nhg
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Post by nhg on Apr 10, 2018 17:11:10 GMT
Almost two years ago we moved to a new barn. It was great at first. Huge indoor arena, personal tack lockers, outdoor arena, round pen, automatic waterers, newly built, and a good price. The BO would pile our horse's hay separately because Prince is a pig and a bit of a bully so Fox got her own pile. In the fall we started to notice that when we went out after dinner the horses hadn't been fed. After some investigation, because it seems like it was a secret, we found out that he's only feeding once a day, in the mornings. We've had a particularly hellish winter this year and it's been really cold. Lack of food for an extended period of time when it's really cold leads to colic. And, guess what, he's had a number of horses colic out there. One woman lost two horses to it.
So, I sent a message to the BO where we'd come from to ask if she had any room. We have three horses now because Heather bought a black grade gelding lest year. I didn't tell her my concerns, just asked if she had room for us. For whatever reason, she took it upon herself to call our BO and tell him. So he called me and was furious. He had no idea why I'd be looking elsewhere and just tore a strip off of me for about 20 minutes straight. I finally told him it was because of the feeding once a day and he started going off about how there's no skinny horses out there and he defies me to find one and blah, blah, blah. I never did get to say it's colic I'm worried about. Prince has Cushing's now and he gets terrible diarrhea when he's stressed. He told us to get out and was just an ass about the whole thing. I just stayed quiet and let him rave on.
So we moved them at the end of January to a new barn where they're fed three times a day and Prince's diarrhea has disappeared. The thing is that this guy cannot drop it. He talks about us over at the old barn, hew we don't know anything about horses. He got a vet out to look at the horses and had him do up a letter saying the horses were all healthy and he keeps calling my friend that still boards there because he 'wants to talk about your friend'. Meaning me. She just never calls back.
Only a handful of close people know why we left. I have some of the boarders on Facebook but I haven't said anything publicly. I don't understand why he can't just drop it. I'm starting to feel like I might as well tell everybody. I'd like to, I believe horses are in danger out there. He has almost 60 boarders, the vast majority are women, and they hang on his every word. Very few have ever actually had to care for their own horse on their own place so they don't know any better, they're counting on him to take care of their horses and if he says it's okay, then it's okay.
Since we left we're hearing stories about how resentful he gets when someone leaves including one owner being forced to bring the police with her when she went to pick up her horse. He's quite aggressive about it all and once you leave you're blackballed. Another woman that's quite well known at his place and who boards a number of horses there and gives lessons is going to be leaving soon because she bought her own place. He's started behaving badly about it because he knows some people will move to her new place. Her horse had a cut under it's chin that was swollen so he called every boarder to warn them that (owner's name's) horse has strangles. Trying to make himself look like a hero to have noticed and to discredit her because her horse has strangles. I'm so not surprised. This is exactly how he does it. But I feel bad for her.
So you guys, would you do anything about this if it were you? We've been taking the high road and ignoring it but I'm tired of hearing how he keeps bringing us up to people. We were good boarders who weren't even there very often, stayed out of drama, paid on time, cleaned up after ourselves, and until the feeding schedule issue, never complained. I'm also less than impressed with the previous BO who blabbed to him and then didn't have room anyway.
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Post by horselover4life on Apr 10, 2018 17:52:56 GMT
Time to go see a lawyer.
Have a legal letter drawn that he cease and desist his character assault and defamation of your character.
If he persists then take him to court and let it be known by all why you left, something so far you have not made public knowledge the true reason behind your departure concerning your horses health and welfare.
I'm sure if a vet made a "letter" for him so could your vet easily make a letter refuting the care technique and how it was detrimental to your horses health then and if you stayed, now and in the future.
You're right to take the high road...the guy is trouble and word is getting out and about about his reputation.
He has reason to worry... all his own making.
When others leave they will talk among themselves and be "enlightened" about the better way to care for their beloved animals from those who practice better horse-keeping skills..
That is common when a group leaves together...not necessarily bad-mouthing, but just talking will get some interesting responses from others knowing better care practices.
I would be hesitant to do a Facebook call out and laying the details out for all to see.
If someone were to ask you in person, I see no reason to lie or avoid a answer.
