Barbaro In the News, Gretchen Jackson, and Next Steps to End Horse Slaughter

It's been an exciting 48 hours! First and foremost, we've learned that Barbaro is moving forward in his recovery and will probably soon leave the hospital. Poor guy has been hospitalized for over seven months. While NBC staff will certainly miss him, I am sure we are all glad that he will go out into the world to continue his recovery.

Barbaro could be heading to a Kentucky Farm: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/16279482.htm

Mrs. Jackson, co-owner of Barbaro has become an honorary member of the RACE Fund. This is particularly exciting for me, as RACE is based here in Harrisburg, PA, where I live and work. Mrs. Jackson speaks so eloquently, passionately, and with few words says so much:

Gretchen Jackson, Owner of Barbaro Endorses, R.A.C.E Fund, Becomes Honorary Board Member Gretchen Jackson, the owner of this year's Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has become an Honorary Board Member of the R.A.C.E Fund. A non profit funding organization to help with racehorse retirement. Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- The owner of Barbaro, Gretchen Jackson, has become an Honorary Board Member of the R.A.C.E Fund, a 501 c 3 non profit organization that has been established as a funding source geared specifically to help Thoroughbred racehorses retire when they can no longer race. Major funding is expected to come from a small percentage of the gross purse money. Mrs. Jackson stated, "The overall purse structure at Pennsylvania Thoroughbred racetracks will substantially increase in the very near future with the passing of the slot legislation and the horses deserve a portion of the revenue for their well being. Racehorses are the lifeblood of this industry and we must provide for their care and safety during their entire lives and not just when they are racing." Jackson also commented, "I believe the R.A.C.E Fund has the potential to provide the substantial perpetual funding that is needed to help racehorses, especially those that are in danger of going to slaughter and to also provide positive alternatives for racehorse retirement in the future." For more information about the R.A.C.E Fund, please visit their website at www.racefund.org

AND, Barbaro has had a race named in his honor:

Barbaro's Name Replaces Triple Crown Legend on Pimlico Race

By Mason Levinson

Dec. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Barbaro will replace the name of the first Triple Crown winner for a race on the undercard of the Preakness Stakes, where the Kentucky Derby champion shattered his right hind leg last May.

The Barbaro Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, will debut at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course on May 19, replacing the Sir Barton Stakes, the Maryland Jockey Club said in a news release.

Sir Barton was the first horse to complete thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1919.

``Barbaro has become the most popular racehorse in the country because of his courageous battle to overcome such a severe injury,'' club president Lou Raffetto said in a statement. ``This change will allow the next generation of race fans to reflect upon this magnificent and beloved champion during Preakness day at Pimlico.''

Barbaro, who was given a 50-50 chance of surviving the ankle fracture that ended his racing career, has been cleared to leave the suburban Philadelphia animal hospital where he has recovered for the past seven months.

Following the injury, the doctors inserted a plate and screws in Barbaro's right hind leg to fuse the bones and covered the injury with a cast from the colt's hoof to hock during the first of many operations.

As the colt was recovering, he developed an inflammation known as laminitis in the left hind leg in July, which forced the removal of 80 percent of his hoof wall.

The Sir Barton Stakes debuted at Pimlico in 1993.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: December 20, 2006 14:03 EST

****

Barbaro was Examined by a Podiatrist:

Barbaro examined by podiatrist
December 20, 2006

KENNETT SQUARE, PA-- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was examined yesterday by Dr. Scott Morrison, head of the equine podiatry service at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. “Barbaro is stable and comfortable although we remain concerned about the long term management of his left hind foot,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. According to Barbaro’s medical team, Dr. Morrison did some minor work on Barbaro’s left hind foot, and made recommendations concerning the management of that foot. “There is no timetable at this moment concerning Barbaro’s discharge from the hospital,” said Dr. Richardson. “His comfort on both hind limbs is good and his overall condition is excellent.”

