Galtee Farm LLC , Midway, Kentucky
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
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Worksoplad
- Starters Handicap
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:09 pm
- Location: Manhattan Beach, California
The story is hokus-pokus. If anyone is interested enough to provide me with their email, I will forward you an email containing a picture taken today of my Theatrical mare and her April 1st foal foaled at Galtee Farm. Unfortunately, I am not computer-literate enough to get it onto this thread.
"Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, but he who destroys a good book kills reason itself." John Milton.
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rgallagher
- Newborn
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:23 am
April 11, 2008
This is the first day we have been able to access this website to answer these horrible accusations.
Both Liam and I received several calls from people telling us about the terrible things that were posted on the internet and that were being said about us and about the way we care for the horses in our charge.
Our first reaction was one of anger followed almost immediately by hurt. Thoughts kept running in my head that surely anyone who knows Liam and me will not believe these vicious words.
While our farm is definitely not a “fancy” showplace, it is a working farm. Liam has worked with horses his entire life and I have worked in the Thoroughbred industry for 30 years. Before starting his own operation, Liam worked for some of the best farms in Ireland and Kentucky. He has never done harm or neglected his horses. We have several clients who have boarded with us for many years and who are always pleased with the health and well being of their animals.
In this particular instance, there is a boarder involved who did move her horses, and to be quite frank, we were extremely happy to see her leave. However, it seems she is determined to slander our name. Although I would love to mention her name, I don’t think that is appropriate.
To answer the question regarding the charges of animal neglect, several of the horses that were shipped in to our farm came from another farm (a farm where this woman also had a dispute with the farm owner). Many of the mares arrived with no identification and several of them were in poor health. Within a few weeks, most were doing well. There were one or two, though, that Liam realized were not good doers. The one whose picture is shown was discussed in detail with the owner. The mare appeared never to have been dewormed before she came to our farm. After she arrived, she was dewormed, and Liam tried several different types of feed before he found one where she began putting on weight, but still had a way to go. With spring around the corner, it was just a matter of time before she would start to bloom. The owner was totally aware of this mare’s condition and what was being done to correct it.
An anonymous female called the Woodford County Humane Society (wonder who that was??) and a representative came out. She went through our place and found only one mare that she felt was a little light – our own mare that was recovering from surgery. She left a card with Liam on which she wrote everything looked great! The mare in the photo had already left our farm before the representative arrived. Anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Humane Society to verify this.
In regard to humane treatment of horses, one of the many reasons this woman and Liam disagreed was her request to Liam to euthanize a 2008 filly out of one of her mares, Tracey’s Tune. The filly had a slight deformity in its hind leg and would never be able to run, but would be able to be a broodmare. However, this woman said she didn’t want to continue to feed the filly and just wanted to get rid of it. Liam refused to do it, and she did not like it at all.
When this former client first told me she was moving her horses, she indicated she wanted to do everything in a professional manner. This was fine with both Liam and myself. However, when she started making accusations and behaving in such a petty manner, I asked her to leave our farm. No one else was asked to leave. Liam was very courteous to the van drivers loading her horses. Check with them if you doubt that. I think she has reacted to her be asked to leave our property by trying to “get even” by trying to blacken our names.
As far as no attention from the blacksmith, a farrier trimmed all of this woman’s horses before they left our farm. Again, false information is being broadcasted to the public.
I don’t know what to say about the boarding charges. I guess she expects a farm to keep them for free. Hay and feed are not cheap. When she moved her mares, she had 63 horses. You figure it out.
To illustrate the character and state of mind of this individual, she called both Liam and me shortly after all her horses had been moved. Unfortunately, we both happened to miss her call. She left an extremely rude message on my phone threatening to file theft charges against us for stealing her BROKEN VOW yearling colt (who was insured for $75,000) since they could not find him. I got in touch with Liam and relayed the message. He distinctly remembered leading the colt on the van, but left immediately to go to our other farm in Versailles to double check on the colt. The Woodford County Sheriff had been called in the meantime and he met Liam at the farm. Liam showed him through the barn and explained to him that he had in fact loaded the colt himself on the van. The woman came onto the farm and was threatening to file this charge and that charge, and finally the Sheriff told her in no uncertain terms to get off our farm. A few hours later that evening, the woman’s colt was found on the farm where she had moved her horses. She did not even call to let us know the colt had been found or to apologize for her false accusations! Again, anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office to verify this.
