So What's the BLM Hiding?

http://www.thedesertinde.com/BLM%20Denies%20Public%20Access_0328.html

*bangs head on the desk* And we're back with another addition of BLM vs. the mustangs.

The Bureau of Land Managements (BLM) has placed severe limitations on the viewing of the wild horses captured in the controversial Calico Wild Horse roundup. Despite the enormous cost to the American taxpayers and the controversial nature of the roundup, the BLM and the Department of Interior (DOI) are denying requests for independent humane observers during the processing of nearly 1900 mustangs over the next few months in preparation for their long term holding or adoption. During this dangerous time for the mustangs, the public is being denied an opportunity to view BLM running the animals through alleyways and into chutes where they will be freeze-branded, inoculated and neck-tagged.

*growls*

The BLM claims that the shut down of the facility is a safety issue. However, due to the high level of public interest, we are sure they could find a way to make it safe for observers. It would seem that they just are not interested in having the public see the cruelty they are inflicting on a day-by-day basis.

What SAFETY issue? You want to be more specific there?

Despite Wild Horse and Burro Chief Don Glenn’s promise that the public is welcome “anytime” to view the roundups, the BLM conducted the Calico roundup with limited access. Now BLM has repeatedly denied official requests from the Cloud Foundation and others to allow even two members of the public to be present during processing of horses which began February 15. Ed Roberson, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning with the DOI told The Cloud Foundation in an email last week not to worry about the horses.”

And THAT is exactly why we're worrying. If there's nothing to worry about, PROVE IT. If you've got nothing to hide, let us in. If you're going to lie, at least make it somewhat convincing.

While nearly 2,000 Calico mustangs languish and die in Fallon, thousands of privately-owned cattle still graze the Calico wild horse herd areas, bringing in revenues to the BLM of around $40,000 per year. The GAO reported that yearly revenues from the national public lands grazing program are $21 million per year, while the costs to administer the grazing program are $144 million per year, resulting in a yearly loss to the American taxpayer of $123 million. This taxpayer subsidized grazing program is often referred to as “welfare ranching” due to the small fees charged to livestock permittees. The rate is currently the lowest allowed by law, $1.35 per cow/calf pair per month.

*grinds teeth*

County Considers Lifting Ban on Carriage Horses on Certain Roads

While everyone else is running around trying to ban the carriage business, one county is considering the possibility of the exact opposite.

County leaders will consider lifting a law banning horses on Birch Bay Drive in the summer, allowing a local man to operate horse-drawn carriage tours of the waterfront.

The County Council's public works committee will discuss changing the ban, which has been in place since 1985 when the county approved a law specifically banning horses there in the summer, finding that horses on busy roads were a threat to public safety.

A local man, Roger Edmonds, wrote to the county that he and his family want to hook their six-year-old registered Clydesdale mare, Alamar Abigail (Ally) to a surrey and do tours on some weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The Blaine Road resident said they'd like to offer rides between the C-Shop and the Bay Center Market.

The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce supports the change, as long as Ally has a manure-collection device. The chamber said it's "precisely the type of attraction that will benefit the business and tourist community in Birch Bay."

Edmonds said they also plan to run tours around Blaine during the Blaine Farmers Market on Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and early fall.

I like it.

Most of them seemed to like the idea, but one of the issues was drivers having to wait behind the slow-moving carriage.

It's called PATIENCE. If it makes you feel better, then ask him to please keep out of the way during rush hour if possible.

One person suggested doing a one-summer trial to see how it works out, she said.

There's an idea! Start there and if it doesn't work out, you can always say no next time.

Edmonds wrote that he'd like to start doing some training trips with Ally along the drive, getting her back in shape after the winter and showing her Birch Bay's sights and sounds. County officials had some concerns about manure collection. Edmonds said that'll be taken care of.

:D He admits that she's going to need conditioning after the winter and wants to make sure she's desensitized before he takes her out with customers. And he's willing to take care of the manure problem.

Horses Run Wild in City Streets

http://www.examiner.com/x-18953-San-Diego-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m3d26-Horses-run-wild-in-Chula-Vista--video

Horses that had escaped the OK Corral in Otay Mesa and were running down the streets of Chula Vista, were finally safely herded into the Olympic Training Center by a cowboy, police and a helicopter.

The horses were spotted by a news helicopter running down Olympic Parkway around 5:00 p.m., with a cowboy, lasso in hand, riding behind them, trying to catch up.

Chula Vista police spokesman Bernard Gonzales said that apparently some wild horses, that may have come from Mexico had led the other horses to escape from a ranch. "They had come down from the hills just above Chula Vista and they had intermingled with some other horses. I guess that the leader of that pack of wild horses induced the other horses to run free. In their natural state, a horse will follow the dominant horse. They were all following the lead horse," said Gonzales.

"They had come down from the hills just above Chula Vista and they had intermingled with some other horses. I guess that the leader of that pack of wild horses induced the other horses to run free."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I can't stop laughing at that. Okay horses don't travel in packs. They travel in herds. 'Kay? Second, I have this awesome visual of a horse trying to convince the other horses to run away.

Leader: Hey, guys, what's up?

Horses: Nothin'.

Leader: What are you doing trapped in there? Come on, let's go terrorize the humans!

Point: Horses travel in herds. Don't ever use the word 'induce' to describe how ranch horses followed wild horses. It makes it sound like the wild horses somehow talked the ranch horses into it.

