Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Growl at the Moon

"One Blog to rule them all, One Blog to find them,
One Blog to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

OK, so not really, but you guys enjoy some of my really bad rushed humor now and again, right? It's true though, you have to admit that. Incredibly true...why has nobody even come up with that cheesy line? I digress...

Let's get to some points that I've observed on that blog and some pointed out by you guys.

1. Growling will make any horse obey person become a horse behavior expert.
Not today will this happen, or tomorrow, or the next day. As somebody put what I should have been able to figure out on my own from what I had written before in the comments, it is what a horse is raised with or used to. Can a horse become accustomed to a new sound or form of punishment? You bet your hay barns they can. You associate it with the right response and most horses should begin to pick it up. We have our exception horses as we all do, but they're a horse of a different kind.

Still, growling at a horse who was taught that a single click (or any other cue) meant get away, and you may have a horse who is about to go people riding instead. Escalation cues can vary as well. A more sensitive horse may not need the same level of cue to back away as another. I think we can all understand that most cues are not universal. A spur-stop is not going to be understood by an eventer, just as an eventer isn't going to understand neck reining on the level a western trained horse would. I know it's not a sound based example, but you get where I'm going.

Still, if you are interested in growls, there's a book there for you. 

http://todayilearnabout.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html About
2. Top 5 doesn't mean a lot is still super awesome when there are 6 competitors. 
http://timelessandtreasured.blogspot.com/2009/08/hore-show-2009.html
Come on, we all do this. Nobody knows your dirty little secret about your 3rd place schooling ribbon that you got in a class of 4. E'erybody down in Lincoln Park knows the truth about your 5th place win. It's all well and great when it's you and for fun, it's another when you are trying to promote a stallion who you have potential plans to breed one day. Everyone starts somewhere, but don't be a rooster with an empty hen house. 2 people got disqualified, and who knows where they would have placed if they hadn't. Nothing bad on ABRA, but don't go bragging about it either when your competition may not have been that hard to compete with to begin with. In fact, if we know that don't even say he got 5th.
3. Don't practice what you preach.

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/practice-what-you-preach/

We all know she said she'd geld him if he didn't get his ROM, but let's get something straight. He still has no ROM and he still has bullocks. We all know she goes after color breeders and anything else that even resembles what she is doing now, but we've still yet to even see her follow through on her own words to her readers. My prediction? He'll age to 6, 7, 8, and we'll still be working on that ROM. Meanwhile...
4. I didn't do it, my followers did.
http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2008/04/word-of-day-duncan-face.html

This is the most basic and essential rule that must be followed. You posted a blog with information (biased and unfounded are a must most of the time) and you gave your little rant. Great. But don't play dumb when your followers go on Cujo's warpath and feign innocence. We all know what's going to happen, and you have more control over them than you act like you have. Thought: Try posting something that doesn't have or link to personal info of any kind. We're not looking for serial killers here. These people aren't MIA. They're often already in trouble if not 2 steps away from it. The other side of the U.S. does not need your opinions on how to handle the situation.

Bonus points if the person being harassed is under 10, though it only works on her blog.

5. I write for the #1 horse magazine subscribed by people who don't know better.
http://www.discountmags.com/product/5978/horse-illustrated

I used to have HI once. It was free and they messed up the trial and put me in for a full year with no charge. Might want to invest in a little brain trust. I ended up looking at the breed profiles for the most part myself, but in no way did I really take any of it to heart. I was also *gasp* 16/17 and had gotten my first horse around that time. Oh, the care paranoia...

Still, #1 doesn't mean the best. People like easy reading. I like it now and again, I'll admit. Still, how much more distributed is HI compared to other magazines? I personally see HI and H&R and that's about it. When people think it's the only thing out there, you sort of have some heavy bias. Wal-Mart is the #1 supermarket because they are everywhere. Doesn't mean Food Pyramid isn't just as good or better in some cases.
I also have that issue...and you can get the magazine for $1 a month. I can't even get that good a deal on Discover magazine.
OK, so I got a little ranty in the middle. School has started and you guys needed a new post so badly. Enjoy whatever on earth I was trying to get to up there.


Side Notes:
 WARNING!
The link to this video is highly highly highly graphic in the sense of severe animal cruelty going on. Watch at YOUR OWN RISK. If any of you have information on who this girl is, please contact the appropriate authorities to handle this matter. Do not post any information you may have here or anywhere else. The goal is to I.D. the person(s) involved and have them dealt with by the appropriate people.

Link- Girl Throwing Puppies in a River

202 comments:

  1. OMG to the formatting. I'll correct it another day if at all. Blogger simply does not respond to my paragraph splits unless I hit enter 1000 times.

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  2. Net went out, and when I came back, I found a new post in here. Sweet!

    Since this is a new post, did anyone happen to notice what cathy titled the screen shots of Leland's private conversations as? They aren't very nice, let's put it that way. *Frowns*

    Btw, your humor is great, rushed or not. :)

    ~DK SECOND!

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  3. Lovin it!!!! Well done!

    I didn't click the link because if its depressing, its going to ruin what was otherwise a pretty good day.


    I saw Lelands professional site and his other pictures. I have to say he is a very talented man and he rides beautifully. He also has a beautiful stallion who shows nice form over fences. He's not braggy about him so I'm not sure if he's showing him, but he appears to be the last person that is a menace to animals. He was also most gracious in replying to my email. I have to admit, I'm huge fan of his art and I'm happy Fugly turned me on to his stuff.

    I find it quite hilarious they are all rubbing their hands together and making plans on who is going to go get Leland's horse. Fugly is right in there with her ideas on how to tame the wild stallion. Do they honestly think this man would give a bunch of harpies and morons his horse when they violated his privacy and harrassed him and his friends? I think you need to take the right drug cocktail to get on the wavelenght over there

    lolas

    PS. My stuff on the other post may have posted a few times. I'm having issue posting tonight. They keep getting eaten :(

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  4. I know what you mean about people honestly thinking they're going to go get his horse and being serious about it. Leland is not a dumb man, and I have a feeling he would rightfully be cautious of anyone looking to purchase/give a good home to any of his horses for at least a year.

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  5. Oh my STARS!!! I love you!! As a "victim" of FHOTD (I sold a horse who ended up on a slaughter trailer.....I am willing to share the "real" story if anyone wants to listen) and a person who finds it outrageous that when "she" can't find anyone else to go after, she will attack minors. Her blog is not informative nor insightful. It's hurtful, vindictive, and self serving. Shame on her and GO YOU!!!

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  6. I love the start with this poem! Huge fan of Lord of the Rings fan am I (wait, that was Yoda speak, getting my sci fi mixed up).

    I also found Leland to be gracious and passionate about his horses and work (he responded to my e-mail to my usual "ignore the idiot" note). He mentioned that the snippet of conversation on facebook was banter between friends and alot of what she took was misconstrued (surprise!). I can see the cutting and pasting for effect once again.

    Anon 6:13, I am sorry you were a target. There is never a single side to a story and I have such a hard time with her "outing" people for things often beyond their control. I hope one day you feel comfortable sharing your story.

    Ha, ha, I have found a new artist to follow and hope he will do the portrait of my son and his puppy. This is kind of backfiring on Cathy because I suspect his business may increase thanks to her!

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  7. Anon 10:40 , absolutley post your story when you are ready . The thing is Fugs credibility is limited at best, but we all need to share "our side of things at times whether anyone believes her or not.

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  8. I think Kaede and Fern are correct..

    We all get sick of reading fugly's drivel and the nasty rantings of her followers, but...

    We, the reasonable majority have to continue standing up and forcing ourselves to rant just as loudly as the radical minority.

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  9. As a trainer who has worked with a lot of horses over the years, that old saying,'there's never a cowboy that ain't been throwed' comes to mind. I've been successful most of the time, but there have been a few that for one reason or another just weren't going to make it as safe horses. Ever. To foist an unrealistic view of horses on a gullible public does both horse and rider a disservice. I've seen my share of starry eyed amateurs who got hurt badly because they were green enough to think they were special enough to tame that outlaw that pro trainers said wasn't worth it.

    And anon? The rest of the story is important! I've sent two horses to the killers in my life and looking back I don't regret it a bit. The kill facility was here in my area, so the horses didn't have to ship, so there was no trauma or suffering involved and both horses could not get along with man or beast and needed to be put down.

    Love Neff's artwork! Here's hoping he turns her in to the authorities for stalking and harassment. I'm tired of seeing mean people get away with murder.

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  10. Twice on the other thread here, I've had my post deleted or it just didn't post. Anybody else having this problem? It was just a response to Cathy's bitching at me, so no big deal. She won't let me post on fugly anymore. So much for free speech over there, huh?

    lolasl

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  11. Here's some good news and off topic from fugly's bashing. The Unwanted Horse Coalition has initiated `Operation Gelding'.

    http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/58670/operation-gelding-launched-by-coalition

    I'm sure Cathy will steal this for a blog idea, but its all good. The more people that support this, the better! I think Cathy should volunteer BYC to be the poster child for this.....


    lolasl

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  12. second issue of HI with no Fugly. Maybe they wisened up!

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  13. Right now, one of the things that drive me nuttiest (not angriest) about FHoTD is the wobbly definition of "rescuing" a horse. So often a reader will post that they "rescued" a horse, when, in actually, they bought a horse. "I got my rescue from a girl who didn't want her horse anymore." Keep reading and you will find out the girl is leaving for college or has shot up 8 inches and has to get rid of her horse. Was the horse in a run down condition? Sort of, parents had been caring for horse while girl was at college/on deployment/in hospital. So the horse wasn't groomed or ridden but had been well fed, had foot care and vet care. Those aren't rescues! True, the buyer may not have had to spend $5,000.00 on the horse but price or the fact of being sold does not a rescue make.

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. I consider one of my horses a rescue. Yes, he was in lovely shape and his feet were newly done, but he was also standing outside a horse trailer he refused to get in and literally had an appointment at the slaughter house that day. He had dumped his owner one too many times and she was concerned that he was not a safe horse she could sell in good conscience. I got him, papers and all for meat price on the spot. I wasn't looking for a third horse at the time, but I think fate intervened. I had some chiropractor work done on him, started him over slowly and this is my forever horse. Was he on death's door due to poor care and condition? No, but he was scheduled to die that day and I consider him to be rescued.

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  16. Tomato, tomahto:)

    The word rescue connotes grave danger.
    Danger?
    Grave danger?

    Is there any other kind?
    (Sorry, just channeling Jack Nicholson)

    I think your horse was lucky, anon. But a rescue?

    To all your lucky horses, and to a kind end for those horses who are not so lucky.

    Sorry, I'll be quiet now, promise.
    Computer is working for five minutes, my blather is on full-power....

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  17. Girl Throwing Puppies in a River

    So it is ok if it's done on this blog, but everone has their panties in a wad when it is done on the other blog?
    Don't you have to scream: but you can't go after a child, how mean and terrible, the poor child does not know any better, you are damaging the childs fragile persona. Oh the horror, to put a child like this on a blog. etc. etc.

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  18. Note, anon. The girl's name and contact info are not posted. She is also liable for animal neglect (a legally punishable offense), and is as such currently a person of interest. This girl is ACTUALLY KILLING AND HARMING ANIMALS, not just doing stupid little kid stuff that Fubbs disagrees with.

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  19. Aaaaaaand, the first response to my post over on fubb's blog (where I ask what the merit is in placing fifth out of a whopping six scored entries)


    (Following from Noob, not from Fubbs)
    "I am trying to understand the criticism here. Horse placed 5th – technically. Technical = based on or marked by a strict or legal interpretation. (Just one of many googled definitions).

    Placing 5th in a field of 6 IS still *placing* 5th. Its not getting dumped like the 6th entry was – its placing, period. There are only 4 ribbons in a class at a dog show, and I would rather be IN the ribbons than not. I’ve fought hard for that 4th in a class of 5 – all the while wishing I was safe at the head of the line.

    If there were 8 originally and you then had to qualify (?) and two did not qualify, doesn’t that make taking ANY ribbon a good thing?

    Can anyone shed light?

    Thanks…"

    Fen back in. My response?
    :head-desk: :head-desk: :head-desk:

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  20. This girl is ACTUALLY KILLING AND HARMING ANIMALS, not just doing stupid little kid stuff that Fubbs disagrees with.

    Isn't the "stupid little kid stuff" usually how it starts then escalades? Harming animals, then killing them then moving to more serious stuff like mumans? Why not calling the kid out while it's still in the not yet killing stage? Maybe this kid would not have killed the animals if someone had stopped her doing other stupid animal related stuff?

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  21. No matter what you may think, riding a horse through a field in a silly costume does not elevate to throwing puppies into a river. Sorry. Back to your corner, troll.

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  22. Wow you pro slaughter people over here do have your heads way up your asses. Riding a dilapidated, sick pony till it dies is fine, just because she did not actually kill it on camera? Wow, just wow, but arguments like this are usually expected from the pro slaughter crowd.

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  23. Anon5:02, you are as always free to disagree with anyone you like , but making assumptions about everyone based on what ? and starting to tar all with the same tired old brush just undermines your credibility. What does this post have to do with slaughter exactly?

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  24. I don't think any horse showing at the ABRA World show has to qualify for anything. Two of the eight horses were disqualified, but we don't know what for. They may have gone off pattern or something. That would speak volumes about the level of `world' competition, but its one of the only things I can think would get you the gate in a trail class. If this was the AQHA, she would have needed to qualify to even show him at that event which means a certain number of points and there likely would have been upwards of 50 horses in the class. As it stands, she beat one horse and admits that BYC did not do a good pattern on her blog, so we know the 6th place horse much have been really bad. In fact, on her VLC blog she was not overly proud of his trail placing, he bucked in another class I think and he came up lame after his trail class and missed the rest of the show. But, when confronted with the idea that BYC may not be stallion quality, all of a sudden he is `TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD'. Again, context is everything.

    She mentions that he came sound enough to show halter a few days later (not at the world's I don't think) and got reserve champion. I can't find the results anywhere so it may have been out of two in a dun factor class. Yes, a buckskin does qualify for `dun factor'. The definisiton of `dun factor' for the ABRA is displaying the typical markings such as mane and tail the same color as dorsal stripe, zebra striping, cob webbing, etc. Buckskins do have the dun factor and are show in that class. I believe a grulla may qualify as well. I'm not up to speed on these classes as far as I don't think that conformation is marked as heavily as their actual markings.