Again, if you know Liam and me, you know we are not perfect people, but you should also know that we would never harm or neglect animals. If we have done anything wrong, it was to get involved with an individual who used us and lied .to us, and is now telling lies about us. There are many other things this woman has done that defy logic and common sense. The best advice to everyone is to stay as far away from her as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give either Liam or me a call. Thank you.
In my opinion, it is terrible if someone can go online and make false accusations because they think this gives them “power” over other people. I hope you will have the sense to at least check with the Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society before you let this woman have this “power” over you.
This is the first day we have been able to access this website to answer these horrible accusations.
Both Liam and I received several calls from people telling us about the terrible things that were posted on the internet and that were being said about us and about the way we care for the horses in our charge.
Our first reaction was one of anger followed almost immediately by hurt. Thoughts kept running in my head that surely anyone who knows Liam and me will not believe these vicious words.
While our farm is definitely not a “fancy” showplace, it is a working farm. Liam has worked with horses his entire life and I have worked in the Thoroughbred industry for 30 years. Before starting his own operation, Liam worked for some of the best farms in Ireland and Kentucky. He has never done harm or neglected his horses. We have several clients who have boarded with us for many years and who are always pleased with the health and well being of their animals.
In this particular instance, there is a boarder involved who did move her horses, and to be quite frank, we were extremely happy to see her leave. However, it seems she is determined to slander our name. Although I would love to mention her name, I don’t think that is appropriate.
To answer the question regarding the charges of animal neglect, several of the horses that were shipped in to our farm came from another farm (a farm where this woman also had a dispute with the farm owner). Many of the mares arrived with no identification and several of them were in poor health. Within a few weeks, most were doing well. There were one or two, though, that Liam realized were not good doers. The one whose picture is shown was discussed in detail with the owner. The mare appeared never to have been dewormed before she came to our farm. After she arrived, she was dewormed, and Liam tried several different types of feed before he found one where she began putting on weight, but still had a way to go. With spring around the corner, it was just a matter of time before she would start to bloom. The owner was totally aware of this mare’s condition and what was being done to correct it.
An anonymous female called the Woodford County Humane Society (wonder who that was??) and a representative came out. She went through our place and found only one mare that she felt was a little light – our own mare that was recovering from surgery. She left a card with Liam on which she wrote everything looked great! The mare in the photo had already left our farm before the representative arrived. Anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Humane Society to verify this.
In regard to humane treatment of horses, one of the many reasons this woman and Liam disagreed was her request to Liam to euthanize a 2008 filly out of one of her mares, Tracey’s Tune. The filly had a slight deformity in its hind leg and would never be able to run, but would be able to be a broodmare. However, this woman said she didn’t want to continue to feed the filly and just wanted to get rid of it. Liam refused to do it, and she did not like it at all.
When this former client first told me she was moving her horses, she indicated she wanted to do everything in a professional manner. This was fine with both Liam and myself. However, when she started making accusations and behaving in such a petty manner, I asked her to leave our farm. No one else was asked to leave. Liam was very courteous to the van drivers loading her horses. Check with them if you doubt that. I think she has reacted to her be asked to leave our property by trying to “get even” by trying to blacken our names.
As far as no attention from the blacksmith, a farrier trimmed all of this woman’s horses before they left our farm. Again, false information is being broadcasted to the public.
I don’t know what to say about the boarding charges. I guess she expects a farm to keep them for free. Hay and feed are not cheap. When she moved her mares, she had 63 horses. You figure it out.
To illustrate the character and state of mind of this individual, she called both Liam and me shortly after all her horses had been moved. Unfortunately, we both happened to miss her call. She left an extremely rude message on my phone threatening to file theft charges against us for stealing her BROKEN VOW yearling colt (who was insured for $75,000) since they could not find him. I got in touch with Liam and relayed the message. He distinctly remembered leading the colt on the van, but left immediately to go to our other farm in Versailles to double check on the colt. The Woodford County Sheriff had been called in the meantime and he met Liam at the farm. Liam showed him through the barn and explained to him that he had in fact loaded the colt himself on the van. The woman came onto the farm and was threatening to file this charge and that charge, and finally the Sheriff told her in no uncertain terms to get off our farm. A few hours later that evening, the woman’s colt was found on the farm where she had moved her horses. She did not even call to let us know the colt had been found or to apologize for her false accusations! Again, anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office to verify this.
