Cora Mason was petting Gone Cattin, and she asked me: Do you believe in God?
(yes)
Cora Mason says: I knew you did. How could you live with all these horses and not believe in God? Look how beautiful he made them.
(yep)
More from Cora Mason: My dad does not live with us anymore. He was not a nice man. But God takes care of me and my mom and my grandma. Are you going to adopt out Gone Cattin?
(who knows? His knee is shattered.)
Cora Mason says: I love him. Can I come see him again?
(sure)
Cora Mason hugged Gone Cattin, she hugged me, and then she was gone. Cora and mom Angela gave a final wave from their car.
Like I said before, I never say the right things. Later, in bed, I realized I should have given Gone Cattin to Cora. Her very own horse. I know there is no money for board, so Gone Cattin can stay with us for free. Cora can visit him on weekends. We do this for 3 other kids. Their horses live with us, and we know for sure how important they are to them.
I did not get a phone number for Cora Mason. So hopefully she is reading this. Gone Cattin is yours Cora. And he is waiting for you to come see him.
The night before Thanksgiving. Gone Cattin won the lottery. He has a young girl who loves him.
Enjoy your at the mall by 5:00 a.m. Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. Cold and windy outside.
Joe
Saturday, November 24th... It was 2 weeks ago when I told you about 60 horses at various locations who were in real trouble. For whatever reasons their owners had to get rid of them. This total has risen to over 80 horses, and we have placed 24 in very nice homes.
But there are several who are no longer with us, and I am so angry. I do not use this morning journal as a forum for bad taste. Several rules to live by, and one is do not judge others because the true story is seldom known. But owners did not give me enough time. I am not whats his name is Las Vegas who does magic night after night and makes the Golden Gate Bridge disappear. Tell me about a horse in trouble and I cannot instantly make things better. It takes time to line up a responsible home.
You can not wake up one morning and decide the horses behind your house, the horses you at one time loved and promised to provide for, you can not all of a sudden get rid of those horses in 5 seconds. Unless of course you phone a horse killer, which is exactly what a lady in Wilton did. She phoned horse killer Wade Giles. An hour later Wade Giles was loading her 3 older quarter horse geldings, and now they have been shipped to slaughter in Canada. I had a home for those 3 horses. I was this close. Only one more day was needed, and those 3 geldings would be in another backyard, loved by 2 young girls, and horse killer Wade Giles would not have $1,200.00 in his pocket.
And then there is the lady in Vacaville, the lady who every year breeds her tired mares and brings more unwanted life into this world. The lady who is an expert at making it sound like she is the only one not at fault. The lady who on the phone says you better come get these babies or I will send them to auction. I went there, and they are not babies. They are 3 and 4 and 5 years old, and there is no way to even get a halter on. Only 2 of 7 would come up to me. 5 others I could not get near. Still, we were getting close. I told the lady give me a few more days, and we can load them into a stock trailer through a cattle chute. Gary Duncan is very good at this. Gary Duncan is gone for Thanksgiving, but he will be back next week. Instead the lady phoned horse killer Manny Phelps. The 7 wild horses were loaded into a stock trailer through a cattle chute. The lady in Vacaville each year brings new life into this world. And then she has to get rid of the new life because they are too wild.
Lots of things I can depend on. Number one is my wife Cathy. I depend on my friends, on DISH Network, I depend on spending each day with my horses and I always know what to expect. I depend on the radio to play that dumb Im Going Home song every 10 minutes. And deep down I also depend on others to do the right thing.
We all know the horse market stinks. Too many horses, not enough homes. More horse killers than ever before, because the money is better than a regular job. I keep thinking of the 4 year old thoroughbred in Vacaville. While the others were running away he came right to me, and I was able to rub his back. I should have taken him right then. Him I could load. But the lady said I had more time. I believed her. Depended on her word.
On a Happy note, 13 year old Cora Mason is the new owner of Gone Cattin. Over the phone she screamed. Cora says she promises to always love and cherish him.