This Week in Horse Racing

WHOO Dubai World Cup weekend! With Life is Sweet out, I only had Gio Ponti to root for. It was an amazing race though. Brazilian-bred Gloria de Campeao won by a nose over Lizard's Desire. Third place finisher Allybar was only a head behind at the wire. Gio Ponti finished a length and a quarter back in fourth. Seven-year-old Gloria de Campeao finished second by 14 lengths in last year's World Cup behind Well Armed.

Odysseus is likely heading for the Blue Grass Stakes April 10th as his final prep before the Kentucky Derby. I talked about Odysseus a couple weeks ago after his nose-victory in the Tampa Bay Derby over Schoolyard Dreams. Odysseus has raced only four times in his career and never been beyond a mile and a sixteenth. The Blue Grass is a mile and an eighth.

Mission Impazible gave Pletcher yet another Kentucky Derby hopeful when he captured the Louisiana Derby by three-quarters of a length. Mission Impazible was never far behind pacesetter A Little Warm while saving ground along the rail. At the top of the stretch, A Little Warm and Discreetly Mine dueled for the lead with Mission Impazible on their heels. Mission Impazible overtook the two leaders in the final yards. A Little Warm finished second, a neck ahead of the rallying Drosselmeyer. Discreetly Mine was another neck back in fourth. Mission Impazible was making his fifth start. As a juvenile he broke his maiden at Keeneland going 4 1/2 furlongs before finishing third in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill before being sidelined for eight months. Mission Impazible was the runner-up in his 3-year-old allowance debut in January, and fourth in the Southwest Stakes in February.

Dean's Kitten also rose to the ranks of Kentucky Derby hopefuls this weekend with a win in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park. Dean's Kitten settled four wide in fourth while Ranger Heartley controlled the pace. Dean's Kitten moved up to duel Ranger Heartley in the far turn and took the lead into the stretch. Dean's Kitten drifted out briefly as Northern Giant moved up to challenge, but straightened out and won going away. Northern Giant was a clear second, with the 17-10 choice, Connemara, back in third. Connemara, another Pletcher horse, hopped in the air at the start and was forced seven wide around the final turn.

Breeding Home Only

The other day, I saw an ad for a horse being sold to a "breeding home only."

I can never understand this idea. Probably only half the horses being sold to breeding homes only are actually breeding quality. And it's up to the discretion of the owner to decide whether or not to breed them. If you want your horse to be bred, don't sell them.

In this economy when there are already too many horses, you're not only encouraging the production of more, you're forcing it. And narrowing your options. If the horse isn't suitable for riding, then it's a pasture home only.

Not a breeding home only.

18 Thoroughbreds Removed from Indiana Stable

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/56018/effort-underway-to-treat-horses-in-indiana

You know, before I started this blog I had NO IDEA there were this many abuse cases reported on every day. I bet I could do a blog entirely on those. Depressing thing about them is very rarely do we ever find out how they turn out.

Assistance efforts are underway in southern Indiana to treat 17 Thoroughbreds removed from Green River Stables near Evansville earlier this month.

According to the Evansville Courier & Press, breeder-trainer Steven Duncan has been charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in connection with the case. Duncan, 54, is scheduled to appear in court March 31.

The newspaper reported that 18 horses were removed from the farm by Vanderburgh County sheriff’s deputies March 9. One horse, a 7-month-old filly, was euthanized due to her condition and most of the others are being taken care of by volunteers at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center.

In a memo to his organization’s membership, Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, provided an account of what he and trainer Mike Bruder witnessed when they went to the 4-H Center to deliver a check to help with the horses’ care.

"The appalling physical condition of the horses was beyond comprehension," Maline wrote, providing additional specifics of problems encountered by some of the horses and what was being done to help them.

Calder Horse Dies in Quarantined Barn

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/56024/calder-horse-dead-barn-under-quarantine

A horse that was suffering from an apparent neurological illness died the morning of March 22 at Calder Casino & Race Course, Calder officials said.

Calder, in Miami Gardens, Fla., is sending the horse to the University of Florida for a necropsy.

On March 20, the horse began showing signs of illness and Calder sent blood samples to the University of Kentucky for testing. Calder has not released the identity of the horse.

Calder expects to get test results back late in the afternoon of March 22, according to its spokeswoman Michele Blanco.

Since March 20, the barn where the now-deceased horse was stabled has been under quarantine. Horses in that barn can train only during restricted hours.

Pending test results, Calder is not permitting horses to ship in or out of its property.

On March 21, Gulfstream Park canceled two races because large numbers of entries were not able to be vanned the eight miles from Calder. Gulfstream ran the eight other races on its 10-race card.

Prayers are with the owner's of the horse, and the other horses in the barn with him/her.

73 Horses Rescued from NY Farm

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=75410&catid=13 [There is a video.]

EAST AURORA, N.Y. - The Erie County SPCA removed 73 horses, 53 cats, and 5 dogs from a property on Emery Road in the Town of Aurora Thursday after officials say they found them living in filthy conditions.

SPCA Spokesperson Gina Browning described it as the biggest rescue effort involving large animals that her agency had conducted in recent memory.

But perhaps just as startling as the sheer number of animals involved was the response, particularly of other horsemen, to the SPCA's call for help in removing and transporting the horses to a safe location where they are now housed under veterinary supervision.

A veterinarian at the scene said the horses should survive, but noted that most were "a couple hundred pounds" underweight, and that their coats were matted with feces from not having been out of their stables for perhaps months or longer.

Charges are pending against the owner of the animals whom Browning describes as having been cooperative with investigators.

