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easyrider
51 weeks 4 days ago |
Thanks Allie for this
Thanks Allie for this wonderful and informative article.
I've been in your shoes. It's amazing what you can feel when you're up on some horses that no one can see from the ground. It takes experience and courage to trust those feelings and understand what they signify, but it's what helps keep us alive as trainers.
It's so sad when a horse with huge talent doesn't have the mind to go with it. If you're lucky enough to give that horse a forever home and know that no one is ever going to get on and get hurt, that's one thing. But a dishonest horse is always a danger and the more talented they are, the more attractive a danger they are.
You make the point that serious misbehavior almost always has a physical component, but often we can never know whether it's physical, mental or a combination. I don't envy your position, but I've had several OTTBs and I'm so appreciative of the work that CANTER does.
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123horsegirl123
51 weeks 4 days ago |
Great points about the
Great points about the dilemnas in placing horses. I don't think it is irresonsible to euthanize the horse, from any standpoint. You tried your best and the horse is still homeless. The irresponsible thing would be send him down the road to hurt someone and likely end up at the slaughterhouse. I wish all horse owners would discuss euthanasia more openly and take responsibility for their horses. It is a far kinder option than turning a blind eye and sending your horse to an auction. Plus, if owners actually had to be part of the euthanasia process, they would not support the overbreeding and mass production of horses. They might step-up and demand responsibilty from the trainers and breeders before throwing their money at them and encouraging the process. It is much easier to send a horse down the road (even half-knowing it could end-up at an auction) than to call the vet and euthanize it.
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Thoroughbred1201
51 weeks 4 days ago |
Excellent article
I read this article with interest. I've alway had TBs (with the exception of 1 Zangerschiede Warmblood), and love the way they think and react. As such, I follow your blogs, and enjoy seeing what you have to say. CANTER is impressive in its care and its mission. This article reiterates this.
I don't see euthenasia as irresponsible. On the contrary, in certain cases it is the most reponsible. But as you state, to be the person making the decision and holding the lead rope takes it from the academic to hard reality. There is no easy answer.
Once, when it was clearly time that my OTTB (my best friend, long time show horse & then retired pet) needed to be put down, and I was having a hard time letting go, my trainer told me that she was acting as his advocate, and it was time to do what was best for him. She was right. She was acting as his advocate - just as you are for this horse and so many others.
You and your organization make the hard decisions and do the hard work so that the rest of us may benefit. Being the true advocate for these horses show in the care that is taken for each one. Keep it up.
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jkswbester
51 weeks 4 days ago |
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Thoroughbred1201
51 weeks 4 days ago |
Excellent article
I read this article with interest. I've alway had TBs (with the exception of 1 Zangerschiede Warmblood), and love the way they think and react. As such, I follow your blogs, and enjoy seeing what you have to say. CANTER is impressive in its care and its mission. This article reiterates this.
I don't see euthenasia as irresponsible. On the contrary, in certain cases it is the most reponsible. But as you state, to be the person making the decision and holding the lead rope takes it from the academic to hard reality. There is no easy answer.
Once, when it was clearly time that my OTTB (my best friend, long time show horse & then retired pet) needed to be put down, and I was having a hard time letting go, my trainer told me that she was acting as his advocate, and it was time to do what was best for him. She was right. She was acting as his advocate - just as you are for this horse and so many others.
You and your organization make the hard decisions and do the hard work so that the rest of us may benefit. Being the true advocate for these horses show in the care that is taken for each one. Keep it up.
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kinbilly1
51 weeks 4 days ago |
Sad realities
I, too have read your article with much interest, and have often wondered what happens to those horses that are just not suitable for life beyond the track - especially with an amateur owner. I am a 'lifer' with horses, but a first-time ottb owner. I am head-over-heels over this horse, although he has tested my skills beyond my wildest imagination. I am up for the challenge, especially since I am convinced that he is 'all there' upstairs.
I have wondered about the recent movement to rescue and retrain ottb's and how the groundswell of popularity could backfire, and I think you hit it on the head. Those horses that are - for whatever reason - so emotionally damaged that they could do serious harm to someone - even the most talented, gifted, or just willing person whose heart and soul are poured into such a horse.
I have wondered what I would do if my horse turned out to be a 'head case' and too far gone.
But I know what I would do. Hard as it would be, I would let him go.
It occurs to me that your responsibility as a professional and expert in the retraining of these fine horses, would be to give such a horse the dignity in his death to prevent him from winding up in unspeakable circumstances.
I guess that is the serious downside to what you do. Surely the rewards far outweigh these tragic circumstances. Yet, how fortunate a horse would be to have someone like you to end his suffering, be it physical or mental.
As a passionate supporter of these horses, I applaude your efforts and thank you for what you do - including those hard decisions. The world needs more of you.
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Carol Ames
51 weeks 3 days ago |
TRY tELLINGTON tOUCH, tteam
i HAVE EXPERIENCED AMAZING CHANGES WITHE USE OF tteam, BODYWORK, AS WELL as GROUND EXERCISES;yOU MENTIONED Crushed WITHERS? have YOU HAD HiM EVALUATED BY A VETERINARY CHIROPRACTOR? iT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT MOST OFF TRACK HORSES BENEFIT FROM A GOOD VETERINARY CIRO/ ACUPUNCTURE EVALUATIO/ TREATMENTN
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socalcanter
42 weeks 2 days ago |
ALLIE!! I can't believe im
ALLIE!! I can't believe im just finding this article from you. I am one of Ali Dachers "retrainers" here in california and i have the EXACT issue with my mare. Ive been working with her since march, and everything you said in this article i have thought to myself. i actually told Ali a few days ago that maybe we should adopt her out as a broodmare, and i am NOT a believer in adopting any ottb as a broodmare. if not that then i feel like i personally need to adopt her because i fear she will bounce around from home to home living a very unhappy life. but like you said, she is a liability and i dont trust anyone on her but myself. what to do what to do... thanks for addressing this issue. it is comforting to know im not alone. ~ Sarah
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LShannon
1 year 4 days ago |
Safe Flag option
I have wondered if a pool noodle would work for the flags? They are definitely cheap - well under the $10 mark. They could slide down into a recessed PVC tube or some other material that would be harmless (set down deep into ground or jump so they would not be able to break and splinter.) to hold them and keep straight. They give completely, are easily replaced and easy to see.