Also, an except from an email to the CampaigningforBarbaro Ambassadors from the Humane Society:

"right now, there is
something that activists could be doing to really help
educate folks about horse slaughter. I would
encourage them to write letters to the editors of
local papers in their areas. Letters to the editor
(LTEs) are the most read section of any newspaper and legislative offices watch the LTE sections to see how folks are reacting to issues back home. By getting LTEs on horse slaughter published, we can (1) educate our community about why this inhumane practice should end; (2) why they should care about it and (3) what they can do [contact their Rep/Sen]. Plus the legislative office of the area will take notice that the issue has even made it to the local LTE page.

The new session of Congress begins January 3, so folks
don’t have a lot of time to be idle. Once the new
session starts, that is when you want to be calling,
emailing, and faxing letters. Do NOT mail letters to
Capitol Hill – since the anthrax scare, all the mail
is re-routed to New Jersey and irradiated for cooties
and then returned to Congress (6 weeks later!). so
for folks demanding to write letters, please encourage
them to fax them to their legislator.

Those are just a few ideas that come to mind. You are
so right that we must not lose our momentum and we
have to keep this issue in the forefronts of our
leaders’ minds as they return in January."

***

So PLEASE, PLEASE, write those letters to the editor. Send them to your local paper and do a search on the internet for online papers. I've submitted them all over the place this past week and hope some get published. The bottom line is that we've got to work together to make this a front page issue and no longer America's Dirty Little Secret.

Finally, if you have a few dollars to spare, I have one of my favorite rescues I would ask you to help out in this the season of giving:

www.tbfriends.com

Read owner Joe's blogs. They'll make you smile...they'll make you cry...

Paypal him at tbfriends@aol.com.

Thank you, and Seasons Greetings!

Over 1300 Wild Horses In Wyoming Slated for Capture and in all Likelihood, Slaughter

Good Sunday morning, one week before Christmas Eve. I awoke to find out that the Bureau of Land Management is once again mis-managing America's wild herd. These horses will be captured, and some will be killed or horribly injured in the process. Because they are wild, most will end up in the slaughter houses in TX or IL, or perhaps be transported to Mexico or Canada to their slaughterhouses.

I've vacationed many times in Wyoming. It is a beautiful wilderness. For now, I cannot return.

I maintain that the wild horses are part of our heritage as American's. I can't stand by and watch this happen silently. So here, one week before Christmas, I offer up this sad news.

***

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is relying on a brand new population estimating method to justify the removal of 1,349 horses from the Adobe Town-Salt Wells Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in Wyoming. After horses were rounded up from the area just last year, only 861 were estimated as remaining on the range. Using their new estimating method, BLM later increased their population estimate by about 800% for the Salt Wells HMA alone! This stunning discrepancy is of great concern as it brings into question the ‘standard’ population calculations that BLM has been using for decades to manage our wild herds, and opens the door to equally drastic population adjustments for other herds.

The amount of forage allocated to private livestock on the public lands in question is more than ten times the amount of forage allocated to wild horses, even though by law HMAs are to be ‘devoted principally’ to wild horses. The absolute minimum estimated cost of the round-up and annual containment of the captured horses is over $4 million.

Please protest this gross waste of tax-dollars and mismanagement of our natural resources:

- Mail your comments before December 21 to BLM, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901-3447. Do not let BLM’s refusal to accept email comments discourage you from speaking out. If you do not have time for a letter, a simple postcard registering your objection will do. Make sure to include your name and signature, and this reference number: WY-040-EA07-37.

- Please also alert Wyoming to the fact that continued mismanagement of its wild horse herds will hurt tourism in the state. Contact the Office of Wyoming Travel and Tourism, I-25 at College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82002 - phone: 800.225.5996 - fax: 307.777.2877 – contact via web form

- Our Wyoming supporters should also contact their US Representative and two US Senators to protest such disregard for their state’s heritage (locate your federal legislators at www.congress.org).