Deaths after Round-Up Stir Criticism

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14720563

RENO, Nev. — Activists are questioning the rising death toll in a government roundup of wild horses from the range north of Reno.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman JoLynn Worley said 77 mustangs involved in the Calico Mountains Complex gather have died.

That's nearly double the 39 horses that had died when the roundup of 1,922 horses concluded on Feb. 5.

Leaders of the horse advocacy group Cloud Foundation based in Colorado Springs are pressing the government for measures to deal with the situation.

"Something has gone way wrong here," said group spokeswoman Makendra Silverman. "Somehow these horses aren't transitioning well. It seems to us it's because they put them through a horrific roundup in the winter," when wild animals have lower reserves of fat.

Worley attributed the deaths mostly to the poor body condition of mares. The animals are being prepared for adoption or transfer to pastures in the Midwest.

Many mares also are having difficulty making the transition to a diet of hay, Worley said. Forty-eight of the 70 deaths at a holding facility involved mares, she said, and the number of deaths varies from roundup to roundup.

"This is certainly higher than we'd like to see," Worley said.

"Given the poor body condition of primarily the mares, the number of deaths is in line with the numbers gathered and the deaths we've seen from other gathers."

Silverman questioned whether the quality of hay might have something to do with the deaths, and noted about 40 pregnant mares have had miscarriages

Slaughter-Bound Horse Rescued and Now Living in Germany

http://www.examiner.com/x-25445-West-Palm-Beach-Horse-Rescue-Examiner~y2010m3d13-Slaughter-bound-horse-shipped-to-Germany-but-not-on-a-dinner-plate

In October,2009, Sheza Dance's Tango, a little Curly paint mare had the auction stickers on her butt marking her for the next truck load of horses to be shipped to Canada for slaughter. She stood nervously shivering in a kill pen when Christy Sheidy, co-founder of an all breed horse rescue, Another Chance 4 Horses spotted her and asked the broker who had purchased the horse, if she could try and find the horse a home. Sheidy posted the horse's picture on the Broker page of the website where photos and brief video descriptions are available weekly to provide the horses with a larger viewing audience to enable them to find homes.

Through the Another Chance 4 Horses broker program, the yahoo discussion group and Facebook, the Curly Horse Rescue, Inc in Marshfield, Vermont became involved and raised the funds to bail Tango. Another Chance 4 Horses quarantined Tango, and in that time she developed strangles and managed to injure her muscle in her back right leg.

A Curly horse enthusiast in Germany read about Tango and felt a strong connection to the little mare. Caren became Tango's angel and spent a significant amount of money towards the horse's recovery. She became more interested in the mare's history, researched the pedigree and contacted the previous owners. Tango had been named Rogue at her previous home. The mother of Tango had been a rescue and had been starved; Rogue had been left unhandled but by 4 months of age had been started in training using natural horsemanship methods. She had then been sold to two young girls who apparently sold her at auction at New Holland, PA, the largest killbuyer auction east of the Mississippi.

In January, Tango's angel Caren made arrangements to come to Pennsylvania to meet the horse. Tango was very distrustful at the beginning of the visit, but by the end of the day, Caren felt the connection and saw Tango's eyes soften. It was enough for Caren to see the real horse; Caren made the decision to bring the horse home to Germany.

Arrangements were made for transport and another 30 days of quarantine. The horse remained distrustful but settled into a routine, Earlier this week, Tango arrived in Germany. At first she acted aggressively, but Caren reports that her husband spent time with Dancer,( as she is called ) and by the end of the session, Dancer rested her head in his arms and lapped up the gentle attention. Dancer is finally home.

I thought we needed some good news this week since I pretty much just ranted last week.

This Week in Horse Racing

Guys, this is going to be a heckuva year for horse racing. I can feel it.

If you missed the Florida Derby, go watch it. Right now. It was AMAZING. The Derby this year is going to be a good one. There are so many incredible horses in racing right now, I don't have a clue who to pick for my TC hopeful. Ice Box came away with the Florida Derby win at odds of 20-1. He trailed in last throughout the entire race until the final turn when he blasted past the rest of the field and came to the wire Pleasant Prince, another longshot. For a bit it looked like Ice Box didn't have it, but then he came up and beat out Pleasant Prince by only a nose at the wire. Rule looked the best at the top of the stretch, but couldn't beat those two and finished third. Lentenor (otherwise known as Barbaro's brother) trailed second to last throughout the race and got up to finish fourth in his first start on dirt for Matz.

D'Funnybone won the Swale Stakes in impressive fashion yesterday. He went straight to the lead from the gate and was taken back when Privileged came forward to take the lead. As they entered the final turn D'Funnybone took control of the pace once again and never looked back, staying clear of a rapidly gaining Ibboyee who ran out of room and finished second. Privileged held on to third. D'Funnybone will likely be pointed towards the Withers April 24th and maybe the Preakness. Darn, he was my Derby pick at the start of the year...

Future of Manhattan's Carriage Horses

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/carriage-horses-have-their-day-at-city-hall/

It seems like I go through this once a month, but here I go again.

Manhattan’s carriage horses may soon get an annual five-week vacation and safer working conditions, while their drivers receive a 47 percent pay raise – their first increase in more than 20 years.

Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Not sure who's going to pay for the horse and the owner's expenses during their vacation, but I'll take it.

Members of the Teamsters Union Local 553, which represents carriage drivers, and animal rights groups traded jabs with council members and one another during hours of testimony. Some speakers urged council members to protect the jobs of the carriage industry’s several hundred drivers and stable hands; others said the horses’ welfare should be a priority.

It's called a 'compromise.' How about, you know, BOTH?