Again, if you know Liam and me, you know we are not perfect people, but you should also know that we would never harm or neglect animals. If we have done anything wrong, it was to get involved with an individual who used us and lied .to us, and is now telling lies about us. There are many other things this woman has done that defy logic and common sense. The best advice to everyone is to stay as far away from her as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give either Liam or me a call. Thank you.
In my opinion, it is terrible if someone can go online and make false accusations because they think this gives them “power” over other people. I hope you will have the sense to at least check with the Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society before you let this woman have this “power” over you.
rgallagher wrote:In my opinion, it is terrible if someone can go online and make false accusations because they think this gives them “power” over other people.
I have no dog in this fight other than those are very true words. Even if the accusations turn out to be accurate, there are better less drama filled ways to deal with it than spouting off on here. And if you're wrong, you are taking potshots at someone's good name.
Hope this all gets straightened out for the sake of the horses.
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myoldkyfarm
- Suckling
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Kentucky
Horses condition
If the horses came to the farm in that condition then I wholeheartedly apologize for my part in egging on the rumor. I have had my share of problems with horses coming in in bad shape and Animal Control being called to "save" the animal without any attention paid to arrival date or degree of noticeable improvement over time. I know from personal experience that it is incredibly frustrating to be doing your best for an animal with health issues or previous problems and be accused of being the cause anyway. With the drought last year and this spring's rain, most small paddocks would be dirt lots and it would still be reasonable to have a thin mare isolated in one in order to eat without being bullied or rushed. The information I had can easily be explained by either side of the story so it is really not relevant. So again, I apologize.
Additionally, this does really drive home the reason that most in the ky industry keep their mouths shut about suspected abuse/neglect. There are always 2 sides to a story and the scenario of an angry ex-boarder that doesn't want to pay their bills (before or after the fact) is rather common.
Additionally, this does really drive home the reason that most in the ky industry keep their mouths shut about suspected abuse/neglect. There are always 2 sides to a story and the scenario of an angry ex-boarder that doesn't want to pay their bills (before or after the fact) is rather common.
Last edited by myoldkyfarm on Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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rgallagher
- Newborn
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:23 am
April 11, 2008
This is the first day we have been able to access this website to answer these horrible accusations.
Both Liam and I received several calls from people telling us about the terrible things that were posted on the internet and that were being said about us and about the way we care for the horses in our charge.
Our first reaction was one of anger followed almost immediately by hurt. Thoughts kept running in my head that surely anyone who knows Liam and me will not believe these vicious words.
While our farm is definitely not a “fancy” showplace, it is a working farm. Liam has worked with horses his entire life and I have worked in the Thoroughbred industry for 30 years. Before starting his own operation, Liam worked for some of the best farms in Ireland and Kentucky. He has never done harm or neglected his horses. We have several clients who have boarded with us for many years and who are always pleased with the health and well being of their animals.
In this particular instance, there is a boarder involved who did move her horses, and to be quite frank, we were extremely happy to see her leave. However, it seems she is determined to slander our name. Although I would love to mention her name, I don’t think that is appropriate.
To answer the question regarding the charges of animal neglect, several of the horses that were shipped in to our farm came from another farm (a farm where this woman also had a dispute with the farm owner). Many of the mares arrived with no identification and several of them were in poor health. Within a few weeks, most were doing well. There were one or two, though, that Liam realized were not good doers. The one whose picture is shown was discussed in detail with the owner. The mare appeared never to have been dewormed before she came to our farm. After she arrived, she was dewormed, and Liam tried several different types of feed before he found one where she began putting on weight, but still had a way to go. With spring around the corner, it was just a matter of time before she would start to bloom. The owner was totally aware of this mare’s condition and what was being done to correct it.