The old saying, Concentrate On Good, And Good Takes Over. Enjoy your Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. We might be 60 degrees.
Joe
Wednesday, November 28th... Been around forever. I once potty trained a dinosaur. And I have never seen so many horses in trouble. If you can help, give me a call at 530-383-2120. I am asking you to phone instead of e-mail. Much quicker this way. Here we go:
A family not very far away needs to find homes for their 3 quarter horses. Cathy and I delivered grain and hay to them over the weekend, as they have no money for feed.
A thoroughbred filly in Sacramento is too hot for her owner. She is a beautiful mover, and needs a new home fast.
A half arabian mare in Sacramento is too hot for her owner. She needs a new home fast.
Feed lots are bursting. 2 cattle trailers to slaughter last week, and there will be at least 2 more this week. If you would like to rescue a horse from a feed lot, give me a call. They are usually priced by the pound, though not always.
The blackmail phone calls. Take my horse or my horse will die. Here we go:
7 older thoroughbred mares and geldings, all at different locations in Northern California.
2 paint mares, and both are broke to ride.
4 quarter horses, and they are at different locations in Northern California.
Mixtures of this and that, a total of 16 if I am counting correctly, and they are at different locations in Northern California. Several of these 16 are senior citizens. They would make wonderful companion horses.
In most cases you will not be getting Seattle Slew. Many of the above horses are skinny. After years of neglect they need dental and feet work. There is no such thing as a free horse. These horses will cost you money to maintain and money to bring back to good health.
But you should see the before and after pictures from many of our readers. And our readers all say the same thing. There is no better feeling in the world.
If you decide to open your arms to a needy horse, tbfriends will help with transportation. We will help with encouragement. We will help anyway we can.
Who knows what the answer is? I was told over and over that if slaughter stops in America, there would soon be thousands of unwanted horses who slowly starve. Thousands of horses with no where to go.
On the phone horse killer Manny Phelps laughs at me. Calls me a pair of panties. Been called lots of not very nice things in my life, but never a pair of panties.
There was a thoroughbred gelding with a racing tattoo, and he was 9 years old. The gelding was dark bay with a white face. White legs. He came right up to me at the feed lot in Elk Grove and said please take me home. I told the gelding do not worry, I will get you out of here. Horse killer Manny Phelps said $600.00. I gave him cash. I told horse killer Manny Phelps that my driver Gary Duncan was gone for Thanksgiving, but we could pick up the gelding on Tuesday. Horse killer Manny Phelps said okay.
Yesterday was Tuesday. The dark bay gelding with the white face and white legs was no longer there. Horse killer Manny Phelps forgot. Over the long weekend the gelding was loaded onto a cattle trailer and taken away to slaughter.
And on the phone I blasted him. It takes a lot for those kinds of words to come out of my mouth. I blasted him. And horse killer Manny Phelps only laughed, and called me a pair of panties.
My $600.00 will be credited to another horse.
My good friend Holly Meeks saw an ad on the internet for a free donkey. The donkey was not far from her apartment. Holly Meeks went to look on Sunday, and horse killer Manny Phelps was already there. Loading the poor donkey onto his trailer.
Holly Meeks, the nicest sweetest girl on earth. Never says a bad word about anyone. But on Sunday Holly Meeks called horse killer Manny Phelps a f****** a******. And horse killer Manny Phelps only laughed.
Holly Meeks asked how much, and horse killer Manny Phelps said $300.00. The donkey was saved, and is now with a mutual friend in Elverta. In less than 2 minutes horse killer Manny Phelps profited $300.00. He is really beginning to annoy me.
And so I think about kids. Hanna Draper. Cora Mason. Brianna McDonald. Katie Malone. Becky Coombs. Mikka Thorson. Jenny Hartman. Ryan Miller. Josh Anderson. Allison Martino. Literally hundreds of kids who love horses. Who love animals. Who would never be a Manny Phelps.