Most of the council members at the hearing indicated that they supported an industry-backed bill that would require better working and living conditions for the horses and would increase the rate a horse carriage driver could charge to $50 for a half-hour ride, from $34.

*looks around* Basic rule of economics here. Price goes up. Less people are willing to pay the higher price.

Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito countered: “I don’t think it’s the only reason why people come to New York -– to ride in a horse carriage.”

The only reason people come to Michigan isn't to see Lake Huron, does that mean we should get rid of it? The only reason people come to Mackinaw Island isn't to eat fudge or ride a horse all over the island (unless you're me, in which case that IS why you visit Mackinaw), but that doesn't mean we should get rid of them either. People don't visit Washington D.C. just to see the White House, but I don't think that's going anywhere either.

Ms. Mark-Viverito introduced a bill of her own. It seeks to phase out horse-drawn carriages by April 2012 and replace them with a fleet of zero-emission show cars designed to look like antique automobiles.

Ms. Mark-Viverito said that the cars would make New York a leader in eco-tourism and that they could be operated by the drivers who currently handle the horses’ reins.

“It would be a win-win-win,” said John Phillips of the League of Humane Voters. “The horses, the carriage industry and the city would all benefit.”

1. I ride in horse drawn carriages because I love horses. Why would I ride in a show car designed to look like antique automobiles? I can drive my own car all over for FREE.

2. I'm failing to see how the horses benefit here. No carriages = no job for the horses = either the owner is going to have to make enough money to sustain their upkeep OR they're going to sell them. Now, this is a recession. How many people have enough money to care for their own horse? Now how many people are looking to buy their own horse? Now how many people are able and willing to keep with the needs of a draft horse?

Courtney King-Dye Still in a Coma

http://www.examiner.com/x-17191-Equestrian-Examiner~y2010m3d14-Olympic-dressage-star-Courtney-KingDye-still-in-coma-after-fall-from-horse

Courtney King-Dye, a popular dressage star, remains in a coma in a Florida hospital after her March 3rd fall from a horse.

However, the Olympic equestrian’s condition remains stable. On March 13th, doctors at St. Mary’s Hospital, in North Palm Beach, Florida, began removing Courtney King-Dye from her respirator to allow her to breathe independently.

The 32-year-old United States Dressage Foundation (USDF) gold medalist suffered a fractured skull and intercranial bleeding when the young horse she was schooling under saddle tripped and fell in Loxahatchee, Florida.

My prayers are with her and her family. I wish Courtney a quick recovery and a powerful return to riding.

Man in Court After Dragging Horse Behind Trailer

http://www.kcautv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12136416

A Kearney man has pleaded no contest to animal cruelty after being accused of dragging a horse behind his trailer.

Tyler Brockman entered the plea Friday in Dawson County Court. He faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced in May.

Witnesses say Brockman was seen leaving the Sumner Rodeo on July Fourth with a horse tied behind a trailer, and the horse was being dragged. One witness stopped Brockman, who put the animal in the trailer and left.

A short time later, Brockman was stopped by a sheriff's deputy in Buffalo County and arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Authorities found the horse dead two days later.

Brockman has already pleaded no contest to drunken driving and been given 15 days in jail and a $500 fine.

1. Did anyone actually REPORT this?? Or did they just stop the man, watch him put the horse in the trailer, and leave?

2. WHY wouldn't you check the horse trailer? I mean what, did they assume that it was empty? It takes five minutes to open the trailer and check to make sure there aren't any horses inside. I'm going to assume authorities found the horse dead in the trailer two days later. I'm failing to comprehend how it took them TWO DAYS to check.

Outrage of Horse Removal Goes International

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=79107

The outrage over the round-up of America's wild horses and burros has spread internationally. Groups in the United Kingdom will be holding a rally in front of the American Embassy in London on March 25. On the same day, Americans will be holding a rally across from the White House in Lafayette Park that will conclude in front of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices.

Now will you guys listen? Wish I could be there, but there's no way I can make it to Washington D.C.

The recent deadly round-up at the Calico Complex in Nevada has added to the tremendous support for a moratorium on round-ups. To date, 113 wild horses have lost their lives as a result of the round-up. At least two foals literally had their hooves run off.

I'm not going to comment on that. It speaks for itself.

Update on Lee Case

I'm hoping very soon we will finally have a sentence!

3/15:
Hearing Completed
Released on Recognizance

Next date:
3/29

Horse Adoption in April

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12138307

The auction takes place on April 8 and 9 in Powell, Wyoming. About thirty wild horses in various stages of training will be auctioned.

This Week in Horse Racing

This week was not a good one for my faves. :( And it just got worse. It's been announced that Rachel will NOT be pointed to the Apple Blossom where $5 million has been offered if both she and Zen race.

Rachel Alexandra finished second to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds yesterday. Zardana matched the Horse of the Year mare at the top of the stretch and outdueled her to go on to win by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Steve Asmussen has been saying for the last week that the Rachel was not 100% fit going into the race. Unforgotten trailed the two leaders by 11 1/2 lengths at the finish. It was Rachel's first loss since Sara Louise beat her as a 2-year-old in the Pocahontas Stakes. Rachel and Zenyatta were expected to meet for the first time in the Apple Blossom Invitational. At this point, it doesn't look like that is an option any longer.

Life is Sweet, last year's Ladies Classic winner who was being pointed towards the Dubai World Cup, has been retired after experiencing muscle cramps following a workout yesterday. According to Life is Sweet's owner and trainer, tying up is nothing new for the five-year-old mare. Life is Sweet may be bred to Smart Strike.