On behalf of the horses, thank you for your support.

The AWHPC Team
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
www.wildhorsepreservation.org

The 109th Senate Failed America's Horses Miserably

The 109th senate adjourned Saturday morning around 4:45 AM and quietly swept out of town. They left behind many unsigned appropriation bills, and important to many of us, the Horse Slaughter Ban Amendment died an agonizing death when the Senate adjourned.

Senator Frist, as the outgoing Senate Majority Leader scheduled the bills to be voted on. Despite a major grass roots effort, Mr. Frist was unwilling to put it on the calendar.

This bill, designed to end the slaughter of America's horses for overseas consumption was passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representative on September the 7th, 2006. The Senate was too, uhhh, "busy" to discuss the bill.

Big Beef and The Cattlemen's Association feared this bill greatly. For some reason, they think we are coming for the cattle next. They also view horses as livestock and private property, with which they may do what they please.

For people who live with and truly love horses, they are companion animals. They form a bond with us, just like our cats and dogs.

To be very clear, I like a juicy steak about once a week. However, Fido, Miss Kitty and Barbaro are not dinner options at our house.

Horse slaughter is an ugly, vicious industry whereby "killer buyers" go to auctions and purchase the meatiest, healthiest looking horses because it's all about price per pound. Over 92% of the horses ending up at the 3 Belgium owned slaughter houses in TX and IL are young, healthy and full of life.

These lovely, noble creatures stand in line waiting to enter the "kill box" and all the while are smelling the blood and fear of the horses that have gone before them. Upon entrance to the kill box, slippery with blood, they see a captive bolt pistol coming at that heads. Being flight animals, and sensing the imminent danger, they struggle to avoid the hammer being swung at their heads. Because of their struggle, they often fall and injure themselves, or receive eye, ear and head injuries. It may take many tries for the bolt to connect properly with their heads and stun their brains. Many are not even unconscious when their throats are slit and they are hung by one back leg to "bleed out."

Humane euthanasia is not an option for animals for human consumption. The strong barbituate that brings a gentle but swift end to our beloved pets would taint the meat. In fact, horses are regularly wormed, vaccinated and given drugs that are clearly labeled "NOT FOR USE IN ANIMALS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION." Yet, we as American's allow these Belgium owned companies to kill our horses and ship the meat off as a delicacy in France, Japan and Belgium. The bottom line - the meat is loaded with toxins.

The slaughterhouses pay no taxes here in the US. I have a copy of a income tax return that shows $12 Million is income, but they only paid $5 - that's $5, not $5 million, in income tax. Once they've got the meat across the pond, they mark it up some 400% and making a killing (no pun intended) there. From a purely economic point of view, these businesses have no business operating on our soil.

And why, you may ask, don't the Belgium companies slaughter their own horses...in Belgium? Why that would be because it's illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption in most European countries.

Damned ironic, isn't it?

Disappointed? Yes I am. But we live to fight another day. Look out 110th...we're coming to educate you...

*******************

This is a poem I wrote, expressing my sadness for the horses that will continue to die every week, until this bill is passed and our horses are safe.