    All of this wouldn't be an issue if she didn't have such a glaring double standard or that horse was a gelding. She is the one that harps on color breeders and people standing stallions that have accomplished nothing other than their color. She is also the one that will rip apart an AQHA world champion horse for its conformation. Cathy alone, set the standard for earning and ROM to be ball worthy. Personally, I find that moronic as an ROM is NOT a hard thing to accomplish in one season. If you base your criteria on performance, I would want a horse to at least have an AQHA Championship or Superior. Also, going to five shows a year is hardly `making a stallion. Its especially not when at least half of those were schooling shows put on by local horse clubs. He couldn't even pull off a win at that level. My old QH is not an AQHA champion, but he literally cleaned up at those unsanctioned shows every time I put him in one as a kid. I didn't pay anybody to train him or show him for me. The more she justifies that crippled shouldbeagelding of hers, the dumber she appears.


    As for a response for the troll......I did not watch the video, but if there is a child in it, I highly doubt any of the regular posters on this blog have any intention of calling the child or writing rude comments calling her a `whore'`bitch', `slut' or threaten bodily harm on her.....


    lolasl

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  25. For the record, I am NOT pro-slaughter at all. I do respect that not everybody shares my view on that though. I don't find it an issue worth fighting over as its not likely to change anybody's mind. I just remove myself from those conversations....


    lolasl

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  26. lolasl, I like your style! Both here and on the other blog you are well spoken, able to get your point across and stand on your own without insulting other (for lack of a better word) commentators. Hats off to you :-)

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  27. Long day y'all sorry about this "Escalades" is a type of Cadillac. A big cadillac. "mumans" a not quite mummified human?

    "Why not calling the kid out while it's still in the not yet killing stage?"
    Because that is vigilantism and is illegal. Of all of us reading this blog Go lightly has the most reason to take the law into her own hands. BUT SHE HASN'T. GOOD FOR HER!

    It is not nearly as "fun" to follow the law, and it makes lousy newspaper headlines or pop songs "Woman followed law and did not trespass, steal, or violate individuals privacy and sic a human flesh search engine on person behaving badly". I bet GoLighly doesn't break her arm patting herself on back either.

    I think she deserves a big round of applause. Cause when she is done and has won her battle, it won't only be one horse benefiting, but all the animals in confinement. ALL the animals, chickens, pigs, cows, ducks, dogs, cats, even lab rats. Good on GoLightly.

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  28. Anon 5:02, I'm actually ANTI-slaughter. But if you want to have your preconceived notion that "EVERYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH ME ON ONE THING IS DIFFERENT FROM ME IN EVERY WAY AND SO WRONG LA LA LALALALALALA" then fine! Have at!

    lolasl, I think you are far more eloquent than I. When confronted with situations like this, I tend to growl (hehehe, see what I did there?) and hit my head against the keyboard.

    Back to Anon 5:02
    I didn't see any abuse or even severe starvation in the case of that pony. Should the parents have stepped in sooner, or gone to a different vet/farrier for a second opinion? Yes! Was the shot of the girl walking away from her dead pony's corpse slightly weird? Also yes! But do either of those criteria warrant personal attacks against the girl? AW HELL NO.

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  29. Cathy's excuse for BYC's poor trail performance on both days was....First day he was just soooooo big adn the course was too tight. I guess at 16.2HH he's the biggest horse to ever hit the circuit. Nevermind I've seen AQHA HUS and WP horses that were 17HH and bigger. 16.2HH isn't all that big unless he's showing in pony classes. The second day he didn't do well in trail because he had to pee. I'm serious, she put that. How about just admitting, its not his thing and he wasn't really prepared to go in trail??? Trust me, if I had to listen to five minutes of her blather in person I'd either growl or walk away. I tend to bang my head on the desk when Cathy starts talking about BYC or her `training' chops. Is there a cure for barn blindness??

    As for the little girl with the Fjord pony.....sometimes animals die and sometimes they go downhill before that happens. Not all of us pull the trigger at the first sign of sickness and we really don't know what that pony died of. I will guarantee you he did not starve to death. He obviously had something wrong and clearly, nobody figured it out in time. Its pretty easy to sit and point fingers with next to no information on what happened. Its idiotic to think they all die naturally of old age, at perfect weight and health. At the very worst, the only thing this kid was guilty of was bad judgement. Most kids do use bad judgement and that's why we don't let them vote or try them for adult crimes. Cathy has a crippled, badly built stallion and that's bad judgement too. At her age she should know better.....Funny how every time she points a finger, four are pointing straight back at her....

    You must be doing some good by starting this blog. She has been much less controversial since the little girl and the Leland stuff. Well done!

    lolasl

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  30. I liked the way the girl walked away from her pony in the video. What that said to me is, "This part of my life is over, and I will mourn in my own way, but I will walk away from this sad chapter in my life with love and memories of good times and go on to the next phase of my life. My friend will not be forgotten, it's time for him to move on as well."

    Anon 5:02. I'm anti-slaughter too. The difference between us here, and you guys over there is that we don't harass, slam, attack or put down others for their opinion for the most part. We're civil and respectful for each other, we will not sink to the level that fhotd has reached. We offer support and kindness in the aftermath of the tornado of the attacks.

    ~Dk

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  31. Just as a note, a buckskin is not really a "dun". Buckskin is a single cream gene on bay. Cream lightens "red" pigment to a gold color. (palomino is cream on chestnut, perlino double cream on bay, cremello double cream on chestnut. Cream does not really show on black (EEaa) unless the horse is homozygous and then you get smokey cream).

    Dun is a completely different gene which also dilutes the hair color of the body (black OR red) and causes primitive markings (leg stripes, dorsal stripe, shoulder stripes, cobwebbing.. to various degrees). These horses are usually duskier looking than "golden". Bay dun is sometimes confused with "buckskin". Grulla is a black dun and red dun is.. well, red dun. Horses can also be cream AND dun (dunalino, dunskin, etc) ABRA recognizes buckskin, dun, grulla, and red dun as elligible for registration. So, primitive markings (dun factor) are not required.

    Have never noticed if VLC is a dun, but he looks more buckskin to me. Does he have a dorsal stripe? Don't understand how ABRA is so super special, though. How different is it from the blue eyed horse association or whatever? They're just horses of a certain freaking color. That is NOT A BREED! And ANY mutt on the planet can qualify for registration as long as it's that sooper speshul kolour. Oh wait.. they can't be drafts or med/small ponies (at least 14HH) and can't be pinto ...because they have their own speshul registry.

    Except.. wait! (almost) ANY horse can be registered a pinto now, and she thinks that's AWESOME! That particular entry about made me spew on my keyboard. Okay, you take a registry that is all about "color" and then say that's not required anymore. So.. uhm.. doesn't that make it meaningless? Doesn't that group say American Warmbloods are a joke because of this? Did color registries somehow become not so bad when she had a horse she could register/show with them? If VLC had blue eyes would he be in that registry too and then suddenly they'd be all cool as well? I don't get the difference.

    Girl throwing puppies into river.. I could watch about 2 seconds of that and turned it off. How that even REMOTELY compares to the young girl with the Fjord who obviously loved her horse.. uhm.. some people are apparently so eager to be right they lose all touch with reality.

    The vitriol and hypocrisy on that blog is more than I can handle.
    Shutting up now. (I know this will go under TL:DR)(crawls back into hole)

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  32. She appears to have some mental health issues.
    She seems to be quite immature for a 40 something woman.

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  33. I'm actually glad to see some trolls here--word is getting out. Maybe there are other fhotd readers who will have the veil lifted. I'm not sure how anyone can be such a "rabid" follower having the knowledge that she keeps a stallion. Period. She must acknowledge she has people that read her every word as gospel and, in that fact, she *should* hold herself to a higher standard. No. Her horse can't just get a ROM or do a little showing here and there. He needs to be freaking amazing--a super star; above reproach. But, he is not. He's got a cute face, yes. He has a good temperament, yes (as far as we know, I will take her word for it). But for all her posts about stallions not deserving their junk, krazy kolor breeders, the over-population of horses, slaughter, etc. I don't know how she can justify in her own mind keeping a stallion.

    For example, she isn't a millionaire (this is not a hit, trolls). What if BYC stands for a season. Maybe just three mares. She may say, "oh I have the means to take care of these three foals forever" (like she says all breeders should). But there is no way to guarantee that without funds NOW, lots of paperwork, etc (most of all funds). What if she, god forbid, gets hit by a bus or has an accident or just gets sick and can't work anymore, or gets fired, etc. What if the owners of the foals decide to give them back to their sire's owner at the same time or they go to slaughter. I have learned to prepare for the worst and realize it can always be worse than the worst. I'm a "glass shattered on the floor, water everywhere" kind of person. She apparently doesn't have a lot of (any?) acreage and a set up to take care of BYCs get forever. I guess what I'm saying is I don't see her being able to care for all BYCs get for the rest of their lives. And that is the standard according to fhotd.

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  34. The "other side of the story": in 2006 we began looking into a 501c3 for horse rescue so that we could get some grants to help with the issue of abuse and neglect (not overcrowding or overbreeding). This started after we bought a mare in 2001 (we still have her) who had been horribly abused by our boarders previous trainer and then when she threw the boarder, she took her to a known kill barn and sold her. Thank god 1 of the dealers who bought her recognized our barn name and called me. He allowed us to buy her from him for the kill price and even delivered us to her. Then in 2006, we got a call from my best friend about an OTTB who was going to be shot and killed because he reared and struck a dealer, breaking his nose while being loaded onto an overcrowded trailer. I drove 2 hrs and stepped in front of a loaded shotgun. We brought him home by PAYING for him and he became my daughter's mount (he passed away in Dec. 2009 at the age of 20...vet said the abuse he suffered lead to his death and he just laid down one morning and went quietly) So we thought perhaps we could do some good in the world and began looking seriously into becoming a rescue.

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  35. Other side (cont)...for nearly 2 yrs we looked at all the red tape, had legal advice, continued to use our own money from jobs outside of the equine industry to purchase horses from abusive owners, kill pens, and we developed several close friendships with dealers. (OMG...shoot me now right) In fact, one of FHOTD's strongest bloggers owns a horse she BOUGHT from a known dealer (who she later slams on fug's site even though they still own and ride said horse....hmmmm) Anyway, in 2008, we relocated as we had outgrown our previous farm & had the opportunity to purchase a terrific ranch. During this time, fug's supporter bought 3 horses and brought 2 Morgan's in from a rescue (which by the way I had to be the adopter of). I guess she never paid attention to the fact that we QUIT doing rescue of any kind in 2008 and actually joined MOFED (Missouri Federation of Animal Owner's Rights) after hearing of tons of illegal equine seizures. Our focus became equine education and hippotherapy. We now teach at discounted rates and through state programs children who cannot qualify for traditional therapy programs because they are "too high functioning" but need some extra adaptations and assistance so traditional riding lessons are too much for their disabilities.

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  36. The other side (epic saga..lol)
    Truth be known, our former boarder got mad when I made this statement "Since the ban of slaughter took affect domestically, the anti-slaughter front has guaranteed horses will suffer through horrible transport out of the country where they are bled out rather than killed via the pnuematic hammer method. There is no regulation in Mexico and by completely banning horse within the US, the anti-slaughter people have ensured that horses WILL starve, horses WILL meet horrific deaths in the unregulated slaughter of other countries, and our economy WILL suffer the blow of losing regulated USDA exportation of horsemeat to other countries." This statement apparently makes me "pro-slaughter". No one who loves horses wants to see them meet the end they do in slaughter houses of other countries. But, the current status of the unwanted equine is problematic at best. FHOTD is NOT offering any real solutions. In Utopia, horse neglect, abuse, over breeding, and poor training methods would not exist. But neither would child abuse, spousal abuse, hate crimes, and racism. Nor would vindictive, nasty blogs that encourage harassment to promote one's self :)

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  37. The only real solutions to the non-slaughter (and sorry, but I love that they banned it in the US) is that the horse market needs to self correct. That means that once people realize there is no market for their back yard foals, they will stop making them. In order for that to happen, people such as Cathy need to practice what they preach. I don't care what breed we are talking about, a horse needs to be exceptional to be worthy of breeding. I truly wish we had national stud books and that there was some approval process for breeding rights on mares and stallions. This would ensure higher breed standards and maybe, save the price of resulting foals. I realize that its not very likely that this will ever come to pass and Cathy should be happy about that. There is no way in hell that BYC would ever be allowed to keep his nuts. I will go as far as to predict he will never get his ROM or any other AQHA award (I have doubts he'll ever earn a point) and I'll almost guarantee he will never be gelded as long as she owns him. She seems to have some romantic notion of having this stallion as `her horse'. I really don't get it.....

    lolasl

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  38. Lolasl......I LOVE that you can respectfully share your opinion concerning slaughter and that you believe the ban is good. I respect that opinion but I do have to wonder about what someone does (let's even say a reputable breeder) who has something like hypp p/p pop in one of their horses. They stop breeding the mare from which this horse came and they also decide to geld their stallion. Question: what to do with the hypp horse?? The native Americans killed buffalo and in some tribes raised horses for food as well. They taught you do not waste any part of the animal you kill and the kill was done as humanely as they could. Could this idea be applied to the horse world? It's not a pretty picture but what if every part of the horse was used for something productive. Even the circle of life is taught in lion king. I'm not saying to the perfect answer but it is another perspective. ~Devils Advocate :)

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  39. I think that hypp p/p horses should never be eligible for registration. The fact that the AQHA allows them and some go on to be world champions means there is no downside for an unscrupulous breeder. Take away the value, which is the ability to register and compete. Also, I think that breed registries should take a page out of the Jockey Club's rule book and insist on dna testing for all horses in the registry. TBs do it for identification, but AQHA could do it to weed out hereditary diseases.

    I support anybody's choice on any matter as long as its humane. People get twisted up on what is done with a horse after euthanasia. Personally, I don't care what anybody does as I feel the important thing is how the animal was treat while alive and that its death was humane as possible. That's the main problem I have with slaughter. I'm not convinced that its is all that humane in how they kill them. However, the best I can do is practice what I preach with my own horses and I do that. Any position loses its credibility when the messenger is a hypocrite ie Cathy

    lolasl

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  40. Yes, I dislike being divided into "camps".
    I love that idea, Devil's Advocate.
    It's only dignity I wish for all creatures we have domesticated.