Lookin' at Lucky, trying blinkers and dirt for the first time in his 2010 debut, won the Rebel Stakes yesterday. The race was amazing. I hope all three of these boys go to the Derby because I think any one of them could take home the roses. All three horses stayed well back off the pace. Dublin was forced far wide through the first turn and then hung back second to last behind Lucky and Promise. Dublin and Promise started to move up together with two furlongs to go, passing Lucky and staying just off the front runner until they reached the final turn. All three of them kicked and came home together. At first it looked like Promise was going to take it, but Lucky came up with a final surge and won the photo finish. Dublin finished a length back in third.

Sidney's Candy went wire-to-wire in the San Felipe, his first start around two turns. Interactif tried to get up to win, but ran out of track and finished second by a half-length. The favorite, Caracortado, finished another length and a half back in third.

Odysseus took the Tampa Bay Derby in thrilling photo finish style. Odysseus made his move coming into the stretch, but was soon joined by favorite Super Saver, Schoolyard Dreams, and Gleam of Hope. Odysseus seemed to be finished when the three swept past him coming out of the final turn, but Odysseus rerallied and went on to hold off the rapidly gaining Schoolyard Dreams. Super Saver finished third, a half-length behind Schoolyard Dreams. Gleam of Hope was fourth.

Big Brown, who currently stands at Three Chimneys for $55,000, may be shuttled to Australia beginning this year.

Buddy's Saint, winner of the Remsen and Nashua Stakes, suffered a bone chip in his right front ankle following a workout today. The son of Saint Liam is off the Kentucky Derby trail, but hopefully will make a return to racing in the fall. After a disastrous trip and ninth place finish in the Fountain of Youth, Buddy's Saint was being pointed to the Wood Memorial in the hope that he would rebound and be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.

And last but DEFINITELY not least, Zenyatta extended her winning record to 15 for 15 yesterday with her win the Santa Margarita Invitation Handicap yesterday!!!!!!!! Zenyatta was carrying 127 pounds, 15 pounds higher than the second place finisher. The win took place just a few minutes after her connections watched Rachel lose to Zardana. Zenyatta is only one win away of tying Citation, Cigar, Mister Frisky, and Hallowed Dreams in their records of 16 consecutive wins. Zenyatta will go ahead to the Apple Blossom regardless of whether Rachel is there to meet her at the gate or not.

HYPP

HYPP stands for Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis. It is a genetic disease of descendants of Impressive.

Some things I want to say about HYPP:

1. Not all descendants of Impressive have it. I had a very, very nice mare with him in her lines and she was N/N.

2. Just because a horse has never exhibited symptoms of HYPP does NOT mean they don't have it and they never will experience symptoms. There are a lot of horror stories out there of horses that have never experienced symptoms suddenly having a fatal attack.

3. There is a VERY simple solution to this problem. DON'T BREED HYPP POSITIVE HORSES. Not even if they're H/N. I saw an ad for a very gorgeous little paint filly that was HYPP H/H the other day. The owners were giving her away and not only were they not willing to pay for their mistake, they also suggested her being a nice halter prospect broodmare.

Sixteen-Year Old Jockey Wins First Race on First Mount

Today I'm going to feature some good news. Shocking, I know, but this is supposed to be the highs and lows of the horse industry. And most of what I find is low.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55729/apprentice-jockey-16-wins-with-first-mount

Tyler Kaplan, a 16-year-old apprentice jockey, won with the very first mount of his career March 4 at Santa Anita, guiding 5-year-old mare Soldier Betty home in a claiming race.

Kaplan came from off the pace with his mount, getting her up by a half-length as the second choice in a field of nine. Vladimir Cerin trains Soldier Betty for owners Blau, Pellman and Weiss.

“One of my goals was to win a race at Santa Anita and I’ve accomplished that,” said Kaplan. “When we hit the wire, it was amazing.”

Cerin's advice to the youngster before the race: “I told him if he gets beat, don’t come back," he joked.

A native of Norco, Calif., Kaplan attended former jockey Frank Garza’s jockey school in Tehachapi and is currently interning at Chris McCarron’s North American Riding Academy in Lexington.

“Jerry Truman taught me how to gallop horses at Frank’s school when I was 13 years old,” said Kaplan. “I’ve been working horses here at Santa Anita since Dec. 18. I can’t describe the way I feel. There’s no other feeling like this. I used to come to the races when I was real young and I’d try to imagine how it would feel—standing up after the wire and winning.”

Kaplan, who took online classes and graduated high school at age 14, has his sights set high. “My three goals were to win a race at Santa Anita, become a successful jockey, and win the Kentucky Derby,” he said.

Wild, huh? It make me feel so...lazy. :D Best of luck to Kaplan as he chases his dreams!

Another Sentenced Case

http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12081347 [No pictures on this one]

HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) - Two men from Woodstock, Ga., who were convicted of abusing their horses during an extended pack trip in western Montana have been sentenced to six months in jail.

A District Court jury last week convicted 72-year-old Craig Heydon and his 38-year-old son, Curtis Heydon. The elder Heydon was found guilty of 9 counts of animal cruelty to three different horses. His son was convicted of 10 counts - the additional charge coming for abandoning a dying horse tied up without water on a trail.

The Heydons used the horses on a two-month pack trip into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the summer of 2008. The case came to light when they left 1 of the emaciated horses lying collapsed along a trail.

The men were ordered Wednesday to pay $11,544 in restitution for care of the horses. They also must pay almost $10,000 each for the cost of confinement and close to $3,000 each for the cost of the trial.