Tell the truth and that when it concerned your horse{s} who have a health issue his standards of care were compromising your horses health.
That is only fact, no fiction or story told. No maligning the guys character...
It actually makes him look the fool if you just say he was unwilling to meet your needs or work with you and you were unwilling to take that chance with your horse{s} with his care regiment as it is.
I would though speak to a attorney and have something put in writing, sent and him put on notice you know and hear his mouth and accusations...
You have not maligned him but he can either stop or go to court and let all the details of horse care and deaths and why come out for public display...ball is in his court.
So will the expenses be too of legal proceedings.
Welcome back to posting. 
Its nice to hear from you...
Glad you're doing well and don't be such a stranger....
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Post by carshon on Apr 10, 2018 20:27:44 GMT
I don't think there is much you can do honestly. What he is doing is childish and petty but not illegal and not slanderous. Eventually what he has done will catch up to him because someone will eventually put 2 and 2 together. Glad you got your horses moved and Prince is doing better
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Post by dickel on Apr 10, 2018 21:26:03 GMT
My late wife fought cancer 9 years. I know for a fact you do not need the stress. My advice would be to not let peoples big mouths bother me one bit. People that know you already know you for who you are and blabber mouths will never change the way they think about you.
Just a few words from a strong opinionated 80 year old man.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Apr 12, 2018 20:25:58 GMT
I'm not really letting it bother me other than I'm worried about the horses that are still there. And when someone comes up with something else he's saying it annoys the crap out of me. I'm just wondering if I should say something to someone so they know the other side of it. I hate waiting for other people to see what I've seen in someone. I hear that so many times about different people. I see an ugly side of them and nobody else sees it and then after a few years everyone else sees it and are all surprised. The horse world is very small here and word gets out eventually.
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Post by horselady on Apr 12, 2018 23:58:22 GMT
I finally have a few minutes to respond to this nhg,,, first of all.. welcome to posting again.. we missed you.
and i do pray that your cancer is going to be just a memory.. tackle that first and foremost..
NOW to the boarding in question .. i would imagine that if you and others that are leaving do see the situation. he sounds like he is short handed and thinks that feeding the horses only one meal in the morning is what is good for HIM.. are these horses in stalls. or are they outside fending for themselves.??
lucky you found that the old barn took you back and apollo is back to his normal horse self.
I as an owner of a facility agree with you , horses need food to graze on most of the day,,
that being said.. yes you can mention it to others.. but do it in a way that does not become flamatory,, or accusing..
if he continues to belittle you and talk about you.. i would go there in person and tell him to stop or he will be liable for a lawsuit.. you can also put it in writing and keep copies,, BUT i prefer doing the talk in person..
good luck,, MM900288908
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Post by horselady on May 2, 2018 11:08:34 GMT
nhg any update on your horse and you..??
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 2, 2018 17:15:45 GMT
Hi, sorry I was off for a bit. Before that I'd forgotten my password and didn't know how to get it and then when I decided one day to figure it out it was still there. Crazy!
Anyway, I'm hearing that the former BO is getting himself in some trouble with his mouth. The latest is this. There's a boarder there that has 9 horses boarded there. She does lessons for kids and has even taken some of them last year to compete in shows and they do quite well. So she has a following at the barn. She sold her house recently and is planning to open her own place with select boarders who are easy to get along with and not drama queens. Note, we have been invited to move there. She's in the process of buying a place that's already set up with an indoor and everything. It's a beautiful place. Anyway, The BO has been very supportive of her, supposedly. I've been thinking 'yeah, just wait'. So he showed his true colours a couple of weeks ago. She was at a clinic for the day and he saw that one of her horses has something going on on his chin. He decided t was strangles. Which wouldn't make sense in a 6 year old horse but... So he decided it was a good plan to call all the other boarders and 'warn' them about her horse having strangles. She took her horse to the vet the next day and the vet said it's just a cut that got a bit infected. She knew it wasn't strangles but she wanted proof from the vet. Well, it didn't go so well for him. Apparently he upset quite a few people at the barn. So his big mouth is probably going to get him into trouble eventually.
He yelled at my friend that still has a horse out there for something she had nothing to do with so she moved her horse. She's furious. He did the same thing he did with me, called and just yelled and carried on without giving an opportunity to explain ourselves.