They may not be real pretty. If that is important then a decorative sleeve could be easily and cheaply made to slide over them and make them fit in better with the course design!
Anything to prevent that type of horrific accident happening again!
Hope this helps!
Laurie Shannon
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Eventer404
1 year 4 days ago |
How about...
rubber!!! Thin round rubber replacements that would bend but would still look rigid and work the same way!
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tuheeden
1 year 4 days ago |
flag marking
even pvc same with the plastic flexible pole (I work in the ER things get stuck everywhere ) can break and the wood come out of it..it can happen again... did you see at the fork how many flags, got torn down?? and each time they were try to put it back on with more strength so it would move.
how bout cloth stapled to the side ( set up regulated size) tack them on to each side...if we need out of bound lines then we do what football and baseball have been doing and chalk them that way judges will know for sure if a foot in or out of the lines.
just a quick suggestion to allow for change so this doesn't happen again.I would hate to Will right now.
Heather
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ise@ssl
1 year 4 days ago |
I like the Noodle Idea
I'm sure they could have them made in any color and they are flexible and won't hurt anyone and they certainly won't stick in the ground. Super idea!!
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Krand414
1 year 4 days ago |
They should just paint the
They should just paint the side of the jumps. right side red and the left side white. It would be easier then trying to find a way to reinvent the flags. As long as there is something on the top of the jump Ie a flag eventually someone will hit it, but if we put paint or something ON the front of the jump then it should work, using something like they do on stadium jumps Also if yoru Running a CIC* and up you should know what way your going. Especially on cross country there is usually only one way to jump a jump, unless there are a few option or something like that.
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StarfishLisa
1 year 3 days ago |
Alkathene waterpipe
Dr. Susan Dyson, DVM of the UK solved this problem a few years back. She caught on her camera a similar incident that resulted in a fatality. Since then Britain requires that all flagpoles be made of some sort of Alkathene waterpipe. The US shouldn't be behind in a situation concerning safety, since it is more safety concerned than most other countries!
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cwolf19380
1 year 2 days ago |
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dodonfarm
1 year 4 weeks ago |
25 are Ex-Racehorses!
Erin researched all the entries at Rolex that were listed as Thoroughbred and found that 25 of them are OTTBs. You can see who they are (were) and their pedigrees here: http://bit.ly/HykRAU
It would be a cool story to find out how each rider got their respective horse!
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surodell
1 year 4 weeks ago |
OTTBs at Rolex
20 years ago, nearly ALL the entries would have been OTTBs -- am I wrong?
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Inner Bay
1 year 4 weeks ago |
USEF name changes: Adding CMA will cost $
There is much to be desired when it comes to USEF's efforts to make it easy to trace any bloodlies or associations such as the "CMA" prefix or suffix would provide. When the Zangersheide accepted our As Di Ani (As Di Villagana/Camille) into their registry, I had to really do some persuading to keep from having to pay a full name change fee to add the "Z" to her name, just a couple weeks after we'd recorded her with USEF.
Reason and common sense finally prevailed, but it was a close one. That situation needs to improve before a valid idea such as the one described in this article catches on.
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netg
1 year 4 weeks ago |
Except for the fact when
Except for the fact when you're adopting a horse from CMA it is not yet registered with USEF. If I had a CMA horse already I'd pay for the name change, but even if folks just start doing it now it will still make progress going forward.
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trevelyan96
1 year 4 weeks ago |
Great Idea
I love this idea and I will definitnely encourage my DD to put FLF (Finger Lakes Finest) in front of her OTTB's new show name.
My other OTTB did not come from a program.
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TheMagicBus
1 year 7 weeks ago |
Veterinarians and Racing...
There are certain equestrian events that test the horse for drugs and soundness prior to competing. I don't understand how these divisions of the industry can get it right and the racing industry continues to get it wrong for many many years.
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123horsegirl123
1 year 7 weeks ago |
Pointing Fingers
Yes, there is a lot wrong with American racing. There is too much drug use, too little regulation and even less humanity. However, I find the media's current attack on drug use and track breakdowns perplexling (and when looking closely at the breakdown statistics in N.Y. Times' recent article you will find a lot of holes in their reporting and their obviously manipulated figures). I am confused by the attention to this "cruelty" when there is a much more prevalent evil being done to America's horses. One that is done in all industries of all breeds. The "large elephant blending into the background" you mention will never be discussed, not by respected industry professionals, respected media or regulators who matter. This is because the elephant is not in the room. The elephant is without food or water for 30 hours on a double-decker trailer to Mexico where it will have the meat hacked out of it while it is still alive. The elephant is out of sight and out of mind. Now, for those pointing fingers at today's racing cruelties, let's be honest. A track breakdown and euthanasia is a far kinder end for an animal that was, yes I'll say it, born to run.
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fairweather
1 year 7 weeks ago |
I'm not sure I understand your logic...
Are you saying that nobody discusses slaughter? Are you saying that because slaughter exists, that improvements cannot be made in any other sport? Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the comment, but this does not make much sense to me.
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Comments
10 weeks 20 hours ago
It’s good!