    I know for some, ALL forms of life are sacred, and deserve to live their lives "in peace". What of the psycho-horses? What about all the others with congenitally dangerous defects? I mean, fine, if/when we can afford to care for those in human form, it is a choice we've made.

    But what of the animals? A dangerous horse is a dangerous horse. I don't care if you're freakin' Xenophon himself. We are all fallible, and mistakes, irrevocable ones can happen. I traumatized my puppy to the sound of plastic. I didn't mean to, but I did. And that doesn't make me evil. ReallY.

    lolasl forgets that in addition to the BYB's, there are the bigger farms, churning out their hundreds of foals. It's macro-responsibility, that needs done in each micro-situation.
    I mean that ANYone at all, owning AnY animal, should be held to a higher standard than is now allowed by law.
    If people are unwilling to conform to that standard, out the door they'd go, not allowed to own animals again.
    sigh.
    Just dreaming here...
    If wishes were happy safe horses..

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  41. I'm well aware of big breeders churning out way too many horses. Believe it or not, that is being corrected in some forms as well. I know of many TB breeders that have drastically cut back on the amount of breeding they are doing. None of the ones I know pesonally dumped any mares at a public auction but chose to retire or rehome a few mares that were not producing the quality of babies they need to in order to sell for decent prices. Again, its going to take few years for the market to self correct with these drastic changes in the economy and legislation.

    Golightly, I don't have the answers. I just have my own opinons and I do my best to keep my little corner of the world `clean'. I think if everybody held themselves to their own individual standards, we wouldn't fix 100% of the problems, but we'd sure be a lot closer. Sadly, just as with humans getting born into good families, some horses win the lottery and get the best owner ever, some through no fault of their own end up in bad places with dire consequences. Sadly, in the case of horses that can mean a premature death or years of abuse. With humans, it can mean pretty bad stuff too. I really can't fix the world and it does make my head hurt to begin to contemplate `the answer' to everything.

    lolasl

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  42. Canadian Horse DefenceCoalition

    Oh, Lola, not expecting answers, just wishing things were better for them all.

    We (we here on da blog) love and are kind to our animals. So many are not, and that hurts. That's the common ground I wish more would realize is staring them in the face.. Instead of pros and antis, there should be a group kinder place.

    new country, anyone??

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  43. OMG she did not critisize some farm on her blog for standing five stallions and only ONE has a performance record. Ummm.....I guess any performance record counts as ball-worthy even if its a shitty one. She goes on to tell them about `how it is in the AQHA world'. Sweetheart, when BYC earns his ROM and you actually ride and place in an AQHA sanctioned show, maybe you can speak for the AQHA and stand judge and jury on how `things are with them'.

    I happen to agree the breeder in question is sick, but presentation is everything. Cathy also needs to quit holding her and her stallion up as an example on how to do things right.

    I'm going to go be sick now.....


    lolasl

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  44. I hate to be a curmudgen here and I do mean this with all due respect, but equine slaughter is not banned in the U.S.

    The plants closed because the meat could not be inspected by USDA inspectors anymore and had to be inspected prior to shipment. That was the ONLY way the anti-slaughter groups managed to get the plants closed.

    In fact, numerous states have passed laws allowing the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The only reason there is not any slaughtering done in the U.S. yet again, is #1-They have yet to figure out a way to get the meat inspected for human consumption and #2-The lack of facilities.

    I know, pointing out those little technical details will get me labled as Pro-Slaughter.

    Quite frankly, I don't care anymore. I'm tired of the labeling and the name calling. NEITHER side has come up with ANY solutions, so they can both just piss off as far as I am concerned.

    Oh, and I forgot who mentioned it, but breeding QH's are DNA typed. Currently only for parentage verification. The genetic disorders tests that are available are optional, except HYPP. That is required for registration and the horse's status is printed on their papers.

    So here's my question...if breeders are going to be required to do all of this extra stuff, which all costs money BTW, to satisfy the clientele, that would be YOU, the buyer...Are YOU the buyer going to be willing to pay more for the horses you buy?

    Isn't that really part of the problem as well? Responsible breeders have been paying all along for all the necessary items to make sure they are producing a quality product and you, the buyers are running out and buying the non-cared for products of the so-called irresponsible breeders/owners. That leaves the responsible breeder languishing with horses that are not moving onto good homes. They have to stop breeding, so their numbers do not get out of control and yet the irresponsible breeders just keep pumping out a new crop each year.

    So when do the buyers of horses have to start taking some responsibility for the state of the 'market"? If you aren't going to reward the responsible breeder, raiser or trainer for producing quality stock by paying a reasonable price for their work, but are going to reward the irresponsible breeder, raiser or trainer by 'rescuing' everything, who do you think is going to continue and who is going to stop?

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  45. Geez-Then I go read the article linked on fugly's blog and it's pretty much along the same train of thought as my previous post.

    I don't understand fugly's hatred of people who are in the horse 'business'. What is wrong with doing something you love and trying to make a little money at it?

    I wonder if she is going to give the VLC's breedings away or if she is going to charge people? Cause if she charges, that means she would like to recoup some of the cost associated with owning the horse, showing him amd maintaining him. She may not be in it to make an actual profit, but even trying to break-even is considered good 'business'.

    I think it is sad that people are still dumping nice, young mares. This will come back to haunt the breed, just like it did in the 80's.

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  46. Thanks for clearing that up BEC. I was under the impression that the US had banned slaughter. I thought I had heard something about them regulating them shipping meat horses over the border as well, but I'm not sure how they would begin to police that.

    I think we are on the same page re: DNA typing. My only tweek I would do is to not allow registry of HYPP horses. Period. As for the sales prices. Nobody should ever get into horses to get rich, but recouping costs should not be unreasonable. My hope is that the market will correct itself in a few years. High Quality and accomplished horses will always bring higher dollars. I have to agree with another poster on the fugly site that the middle range animals have suffered the worse in price.

    The problem is that people just looking for that middle of the road horse are going to look for a bargain. The may not neccesarily be know or even care about conformation and way of going. Serious competitors are still going to seek the best they can find and pay prices that reflect that. If you want to get their money, you better be breeding exceptional quality stock. If somebody can't recognize what is or isn't exceptional, then they have no business breeding in my opinion.

    I am more of a TB person myself. They have taken a huge hit in their yearling sale prices. However there are still babies that sell for half a million and up in the big sale and ones that sell for 10K and under. In my opinion the range between 10k to 50k took the hardest hit. If people can afford, they'll buy the better horse and if they can't, they're going after the cheap ones exclusively. Its the `maybes' that people just aren't in a hurry to gamble on right now...

    lolasl

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  47. FenrirsRagnarok: I replied to your message at the other link. Sorry it took so long.

    ---

    Off topic: I have to say, I do like the layout I found for the side link. In fact, I like the fact it looks really nice and that there are others like it. I also have full control over there instead of here. I'd love the change the layout so it looks nicer, but cannot. I'd hate to move everyone, but I have to say the thought is crossing my mind. It's tough with BHM suddenly disappearing and you're left with little ol' me who really joined to add little fun side tidbits. In fact, just take a look at the layout over there. The concept will be the same, just maybe not as colorful. Just nicer looking and more professional.

    http://taleoffantasyline.blogspot.com/

    ---

    The layout I like best so far if we move...

    http://www.deluxetemplates.net/2009/02/notepad-blogger-layout.html

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  48. Hey CS, I posted back at you. Can't wait to see what everyone has to say!

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  49. CS, we appreciate your taking this on bhm, has been ill so if we can I would like to wait for her to get feeling better before any changes happen. BTW bhm if you are reading ,love ya hon .Come see us soon

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  50. Gotcha gotcha. I was wondering about the sudden disappearance. Well, if there's plans to return I'm game staying here and discussing layout revamps with her since she has total control over the blog. I pretty much can just make new posts, lol.

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  51. I am what FHOTD would call "pro-slaughter" I dont ship my horses to slaughter, and do everything I can to keep my horses that I sale from going to slaughter (first right to buy back).

    But honestly. I live in the mountains in washington and am a member of a riding club up here. I have heard multiple reports of people seeing domesticated horses either roaming in groups in the mountains or dead horse carcases out on the trail. (sadly its easy to drive up there to a local trail head, drop your horse off and leave.... no one takes a second look at a horse trailer going into the hills) I have seen horse after horse starve to death due to lack of funds and no way to get the horse into a new home. The lady I work with has 20+ horses and most of them she "took in" because the owners had no choice.

    I would LOVE to see the day when slaughter is no longer necessary. But so far I have yet to see it. People are still breeding like mad even though there obviously is NO NEED for more horses. You can barely GIVE a horse away right now. But I digress.

    Honestly I can respect if someone is anti-slaughter as long as they are respectful of my opinions and dont go off telling me that there is no way that I can love animals if I am pro-slaughter.

    I think that maybe both sides should get together and brain storm. Find a solution that ACTUALLY works. A solution that makes steps forward to get the horse population under control with out taxing people to death or trying to control their every move....eh I dunno... maybe im nuts :)

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  52. I am respectful of anybody who treats their animals humanely. But my problem with slaughter, and it is MY problem is that I don't think its a kind end. I tend to picture `old faithful'who has served their person well and that is the end they get as a reward. What is wrong with euthanizing and then having the body picked up? The couple of hundred dollars the slaughter house would pay me wouldn't be worth the toll it took on my conscience.

    I fully understand the pro position and I hate to think of animals starving to death or getting turned loose to their fate in the wild. I have to think there is some middle ground there. For starters, I think the cost of euthanizing is a contributing factor to slaughter. I lost my TB this spring to a ruptured intestine. There was nothing that could have saved him, so I had to make the call to end his suffering. I had him for 14 yrs (since he was a yearling, through his race career and beyond). I nearly died when I got a $500 bill for an after hour euthanasia. I think THAT causes people to use slaughter as an option. So, if they want to legislate so that its not feasable to slaughter, perhaps they can subsidize humane euthanasia. I see that as finishing the job of getting rid of meat plants. At least give people an affordable, humane and viable option to be rid of animals that are old, sick, dangerous or whatever other reason people choose to dispose of them. If they can give grants to bogus rescue operations, why can't they give a euthanasia grant to equine vets? I realize its probably way far out there....but something has to give....

    lolasl

    I don't care where the blog is located....its nice to be able to have respectful conversations and sharing of information. If we move, please leave a forwarding address!

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  53. I definitely do not want to see horses starve to death or be turned loose, and I have no issue with slaughter in theory. The theory being, that slaughter can be done quickly and humanely.

    My issues (I'll bullet them, to make them easier to read through)
    1. Slaughter rewards bad behavior (people can be *paid* to drop off their ruined or unwanted horse, giving no incentive to stop breeding or messing up horses)
    2. Slaughter in and of itself is quick and painless. The trip to the slaughter plant? Not so much. The fact that most slaughter plants are not made to accommodate horses? Bad bad bad. Ever seen a video of a horse that goes down thrashing because the captive bolt missed? Not pretty.
    3. I had a third point, I swear.

    I'm technically anti-slaughter, but I don't care what other people are, so long as they are willing to work together for a common goal. I love you guys here. :)

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  54. On the 100 foals to get 2 that are high quality post:

    I don't know if the breeder put her idea badly or not, but in Saddlebreds you do have to put a goodly number of foals on the ground to find the few who will be Louisville worthy. I'm not saying that 2 out of every 100 bred will be Louisville worthy. Like producing prima ballerina assolutas, lots of little girls wearing leotards got to go in one end of the hopper to get one out of the other end. Things happen along the way, good breeding, desire and talent are only three of the things needed. So is luck.

    Everything that makes a champion isn't under the control of a breeder/trainer. If it were that easy once there was a champion, all we would have would be full siblings to that horse as champions. The gelding I bought this spring, who was a wash out in the show ring, his full brother won a WC in 5 gaited class at Lousiville. My horse, well, did not.

    Top and bottom line of my horse's pedigree is full of WCs. He is not going to get one. This does not mean he should go to slaughter. Out of 11 full siblings to my horse, one has a WC. Out of approximately 300 half siblings (all of whom are decently bred) there are 5 WCs. Many ribbon winners, but not WCs. Getting a WC is a bit of a crap shoot. Being well bred alone, does not a champion make. I'm hoping the breeder just had an infelicitous turn of phrase.

    An open question, what should one do with the culls of a breeding program? Not allow them to be registered? Sell them as "pet quality" like they do with dogs? Suggestions?

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  55. I don't think slaughter is quick and painless, as there have been reports of horses still conscious when they were hung up by their back leg, then their throats cut. They had to hang there with their weight pulling that hip and fetlock until they bled out, because they weren't properly stunned by the captive bolt gun, because in america, it's all "rush rush rush, we want to see the money!!111one."

    I wholeheartedly agree with lolasl with if "rescues" can get grants, then why can't vets get euthanasia grants? And I agree with her as well, it's just an easy thing to use to throw away horses people don't want/have ruined. I think it needs a stigma to it. america is just such in the bad habit of being a throw away nation.

    If you're pro-slaughter, I respect your opinion. I'm not going to shove my issues down your throat, and I am appreciative that no one does the same to me. An ex-friend of mine was pro-slaughter and it just burnt her biscuits to a crisp because I wouldn't turn pro because she was. Yet, I never got the chance to ask if that if she thought it was so great, then why didn't she send her horses to the plant when it was their time to go instead of euth them.

    ~Dk Still loves you all no matter what your opinion on slaughter is.

    Oh, BHM, Get better soon! *Hugs*


    ETA: No. Way. My captch is Fought. Fight the good one!

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  56. The other thing that bugged me about that post was all the slamming of an overweight woman. It seems that on FHoTD Fat=Moral Turpitude. For pity's sake, I weigh in at 230 and am 6 feet tall. I ride 5 days a week for an hour a pop, groom three horses every day and clean out 5 stalls twice a day. I eat 1200 calories a day. Now what? I'm the size I am. I do eat french fries, Cheetos, pecan pie, and Milky Way bars on occasion. But I eat more salad, fresh fruit, whole grains and veggies. Some unthinking person snarked at my grocery cart tonight, "Why are you that size when your cart is full of healthful foods?" I guess, like some ponies, I'm an easy keeper.