As for Prince, he's not doing so well right now. He was diagnosed with Cushing's a year ago and I chose not to treat it because he seems fine other than the thick coat and I'd read that the treatment can have some side effects. A few weeks ago he suddenly started to drop weight and is now down probably at least 200 pounds. He looks horrible. His flanks are sunken, his neck has gone from cresty to almost a ewe neck, his topline is sunken in. He's not even rideable at this point. It was so quick. We took him to the vet the other day and he checks out fine with his teeth, kidneys, liver, rectal exam, all that stuff. The only thing that showed up is that he's not getting enough nutrition. So the next step is I'm now going out every day to give him a supplement with medication for his Cushing's. I try that for a few weeks and see what happens. The vet thinks it's a combination of the Cushing's, his age (he's 22 now), and the terrible winter we had. If his weight doesn't come up we'll have to have him scanned to see if he's got ulcers or what's going on. The other horses are in perfect weight.
My daughter has two horses now. She bought a black gelding through a dealer that came from the reserve. He's friendly and is full of personality and is broke, just not trained properly. He even has trouble with one lead. He's gorgous with a small star and one little sock. He looks like an RCMP Musial Ride horse. Very solid. Our farrier says he has the best feet he's ever seen. So that's her new project. She still has her pally mare, though.
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Post by horselover4life on May 3, 2018 0:41:00 GMT
When you do the scanning let us know what is found.
I think, well...actually finally put together a lot of stuff staring me in the face.
I think my rescue might have ulcers.
I am probably going to try just treating him with the medication as my understanding is except for the $ spent, it will not hurt the horse to just treat and not scope.
Have you heard anything different to that nhg?
My vet will see him in 5 weeks for coggins, teeth and a general look-see.
If he agrees with my suspicion, a script given and I will purchase the medication and start the process.
I did though just start Purina Ultium Gastric Guard food on 5/1/2018.
He has been eating regular competition Ultium formula feed.
Fixed formula and heavy on fat and fiber, easier on protein if that helps you with Prince.
I have nothing to lose and much to gain if this special formula helps begin the healing process...
2 bags, so 100 pounds should give me some visible results seen, or not.
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Post by horselady on May 3, 2018 1:10:14 GMT
just throwing this out there for both horses.. my boarder big horse... has given her horse alfalfa peletts.. and aloe vera juice and 12 tums a day.. 6 in each feeding.. he had ulcer flareups and it seems the aloe is good for the digestion.. and helps moisten the colon and keeps all flowing.. he gets about 1/2 cup each feeding.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 3, 2018 3:57:42 GMT
This is the stuff I'm giving him for a supplement. www.irvinesaddles.ca/products/hi-step8feed I'm supposed to try him on this and the Prascend for two weeks to a month to see if there's a difference. If not, then we'll do the ultrasound. I suspect it's pretty pricey. |
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Post by horselover4life on May 3, 2018 16:26:02 GMT
Can you get a screen shot of that bag... 
I wonder if what I have already is darn close to what you now purchase.
I would love to see the numbers spelt out for comparison along with all the ingredients...
Mine is made by Purina USA, I bet it has a Canadian counterpart available...
My feed for 50 pounds is $23.99 per bag.
I feed 2 scoops, so about 5 - 6 pounds a day total in food.
It is a low starch, low sugar feed...
The numbers read, 11.7% protein, 12.4% fat and 18.5% fiber.
First ingredient is beet pulp and is filled with Amplify nuggets.
I also feed a alfalfa/timothy pellet to my easy keeper...he gets fat on air!
My older guy, the hard keeper gets some pellets too just cause he likes them.
My horse is just shy of 16 hands, long & lanky Thoroughbred...aged gelding.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 3, 2018 17:36:16 GMT
The bag says it's a cold energy extruded feed. It has 12% crude protein, 20% crude fat, and 18% crude fibre. It also contains some other things like vitamins and milled flax and rice bran. It's designed for horses that compete or older horses that can't have glucose. I may add some milled flax in a couple of weeks as well after I know if this is working. The meds for the Cushing's should help as well. It helps them increase muscle mass which is one of the things Cushing's affects negatively. Poor guy. He looks horrible. I think his super long winter hair hid the fact he'd been losing weight until it was really bad. I never could have imagined Prince this skinny, he's always been my chubby boy.