And Barbaro Wept…

The night was cold but calm

The night shift worked quietly

Efficiently

And the hospital moved thru the night

And Barbaro slept…

In the early dawn hours

The Sweet Prince awoke

Dismayed

It was clear in his minds eye

And Barbaro no longer slept…

He knew that many new angels

Would soon meet the pastures of Heaven

Violently

And the pain was nearly unbearable

And Barbaro wept…

I woke from my sleep in anguish

Read the email - regret to inform

Adjourned

The words of the people ignored

And Barbaro wept…

I reached out to him with my heart

I held him close

Believe, I coaxed

The battle over, but the war is not lost

Still, Barbaro wept…

He thought about the horses in the feedlots

And the pens

Waiting, waiting

He thought about their fate

And Barbaro wept…

Sweet Bobby thought of the Mustangs

Soon the riders and copters to come

Terrifying

So much beauty lost to the fear

And Barbaro wept…

He thought about the burros,

The Nokota Horses

The Ponies on Assateague

The runners coming up lame

Still, Barbaro wept…

I held his heart so tight and I whispered

We are battle weary

Fatigued

But this war is far from over

Have hope, I urged

You most of all must be strong

Remarkable stallion

For you are our inspiration

We will fight on, for you Sweet Prince

For we do BELIEVE

Miracles

Happen every day

You must be strong, Bobby

Keep us focused

Teach by example

Inspire

You taught us all to believe

I held his heart so tight

Blanketed with love

Faith

Hope for the future

And comforted, Barbaro slept.

And quietly I pulled away

I didn’t want him to feel

My pain

I wanted him to rest…

And then I wept…

Lorri Roush Shaver, 12/9/2006.

"Laughable, if it wasn't so tragic" - Horse Slaughter and Horse Welfare

TThe International Fund 4 Horses : http://www.fund4horses.org/print.php?id=419

Vivian Farrell, re: Horse Welfare Coalition (Jun. 25, 2004)


The Horse Welfare Coalition
An Agribusiness Industry Hoax
June 25, 2004hey call themselves The Horse Welfare Coalition and their website is called ww

They call themselves The Horse Welfare Coalition and their website is called www.commonhorsesense.com. This is one of the worst cases of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" I have ever seen. There is nothing sensible, common or otherwise, about the Horse Welfare Coalition's attack on H.R.857. Their mission does not take the welfare of the horse into consideration in any possible, observable or provable respect.

Horse slaughter exists for one reason and one reason only--to provide meat for export. It has nothing to do with the welfare of the animal, equine population control, elimination of abuse, or any of the other high-minded ideals they are attempting to rely on to support their true motives, to perpetuate the horse slaughter industry.

History has shown time and again that abuse and horse theft increases in the areas where horse slaughter plants are in operation, and decreases when they are shut down. If there are indeed "too many horses," this is the result of callous overbreeding. Horse slaughter only adds to this problem, not minimizes it. A responsible and humane solution should be found by the breeders.

Horse that are old, sick, diseased or lame should be euthanized. The scaremongering tactics the coalition continues to use ad nauseum that there will be old, sick, feeble horses standing around starving is one of their desperate attempt to fool the public into thinking they have Ameirca's horses' best interest at heart. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of horses that go to slaughter are young, fat, fit, healthy horses in order to provide the high quality meat that the plants boast about.

Why are these groups willing to put so much time, money and effort into keeping the horse slaughter industry alive in this country? To me the answer is and has been obvious for some time. Take a long hard look at the membership of this so-called "horse welfare" coalition. Incidentally, the owner and operator of this coalition's website is none other than attorney, John Linebarger, who represents the two horse slaughter plants in Texas, and whose name appears on the court documents filed to keep them open although they are operating illegally according to state law.

It would be laughable if it weren't so damned tragic.

Vivian Farrell
President
The Fund for Horses

w.commonhorsesense.com. This is one of the worst cases of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" I have ever seen. There is nothing sensible, common or otherwise, about the Horse Welfare Coalition's attack on H.R.857. Their mission does not take the welfare of the horse into consideration in any possible, observable or provable respect.

Horse slaughter exists for one reason and one reason only--to provide meat for export. It has nothing to do with the welfare of the animal, equine population control, elimination of abuse, or any of the other high-minded ideals they are attempting to rely on to support their true motives, to perpetuate the horse slaughter industry.

History has shown time and again that abuse and horse theft increases in the areas where horse slaughter plants are in operation, and decreases when they are shut down. If there are indeed "too many horses," this is the result of callous overbreeding. Horse slaughter only adds to this problem, not minimizes it. A responsible and humane solution should be found by the breeders.