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  57. I am going to try to word this carefully so as not to offend. I truly don't believe anyone needs to be raising 100, or 50 or even necessarily 20 foals a year. If each breeder took a good hard look at the foal crop each year,there will be some absolute stars , some really good foals and some OK foals . The market being what it is ,I would only breed the stock producing the show stoppers and market the others as riding/pleasure horse . Any horse that is purebred should in fact sell with papers , but the OK and even the pretty good colts should be gelded. As to the mares , stallion owners need to take a look at what they are breeding to as well off the farm. If a mediocre mare produces a mediocre or poor foal, that foal will forever be connected to your stallion . So as far as "culls" go there really shouldn't need to be any , there should be a job , or a market for each foal a serious reputable breeder produces . I prefer this to the Gatling gun approach to breeding

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  58. I can't believe someone took it upon themselves to peek into your cart and then address you like that, Kaede. *Frowns* That wasn't cool of them.

    Yeah, I'm a big girl. Big girl. I've tried all my life to be thin, hasn't happened. I've worked like a man in my youth and now, I'm stove up and bent over, and stiff and sore for the most part. The fat bashing... I get so infuriated with how cathy just attacks anyone who is fat. I've been physically beaten on more than one occasion by bullies just because I'm fat. Her cruel and ugly attitude on it, as well as her followers that agree with her, just make me sick because it flashes back to me on my own miserable life.

    It seems as if she lacks empathy. I really think she doesn't know how to relate to how someone else feels. I Loved her blog when I discovered it a few years back, I can not believe what it has turned into.

    Fernvally, Love your post!

    ~Dk

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  59. Kaede, you show amazing restraint! I would have run over the A$$jack with my healthy cart full of food. I too and a round body , but I manage to have morals , raise and care for my horse adequatley and have never been accused of theft or ,fraud or actually any of the think miss slim Fugs has been accused of far less sending ponographic photos over the phone!

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  60. "There have been reports of horses still conscious when they were hung up by their back leg, then their throats cut. They had to hang there with their weight pulling that hip and fetlock until they bled out, because they weren't properly stunned by the captive bolt gun..."

    There have been reports of serial murders finding their victims at rest stops, truck stops and all night gas stations. Do we close all those down to stop serial murderers?

    Aim for a high percentage (greater than 98%) of accurate kill rate rather than a 100% accurate kill rate.

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  61. I'm so sorry that you (Kaede) were the victim of hate due to your body size. It's awful and uncalled for. Personally, attacking anyone is just WRONG WRONG WRONG. On that note, I have recently talked with Leland. He has been suffering business losses and had over 100 death threats and the abuse has spread to his friends. I believe he has a case for online harassment, stalking, and defamation of character as she not only attacked the horse part but his business and his sexual preference. Maybe even a hate crime. Anyone on here know a lawyer who might be willing to look into this and then talk to Leland. Perhaps a really good financial hit or a criminal record (like that Missouri woman who used myspace to attack a 13 yr old who eventually killed herself) would stop the evil blogger from thinking she is above the law. Guess no one taught her "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" ~Devils Advocate

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  62. I agree with you FV 100%. I didn't read the linked article, so I was hoping she wasn't putting 100 foals on the ground a year and slaughtering 98 of them.
    I hope she meant out of 100 well bred foals maybe 2 of them will be world champions. The breeder/trainer of my gelding when he realized that Moxie (his new barn name) wasn't going to be a world class show horse, did his best to find him a good home. Moxie was never advertised, but through word of mouth, he found a home for him. I also paid 5,000.00 for Moxie not nearly enough cover his daddy's stud fee, but enough that the breeder/trainer knows I won't try and "flip" him.

    As for the sweet young THIN thing that commented on my weight, why bother to get angry? She was at best thoughtless at worse cruel. It is useless to get angry at thoughtlessness. If she was cruel, if I got angry she would have "won". I looked at her and shrugged "A mystery of life". On her way home she'll either be furious that I didn't get mad, forget the whole conversation, or realize she made a gaffe and feel bad about it. I did the "right" thing and can sleep well knowing I didn't stoop to Cathy's level.

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  63. Kaede, horse slaughter plants aren't anything like truck stops that serial killers scout. 2 different planets there.

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  64. If you notice, Cathy tends to attack anything she feels threatened by or I read that she once was quite heavy so, now she fat bashes. She has talked about not being allowed to have her own horse until she could drive, so she goes after kids with their own ponies. She goes after successful show people etc. The odd time she will blog about something that has a merit, but even then she will get away from the issue at hand and make it a personal attack. That is why if you tell somebody you're anti slaughter or any of the other things she is passionate about, they roll their eyes and assume you'll be a foul mouthed loose cannon just like her. What does that woman's weight have to do with her being an irresponsible breeder. I saw many of them post about fat welfare cases. Here's a newsflash for them......healthy, fresh food costs serious money. That's why lots of people put on weight when they first move out of home. Because Kraft Dinner and starch based processed foods are all they can afford. I tend to not like people based on their interactions with me or their treatment of others, including animals.

    I'm so sorry to hear of Leland's troubles. He absolutely shouldn't let her get away with that. I wrote HI and linked them to the blog about the pony and about Leland. If they continue to keep her on staff, I will start contacting and boycotting their advertisers. Going after him for his private lifestyle choice is so beyond disgusting and I feel so bad for all of it. From speaking to him and seeing pictures of his other horses and farm, I can say I think any horse that he ends up with is very lucky. He truly loves his animals. I can also see why Cathy would be seething with jealousy over his life. Beautiful farm, he has a wonderful seat on a horse, and he real talent. I still laugh at some of her followers thinking they could just drive on up to his place and pick up his horse after what they did. Cathy's suggestions on how to `train' him after acquiring him was particularily funny. She really is a wannabe. I can't change the slaughter or unwanted horse issue, but maybe there is some way I can do my part to remove the boil that is Cathy from the ass of the horse industry. How dare she post his most private information and his words out of context and then send her followers after him! Does she wake up in the morning and just say `I'm going to ruin somebody's life today' all over jealousy? I would say there is a special place in hell for her, but I read she is also an atheist. Figures....

    lolasl

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  65. I agree Kaede....and I am one of the people who have been to a true slaughter auction before the slaughter house was closed down in the town. It was NOT at all pleasant to hear the hammer come down (which you could hear) nor see the alley workers leading horses across to the dog food plant (that's what the slaughter house was for). I also watched a man get killed that night by a rank stallion in a "bangor" pen. Someone walked past with a mare in hand and the stallion tried to climb out of the pen. A man intervened to stop the stallion from trying to get to the young lady walking past and the horse caught him on the shoulder, drug him into the pen and trampled him. The stallion was nearly 30 and had been "dad's pet" allowed to run on 200 acres and breed "whatever was out there". The horse was dangerous and they had to run him into a trailer to run him to the plant. It was horrific....not the horse going to slaughter but that a 24 yr old man was killed by someone else's horse & the ignorance of letting a stud run wild. Call me horrible but I was happy that horse took a hammer. Domestic slaughter houses NEVER did what the foreign ones do. Proganda videos show Russian, Japanese, and Mexican slaughter houses. Not from the heartland ~Devil's Advocate

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  66. Yeah, I know that analogy is the weakest form of argument. But is is late (for me now that school is in session again) and I have a thing for hyperbole.

    My point still stands, you not going to get 100% accurate in any slaughter house, not even the best, not even if was run by well paid snipers who took their time. Mistakes will happen.

    What mistake rate are folk willing to live with? What kind of mistakes? A demand for 100% accuracy is just another way of keeping good slaughter houses closed or ensuring that bad ones remain open. The former can't meet the standard and the latter won't care.

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  67. Kaede, beign a serial killer will either getr you the death penalty or a life behind bars. The horses suffering at slaughter houses have committed no crime other than being born or becoming inconvenient. I do believe that 99% of the time, outlaw horses are man-made. I live near a slaugher plant and I could cry every time I drive by. Their fields and lot are full of every size, shape and age of horses. Spring and summer, their back field is overflowing with mares and foals of every color there is. Those foals will never get a chance to be loved by a little girl like that Fjord pony on the video Cathy bashed and that breaks my heart. I normally will drive miles out of my way just so I don't have to drive by that plant. Then I get home and see my big warmblood and I still can't understand how his previous owner could send him to slaughter. The thought of him having that end sickens me. He was about 2 hours away from that fate when I met him. If he had have loaded on the trailer like he normally does, I never would have known him. Some things really are meant to be?

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  68. Anon,

    I respect your view, but I'm your exact opposite. While I don't agree with a stallion running wild and being rank, I think `good for the horse' to get his lost shot in before he gets murdered. What crime did the horse commit? Humans failed him and made him the way he is. Ultimately he paid the price for those failings. How sad...

    I agree foreign slaughter is horrific from what I've read, but its not much better here in Canada. There were some undercover videos shot on the kill floors up here and its sickening and horrifying. Maybe only for a very few minutes, but each and every animal killed knew terror and suffering in their last moments on earth. Very few of the shots were accurate.

    The problem is the captive bolt is meant for cattle. Cattle also aren't as flighty as horses in those squeeze boxes they kill them in. So, right now there is no acceptable and accurate way to kill horses humanely in any slaughter house. Believe me I know many people, even ones that are my casual friends, that have and will send a horse to slaughter. They think its a quick and painless end. Those are also the same people that don't believe a horse has emotions or a soul. Its not something I will ever understand or say its `ok', so we have to go with the don't ask, don't tell policy. I can understand `mistakes' being made in a plant, but what you do have there is carelessness a lot of the time and I don't think that's ok. I really don't get how anybody could do that for a living. I honestly would rather be homeless and on the street than take money for a job like that. :( If we must have slaughter houses, they need to invest in a system that makes it as accurate and quick as it can be and there should be HUGE fines for improper practice and each and every kill should be taped and reviewed. There is another job I wouldn't take for a million dollars....

    lolas

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  69. Ok...does anyone think Kaede is freaking hilarious??...."easy keeper"....HA HA HA HA HA I would SOOOOO PAY to read a column in a horsie magazine written by you. You are making me giggle and I for one think YOU should have a blog.

    Anonymous 7:32...the horses are suffering on the way to the slaughter houses and in holding facilities& in many cases at the hands of their owners.....and bad luck is their only crime...but how about this...after a BLM wild mustang is "titled" he can now be sold an auction....WHAT??? ummm sorry...the overturning of THAT ban is SO wrong. The mustang's only crime was being rounded up and selected by bureaucrats and then adopted by an uneducated idiot. As the owner of 9 BLM mustangs who have all but 1 come to us under pretty bad circumstances, I hate what is happening to our national treasure in the wild horse. Yes, thinning the herd must be done....but not to the extreme

    And sorry I have to point this out.....does Horse Illustrated condone this....do their share holders know about miss mouth and her nasty blog.....she's pretty tasteless... come on "fugly" and the use of the f word on her blog is just stupid, stupid, stupid.....f word=unintelligent and cannot thing of anything else to say ~Devil's Advocate

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  70. While many of you have "declared" yourselves as pro or anti slaughter, it is hard for me to apply any of those labels to you in my mind. Every contributor here is concerned about animal welfare from start to finish. We all agree to a person about the need for people to uphold animal welfare be it our pets, show animals or food stock. It seems to me that many people's of pro and anti labels trivializes the life of the animal.

    That makes me angry about Leland. She has no excuse for this. I hope he hangs in there and maybe can use this blog as reference material if he is able to pursue this.

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  71. Lolasl.....in Missouri the captive bolt was used with a livestock chute with a head stablilizer. Also, they had a "bullet man" a man armed with a pistol in case someone went wrong. In my opinion, this man had to be a very caring individual. To sit and make sure a horse did not suffer when the mechanics went wrong and to have the strength to pull the trigger. Please note: fug face on her own blog admits that SHOOTING a horse is ok in her book. Well hell, bullets are cheap $.22 at Walmart. Seems like maybe that could answer the hammer and cruel part.

    Food For Thought: crude protein is now imported gluten product and animal fat from China. Why are we paying China to feed our dogs and cats?? Would horse slaughter not increase our domestic pet food industry and lesson our reliance on China? ~Devil's Adv.

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  72. Here's the thing...That foal could have gone its entire life never knowing a child at all. That's romanticizing at best. For all we know that foal could have been on a ranch working the rest of it's life with old horsemen, showing on any circuit, in a stall 24/7, lame, etc. Anything could have happened to it. Who is to say that maybe it was best case scenario? Nobody gives two farts about the other farm animals who go into slaughterhouses and are put on market shelves. (Course, those who do often go off the misinformation spread by the most unintelligent of sources.) What about Boss the calf? He was born a male in a dairy farm- I.E. instant veil in most cases.

    Nobody likes the thought of having their animals killed, and as people we often go for the worst case scenario on how they will die, and then best case for what could have been. I personally think that's a lot of the problem when it comes to slaughtering horses.

    It also becomes such as issue when the BLM doesn't know what to do with hundreds of mustangs and people cry foul that they want to euthanize them. They're a non-native species. They died out in the Americas long long ago, but because they were 'a part of our nation's heritage' people get clingy. Because we put them on TV and gave them people personalities we can't possibly kill Cloud. (I think that was his name. I only caught an episode and it was basically him breeding mares.)

    People need to quit putting the emotions they feel for their animals onto those owned by other people. There's part of a saying that goes:

    What may be right for you, may not be right for some.

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  73. Anonymous at 7:32
    I have a question for you. You say that "I live near a slaugher plant and I could cry every time I drive by." Where are you located? I've seen a few other people post on here that slaughter is not banned in the US, but on Sept. 8, 2006 slaughter was banned by the House (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/07/politics/main1982770.shtml).

    Also, I'm not a big fan of wikipedia, but the links at the bottom are good links for information on Horse Slaughter and the bans that are in effect. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_slaughter)

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  74. I'm assuming that her blog following got her the HI gig in the first place. It used to be a pretty informative and sometimes amusing read. I'm not sure they are aware of what it has turned into lately. That's why I sent them some links. I don't care for the magazine, but it has a young readership and many `green' horse people like it. I don't think Cathy should be given a forum to have any influence over such people.

    The wild horse issue is another sad deal to me. I've seen horses in the true wild here. There is nothing more beautiful and they have `self managed' forever. I'm glad we still have heards that are mostly left alone up here. The day I saw them for the first time (we were horse camping int he mountains) I wouldn't have been able to guess how beautiful it was to see them up there. They weren't `pretty' in a show horse way, but they were all beautiful. I could have watched them for hours...


    lolasl

    (still too lazy to register and some of those above posts are mine too)

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  75. Apologies for my spelling tonight! My double duty at the racetrack and my office is catching up to me!

