How would you feel?

[arsvcs]

Here's the scenario. You board your mare that is in foal. You go to visit your mare with a friend. You know what paddock she is in, but when you reach the paddock she's not there. You go to the office and inquire where she is located and they tell you in the paddock behind the back barn. So you go to the paddock behind the back bard and she's not there. On your way back to the office you run into one of the workers on the farm and ask them. They tell you they haven't seen her for a few days, they think the vet sold her. So you continue to walk back to the office and stop at another paddock where the vet actually is and question her. The vet that's supposed to be a doctor. The vet tells you that your mare is in the paddock behind the back barn and you explain to her that you were just there and your mare wasn't there, again the vet tells you that she know's she is. Then when you start to look at that paddock again, the vet stops you and says "I"m sorry, but I just didn't know how to tell you, your mare died 3 days ago". I'm in shock!!!! My mare died 3 days ago!!!! To top that the vet actually had the nerve to bury her!!!! All this without my knowledge - I feel she took my rights away as the owner!!! There's more to the story then what you have read. This is just so unbeliveable.

[Roguelet]

How would I feel? Livid. And you can bet everyone on the farm would've known it before I left.

Wow... that's unreal.

[leveeguy]

If things don't seem to add up to you, you might consider contacting the local authorities.

[arsvcs]

Been there - done that. I actually had an eye witness with me. Believe it or not even went to the vet. med. board with a complait. Guess what - received a letter last week and it states - and I quote "complaint has been dismissed, after a thorough investigation she did not violate any state laws or regulations". Believe that???? Went to local authorities and they said I would have to see a lawyer, and I did that. Basically it would cost me thousands of dollars. Any other suggestions!!

[arsvcs]

Here's another twist. The vet gave me a small jar with a fetus that she said she removed from the mare. Add to that - called her 6 days after the mare supposably died and told her I needed a necropsy. Vet said no problem, I can do one for you. Now how can she do one for me 6 days after the mare died and she was burried if she never did one when the mare actually died? I really don't know if the fetus was my mare's or not. The same vet had told me that she was in foal, but after all this, I really don't know.

[Roguelet]

I'd be there with a backhoe myself.

[pfrsue]

A "jar with a fetus"? A worker who thought the vet sold her? A necropsy on a horse that was buried six days ago?

I agree with Rogue. I'd have demanded conclusive evidence that your horse is deceased, but if you've already been through the complaint process with the Veterinary Board, it sounds like this happened quite a while ago now?

[dray33]

It sounds like a bad fiction novel. If true, my sympathies.

What would I do? The lawsuit tendered would be so staggering, so well funded, so targeted and purpose-driven, it would be classified in the court papers as: "shock and awe".

[madelyn]

What did she die of?

The real question I have to ask is, when your mare was taken ill or injured, why were you not notified and consulted???? What boarding farm is this?

[westover]

The first thought that entered my mind was i cannot believe the vet is still walking. I would absolutely dig up the mare, as i would really question if she was dead, if its possible to do an autopsy after that time, i would 100%, and i would no matter what go to board of Vets.. it still goes on file on their record. If its happened before you might be the proverbial straw.. and someone may take a close look at it. I would be all over that like a bee on honey.. Do not take that laying down..no pun intended.. keep us in the loop.. i am mad and its not even my horse!!!

[Heidilady]

This is like the Twilight Zone. So are you even sure the mare's dead? I mean I wouldn't have left before I'd dug up the place. They'd think they had a farm in the Grand Canyon by the time I was done. Go get 'em! And the "I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to tell you?" Did they think you'd go 'oh well, horses just vanish for no good reason, that's the way the hay bale bounces.' You'd be pitching a fit, filing a report. Something's up. That vet's fishy.

[Sock Monkey]

I'm sorry about your mare.
But, I agree w/ everyone else - something is fishy and I would want answers.

[pfrsue]

Another thought: did you see where the mare was supposedly buried? In a lot of places it's very abnormal (sometimes illegal) to bury an entire horse, but when it's done, it's pretty obvious since it requires a heck of a big hole.

[arsvcs]

pfrsue - no, asked several times and she never had time to show me. this actually happened 28 Apr 06, mare supposseable died 24 April 06.
Sock Monkey - I agree something is fishy, that's why we pursued the vet board.
Heidilady - no, I'm not sure, but I have notified the JC that she died and if someone trys to do anything with her, I'm sure it would be questioned. I really can't just start diggin up someone else's property. I filed a complaint with the vet board - it was dismissed. I can't belive it!! How can they say that she didn't violate any state laws or regulations!!!!
westover - I would love to do something, even taking her to court, but I would never be able to get any attorney fees back. I've spoke to 3 different equine attorneys and it would cost into the thousands of dollars. That's something that I can't afford. I really felt that the vet board would do there job. I'm very disappointed in the vet board and the Dept of Ag.
Madelyn - she supposeable died from colic - which I understand that horses die from colic and I would have understood, if she hadn't sent us on a wild goose chase on the farm, didn't wait for 3 days to tell us, bury her without our consent, etc. We were never notifed of any illness!!!
dray33 - it's true, send me your e-mail and I send you the complaint that went to the board and there response.

[madelyn]

The next question... if you had not shown up to SEE your mare, do you think the farm would have continued to bill you for board?