I have a better idea. Let's drive them out into the mountains and tie THEM to trees without food or water.

Paragallo is Sentenced

Justice! It's a good day for me. Not so good for Paragallo and his lawyer.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55796/paragallo-convicted-of-33-misdemeanors?utm_source=BreakingNews&utm_medium=email

Ernie Paragallo, a prominent New York Thoroughbred breeder and trainer has been convicted of mistreating dozens of malnourished horses. Paragallo was convicted March 10 of 33 of 34 misdemeanor animal cruelty counts in a non-jury trial.

The 52-year-old Long Island resident was charged after authorities raided his 500-acre farm in Coxsackie in April and seized 177 malnourished horses.

Paragallo could face up to two years in jail and $35,000 in fines. His lawyer says he'll appeal the convictions announced by a judge March 10. The owner/breeder testified the week of March 1 that he didn't know the horses weren't being fed enough.

“Race horses--whether they are in training, retired from racing, or in active competition at our tracks--must be properly cared for in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,” said John Sabini, chairman of the New York Racing and Wagering Board and the state’s Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, in a statement. “The verdict issued today by Greene County Judge George Pulver Jr. sends a message that serious consequences await those who fail to provide proper care and sustenance to horses.

“All of us involved in the regulation of pari-mutuel wagering have a duty to ensure that the horrendous conditions found at Center Brook Farm in April 2009 never again manifest themselves in the barns and pastures of New York State.

“This is why the Racing and Wagering Board acted swiftly last year in revoking Ernest Paragallo’s right to participate in New York racing. It is also why I urged my colleagues on the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund to craft a new inspection program and institute other reforms designed to further safeguard horses from neglect and abuse.”

Paragallo had no comment as he left court.

Michael Howard, Paragallo's lawyer, called the verdict disappointing and surprising and said he would appeal the convictions.

"This requires a horse owner to take on a very high level of burden,'' he said.

Ron Perez, director of the Hudson Greene Humane Society, said he was pleased with the verdict.

"This is going to set a precedent for animal cruelty cases across the country," said Perez, who took part in the raid that uncovered underfed and parasite-infested horses on Paragallo's 500-acre Center Brook Farm, about 20 miles south of Albany.

Paragallo has started more than 4,500 horses and earned more than $20 million in purses. After his arrest, the state Racing and Wagering Board suspended him from racing at New York tracks.

"This case was a shocker to the racing community," board spokesman Joe Mahoney said March 10. "People involved in racing love their horses. It's a rare exception that a farm owner would fall down on his responsibilities like this."

It's not over yet and I'll keep watching, but for now, we're finally getting closer to having justice in this world. Of COURSE his lawyer's disappointed. He LOST. If his paycheck requires him to win, that's even more disappointing for him, now isn't it? Now if only we could have some justice for Whisk and Suzi, I'd be a lot happier.

And you know, I may vouch that a lot of people aren't in racing just for the money, but I know that for every one that isn't in it for the money, there's another that IS.

Paragallo is Sentenced

Justice! It's a good day for me. Not so good for Paragallo and his lawyer.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55796/paragallo-convicted-of-33-misdemeanors?utm_source=BreakingNews&utm_medium=email

Ernie Paragallo, a prominent New York Thoroughbred breeder and trainer has been convicted of mistreating dozens of malnourished horses. Paragallo was convicted March 10 of 33 of 34 misdemeanor animal cruelty counts in a non-jury trial.

The 52-year-old Long Island resident was charged after authorities raided his 500-acre farm in Coxsackie in April and seized 177 malnourished horses.

Paragallo could face up to two years in jail and $35,000 in fines. His lawyer says he'll appeal the convictions announced by a judge March 10. The owner/breeder testified the week of March 1 that he didn't know the horses weren't being fed enough.

“Race horses--whether they are in training, retired from racing, or in active competition at our tracks--must be properly cared for in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,” said John Sabini, chairman of the New York Racing and Wagering Board and the state’s Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, in a statement. “The verdict issued today by Greene County Judge George Pulver Jr. sends a message that serious consequences await those who fail to provide proper care and sustenance to horses.

“All of us involved in the regulation of pari-mutuel wagering have a duty to ensure that the horrendous conditions found at Center Brook Farm in April 2009 never again manifest themselves in the barns and pastures of New York State.

“This is why the Racing and Wagering Board acted swiftly last year in revoking Ernest Paragallo’s right to participate in New York racing. It is also why I urged my colleagues on the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund to craft a new inspection program and institute other reforms designed to further safeguard horses from neglect and abuse.”

Paragallo had no comment as he left court.

Michael Howard, Paragallo's lawyer, called the verdict disappointing and surprising and said he would appeal the convictions.

"This requires a horse owner to take on a very high level of burden,'' he said.

Ron Perez, director of the Hudson Greene Humane Society, said he was pleased with the verdict.

"This is going to set a precedent for animal cruelty cases across the country," said Perez, who took part in the raid that uncovered underfed and parasite-infested horses on Paragallo's 500-acre Center Brook Farm, about 20 miles south of Albany.

Paragallo has started more than 4,500 horses and earned more than $20 million in purses. After his arrest, the state Racing and Wagering Board suspended him from racing at New York tracks.

"This case was a shocker to the racing community," board spokesman Joe Mahoney said March 10. "People involved in racing love their horses. It's a rare exception that a farm owner would fall down on his responsibilities like this."

It's not over yet and I'll keep watching, but for now, we're finally getting closer to having justice in this world. Of COURSE his lawyer's disappointed. He LOST. If his paycheck requires him to win, that's even more disappointing for him, now isn't it? Now if only we could have some justice for Whisk and Suzi, I'd be a lot happier.