An anonymous female called the Woodford County Humane Society (wonder who that was??) and a representative came out. She went through our place and found only one mare that she felt was a little light – our own mare that was recovering from surgery. She left a card with Liam on which she wrote everything looked great! The mare in the photo had already left our farm before the representative arrived. Anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Humane Society to verify this.
In regard to humane treatment of horses, one of the many reasons this woman and Liam disagreed was her request to Liam to euthanize a 2008 filly out of one of her mares, Tracey’s Tune. The filly had a slight deformity in its hind leg and would never be able to run, but would be able to be a broodmare. However, this woman said she didn’t want to continue to feed the filly and just wanted to get rid of it. Liam refused to do it, and she did not like it at all.
When this former client first told me she was moving her horses, she indicated she wanted to do everything in a professional manner. This was fine with both Liam and myself. However, when she started making accusations and behaving in such a petty manner, I asked her to leave our farm. No one else was asked to leave. Liam was very courteous to the van drivers loading her horses. Check with them if you doubt that. I think she has reacted to her be asked to leave our property by trying to “get even” by trying to blacken our names.
As far as no attention from the blacksmith, a farrier trimmed all of this woman’s horses before they left our farm. Again, false information is being broadcasted to the public.
I don’t know what to say about the boarding charges. I guess she expects a farm to keep them for free. Hay and feed are not cheap. When she moved her mares, she had 63 horses. You figure it out.
To illustrate the character and state of mind of this individual, she called both Liam and me shortly after all her horses had been moved. Unfortunately, we both happened to miss her call. She left an extremely rude message on my phone threatening to file theft charges against us for stealing her BROKEN VOW yearling colt (who was insured for $75,000) since they could not find him. I got in touch with Liam and relayed the message. He distinctly remembered leading the colt on the van, but left immediately to go to our other farm in Versailles to double check on the colt. The Woodford County Sheriff had been called in the meantime and he met Liam at the farm. Liam showed him through the barn and explained to him that he had in fact loaded the colt himself on the van. The woman came onto the farm and was threatening to file this charge and that charge, and finally the Sheriff told her in no uncertain terms to get off our farm. A few hours later that evening, the woman’s colt was found on the farm where she had moved her horses. She did not even call to let us know the colt had been found or to apologize for her false accusations! Again, anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office to verify this.
Again, if you know Liam and me, you know we are not perfect people, but you should also know that we would never harm or neglect animals. If we have done anything wrong, it was to get involved with an individual who used us and lied .to us, and is now telling lies about us. There are many other things this woman has done that defy logic and common sense. The best advice to everyone is to stay as far away from her as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give either Liam or me a call. Thank you.
In my opinion, it is terrible if someone can go online and make false accusations because they think this gives them “power” over other people. I hope you will have the sense to at least check with the Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society before you let this woman have this “power” over you.
This is the first day we have been able to access this website to answer these horrible accusations.
Both Liam and I received several calls from people telling us about the terrible things that were posted on the internet and that were being said about us and about the way we care for the horses in our charge.
Our first reaction was one of anger followed almost immediately by hurt. Thoughts kept running in my head that surely anyone who knows Liam and me will not believe these vicious words.
While our farm is definitely not a “fancy” showplace, it is a working farm. Liam has worked with horses his entire life and I have worked in the Thoroughbred industry for 30 years. Before starting his own operation, Liam worked for some of the best farms in Ireland and Kentucky. He has never done harm or neglected his horses. We have several clients who have boarded with us for many years and who are always pleased with the health and well being of their animals.
In this particular instance, there is a boarder involved who did move her horses, and to be quite frank, we were extremely happy to see her leave. However, it seems she is determined to slander our name. Although I would love to mention her name, I don’t think that is appropriate.
To answer the question regarding the charges of animal neglect, several of the horses that were shipped in to our farm came from another farm (a farm where this woman also had a dispute with the farm owner). Many of the mares arrived with no identification and several of them were in poor health. Within a few weeks, most were doing well. There were one or two, though, that Liam realized were not good doers. The one whose picture is shown was discussed in detail with the owner. The mare appeared never to have been dewormed before she came to our farm. After she arrived, she was dewormed, and Liam tried several different types of feed before he found one where she began putting on weight, but still had a way to go. With spring around the corner, it was just a matter of time before she would start to bloom. The owner was totally aware of this mare’s condition and what was being done to correct it.