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  76. I live in Canada and its still very much legal up here. To my knowledge, they use a bullet and not a bolt. The films I have seen show them with rifles and the horses do not have their heads stabilized. In fact, they is much footage of them bashing them in the head with the butt end of the guns to move them back when they try and see out of the chute. Lots of time, the bullet knocked them over backwards and they actually waited for them to struggle, slipping in blood, to their feet before shooting them again. Several horses really were hung before dead and one actually took aim and kicked a guy in the gut, seriously wounding him, while she was hanging. She was left to hang, bleed and struggle while they called another hanger in. Honestly, I don't know why I watched those videos as I knew how it would end. But I always figure if I am taking a strong stance against something, the least I can do is educate myself and be less ignorant.

    Maybe those foals would never have known a little girl, but they also never had a chance at any sort of life. Personally, I think there is nothing so beautiful and peaceful as a mare and foal. Killing and eating them is the furthest thing from my mind.

    As I have said, I do not force my views on anybody. I don't expect everybody to feel the same way I do. But I know my life is better because of horses and time and again its been horses that have saved me so, for me, its just not something I can ever support. I actually refused to date a guy when I found out he made a living hauling horses to the plant. He had horses of his own and claimed to love them, but I just couldn't get on board with it at all.

    I'm not a vegetarian, but I used to be. I will never eat veal. I also can't eat any animal that I have seen in its original form. I realize I'm weird, but I honestly try and practice what I preach.

    lolasl

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  77. Don't confuse the issue of horses being sent to slaughter to how horses are slaughtered. Two different issues. You can agree with A and B; Disagree with A and B; Agree with A but not with B or Disagree with A and agree with B.

    I wish with all my soul that ALL animals, humans included, in a slaughter plant were well treated. I wish that there were fewer animals (all animals) being sent to inhumane slaughter facilities.


    An interesting article on a new way of slaughter here

    A quote from the article
    "consumers who are used to paying $5 or less for a whole chicken at the supermarket may experience sticker shock at the price of a pasture-raised bird, which typically costs about $4 a pound. That means a 3-1/2-pound bird costs $14.

    So for humanely raised and slaughtered meat nearly 3 times as expensive. About the same as organic veggies. I don't know the conditions of the workers on the organic veggie farms. Who is going to pay for that? Not poor or even most middle class folks. My food bill would go up from 400(3 kids and 2 parents)a month to 1,200 a month. Or nearly 15,000 a year vs 5,000 a year.

    The horse didn't do anything wrong, or it was a humans fault. Great. How do we want him to die?

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  78. lolasl...im sorry but i have to disagree with the comment about "horse got its last shot".The man who was killed was not the owner but a good samaritan trying to help a girl who didn't know she shouldn't walk a mare past a stud. His crime was offering to help his fellow man. I have to say this: if faced with being able to save a human or any animal in a life or death situation...ethically I would have to pick the human. People must come first. Yes animals are helpless and innocent. But, humans must be put first. I am very sorry you feel the man should have died....I am sorry the man's little boy never got to know his father and I am sorry that his wife had to see her husband killed by an animal they both loved dearly. ~Devils Adv

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  79. DA I had a blog for a while with a readership of 1 (thanks Golightly). I stopped when I started writing about the inhumane way my Mom was being treated in the final year of her life by her doctors, nurses and her hospital and nursing home. This was with me being a rather portly termagant by my Mom side all the while. Who wants to hear me bitch?

    I don't think anyone meant to be inhumane to a fellow sufferer. Thoughtlessness, carelessness and time pressure abounded.

    I know I get tired and snarl at my college students. One thing I trying to stop saying to them is "I'm surprised. I would have thought you knew that". That is just so rude and heartless of me. Not a good way to encourage an exchange of ideas in a space of mutual respect.

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  80. I'm sorry, I understood it as the man that was taking the horse to slaughter. No, that wasn't a good deal for anybody involved, horses included. There is no happy ending or `right' thing with any of that.

    You know, from what I have seen from some humans and what we are all capable of doing to each other, its debatable on whether we should come first. Most days I'm truly disgusted by things I read about or see.

    Kaede, how do I what him to die? Not terrified, not suffering and not tortured. Better yet, I would prefer he never was in that situation to begin with. We aren't even allowed to excercise the death penalty in anything but a humane and painless way. Why can't we extend the same courtesy to an innocent animal? This goes back to my arguement for affordable euthanasia. We need to make it easier to do the humane and `right' thing. Human nature is to take the path of least resistance.

    lolasl

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  81. I'd like to share a story about a young lady, aged 13 who in March made a very hard choice. Her 15 yr old Arabian began collicking at around 8p.m The daughter of one of the women attacked on FUGS (Mendy McEwen) who was helping her mom noticed it and began walking the horse. Benanmine was given and shifts of walking were taken by the McEwen family and when the owner who lived an hour away arrived they also took shifts. He seems to do better but at 11 he took a turn for the worse. This little girl went to Mendy and said "It's a surgical colic isn't it. We don't have that kind of money and the chances he would colic again are high" Mendy nodded. The child hugged her and said "call doc and can I bury him here" With tears in her eyes Mendy nodded and made the call. At 12:13 p.m., this child gave her horse of 5 yrs permission to lay down and she sat next to him telling him how good he was and that she could let him go. At 12:22, the family, Mendy, her 14 yr old daughter and the vet said goodbye to Diesel while his little girl kissed his nose. This child turned to Mendy and said, "without you teaching me that if a horse is in pain you must do the right thing and put them down, no matter how badly it hurts, I could not have done this" 2 months later, Mendy gave this little girl a horse that was an "extra" at the ranch. Mendy is the lying, piece of shit, "faux rescuer" FUGS called out after a horse with coggins with Mendy's name ended up on that flipped trailer. I like Mendy. She loves the children and her ranch and her whole family devotes their lives to their horses and the people who they board for and train. How come the good people like Leland and Mendy are brutally attacked? Would Fugs have stood out there with this child and wiped the tears or would she have "done whatever to save the horse"? Sometimes death is a gift ~Devils Adv

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  82. I agree Lolasl. Is this our middle ground? A humane slaughter? For all animals? Humane treatment for all animals including humans? While we are at it can we raise the minimum wage to a living wage?

    This is a good discussion to have, I have no answers. Maybe as a result of being reasonably discussed on sites like this one we will come up with a solution.

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  83. As far as I can tell, Cathy pretty much hates all kids. I have some recall of her going after Mendy. Again, you can make anybody look pretty bad if you don't put in all the facts. I don't know why she had a horse on that slaughter truck and I'm sure Cathy didn't bother to ask her. As much as I hate it if she, as a rescue, did send one to slaughter, what I hate more is that Cathy is not getting all the facts or even allowing anybody to defend the other point or the person themselves be heard. She doesn't even give the whole story most times, as in Leland's case. There isn't a single one of us who is perfect and never says or does a thing we don't regret. What seperates us is those of us who acknowledge being `human' and try and do better tomorrow. I don't think Cathy does. She needs her little band of followers to fill some hole in her I guess. I think Cathy realizes that the real horse people or people with any smarts aren't supporting her anymore and what she is left with is the very kind of people she disdains.

    DA, as I said earlier, I had to make that call on my TB this spring. It happened on my birthday and surgery wasn't even an option. His `tap' came up full of blood and he was going into shock. There was hardly time to say goodbye and couple that with a vet that `missed' on the first two shots and it was a traumatizing and horrible day. She was more concerned about getting kicked (he was a good boy right until the end and never took his head out of my arms) and even made us get him up when he collapsed because she was afraid he would thrash. When you are stuck with as suffering animal and an incompitant vet, the only thing you can do is try and comfort the animal and hope it ends quickly. It took over half an hour to get him down and it will haunt me forever. It was nothing that could have been prevented and I tried my best to comfort him. From what I hear from the barn manager, he was a healthy horse that was playing around while turned out one minute, and down and in distress shortly after when they went to bring him in. Believe me, I do know how that little girl felt. I raised this horse from a yearling and had been with him when he was a racehorse and kept him in his retirement because I knew I was the only person that `understood' him. I miss him every single day.

    What is the reason Mendy had a horse on that truck? Even if she did put him on, which is really bad and would prevent me from doing business with her or supporting her rescue.....I don't have the right to ruin her life. She has done nothing illegal. Last time I checked bad judgement isn't a crime?

    lolasl

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  84. Showing my age y'all, I was on the 'net back when it was ARPANET:



    From a rec.humor.funny posting by dated 19 March 1996.

    What you did not know about Windows 95

    Recently one of my friends, a computer wizard, paid me a visit.

    As we were talking I mentioned that I had recently installed Windows 95 on my PC. I told him how happy I was with this operating system, and showed him the Windows 95 CD. To my surprise he threw it into my microwave oven and turned the oven on. Instantly I got very upset, because the CD had become precious to me, but he said: 'Do not worry, it is unharmed.' After a few minutes he took the CD out, gave it to me and said: 'Take a close look at it.' To my surprise the CD was quite cold to hold and it seemed to be heavier than before. At first I could not see anything, but on the inner edge of the central hole I saw a inscription, an inscription finer than anything I have ever seen before. The inscription shone piercingly bright, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth:

    12413AEB2ED4FA5E6F7D78E78BEDE8209450920F923A40EE10E510CC98D444AA08E1324

    'I cannot understand the fiery letters,' I said.

    'No, but I can,' he said. 'The letters are Hex, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Microsoft, which I shall not utter here. But in common English this is what it says:'

    One OS to rule them all, One OS to find them,
    One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them...

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  85. In my opinion, animals deserve the same rights to dignity than we do. Just because we're at the top of the food chain doesn't mean that we have to be animalistic in how we slaughter them. No horse deserves to be a statistic in a quota kill.

    OT: Does anyone else here have a black box where you put your comments in once they reach so many? I had to refresh my page three times before I could type this, and I actually had a more eloquent speech than what I put up above. I had to hurry and type while the words were at least still fresh in my brain, so if they're read too harshly, I heartily apologize.

    ~Dk Lazier than lolasl because I am registered, but am too lazy to sign in. XP

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  86. same rights to dignity that we do*.

    Hey, my box let me type this time!

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  87. Mendy didn't put the horse on the trailer. The stallion was dumped on her hwy access pasture (locked gate cut) and turned in with her herd. It took them 2 days to catch him (thank god he didn't breed anything) and then her daughter started him. They made a police report, called in rescues to try to "rehome" him (everyone was full), tried to sell him, tried to give him away. Finally, she decided to take him to a local horse sale which to everyone's knowledge did not sell to dealers. There are lots of families who go there to buy the horses and in the end a family from 2 towns over bought her horse. She even gave them the bridle and suggested they geld him. She called it how it was in the ring (I was there so it's horse's mouth). She even offered to help the family once they got him home and gave them her number. They NEVER picked the horse up. This auction house only has a horse sale once a month and they are not set up to board or care for horses left. They called a dealer and put the horse on the trailer. The coggins with Mendy's name on it went along. 2 months later, Mendy got death threats and threatening phone calls. She is prominently listed on Fug's page but strangely enough NO ONE ELSE besides Mendy and dealer were called out. Mendy had 1 horse on a trailer and she did NOT put that horse there. Fugs then began quoting Mendy's website from 2008 and early which was removed by Mendy in spring of 2008 when they relocated and decided horse rescue was just not a good idea with Missouri laws. They never got a 501c3, they never took 1 red donation cent. And as of 3 months ago the sheriff put 2 horses in protective custody with Mendy while they investigated alleged neglect and cruelty. The owner signed them over to the sheriff who signed them over to Mendy and she GAVE them to 2 local 4h kids. Yep, Mendy's a beast ain't she?? ~Devil's Adv

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  88. More on Mendy: Mendy is a Missouri State Certified Teacher. She works closely with the Department of Mental Health in a program called Choices For Families which provided riding therapy to children with disabilities. She charges $30 per hour for hippotherapy and if the family cannot pay, she often volunteers her time. She has a black and white appy mare who was blinded in her right eye by a meth dealer's trailer blowing up and shrapnel taking it out. In Jan, she appeared in Columbia, MO with her gray mustang mare to show what a BLM mustang could become and they adopted a partially blinded 3 yr old mustang who was returned by an EMM trainer who accidentally blinded him and he was "ruined and worthless" This gelding is now halter broke, started lunging under saddle and one foot is up on him. She bought a Clydesdale with cancer and spent $1500 to have a tumor removed from his haw. The clyde is happy healthy and goes into schools for urban-rural education programs. She is a 4h leader, she hosted a charity show for a 4 yr old with brain cancer in April, she flatlined during in Nov. 2008 after a horse she was training fractured her jaw and took out her top teeth yet she refused to let the owner put him down & he now is a lovely harness horse. Mendy's a real bitch isn't she???? ~Devil's Adv

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  89. One more note: 1 of fug's biggest supporters is a former boarder of Mendy's who left after Mendy stated that she feels ending domestic slaughter may have actually led to more pain and suffering at the hands of transporters. The statement was made during a women's clinic in which Mendy's friendship with a dealer was questioned. She pointed out that the boarder's horse that she was riding was bought from the dealer in question for $900 and if she had a problem with Mendy buying horses from the kill pens and dealer's perhaps she should not have bought the man's horse. The boarder than questioned the dealer's intent and the conversation lead to Mendy's statement about transportation. I guess anyone who has a difference of opinion should feed lies to Fug's & let her slander/liable them on her blog. It's so frustrating. :/ Dev's Adv.

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  90. DA, thank you so much for clearing that up. It further goes to show how irresponsible Cathy is. I'm sure all of us have done things, that if singled out and looked at out of context would make us look like horrible people. It makes me sick that your friend, who sounds like a wonderful person, got put through Cathy's grinder. Really, something has to be done about this. I don't want to stoop to her level, but I feel somewhat bad that I ever even made comments on her blog, let alne read it regularily. I did email Leland when all that was going down. I even tried to put her in context for him. I think he's probably a man that will rise above her attack and be just fine. Other than showing my displeasure with my money (ie. boycotting advertisers in HI as I'm not a reader of that mag anyhow), I can only hope that soon she will go after the wrong person and that they won't turn the other cheek and walk away.

    lolasl

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  91. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24037&id=1498633979&saved

    I think this album maybe be open. Please do not be critical as some of these pics are old. I know some of those horses have passed and some are still alive and kicking it up.

    also here's a link showing Mendy's beloved paint Jack and her tattoo she got after she lost him too soon.