And you know, I may vouch that a lot of people aren't in racing just for the money, but I know that for every one that isn't in it for the money, there's another that IS.

One Case is Sentenced

http://www.examiner.com/x-15114-Cincinnati-Pet-News-Examiner~y2010m3d3-Clermont-County-man-pleads-guilty-in-horse-abuse-case [NOTE: there is a slideshow of pictures of the horses]

A local horse trainer will spend six months in jail, and is forbidden to have any contact with animals ever again, as part of a plea deal in a horse abuse case.

29 year old Chad Moore pled guilty on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 to six counts of abandonment. Prosecutors then dropped six counts of animal cruelty against Moore. Besides the jail time and the order to stay away from animals, Moore will have to pay $2000 in fines and restitution.

Moore, a former horse trainer, was arrested in January after a raid on a farm in Tate Township. Animal control officers found ten horses dead and six more animals alive, but starving. Moore spent several days on the run before he was arrested.

The surviving animals were taken to a nearby farm in Bethel. Two have since died. The rest, it appears, are on the road to recovery.

That's IT?? Six months in jail, no contact with animals ever again (as if they can really enforce that), and $2,000 in fees for starving sixteen horses, ten to death?! I will never be able to understand how you can look out a window, see horses dead that you have starved to death, and then go eat dinner and go to bed. NEVER.

On Wednesday We Will Know...

whether justice is going to be served.

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1450747.shtml?cat=300

"A skinny horse is not a starved horse," Paragallo's defense attorney said during his closing remarks.

Even hard keepers shouldn't be that skinny! One or two in the entire herd maybe, but all 177??? Anyone that says differently doesn't know how to take care of a horse. Plus there's a HUGE difference between emaciated and "a little thin."

I mean seriously, LOOK at these: [Note: links contain pictures and news stories of some of the horses]
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html [That's a YEARLING]
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/sports/othersports/05horses.html [Before and after pic of one of the horses]

Look at those pictures and tell me to my face there's nothing wrong with those horses.

Paragallo took the stand in his own defense Thurday. He said he expected the manager of the farm, Eddie Salazar, to keep him informed and take care of day-to-day operations.

He says, he told Salazar, "Whatever we need, just order it."

But under cross examination, Wilhelm asked Paragallo if he was in charge.

"No question. My responsibility is to manage that farm," Paragallo answered. "I have to rely on the people working for me."

I have a solution. We'll throw them BOTH in jail for thirty years or so. It was Paragallo's responsibility as owner to make sure his orders were carried out and whoever cared for the horses to actually DO their job.

Paragallo is facing a bench trial. There is no jury. The verdict will be up to the judge. His decision is expected on Wednesday.

I just hope the judge is a good one. I'll leave Wednesday's post open so I can look for updates as soon as I get home.

And the story that got me even more ticked off at our justice system (if that's possible)...http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2010/03/06/news/doc4b91d49121672099560753.txt

“They were not undernourished, they were ugly,” he said.

My head just exploded. I can't even comprehend how someone could say that. I'm sure there are ugly horses out there, but there's a HUGE DIFFERENCE between ugly and starving.

Paragallo has insisted that his feeding methods were meant to slim down the horses before the breeding season, modeled after techniques in “Joe Taylor’s Complete Guide to Breeding & Raising Racehorses.” Paragallo said he knew Joe Taylor personally before Taylor died several years ago.

Excuse me while I run out and get this book. I'm pretty sure STARVING horses doesn't do you any good. Because starving horses don't have the nutrients they need to probably nourish a growing foal.

“They are using this case to get donations and charitable contributions for the Columbia-Greene Humane Society,” Howard said, noting newspaper clippings which quoted Bilinski about a benefit drive for the Center Brook Farm thoroughbreds at the Saratoga Race Course.

Do you have ANY idea how much it costs to care for 200 horses??? That's not even counting the medical bills those poor horses are going to have! Animal rescues are overflowing and BROKE! Do you expect them to take on 177 more horses and NOT have to raise money somehow??

Salazar did not testify during the trial because last month, Paragallo said, he left for Guatemala due to family illness. Paragallo purchased Salazar’s plane ticket and he has not been heard from since. Salazar’s testimony was required to charge Paragallo with the 35th count, which was withdrawn on Thursday.

Of COURSE he did. I wonder why...

But he said Friday afternoon that he made those statements before seeing the horses first-hand — having admittedly not been on the farm from August 2008 to April 2009 — and was judging the situation on media accounts of the April 8, 2009 raid. He said he later had independent evaluations of the horses done, which showed they were healthy.

They're not independent if YOU had them done. And how MUCH later?

On Wednesday We Will Know...

whether justice is going to be served.

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1450747.shtml?cat=300

"A skinny horse is not a starved horse," Paragallo's defense attorney said during his closing remarks.

Even hard keepers shouldn't be that skinny! One or two in the entire herd maybe, but all 177??? Anyone that says differently doesn't know how to take care of a horse. Plus there's a HUGE difference between emaciated and "a little thin."

I mean seriously, LOOK at these: [Note: links contain pictures and news stories of some of the horses]
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_spca_releases_images_of_neglected_animals_at_center_brook_farm.html [That's a YEARLING]
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/sports/othersports/05horses.html [Before and after pic of one of the horses]

Look at those pictures and tell me to my face there's nothing wrong with those horses.

Paragallo took the stand in his own defense Thurday. He said he expected the manager of the farm, Eddie Salazar, to keep him informed and take care of day-to-day operations.