An anonymous female called the Woodford County Humane Society (wonder who that was??) and a representative came out. She went through our place and found only one mare that she felt was a little light – our own mare that was recovering from surgery. She left a card with Liam on which she wrote everything looked great! The mare in the photo had already left our farm before the representative arrived. Anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Humane Society to verify this.
In regard to humane treatment of horses, one of the many reasons this woman and Liam disagreed was her request to Liam to euthanize a 2008 filly out of one of her mares, Tracey’s Tune. The filly had a slight deformity in its hind leg and would never be able to run, but would be able to be a broodmare. However, this woman said she didn’t want to continue to feed the filly and just wanted to get rid of it. Liam refused to do it, and she did not like it at all.
When this former client first told me she was moving her horses, she indicated she wanted to do everything in a professional manner. This was fine with both Liam and myself. However, when she started making accusations and behaving in such a petty manner, I asked her to leave our farm. No one else was asked to leave. Liam was very courteous to the van drivers loading her horses. Check with them if you doubt that. I think she has reacted to her be asked to leave our property by trying to “get even” by trying to blacken our names.
As far as no attention from the blacksmith, a farrier trimmed all of this woman’s horses before they left our farm. Again, false information is being broadcasted to the public.
I don’t know what to say about the boarding charges. I guess she expects a farm to keep them for free. Hay and feed are not cheap. When she moved her mares, she had 63 horses. You figure it out.
To illustrate the character and state of mind of this individual, she called both Liam and me shortly after all her horses had been moved. Unfortunately, we both happened to miss her call. She left an extremely rude message on my phone threatening to file theft charges against us for stealing her BROKEN VOW yearling colt (who was insured for $75,000) since they could not find him. I got in touch with Liam and relayed the message. He distinctly remembered leading the colt on the van, but left immediately to go to our other farm in Versailles to double check on the colt. The Woodford County Sheriff had been called in the meantime and he met Liam at the farm. Liam showed him through the barn and explained to him that he had in fact loaded the colt himself on the van. The woman came onto the farm and was threatening to file this charge and that charge, and finally the Sheriff told her in no uncertain terms to get off our farm. A few hours later that evening, the woman’s colt was found on the farm where she had moved her horses. She did not even call to let us know the colt had been found or to apologize for her false accusations! Again, anyone is welcome to contact the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office to verify this.
Again, if you know Liam and me, you know we are not perfect people, but you should also know that we would never harm or neglect animals. If we have done anything wrong, it was to get involved with an individual who used us and lied .to us, and is now telling lies about us. There are many other things this woman has done that defy logic and common sense. The best advice to everyone is to stay as far away from her as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give either Liam or me a call. Thank you.
In my opinion, it is terrible if someone can go online and make false accusations because they think this gives them “power” over other people. I hope you will have the sense to at least check with the Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society before you let this woman have this “power” over you.
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Hold Your Peace
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 495
- Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:12 am
This reinforces the fact that in addition to there being 'bad' farms there are 'bad' clients.
That's why I don't recommend trainers or farms to people online that I don't know because while I have some trainers and farms that I would wholeheartedly recommend I would hate to have a role in sending them a lunatic client (and there are plenty of those out there, plus deadbeats). So it's a two way street. Somebody posts wanting to find a farm or a trainer? I keep my mouth shut because I don't know anything about the person looking for a farm or a trainer even though I know plenty of good things about various farms and trainers.
While I don't have any first hand knowledge of this situation I'm inclined to believe the farm, especially since this client has a third party out there crusading for them.
If I ever found any of MY horses being mistreated I would be on top of it in a second MYSELF and something would happen IMMEDIATELY even if it came down to me opening up a huge can of whoop ass - legal consequences be damned. I sure wouldn't have someone else posting anonymous messages on the internet for me. I don't see anything like this happening to me though because I'm very lucky to have known some people for a long time in this business that I trust and respect 1000%.