Horse that are old, sick, diseased or lame should be euthanized. The scaremongering tactics the coalition continues to use ad nauseum that there will be old, sick, feeble horses standing around starving is one of their desperate attempt to fool the public into thinking they have Ameirca's horses' best interest at heart. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of horses that go to slaughter are young, fat, fit, healthy horses in order to provide the high quality meat that the plants boast about.

Why are these groups willing to put so much time, money and effort into keeping the horse slaughter industry alive in this country? To me the answer is and has been obvious for some time. Take a long hard look at the membership of this so-called "horse welfare" coalition. Incidentally, the owner and operator of this coalition's website is none other than attorney, John Linebarger, who represents the two horse slaughter plants in Texas, and whose name appears on the court documents filed to keep them open although they are operating illegally according to state law.

It would be laughable if it weren't so damned tragic.

Vivian Farrell
President
The Fund for Horses

September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US

This article came out at the end of October, but the headline continues to horrify me. Still, it means the ownership of the three slaughterhouses in America is WELL aware of the battle cry we Fans of Barbaro are raising. Our voices need to continue to be heard...as we are dealing with a Senate that isn't dealing with a whole lot. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND SENATE LEADERSHIP. THANK THEM IF THEY ARE CO-SPONSORS. URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THE BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER IN AMERICA FOR OVERSEAS CONSUMPTION.

September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US

October 29, 2006

September closed out the bloodiest month for horses in the United States since 1995, as 11,166 were sent to slaughter at one of three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the US, a report by the US Humane Society has revealed.

September's record number brings the year's total to nearly 100,000, including horses slaughtered in the United States and those shipped to Mexico, Canada or Japan for slaughter, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures.

The 2006 weekly average of horses sent to slaughter is up to 2,178 � up 235 per week over 2005. During the last week of September alone, 2,225 horses were slaughtered.

The U.S. House of Representatives outlawed the slaughter of horses for human consumption Sept. 7 by a vote of 263-146. The bill, H.R. 503/S. 1915, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, is now in the Senate for a vote.

"The horse slaughter industry is racing to gather up and kill as many horses as possible � trying to squeeze out more profits before the Congress puts an end to their despicable business of butchering healthy American horses," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Americans must call on the Senate to act this year to put an end to the carnage produced by these foreign-owned companies."

Opponents of the legislation claim that slaughter is necessary to deal with the "unwanted" horse problem, saying most of the animals are old and infirm. But, according to the USDA, nine out of ten of horses slaughtered are healthy. Further evidence that no link exists between "unwanted horses" and slaughter is the fact that the industry continues to import horses from Canada for slaughter, including 2,773 horses so far this year and 298 in September alone.

The legislation was introduced by Representatives John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va) and by Senators John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), It has been assigned to the Senate Commerce Committee, led by Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), both cosponsors of the bill. Last year the Senate overwhelmingly approved an amendment to stop horse slaughter by a vote of 69-28.

Other data reported by the USDA:

• During the first nine months of 2006, 23,096 American horses were exported live for slaughter in Mexico, Canada or Japan.
• Exports to Canada and Mexico are up significantly over last year (46.3% and 20.2%, respectively) - with 6,411 live horses sent south and 16,547 transported north to be slaughtered, compared with 5,332 and 11,309 during the first nine months of 2005.
• Two of the deadliest weeks in the last decade occurred during September 2006 - the weeks ending September 2 (2,520) and September 16 (2,463).

In addition to a record-breaking month for horse slaughter, September saw two serious vehicular accidents involving horses en route to slaughter. In Missouri, 41 horses and a mule were being transported to slaughter in Dekalb, Illinois, when the cattle truck in which they were being hauled crashed. Seven horses died when crushed by others and nine others had to be euthanized at the site because of the severity of their injuries.

In Texarkana, Arkansas, several horses were injured when a tire blew on the truck hauling them to slaughter in Fort Worth. The horses appeared to have suffered injuries from the accident or while fighting in the close quarters, according to news accounts.