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Post by horselover4life on May 4, 2018 16:49:31 GMT
Don't forget to take pictures now, while he is skinny so you can photo document how this feed/supplement works for him...
Photos don't lie and you can't argue with them...photos tell it like it is.
Maybe share a photo of your boy so we can also see the progressive improvement...
No one here will have negative comments... 
I for one would like to see a cushings horse starting treatment and the documentation of how that medication helps them regain what a "disease" steals..
Or keep them private, but do document for you...
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 4, 2018 19:20:33 GMT
I have pictures but I don't know how I can post them on here. I used to use Photobucket but I can't use it anymore. I'm taping him to check his weight every few days and keeping track of that as well. Taping isn't the most accurate thing to use but it should at least show differences once they're really starting to show. According to the testimonials for the Prescend it'll be a few weeks before I really notice anything. He does seem a bit perkier.
It's interesting because the wife barn owner has told us she can communicate with animals and has been telling us about our horses. I really don't know what to think about that. But it's fun to hear. But she also tells me he has arthritis and is hurting and I have no reason to believe that but now it's bugging me thinking he's hurting and needs something for it. On the other hand she thought that one of our horses had pain in his legs because he was being difficult with the farrier. She didn't know that he likes to try to stand on the feet of the farrier and that's what he was doing. She said she knew when we took Prince to the vet even though she was at work because she knew he was scared at what was going on.
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Post by horselady on May 4, 2018 19:45:13 GMT
If you want to post a photo on the upper right side of the box it says add attachment.. click on that.. a drop box will open up and you click on add photo.. your photos will come up... click on the photo you want to use and hit done. wait until bar is green . the photo might not show up until it is finished and the post is visible Attachments:
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 5, 2018 2:24:00 GMT
Aha! Thanks! Okay, I'll have to download the new pictures from my phone...
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 26, 2018 14:59:51 GMT
So Prince has been at the new (previous) barn for a week and is visibly improving. He looks better, is filling out, and seems much brighter. He has a buddy in the next paddock and they mutually groom each other over the fence. He's usually a loner so that's nice to see. Their hay smells like it was cut last week. They grow their own and it's stored in a covered building. We've been lunging him a bit to get some muscle on him. At this point he looks underweight but not like a starvation victim like he did. He seems much happier, too. The other two horses are coming back to the old barn today and we're really looking forward to it. This is a barn where we were before the one with the guy acting like a jerk. So two barns ago. It's not perfect but at least we don't have to worry about them.
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Post by horselady on May 27, 2018 0:37:11 GMT
All is good if the horse is happy,,, glad he is getting back to his old self, hopefully the barn that was starving him either wakes up or closes up ..
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on May 27, 2018 16:36:54 GMT
I don't know what they'll do. They're just getting started in boarding horses but they seemed to know enough so we weren't worried. I'm still kicking myself for not getting out to see him sooner. I was just too sick to go and the cold really bothers me. We had a crappy winter like many people did and we usually get chinooks to break the cold every few weeks or so. The weather will warm right up and  will melt and it's almost balmy for several days. We had only one this past winter. So there wasn't a day that was decent enough for me to check on him. I feel awful about it now. But he's looking so much better I think I'll be able to ride him in a few weeks. At this point we're wondering about lots of things we were told at that barn. They said they'd wormed all three horses in March. Last night we wormed them again in case they needed it and the newest horse flipped out. Like he totally flipped out. By the time we got it into him he was soaked with sweat. We tried a twitch, tying his head down, running him in the round pen until he was tired, several other things and he wasn't having it. Finally, a friend who was out to clean Prince's sheath helped and by grabbing one ear he submitted. Then he got this shocked look on his face like it was so surprising that it wasn't so bad. We kept the wormer tube so we can fill it with corn syrup and water or apple juice to give him some positive experiences with it. |
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will melt and it's almost balmy for several days. We had only one this past winter. So there wasn't a day that was decent enough for me to check on him. I feel awful about it now. But he's looking so much better I think I'll be able to ride him in a few weeks.