    Fug supporters told her that they were glad her horse died & that she didn't deserve to feel the pain of his loss. I think our dear blogger was jealous of that beautiful GELDING who Mendy had cut as a 2 yr old despite EVERYONE wanting her to keep him a stud. She loved that horse more than life & sometimes when we are riding our mustangs, she will have a look of sheer grief...all she says is "i wish my jack were here" and their ranch Jack Knife Hollow was named in his honor & fugster tried to take that from this lady

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24037&id=1498633979&saved#!/album.php?aid=43995&id=1498633979

    ~Dev's Adv

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  92. Mendy didn't deserve the treatment she got. After hearing all this good stuff about her here, I really like her.

    Also, shouldn't getting death threats be cause enough to have something done about cathy, seeing as how the victim wouldn't have received them if she didn't sic her mob on them?

    ~DK

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  93. DK: I know the sheriff in her town is involved & her 20 yr old daughter contacted the FBI online crimes division in St. Louis, MO. As for Mendy, I just shot her a text to see if she's up. HA HA HA...she is. They have a mare in foal (not their doing, the mare's owner put the mare in their stud paddock...where they keep the studs before gelding) Casey aka Hussy let 4 long yearlings and a 2 yr old stand her before anyone could get to her and BAM now she's got baby daddy woes. Mendy is freaking out because Casey is 16, never been bred and the vet thought she would foal in Aug. It's pouring over on that side of the state and Mendy's at the ranch in her nightie with mudders making sure Casey got put up for the night. HA HA HA ~Dev's Adv

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  94. Did I mention her collar bone is cracked and she had a dislocated shoulder from a student accidentally pulling her off a horse at a show on Aug 22nd? Mendy got up, put her own shoulder back in place, scratched from the rest of the show and announced for 3 hrs before going to the Dr. She's a good lady& that's devotion or craziness but it's all with a kind heart. ~Dv's Adv

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  95. Cathy is now editting out all comments that critique the equitation of people riding rescue horses. LMAO! This may have come about whith the many slams she gets on her own riding ability....

    She's also going after color breeders again and talking about stallions needing to have a performance record. I'm guessing that being a reserve walk/trot champion for a horse club and TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD (out of six) qualifies BYC to keep his nuts and absolves her of being a color breeder herself. Nevermind the fact she only shows him in the color shows....

    DA, Mendy's pics aren't open to non-friends but I am sorry to hear about her horse. They are breeding a special kinda crazy on the fugly horse blog and some of their actions do border on illegal. I'm not willing to stoop to their level, but I sure as hell will call Cathy out on her double standards and BS.

    As I've stated, the woman featured today seems to be scum, but I'm not going to contact her or harrass her. As much as I hate it, its not illegal for her to ship all her horses to slaughter. Her weight, which is getting at least as much attention as her breeding practices, shouldn't be an issue. I wonder how Cathy would like it if the general public decided that those who have chin implants are should be shunned?

    lolasl

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  96. Here's where you can learn about the people Mendy hangs with and the kids she teaches:

    http://mustangtripp.blogspot.com/2010/08/old-threshers-horse-show.html

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  97. Posted by Le Poulet Violet...
    ...I've seen a few other people post on here that slaughter is not banned in the US, but on Sept. 8, 2006 slaughter was banned by the House (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/07/politics/main1982770.shtml).

    Violet-That was a Bill passed by the House. It never made it past the Senate, to the Congress nor was it ever enacted as a law (which means being signed off on by the President of the U.S.A). The last sentence of the article says it all..."The bill's future is uncertain."

    CS-(And Others)-Thank you for your realism. Romanticizing that every foal will have a child to love it is part of the problem with the equine horse world today.

    I'm with fern-that for the vast majority large herds of broodmares popping out babies is not feasible for the market. However, on the flip side of that, I know a breeder who has 20-25 mares and does a bang-up job raising those horses. He does one thing different than the vast majority of larger scale breeders though-He NEVER sells a foal at public auction. He does have an annual sale and the youngest horse he sells are long 2y/o's and EVERYTHING is already started under saddle.

    Now, that is the direction more breeders need to go. If you want to raise horses, fine...but stop selling the foals to every Tom, Dick and Harry at public auction when they are 4-5 months old.

    Now, I need to go back up and read the rest of the comments. You guys were busy tonight. ;)

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  98. Man, that Mendy puts some men to shame. Tell her I said "You go girl!" That's one tough, yet tender hearted woman eat up with common sense!

    ~Dk

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  99. I was thinking about Cathy's new lifestyle. Doesn't she buddy up with Perez Hilton? What would HE think about Leland's treatment at her hands?

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  100. Also my earlier comment about labels and slaughter did not come across as intended. While I would like to blame fatigue, the gross reality is I am not as eloquent as most on here ;-).

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  101. Can someone show me WHERE a slaughter house is domestically up and running?? The information we have in the midwest at the auctions, rescues, etc is that there is NO INTERNAL SLAUGHTER because of transportation laws making it illegal to transport them domestically for market. Don't think I'd run right out with my horses but an educational field trip is so in order!! ~Devil's Advocate

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  102. here's one friend of ours has a registered 8 yr old qh. She is nicely bred, she goes back to impressive but has the hypp n/n test results printed right on her papers. She was sold from the breeder in feb of this year to my friend. The horse is correct, rides english and western, no vices, current coggins, utd on shots, and farrier work. Has been shown, in parades, and used for lessons/camp. Due to the economy, people have cut back on lessons in the last two months and my friend has decided this horse is one to be sold as they need to cut overhead. She posted on lots of equine sale sights as well as on craigslist. The asking price is $1000 with offers considers (no trades) Does this make her a bad person? According to fugs & the cronies, YES because she is not willing to starve herself or her kids, sell her possessions, lose her house to keep the horse. Nor give the horse to a rescue because the horse doesn't need rescue, she needs a loving home and my friend should be able to sell her property. Weigh in here ~Dev's Adv

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  103. Here is the answer to why there is NOT domestic slaughter right now:

    In September 2006, Congress barred any federal funds from being spent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on inspecting the nation's three remaining horse slaughtering plants in Illinois and Texas — effectively putting them out of business.

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  104. @Dev's Adv-
    Where is this great horse for $1000 located? A gal we know was talking about a 12yo mare that was for sale for $500. She went on and on about how the horse was great with the kids, on the trail etc, the list of goodness was long. Lastly, she was ONLY missing one eye. It was very funny.

    -k

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  105. It wouldn't surprise me that Cathy is cuddled up to Perez Hilton, but I think she is more of a super fan, bordering on stalker. Paris is a scumbag too. He has little to no boundaries and frequently goes after young subjects and/or outs people for their sexual preferences. Like Cathy, he goes after and tears down the very things he would like for himself. They are very similar in many ways....their over-the-top antics may get them some attention and a following, but at the end of the day does that matters really like them or care about them?

    lolasl

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  106. K

    http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/grd/1926857667.html

    there's a link to her ad with pics
    I personally have ridden this horse and she's a nice all around. The young lady in the pic is 16 and that was the first time the horse had been tried on barrels. I know that if they don't sell her by Oct 15th, they are going to send her a cattle rancher friend of theirs in Northern Missouri for him to use to check fences and cattle on during the winter. They really would like to sell her to a good equestrian home but if they can't then loaning her out to a trusted friend is the next best I suppose

    ~Dev Adv

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  107. I'm new here. Has the troll crew sent this blog to FHOTD? Curious to see how it's going to play out when Cathy realizes that people over here don't like her snarky self. How fast will this be attacked?

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  108. lolasl, I agree with you on Perez - I just see another facet of Cathy's hypocrisy when she is making fun of an individual (and yes, she was making fun of him) due to a listing on a dating site.

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  109. Anybody been over to FHOTD just to see what kind of nonsense they are going on? Cathy is whining about "hackers" who are "slowing down her blog when they disagree with her free speech" and how to balance this with her checkbook and that her server is giving her the blog repair pro-bono. Also, they are ragging on obesity and Cathy admits she's 10 pounds overweight due to fast food. So, we now moved from slamming people's horse practices to attacking their body style as well as gay men. Do you think someone will step in when she finally decides to play the race card??

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  110. It is not illegal to slaughter a horse (for human consumption) within the U.S. There are many Cultural Communities who consider Horse Meat as acceptable as Beef. The slaughter and the butchering is handled the same way, by the same facilities, that deal with deer or elk, or farm killed steers...It's not even illegal to slaughter and transport horse meat for sale. The costs are just prohibitive because private 'health' inspectors must be hired and the Government makes the Oversite process and paperwork a misery.

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  111. I just read her whining about hackers. That blog always loaded slow for me and typing a reply there was horrible. I have to laugh at her `free speech' BS. The only person allowed free speech at FHOTD is Cathy. I had many of my posts either editted or deleted and there was nothing profane or slanderous in them. They simply asked questions to Cathy and she didn't care to have her hypocricy pointed out to her. I also highly doubt her blog costs her one red cent. I heard she was charging even the rescues for advertising. I would not personally support any rescue she advertises on there as I think their money could be better spent. If Cathy was truly interested in horse rescue, she would donate space to rescues she feels are worthy....

    Somebody should ask Cathy how much real horse time she actually spends these days. As far as I know, her horses are in another state and she is working her way into becoming a crazy cat lady or something?

    lolasl

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  112. HA HA HA HA @ Lolasl
    Well, I did some legwork today. According the FBI internet crimes man (& he sounded pretty hot actually) unless it's child porn or a direct threat is made via the internet by the blog owner, she apparently CAN say what she wants. However, he did say that a group of people could bring a civil case against her. Believe it or not, he was WELL AWARE who the proprietress of FHOTD is and she was referred to as a "crazy animal right's activist with a personal agenda and no regard for the law. She stays a half an inch inside it and uses her blog to incite others so her hands don't get dirty" Interesting. ~Dev Adv

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  113. Because everyone over there uses this word as if it should have been taught in school and a staple of every day life, I looked it up:

    snark·y
       /ˈsnÉ‘rki/ Show Spelled[snahr-kee]
    –adjective, snark·i·er, snark·i·est. Chiefly British Slang .
    testy or irritable; short.

    Well then, this is a redeeming quality. Shame she didn't choose

    ser·en·dip·i·ty
     an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident


    in·teg·ri·ty
       /ɪnˈtÉ›grɪti/ Show Spelled[in-teg-ri-tee] Show
    adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty

    or even

    wit·ty
       /ˈwɪti/ Show Spelled[wit-ee]
    –adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est.
    possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression

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  114. Yup, Anon 11:56, I got the same response from the Guy on the Net as well as our Local FBI agent..And both not only knew her name but her reputation as well. It's just a matter of time before one of her Minions slips up and Drags Fugly down with her.

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  115. I think some lines have been crossed. Some of the stuff written to that young girl with the pony were over the line. Threats of beating her up etc.....But that is international, so they're probably clear there. I keep saying it, the best place you can hit fugly is in the pocket book. I wrote to HI. I didn't use profanity, I didn't get personal and I linked my examples. Next, I will write to their advertisers and tell them why I can no longer use their product. I am only one person, but its a start. If you are truly bothered by what she is doing, then I suggest you do the same.

    I'm not going to get bent out of shape over her regular hypocritical BS. That just makes her look bad and stupid. I'm specifically taking issue with attacks such as the one on that little girl and Leland. I can't see how any horse magazine or advertiser could endorse things like that....

    lolasl

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  116. My question is this: Do any of you see anything remotely positive that has come out of her blog? She started it with the intention of shaming BYB into stopping production. I do not see how her blog made even the tiniest dent on the supply of poorly bred horses. I do however see that the economy has put a lot of these folks out of business.
    Can anyone point me to direct evidence of anything "good" coming from all the drama hate and vitriol?

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  117. I will also write to HI and their advertisers and explain that I will renew my subsciption because of Fugly's articles.

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  118. The fact anyone in any FBI department knows about her is not a good thing, IMO. It reflects a lot, and I mean a lot. The only good way the FBI knows you is if you work for 'em, or witnessed something.

    Anon 1:57, they'll probably think your lying at this point. I cannot image they've gotten much, if any, applause for her one dinky article she wrote. Course, wasn't HI the magazine thick skulled enough to post some term that she apparently coined? There, everyone, was the beginning of the end for that magazine.

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  119. Its hardly made a dent in BYB production. In fact, she seems to have joined their ranks given the fact she refuses to geld BYC and color is about the only thing he does have going for him besides a cute face. I posted earlier, with links, the fact she was `in bed' with BYBs all along as her former roommates were breeding screaming piles of crap and Cathy never once admitted it or called them on it. In fact, she endorsed it by calling the horses `cute' and deleting any of my posts that questioned it.

    Check out www.offourrockerranch.com. That is Cathy's former roomies and some of Cathy's `rescue' horses are on the broodmare page.

    Actually, googling up Cathy brings up some pretty good reading material. I would think somebody like her wouldn't want to stir the pot too much and draw attention to herself....


    lolasl

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  120. Cinnamon, I wouldn't worry too much about anontroll. The quality of the letter and grammar has a direct bearing on how seriously the letter is taken. From what I have seen of the Fugly Followers in general, they won't be taken too seriously at all....

    Glad to know they're all reading over here. I KNOW Cathy does as she has picked less controversial subjects to go after since the Leland incident.

    lolasl

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  121. http://www.offourrockerranch.com/ForSale.ht Cathy is on the for sale page putting the first ride on the pony in an ill fitting halter and her usual stick up her ass seat and puppy paw hands. LOLOLOL

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  122. Well, just look at their kennel page - no indication of either conformation or performance titles on the dogs they're breeding, no mention of AKC registration (not an indication of quality, but of breeder paying attention), no mention of puppy contract, no mention of checks for any congenital issues in the sire and dam... These are not people I would buy a puppy from, let alone a horse!

    They look like the kind of people who can be blamed for a lot of the dogs in shelters and chained in backyards - breeders who breed just to sell the pups, without any consideration for quality or placement.

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  123. She has a poor seat and terrible hands. I would suggest that she takes some lessons! Nut case is what she is.

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  124. Well, seeing as how they aren't breeding for AKC approved dogs, they couldn't register if they wanted. JRT's have to have broken coats with white on them. I can't get the 'eurorussel' link to work.

    They also have a brindle male that sold, which is instant DQ for JRTs. Basically, they aren't breeding a real breed at all, and if they are it's the crop outs that are undesirable with the solid coats and brindle colors.