Related stories:
Big push to congress for horse slaughter ban 7.12.06
Barbaro has helped many other horses 30.11.06
Willie Nelson adopts 11 horses 8.11.06
September worst month since 1995 for horse slaughter in US 29.10.06
Horse slaughter bill stalls in US 24.9.06
Horse slaughter ban makes progress 8.9.06
Willie Nelson joins anti horse-slaughter movement 24.8.06
Bill to end US horse slaughter in trouble 2.8.06
US bill could end horse slaughter trade 28.7.06
Wild horse round-up challenged 18.5.06
Second chance for slaughter horses 7.5.06
Ford lends hand to wild mustangs 8.4.06
Horse slaughter plants find loophole, continue operation 14.2.06

This article reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States.

All content © Horsetalk

A Visit to Save a Horse Stable in Pennsylvania

Good Morning Friends,

Earlier this week I posted a blog about Save a Horse Stable (www.saveahorsestable.net). I've been in communication with Angie, daughter of Darlene, who started this stable over 25 years ago. As you will read, this wonderful home to throw-away horses has fallen on tough financial times. I want to bring it to your attention, and just maybe, you'll be as moved as I am by their compelling story. While my husband and I don't have a lot, I took some of my Christmas money and sent it to them. Will you consider doing the same?

Save A Horse Stable is located in southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm a good four hours (maybe more) away, so I have yet to visit, although Angie has extended a warm and open invitation to anyone who wants to come and see their horses. As she said, she enjoys seeing people enjoying and loving her horses as much as she loves them herself.

I found out about this rescue from contacts on the Tim Wooley racing site (www.timwooleyracing.com)where I receive my daily updates on Barbaro's continuing recovery. Many thanks are due to Tim Wooley, who allows Alex Brown to administer his web site and therefore allows all of us to be informed about Barbaro and other horse issues. I encourage you to visit their site as well. And may I tell you, without Alex Brown, the Fans of Barbaro would not be as organized and galvanized in their support of the horse slaughter ban bill currently languishing in the Senate. We owe ALEX everything.

I also want to thank Colleen Nelson, the journalist who wrote the excellent article about Save a Horse in my earlier blog, also confirming that this stable and it's owners are good people taking good care of their horses.

Senika, who visited the Save a Horse Stable very recently posted her comments on the TWR forum and with her kind permission, as well as Angie's, I am reposting her statements here.

Thank you Senika. Thank you Angie. Thank you Darlene. Thank you Colleen. Thank you Tim and Alex.

And thank you Barbaro, who we thought came to be a great racing champion. Little did we know he had much higher aspirations...he came to change the world and make it a better place for all horses.

And now, let me introduce you to Senika and Angie!




From: senika Nov-30 11:48 pm
To: ALL
2875.1

Hi Everyone,

As promised here is my report of my wonderful visit to Save A Horse in Rogersville, Pa. What a great day!

Our visit had a somber note cast upon it when we drove past the Waynesburg Livestock Auction house about 3 miles from Darlene Moore's Save A Horse Stable. Empty horse and livestock trailers as well as semi's that were waiting, attested to the grim reality that was going on inside. Apparently the auction was being held today. I am sad to report there were many horse trailers there, but I fear to unload horses and not to purchase.

As we pulled the truck in, Angie was waiting with her dogs. We got the flat ground tour of the barn and stalls and met 2 old mares in there who had just had their hooves done that very day and were resting. They were still a little sore so they were going to be stall bound for the day. The barn was clean and airy and the stalls were roomy and well equipped with hay cages, feed and water buckets. It was very well kept.