It is the kids, the horses, and all the possibilities.
Takes the sting away from having to deal with horse killer Manny Phelps all the time.
Enjoy your Wednesday, and always remember to hug your horses.
Joe
December 2007
Thursday, December 20th... At 2:30 this morning the rain was so loud and the winds so strong I thought for sure we would lose our electricity. But nope, we still have lights, and Bing Crosby is singing about Christmas on the oldies station. Later today we could be 51 degrees. The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of Praline cream. Horse killer Manny Phelps leaves a phone message, saying he has a thoroughbred gelding with a racing tattoo. The gelding is gray and 40 cents a pound. Amanda Knowles leaves a phone message. Amanda says she is 13 and calling from a town called Baldwin Park. Amanda wants me to write on the morning journal how much she loves Tex, her gelding from the race track with a big bowed tendon. This will be the best Christmas ever with Tex by her side. And one more phone message, this from my friend Rachel Jeffers, who says the older gelding I sent her is doing just fine, and she named him Boxer because he has a fighting spirit.
Amanda Cermak lives in Ohio and in honor of Tbfriends and her gelding Greycliffe, Amanda rescued 3 thoroughbred geldings who were out of time. The geldings were at a place called Penn National. The geldings are Electric Charlie, Skipped Twice, and Capital Crime. They will arrive to Amanda before Christmas. All 3 are injured. A big Merry Christmas to Amanda Cermak of Kingstonion Farm. Doing what needs to be done. The best Christmas ever...
A family who lives just a few miles from Cathy and I, and we love their kids. Times are tough. My friend Ryan Andrews went to Costco and bought this family a pantry full of food. Even a big delicious cheesecake. I had no clue Ryan was going to do this. Ryan was listening to a conversation of mine, and then took charge. The family now has enough food for at least a month. The kids will receive presents. A little tree with decorations in their living room. Cathy and I are lucky enough to be associated with incredibly kind people. Helping strangers, which is the ultimate in giving. The best Christmas ever...
Dylan Dunn says this will be the best Christmas ever, because her family is focusing on the spiritual side of Christmas. There will be no gifts. Dylan says the last thing she needs is another corny t-shirt. Instead her family and friends will come together for a huge meal, and later there will be mud football in the back yard. Dylan is taking riding lessons in Davis, and recently experienced her first jump.
Andrea Stevens says this will be the best Christmas ever because her gelding Boss Man has healed from his ankle surgery. Boss Man had a bone chip removed, and now he dances like that guy who drives race cars. Andrea went to work in fast food, and saved money for the surgery. Andrea wants me to know she loves Boss Man more than anything in the world. She bought him a fancy blue and white blanket for Christmas. And a leather halter with his name scribbled in gold.
The best Christmas ever. You can feel it. Just 5 days away. Even with all the yucky stuff on the news. Even with our economy down the drain. People helping people. More horses rescued than ever before.
Sara Tomlin is 10 years old, and at our front gate I gave her a halter once worn by a race horse. Sara Tomlin says she is going to put the halter under her tree. The best Christmas ever. Because some day she will own a horse to go with this halter.
Joe
Sunday, December 23rd... I was interviewed by a magazine and before you ask, no it was not Glamour. No it was not Fashion For Men. The magazine is for horses only, and my name will not appear. I annoy horse killers enough as it is, and I still must do business with those guys. The lady who interviewed me wanted to know why is the horse market so terrible? Her exact question: Why does the horse market suck?
Too many horses and not enough owners. Simple really. Horse killers are making a fortune because every year mares are bred and foals become grown up and owners lose interest and new owners breed their new mares because they think it has never been done before. And owners are positive their foals will never go to slaughter. Except over 100,000 horses do go to slaughter each year, and still we are left with starving horses and neglected horses and horses with very little human contact.
From Interstate 5 I spotted an old gelding living in a bare field with a couch. I went back and the owner said be careful, no one has touched this old gelding in years. His feet were in horrible shape. I told the own