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  125. And I can't find one thing those stallions have accomplished!

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  126. The VLC blog is good reading if you start at the beginning. She was actually much more upfront back then and admitted she hadn't ridden for a long time and was afraid. She was still a terrible rider and still delusional about her status as a `trainer', but it kinda illustrate how little she actually does know horses.

    I always chuckle to hear her go on about being `in polo'. I guess if you're sleeping with married polo players, you can claim to be `in polo' because I can't see her staying on a horse moving at high speed and turning let alone swinging a mallet.

    lolasl

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  127. CS - good point, I didn't think to check the AKC breeds (terriers aren't my thing). Of course, there are other registries, and if these are a real "breed" and not just mutts, there will be a registry for them. Or a large group of folks working to create/get them on one.

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  128. To me, just because you have a large group of people backing it doesn't make it a breed. Yes White GS are still GS, but let's not get carried away and go on to make it its own separate breed like...the Euro GS. To me you don't take DQ'd or crop out animals and make a new breed. You just make unregisterable dogs. Yeah some third rate club will take them in, but don't live in lala land.

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  129. Nothing against mutts, BTW. I've known some outstanding mutts. I believe, though, that you should not breed any critter without 1) knowing and being able to prove that the offspring will be good quality and 2) having homes lined up in advance of breeding.

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  130. CS - no. I was thinking more of the breeds that are well known elsewhere but aren't common enough in the U.S. to be recognized by the AKC, or have recently been "rediscovered" (but have been around for centuries), or the breeds that people have spent a lot of time and effort to develop and stabilize (some Labradoodle lines are approaching that point, after a bare minimum of five generations of careful breeding).

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  131. Eh, labradoodles. I don't think I'll ever consider them anything other than expensive mutts.

    I understand. There are plenty of dogs that we don't recognize that are in other places in the world. There is a dog in China that only the elite can afford, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. That's a bit of a different story. Euro JRTs on the other hand...

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  132. ^-- This coming from a person who has had a mix of pure breeds and mutts growing up. Now just mutts.

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  133. Cathy claims of three stallions on that ranch, they are all geldings now. I guess she is not counting BYC as a stallion and she's forgetting to mention that the owners of the farm her and her roommates lived at were breeding some kind of mustangs and boasted a herd of 80 horses. That's the bad neighbour that produced that sad little gelding she is pictured breaking.

    Those stallions weren't only unaccomplished, they were fugly. Bad conformation, no talent etc. Their `accomplishment' was their color. Add to that they appeared to have been crazy dog color breeders as well. Score!

    lolasl

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  134. I mention Labradoodles because the core breeders are not just crossing labs and poodles and selling the pups - they are working on a multi-generational plan that involves crossing the results of the initial carefully planned lab/poodle breedings to enforce the desired traits and reduce the undesired and eventually end up with stable breeding stock that produces consistent pups. The goal is a minimally allergenic, non-shedding service dog that has the intelligence of a poodle and the calm temperament of a lab from a service dog line.

    That is a far cry from folks who are breeding "puggles" and "cockapoos", or even F1 (first generation cross) labradoodles to sell - those are just expensive mutts, and you can find them for free at your local shelter.

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  135. HAHAHAHAHAHA stick up the ass and puppy paw hands... lol... one of the other pictures is a great example of what not to breed for, or ever try to break as the shoulders are set too low. http://www.offourrockerranch.com/images/Ditto_3.jpg ... Thanks for finding this site!

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  136. Also, just as a side note, it appears as if the website (or at least the sale page) hasn't been updated since 2008...

    And one question, they claim to be a breeder/kennel, I wonder if they are licensed??

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  137. I have worked for and with professional trainers all of my life, including multiple AQHA world champions as well many years with race horses. None of the trainers I work with needed to be lead around like a little child when breaking a baby. There used to be some hilarious youtube videos of Cathy riding, but after too many `you suck' comments, she pulled the videos. She is a seriously crappy rider who I have seen admit in print, over and over that she is afraid to go on a trail ride (early days of the VLC Blog). Why would anyone consider her an authority on anything to do with horses???????

    lolasl

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  138. I found the link! This is the farm where Cathy lived with her two roommates in 2008. Not only were her roommates in the mutt breeding and crazy color breeding business, the owners of the farm seem to be mass producing their own breed of horses as well (crazy colored spanish mustangs). So, my question to Cathy (she did not let me post these links on fhotd) was how she could be ruining people's lives and carrying on about BYBs when this was going on right in her own home? Seems to me that the best way to bring about change is to clean up your own back yard first????

    lolasl


    http://broadacresfarm.com/horses/horses.htm

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  139. I do have to counter, lolasl. I have had to be led around on ONE horse that was being started under saddle. The only reason for that (wait for it)... she had no gas pedal! I mean, this horse was the master of standing like a statue, no matter what was going on around her. And this is one of those "crazy" Morgans you hear all about. But yeah, she was a special case. I've never had to be led around on any other horse that was green/being started. Fubs has no idea what she's talking about.

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  140. I haven't ever been led... I've had people hold while I get up and stay near me, but they don't lead me... what happens if the horse starts misbehaving? Then you have a 1000 pd animal rearing at a 150 pd human... not the best scenario...

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  141. Exactly, 99% of the time, having somebody holding onto a green horse you are trying to ride will either get you flipped on (if the handler doesn't know when to let go) or in some other form of trouble. There are always exceptions, but generally, its not a great idea. Even more scary is how afraid she looks on top of that horse. Great way to start a baby is to communicate fear and tension. No wonder she doesn't show BYC herself....

    lolasl

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  142. I don't think Cathy Atkinson was IN polo as much as polo was IN her..... LOL

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  143. Now I don't claim my way is the only way & often attend clinics by even the "newbies" in the industry. But I have to ask: what happened to TEACHING a young horse. What happened to using the first 2 years to teach how to correctly lead, load, pick up your feet, respect space, give to the pressure/release idea? What happened to lounging under saddle on a line in a round pen and when that horse is able to execute all transitions smoothly on cues, moving that horse to the lounge in a larger (but still contained) space? And what happened to the practice of line driving horses prior to saddle training to reinforce such basic cues and whoa and walk. I guess at our ranch we do things a little differently. We don't breed. We don't keep stallions intact just for hell of it. We don't start our horses under saddle with a rider until they have reached their 3rd birthday and the vet has checked to make sure their knees have closed. We desensitize to not only the "normal" things horses come across but as part of our leading practices we teach our youngsters to cross platform bridges, walk across tarps, and introduce them to flags. We use water play with them as part of training and we lead them into water before ever asking a rider to "urge them through the creek". When we finally do attempt that first leg up, we do it in the round pen on the lounge line so the horse is in a familiar setting doing something he's already good at. We apply this to horses we are retraining and to our BLM mustangs. We believe in the idea that the horse does have a say in the time table. If the horse is not ready pushing him is not going to help. My opinion & though we do NOT show at any huge levels, we do have very safe mounts that are enjoyed by the everyday equestrian. <3 The INFAMOUS Mendy

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  144. Can someone either give me the stats of VLC or provide a link to where they are? I just thought of something Cathy seems to be pushed by jealousy. I know this horse named JackKnife Shenandoah who stood 17.3 hh and was built like a brick shit house. He was bought for $200 and everyone begged his owner to leave him a stud. She realized early on that though he was a beast and gorgeous, he had a very strong temperament. He would strike out as he reared while being led at 8 mos old. He would show his teeth and turn his ass end to you. His owner gelded him the day after he dropped and trained him herself with some guidance from her farrier. She went on to turn down request after request to buy him. He was like no other horse I have ever met and I believe that he is one in a million. I wonder since our dear FHOTD web trolls go around looking for things and his tribute video was slammed if it was out of sheer jealousy that the owner was attacked. Did I mention the horse was a registered APHA, a son of skipa silver and grand son of the great hanka chief bred to registered but unknown mare. I wish I could convince the owner to put her movie back on youtube to share with you but that would open her up to the attacks again. I think sometimes that when you are so full of hate and driven by the green eyed monster, you have no choice but to strike out. ~Devil's Advocate

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  145. Hi, Mendy! Welcome. If it pleases you any, in my equine breaking and training class we had coming up 2 year olds that we taught to lead a bit better, whoa, back up, pivot (I failed at this. It was a 1/20 thing), trot with lead, lunge, and eventually some got to do the line driving. We basically did basics!

    I was so proud of M. on the lead and lunge. I was pretty well the only one who didn't have a maniac at the end of my line. M. was easy going and tried to do what you asked, but I instilled one thing on that line. WALK. Nobody else really did the walk on their lunge and I wanted to cringe. One person wanted theirs to walk, but that horse was so stubborn.

    I will say I did mess up twice and I regret it everyday. I was working her with a feed sack to desensitize her and she was doing great. So I pushed a little more and the wind caught the bag just right....I should have been nailed more than I was. It also left me with a headshy horse on one side. By the time the semester was over I had hardly put a dent in it. If I had the next one I could have had it done. Then I saddled her too early. I felt so pressured to do it and it just ruined a lot of what I had worked on her with. I should have taken that extra week.

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  146. da, that's when you attempt to offer to host the video on another account and take the abuse there. The owner doesn't see it, you don't read it, and life is semi-pleasant.

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  147. Thank you, CS!! We ALL make mistakes with our horses (and for us moms...with our kids too!) It's what we do with consequences. For example, I'm sporting a lovely fracture in my right collar bone and dislocated my shoulder because I made an error. I never should have tried the pick up race on a horse I had never picked a rider up before (he had done it and but not with me). Am I angry with my student or the horse? Nope. I am totally peeved with myself. Note to self: ride Sam for pick up races...period :) I was asked by someone very dear to me to please re-post my videos and to start posting my collection of "what not to do on a horse" series I have been working on (it started as a teaching scrapbook). For the record, we did register during our 501c3 process with the state a fictitious name with the word "rescue" in it. BIG MISTAKE. People started dumping EVERYTHING on us. We had litters of puppies dropped at our gate, cats & kittens, blind cats, peacocks, and a pot bellied pig who had a hip replacement not to mention the lame horses, contagious horses, a poor donkey who was foundered and carrying a still born foal. It was too much to bear financially and we had no resources for the large numbers of animals. Also, I don't like the direction in which much of the equine world. I believe horses are herd creatures NOT companion animals. They were meant to run, not be boxed up. They are meant to communicate with each other not get vices like weaving and pacing because they can't get to their herd and they are stalled. I also believe in education rather than condemnation. This doesn't mean I don't believe abuse should go unpunished. But, if we teach and practice what we preach. And if we set good examples, the next generation may actually get it right <3 the INFAMOUS Mendy

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  148. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxKLuUU5Q-s

    Because I refuse to allow HATE to rule my life.
    Enjoy my new friends, Love, Mendy

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  149. Mendy, he was a big handsome fella!And he looks like he was a good boy too. So sorry you lost him so young

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  150. And just for fun
    Here are my daughter's (it's from 2007 so they are a little older) Check out the crown on the one ;) (the little one got her crown in 2008) I am proud of my daughters. They are accomplished horsewomen before they can even vote

    <3 the INFAMOUS Mendy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBs87HsHSyA

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  151. Dear Fern:
    Thank you! There are days I still cry. He taught me so much about horses and the person I want to be. He caught strangles in a boarding facility/trail operation when they brought in 40 trail horses from a sale barn and did not quarantine them. He developed Purpura haemorrhagica which is fatal in many horses. He lived through it without even losing 30 pounds but I was vigilant in the care and slept in his stall with him. We knew we would lose him early as a result of the ravages the infection and the drug therapy after it was cleared took on his internal organs. The morning he died I had a very special 2 hrs with him. I went to check on him since he was "acting off"..just not himself...earlier in the day. It was snowing and freezing. I stepped into his stall and he nickered to me. About 15 minutes later, he laid down and nudged me with that big head. I snuggled between his front legs and he wrapped his head around me. I stayed there for two hours talking to him and enjoying being warm in the cold winter. When we wanted to get up, he nudged me to my feet and waiting until I was clear to stand. We checked on him every hour and he was ok but so quiet. At 7:30 he was fine when my eldest drove the youngest to school. When she came back at 7:45 he was gone. He died with his companions of 9 yrs at his side...Gypsy (who is now 26) and Sam (the sorrel in the vid) in the open corral style stalls we had. My students bought me a 7 month old paint colt 3 weeks later who we named Jack Frost and he just turned 3. For Christmas, I had Jack's portrait tattooed on my back (a gift from my hubby) and Jack now rides with me every day. Thank you for your kind words. <3Mendy

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  152. Just for those of you who want to see what Mendy can do with the kids...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GwQhGESBCA
    All the girls in the video are between 11 and 18.

    Also, mind you, the white horse that starts out is one of fugly's supporters daughters before they jumped ship and decided to go against Mendy (why, who knows...).

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  153. I posted BYC's stats on the other thread. Basically he has 7 ABRA poihts and nothing else. It didn't break them down what events they were in. I do know he has had stifle problems on and off sinced she got him and his mother apparently was never even broke because she also had stifle problems. Great trait to pass on to his babies, huh?

    Mendy, I'm so sorry you lost your special boy. He was beautiful. My QH also got purpura as a 5 yr old. He turned 29 this year and I feel so blessed to still have him in my life. The one thing I can say about him that describes him best is `He never let me down'. It looks like your big guy was like that too. I'm also sorry for the grief Cathy caused you. She IS hate and jealousy driven. I've said it many times, but I would have no issue with BYC if he was a gelding. I just find it very hypocritical of her to even consider keeping him a stud, given how many nicer stallions she has featured on her blog and demanded their nuts for being fugly, unaccomplished etc.If it makes you feel better, I'm quite sure Cathy is gnashing her teeth and trying to figure out how to find info on each of us over here. I'd say I have absolutely nothing to worry about, but apparently if she can't find anything, she'll just make stuff up......hard to defend yourself against lies, but if it makes any difference to you, I don't believe her anymore....


    lolasl

    ps. Even on our racehorses, we start them with groundwork (including driving), although it doesn't go on for months. Every horse knows `whoa' and how to steer before a rider goes up. So far, we've never had a rodeo. Go figure....