We moved on and Angie drove us to the top of the upper pasture and we parked. The view was wonderful, but where were the horses??? She said, they'll be here and she called and whistled. A few minutes passed and no horses. All of a sudden a small stampede of about 30 horses are rushing towards us. All shapes and sizes and colors. I can't tell you the feeling of standing in that field and having all these gorgeous horses rushing up to us. It was amazing! Angie started introducing us to each one and imparting his or her story. There was old Nick the Appy who was almost completely blind and following the sound of the others hooves. And Nightmare who has such severe seasonal allergies she has to have monthly shots all through the warm months. And the beautiful Arabian mare a lady in Pittsburgh left to starve to death. And Lucky, who is well, just Lucky. We liked him-we think he'll be coming home to Sarver, Pa. with us. We liked them all. Even the homeliest of the bunch, a white mare, was beautful and pitiful in her own way. Angie told me Darlene got her at the auction before the meat man. Those eyes just pleaded for help to safety. Of course they didn't say no. There are so many more stories each one has to tell. And so many of them have had a really rough life before they came there to live. A large portion were saved from killer buyers at the auction. Some were abused and even though they have been there a while they still have some trust issues. But not with Angie. They see Angie and they are OK.

Their horses are well taken care of, hooves in good condition and healthy and fat these horses are. They were enjoying the hay a nice man from about 100 miles away drove in to bring to help out. That's what neighbors are for-even if they are 100 miles away.

But there are a ton of expenses to care for these horses and as we all were made aware of last week, Darlene and Angie have fallen on a little patch of rough road here the last year or so. I can assure anyone who has any doubts at all, that these women are devoted to these horses and have made great personal sacrifices to care for them and to keep them. I felt the emotion of Angie just being with them and stroking them. These horses are her life - she has been raised with a lot of them. They are like family.

These people are hard working people struggling to make it. They don't have fancy houses and fancy cars. They have neat, clean homes and the vehicles they have serve a multitude of purposes. Angie drives a 4 wheel drive truck with a manual transmission that serves as taxi, hay and feed hauler, and 4 wheeler to get her into the upper field where the horses forage. The emergency brake quit working a while ago - it hasn't been fixed. The horses come first.

Angie took us into Waynesburg to meet her mom Darlene, who is the woman who started it all over 25 years ago. While we waited for her we looked around at the great things the feed store sells and the prices. The prices were fantastic-at least 30% lower than the area we live in- for everything, feed, tack, whatever. I couldn't believe the price of a beautiful leather bridle that sells for over 46.00 where I live and was only 22.00 there. So any of you who may want to donate to the feed store to put on Darlene's account, know that they are getting a lot of bang for the buck. We were introduced to some of the people at the feed store and in particular, the one woman who handled my gift certificate, had nothing but the highest praise for both Darlene and Angie. She spoke so highly of Darlene, and these were not coached words, these were words of people who have known her for years and years and know what these people are made of. Words of honesty and admiration for the both of them straight from the heart. Darlene is everything I knew she would be and much younger than I thought. She told me how tough it has been juggling between credit cards when the horses need things. But they do what they have to. Except sometimes the well is running dry and the overhead is more than what's coming in. Like now.

Angie has put a Paypal link on their website and the funds will go directly in for them to use at the feedstore. Donations of feed hay from anyone local will be greatly appreciated. It takes a lot of hay to feed these guys and it is in short supply right now. If I had even one half of one percent doubt about these ladies last week, which I did not ,by the way, it certainly would have been dispelled today. But as I said, I was with them all along. Sometimes you can just tell when someone has a pure heart-you don't need a tax exemption to prove anything. At least not to me. I consider myself helping a friend and neighbor in need. I hope you can consider it that way too.

There are some photos I posted of our visit and the horses. I hope they came out because I am no whiz at that. Enjoy. I am re-posting their website and the address of the feed store again for anyone able or willing to help. The feed store can only do regular mail in checks or money order donations-they are not set up to do credit cards over the phone.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped. I know they appreciate it more than you can know. I will be in touch with them on a regular basis now that I will be getting 2 horses from them.

Warmest regards,

Senika

http://saveahorsestable.net/default.aspx

Waynesburg Milling Co OFC
387 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
(724) 627-6137

Attention: Janice Blair-Martin, office manager