That's why I don't recommend trainers or farms to people online that I don't know because while I have some trainers and farms that I would wholeheartedly recommend I would hate to have a role in sending them a lunatic client (and there are plenty of those out there, plus deadbeats). So it's a two way street. Somebody posts wanting to find a farm or a trainer? I keep my mouth shut because I don't know anything about the person looking for a farm or a trainer even though I know plenty of good things about various farms and trainers.
While I don't have any first hand knowledge of this situation I'm inclined to believe the farm, especially since this client has a third party out there crusading for them.
If I ever found any of MY horses being mistreated I would be on top of it in a second MYSELF and something would happen IMMEDIATELY even if it came down to me opening up a huge can of whoop ass - legal consequences be damned. I sure wouldn't have someone else posting anonymous messages on the internet for me. I don't see anything like this happening to me though because I'm very lucky to have known some people for a long time in this business that I trust and respect 1000%.
A simple solution to both clients and farms to prevent false anything:
1.Take pictures of the horses when they arrive.
2. Visit the horses regularly if a client.
3. Allow visitors without making them jump through hoops if you are a farm.
4. Do most communication with the owners via email, whenever possible.
5. Get the number and name of the former Vet so you can get a record from the Vet of all recent work the Vet did on the horse.
6. Take pictures regularly and email them to clients that are long distance
7. Call immediately when there is a problem, before they get the farm bill with the additional Vet charges.
8. Take pictures of the horse when it leaves.
With the new digital cameras and computers, it is worth the extra hour of work or so to have either barn help or office help take and upload the pictures into the individual horse/client files.
This will solve and prevent all kinds of potential reputation and legal issues. This advice works for both client and farm.
1.Take pictures of the horses when they arrive.
2. Visit the horses regularly if a client.
3. Allow visitors without making them jump through hoops if you are a farm.
4. Do most communication with the owners via email, whenever possible.
5. Get the number and name of the former Vet so you can get a record from the Vet of all recent work the Vet did on the horse.
6. Take pictures regularly and email them to clients that are long distance
7. Call immediately when there is a problem, before they get the farm bill with the additional Vet charges.
8. Take pictures of the horse when it leaves.
With the new digital cameras and computers, it is worth the extra hour of work or so to have either barn help or office help take and upload the pictures into the individual horse/client files.
This will solve and prevent all kinds of potential reputation and legal issues. This advice works for both client and farm.
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
I agree with Nancy T. From the beginning I thought the tone of the accusations was strange and also confused, as well as unsubstantiated. The picture could have come from anywhere. Now the farm owners have responded, this really could become a slagfest.
In order not to get too 'Texan' don't delete the thread, but please lock it and let the client and the farm fight it out in an appropriate venue.
In order not to get too 'Texan' don't delete the thread, but please lock it and let the client and the farm fight it out in an appropriate venue.
Reading the farm's post I'm not terribly impressed with their refusal to euthanize a filly that the owner was at least realistic about its chances in this world. To ask a client to leave for that sounds a bit off to me.
As for the rest of the back and forth, whatever the truth is, let the chips fall where they may.
As for the rest of the back and forth, whatever the truth is, let the chips fall where they may.
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lucalucaluca
- Weanling
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:15 pm
- Location: USA
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springboro
- Grade II Winner
- Posts: 1305
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:53 am
Both of the positions presented in this thread present extreme points of view regarding the horses and Galtee Farm. I deeply suspect the truth of the matter lies somewhere between.
One reality is that after last spring, there was no grass. The price of hay doubled after August. If the owner was essentially paying pasture board for the mares, well that is a problem. She had 63 horses? That would be somewhere around $55K a month at Lexington broodmare board rates. It is an undisputable fact that it has been just AWFUL getting hay. There have been so many reports of thin and/or starved horses. You could not GIVE a horse away in January. I have sympathy for both parties in this case.
One reality is that after last spring, there was no grass. The price of hay doubled after August. If the owner was essentially paying pasture board for the mares, well that is a problem. She had 63 horses? That would be somewhere around $55K a month at Lexington broodmare board rates. It is an undisputable fact that it has been just AWFUL getting hay. There have been so many reports of thin and/or starved horses. You could not GIVE a horse away in January. I have sympathy for both parties in this case.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....