He says, he told Salazar, "Whatever we need, just order it."

But under cross examination, Wilhelm asked Paragallo if he was in charge.

"No question. My responsibility is to manage that farm," Paragallo answered. "I have to rely on the people working for me."

I have a solution. We'll throw them BOTH in jail for thirty years or so. It was Paragallo's responsibility as owner to make sure his orders were carried out and whoever cared for the horses to actually DO their job.

Paragallo is facing a bench trial. There is no jury. The verdict will be up to the judge. His decision is expected on Wednesday.

I just hope the judge is a good one. I'll leave Wednesday's post open so I can look for updates as soon as I get home.

And the story that got me even more ticked off at our justice system (if that's possible)...http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2010/03/06/news/doc4b91d49121672099560753.txt

“They were not undernourished, they were ugly,” he said.

My head just exploded. I can't even comprehend how someone could say that. I'm sure there are ugly horses out there, but there's a HUGE DIFFERENCE between ugly and starving.

Paragallo has insisted that his feeding methods were meant to slim down the horses before the breeding season, modeled after techniques in “Joe Taylor’s Complete Guide to Breeding & Raising Racehorses.” Paragallo said he knew Joe Taylor personally before Taylor died several years ago.

Excuse me while I run out and get this book. I'm pretty sure STARVING horses doesn't do you any good. Because starving horses don't have the nutrients they need to probably nourish a growing foal.

“They are using this case to get donations and charitable contributions for the Columbia-Greene Humane Society,” Howard said, noting newspaper clippings which quoted Bilinski about a benefit drive for the Center Brook Farm thoroughbreds at the Saratoga Race Course.

Do you have ANY idea how much it costs to care for 200 horses??? That's not even counting the medical bills those poor horses are going to have! Animal rescues are overflowing and BROKE! Do you expect them to take on 177 more horses and NOT have to raise money somehow??

Salazar did not testify during the trial because last month, Paragallo said, he left for Guatemala due to family illness. Paragallo purchased Salazar’s plane ticket and he has not been heard from since. Salazar’s testimony was required to charge Paragallo with the 35th count, which was withdrawn on Thursday.

Of COURSE he did. I wonder why...

But he said Friday afternoon that he made those statements before seeing the horses first-hand — having admittedly not been on the farm from August 2008 to April 2009 — and was judging the situation on media accounts of the April 8, 2009 raid. He said he later had independent evaluations of the horses done, which showed they were healthy.

They're not independent if YOU had them done. And how MUCH later?

Another Reason Why Synthetic Tracks are NOT the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-santa-anita-20100305-13,0,101184,full.column

It's been awhile since I've had a rant regarding synthetic tracks. I'm overdue.

But the weather and its foibles and the humans and their politics have intervened. The story is less the race and more whether there will be one Saturday. And if not, why not and when will this all be fixed? The entire saga of California horse racing these days has fans demanding, in Jim Healy radio style, "Who goofed? I've got to know."

This will be the 73rd running of the Big Cap. It has never been postponed or cancelled. Saturday's forecast is for 70% chance of rain. In the good old days, before Santa Anita followed the mandate of the California Horse Racing Board and installed a synthetic track in 2008, that wouldn't have been an issue.

On Thursday, one veteran track official described a particularly bad winter in the late 1960s. He said there was constant rain, mudslides, houses sliding down the hills surrounding the track.

"There were some pretty lousy off-tracks, but we never missed a day of racing," he said.

If the Big Cap is rained out Saturday — with two other Grade I races, the Kilroe Mile and the Oaks, as well as the rescheduled Grade III Sham Stakes — it will mark the sixth lost day at this meeting. It will also be the 18th lost day since the installation of synthetics in 2008. Before that, Santa Anita had lost four — count ‘em, four — days to weather since it opened Christmas Day 1934.

Note to California Horse Racing Board and Santa Anita: next time you come up with a brilliant multi-million dollar idea like this, ACTUALLY TEST IT FIRST. *transfers blame from Santa Anita to CHRB* The track has missed more days this season than it's ENTIRE history. Does this not tell you something? If other synthetic tracks don't have this problem, then what's different with your track and theirs??

This was all headed toward a logical conclusion. On Jan. 18, Santa Anita President Ron Charles announced that, after the meeting ended in April, a new track would be installed. The CHRB now said that was OK. Charles didn't specifically say so, but the presumption was that the surface would be good, old-fashioned, time-tested dirt.

But early this week, track owner Frank Stronach plodded into the muck. He said the surface might not be replaced, that it might remain synthetic. In the midst of bankruptcy proceedings involving his parent company, an action from which Santa Anita was recently removed, Stronach seemed to be concerned about the $10-million price tag to replace the track.

Why? You're a businessman. Canceled race days = NO MONEY. Somehow I think trading back to a track that actually drains will help you make money in the long run. And will teach you a lesson about spending millions of dollars without considering what happens when it rains on your track. Why doesn't the CHRB pay for it since it's their idea to make tracks pay for these new surfaces?

In a classic head-scratcher quote, Stronach said, "As an intelligent person, you don't go out and spend $10 million without research."

A hundred years of horses racing on dirt is not research?

He must not have had anything to do with the installation of the synthetic track.

It also has the Breeders' Cup wanting to come to Santa Anita on a permanent basis, but to a track surface it won't accept.

NO. The Breeders' Cup is traditionally held at a different track every year. The BC is a big money event! Not only would it give western bred horses an unfair advantage, but it also makes it difficult for eastern fans (like, you know, me) to experience it.