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  154. LOLasl: Again, thank you for your kind words. I was blessed to have known Jack and I can proudly say I made the right decision to geld him. He was a lovely riding horse and would have been a barracuda as stud. You seem to have your head on really straight and that's a great place to be!!! <3 Mendy

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  155. Its sad that when I was 12 I knew how to "teach" a young horse. I started my first horse at that age (dont know WHAT my mom was thinking getting a 2 1/2 year barely halter broke STUD colt for her 12 year old daughter... thankfully she made sure he was gelded within 2 weeks of getting him... but anyways) he was NEVER allowed to be mean or run over people. I desensitized him to anything I could think of (have memories of throwing broom handles underneath him and tying pop bottles to his halter. That horse should have killed me. I was fearless) I also ground drove him for a good two months until he had walk/trot/whoa/turn left/turn right/and back down pack before I ever got on him. We spent 2 days with me mounting from one side and getting off then mounting from the other side.

    Know I know I overdid it on somethings, but honestly you could do ANYTHING with that horse. He didnt mind anything. But he wasnt allowed to get away with anything either.

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  156. And i say "I knew how to 'teach'" as in better then a lot of people now a days. I wasnt meaning I knew EVERYHING (or even very much) as a 12 year old or even really how to train. I just threw everything at him that I could think of

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  157. Never ceases to amaze me how forgiving horses are too. My old QH was my first start to finish project and I made my share of mistakes on him. Things I would not get away with now that I know better, but he took care of me. Sometimes, I wonder who taught who.....I'll never have a horse like him who would just do anything you asked of him and do it well. I remember people asking me if he was a stud when he was showing and saying what a shame he wasn't (he was just gorgeous and I'm not being biased). It never even crossed my mind even when I was young. I wouldnt' have enjoyed him nearly as much had he not been a gelding. Now I have his successor who is a giagantic warmblood (I got sick of the AQHA scene years ago) and as wonderful as he is, he'll never do all the things my QH did. I wonder if its because now that I'm older and `know better', I don't just go for it. I do know it hurts a whole bunch more when you get in a wreck as an adult than it did when I was a kid!

    lolasl

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  158. Again Mendy, so sorry for your loss.It never seems to matter when or how they leave you ,they ewach leave is changed , better for having them in our lives and diminished by the loss. I have said before that every one has taken a peice of my heart when the left me and in its place left a beautiful mermory and piece of themselves.Hugs for you , and Nothing Cathy or anyone else says can ever take away the love of horse you have

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  159. Good news! That girl in the puppy throwing video has been found and arrested!

    http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978493794

    My verification is junkee Whoa......

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  160. Mendy, thank you for sharing your Jack with us--he was gorgeous. I'm sorry the hypocrite "outed" you and I'm glad you have great friends that were able to find this blog and get out "the rest of the story" aka the truth.

    And a quick question--I'm out of country and nowhere near where I could see a past/present issue of HI--do they place a "uses adult language" where they print the address of the blog? I looked at an issue back in the May/June timeframe, but can't remember. Just curious. I remember reading HI as a horse-insane child (that learned very early about zoning laws, which was for the best, looking back on it) and know my parents would NOT have wanted me to read some of the filth on that blog (if the internet had existed when I was a child). I'm saying this as an extremely foul-mouthed adult. I watch my language when kids are around.

    AND...speedy recovery bhm--I've been "lurking" here from practically the beginning and always find the commenters sane, polite and thoughtful (sane, for the most part ;) And thank you to CS for keeping it up. I am always excited to see a new post.

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  161. I flip-flop between reading this blog and FHOTD ...I normally like FHOTD and as a horse owner it's interesting to read both sides. In re: Leland I do have to agree that was a ridiculous post, the Facebook chatter was obviously banter. Especially further down in the screencaps when he says not to worry, he is committed to finding the horse a good home. That was one instance I wish Cathy would have retracted the post and said I missed that, my bad. I've read her for awhile and don't know her personally but my opinion is that I don't think she truly intends to come off as a know-it-all or a bully or whatever, I think her intent is good, but everyone makes mistakes and it would really help her credibility to just say you know what, I was wrong on this one.

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  162. Oh gosh lots of catching up here!!
    First and most important Hello and welcome Mendy :) Im sorry I never contacted you like I have been contacting everyone Cathy attacks in the last year. You are w/ friends and intelligent sane people here.
    lolasl
    http://www.broadacresfarm.com/
    Get a gander at the picture of the owners Nice professional look LMAO

    Im not reading her so I cant comment on her lastest rant but Leland was already my friend on FB and he has more class in his little toe than Cathy could ever wish for :)

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  163. Anonymous said... September 4, 2010 8:09 AM

    I wish Cathy would have retracted the post and said I missed that, my bad. I've read her for awhile and don't know her personally but my opinion is that I don't think she truly intends to come off as a know-it-all or a bully or whatever, I think her intent is good, but everyone makes mistakes and it would really help her credibility to just say you know what, I was wrong on this one


    Oh my dear deluded girl Cathy is anything but mistaken at anytime. She is evil hateful and all about Cathy.

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  164. Hi Mendy. Your Jack was a handsome fellow. I am glad your story got out and that you have found us here.

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  165. Yeah, I'm not so sure Cathy `missed' anything in Leland's post. She very carefully chopped her screen caps together to make him look as bad as possible. Anybody reading the entire conversation could clearly see he was joking/venting as were his friends. It is a private page. When facebook changed their settings awhile back, lots of people's pages were made public and they never realized it. It doesn't make it right to copy their posts and edit them to make a person look bad. Its basically bottom feeding tabloid journalism. Which brings me to, `why?'. Every day there are starved animals, abused animals, and animals getting shipped to slaughter. You don't have to dig or make anything up to find this stuff. Instead she goes after a gracious and talented man who loves his animals and takes good care of all of them. I can't think of any other reason than sheer jealousy. She and her merry band of idiots made themselves look even dumber by commenting on his `skinny' mare and foal. He told them the foal was about 2 hrs old. I guess none of them have seen a foal born and don't realize they come out showing ribs and until the mare tightens back up, she'll look ribby for a few days too. Even the best and most healthy mares, which Leland's clearly were if you look at their coats and the abundance of pasture available to them. I was surprised he dignified them with a response, not that they listened to him. Then to further pry into his most personal life that wasn't up on his facebook page was about as low as I've ever seen her go. I wouldnt' want to be Cathy when karma pays her a visit....

    Did any of you happen to check out his paintings? That man is truly talented. I sure wish I could afford some of his stuff. BTW, he did state he donates some of his artwork to auction with the proceeds going to rescues...Cathy won't even donate advertising space to rescues LOL.

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  166. YHI here,
    LOLASL- I owned VLC until he was three. He was never unsound a day in his life with me. Not one day.
    His dam is also sound and it is true she is not broke to ride, but it is not due to lameness, poor temperament or anything else. She is a perfectly sound, sane horse that has just always been used as a broodmare. She is for sale right now if anyone is interested. I'm not breeding horses any more and she is sound, open and ready to breed early next year. She has a HUGE 13.2 hand 4.5 month old filly at side right now that is just a beautiful animal.
    Again, this is straight from her owner, she is NOT unsound, wild or rank, and VLC was NOT unsound when I owned him. What has happened to him since his transfer of ownership is anyone's guess. I do know for a fact that he got out and ran wild one night while Cathy lived in Carnation at the Broadacre Farm. He could have been injured then....

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  167. hehehehehehehehe... found another blog to go check out...

    http://fuglywenchoftheday.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-kidding-shes-for-sale.html

    someones blog against Cathy :D

    ~Le Poulet Violet

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  168. YHI,

    I'm sorry about your troubles with Cathy if what I read is true. It seems she not only burns bridges, but blows them up. I will take your word that BYC was sound when you sold him. He is a cute enough horse, but I don't think he is stallion material. I admit none of my horses possess perfect conformation, but I think we need to demand that from a sire in order to make the best babies we can, if we do breed. I also have no problem with people that do breed as long as they are breeding quality....

    Which brings us back to BYC. I can't say he wouldn't have achieved more if he was in somebody else's hands. It appears Cathy does not have a single clue about AQHA shows and what it takes to compete there. From what I've seen of her trainer, that isn't her forte either. I also think the window of opportunity to make that horse a star has come and gone. Many people don't like it, but if they can't get any points as a junior horse (especially an ROM and more), then most serious breeders won't look very hard at him. Is it worth keeping him as a stallion if he ever achieves something in color shows? I, personally, don't think so. I think there are enough well bred, accomplished Buckskins out there that can also perform at a high level within their own associations.

    If its any comfort to you YHI, I don't think Cathy will ever be ambitious enough to ride that horse hard enough to hurt him beyond what he already is hurt. I do think a lot of his stifle issues are due to his build. He may have been more balanced when you had him as a baby, but he didn't grow up to be a balanced horse.

    Again, I'm really sorry you had Cathy take advantage of your friendship and turn on you. Seems the `Cathy done me wrong' club is growing faster than her FHOTD blog followers club....

    lolasl

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  169. Ya'll do such a good job here no matter what the topic is and CS, I also thank you for keeping this blog going in BHM's absense. I don't think she intended it to be "her" blog, she wanted various people to contribute material and not just in the comments, like what you have been doing.

    YHI, I hope all is going well for you these days and it is nice to hear from you.

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  170. Found something good!!! Here's a preview video of BYC being ridden in the Cascade Pinto Horse Show. I hate to say it, but even I'm a better rider than Cathy's trainer! She pushes with her seat, has unkind hands (that move too much!), and leans waaaaay forward at the canter. Here y'all go:
    http://www.jc-video.com/video.cfm?video_id=2332

    Not to toot my own horn (toot, toot) but here's a reference video of me riding at IHSA 2010 Semi-Finals (and stock seat isn't even my preferred seat!). Maybe I'll move out to Washington and start charging people for training. They must be hurting real bad for trainers if Fubbs keeps talking so highly about this one!
    Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejgF8KbLOCg

    To YHI: good to see you here! I'm very sorry to hear of all the grief Fubbs has caused you. To sate my curiosity, do you have any conformation pictures of Big Yellow Caddi? Fubbs seems to be very recalcitrant about posting conformation/side shots of her horse. I'd personally like to see how he is built.

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  171. Holy crap, that's horrid! Trainer has a chair seat and for some reason likes to keep her hands around her crotch. She is thumping her butt on his back, and I agree she tips too far forward. BYC is not a great mover either. He is an average mover at best, but needs to come round in his back and get `under himself' behind. Sadly, this probably isn't possible given his build. His tail is gross and he's actually narrow behind for a QH. He hits the ground hard on the front and he's not near flat kneed enough to be competitive in the AQHA. He is 4H quality at best.

    I'm sure Cathy's trainer is a very nice lady (somebody should warn her to lock her hubby up), but she's not a pretty or correct rider. I am also wondering WTF showing in a pinto show is going to do for his career or getting his ROM??? Cathy is paying somebody to dink around at open shows and get ribbons and not points? I found out her other `points' she has on BYC are just within a certain Buckskin club. Now it appears she is showing him in breeding stock classes at pinto shows? I saw a posting by her on another site whining that a the trail course wasn't open to practice on the night before. That would be like letting jumpers take a practice round on the course before it `counts'. She's kinda clueless to this show stuff....

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  172. I am not going to critique the trainers ride ,that has been done. All I have to say is I actually like the BYC,he seems to be a decent sort and is certainly quiet . I don't nessesarily see the "presnce" oor that certain something he needs to be a stallion prospect but... Unfortunatly Cathy has set this colt up to fail at her own hand , not much credibility in FHOTD Standing a colored stallion

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  173. Please enlighten me: concerning the the video of Cathy's trainer and BYC, is that a stallion class? I'm unfamiliar with the format for the hunter under saddle class in the pinto ring (and why the heck is he there?) and i'm just curious about it. I know that in many of the shows I attend, only stallions are shown in hand and they are not permitted in many riding classes unless it it specifically and "all stallion class" for safety. Please someone educate me!

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  174. As I have said before, I like the BYC. He would make a very nice gelding. I don't see a breeding stallion there though.

    Of course, we all know that the HUS horses/riders would not make it in real hunter classes.

    As far as his trainer, she doesn't ride "comfortable" in english tack. I would not want to see her riding english on anything BUT a HUS horse.

    She appears to be a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of rider and based on her website, that is just fine. Her barn is presented as a multidiscipline barn and she is a multidisipline trainer.

    Fern, as far as my area and discipline, unless you are showing at the upper level shows, most barns do not allow stallions on the grounds.

    I have to agree with several of you, I don't understand Fugs campaign for BYC. Going to the shows that he is does not make for a good performance record, certainly not for a breeding stallion. From what I have seen, the pinto assoc and ABRA shows aren't exactly tough to get into, you don't even have to qualify to go to Worlds. I don't know but I am not impressed with a 5th in a junior trail class out of 6 qualifying rides. She is waving that around like it is BYC's ticket to the big time.

    I made the mistake of reading that topic where she blasted Leland Neff. When she was given a take down about that class, she said she thought he did very well for his first year of showing. Well, I had to laugh at that excuse because it was a JUNIOR trail class, it wasn't like he was going in with all of the experienced trail horses and came out with the 5th.

    I had originally thought she had a good plan for the BYC several years ago, but it has become plain that she is not planning to follow her original plan and intends to keep him a stallion because he is hers and she is never wrong.

    "Do as I say, not as I do" fugly style once again rears its ugly head.

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  175. I think Cathy is following a childhood dream. Those can be darn hard to give up or modify when it seems that life handed you a golden (or in this case buckskin) opportunity. A well bred, quiet, sound, lovely stallion. Here is her chance to do it right.

    It's not so much that she is doing it wrong, but doing it the way the "big boys" is VERY expensive, and you take a big gamble.Buy an unproven 2 year old and you will probably end up with nada.

    Campaigning a show horse means thousands of dollars a WEEK. You are going to be showing AT LEAST once a month, more likely twice a month. I don't see Cathy with that kind of deep pockets.

    You are also going to spend $$ on advertising in breed magazines to showcase what your horse has done. This is BEFORE you start spending bucks on advertising your stallion as a great sire.

    You had also better be able to have a band of good broodmares yourself that will cross well with your stallion so you can showcase what his get does.

    I think that Cathy followed a dream without thinking through the the whole process. She sure does do that on her blog. One Cathy takes a stand, I suspect pride doesn't allow her to back down, maybe she fears she will seem weak or a waffler. Things she has said she dislikes in politicians. Crow is not a tasty dish at the best of times. Cold crow in front of the world (especially in front of your "pack") is well nigh unpalatable.

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  176. Kaede,

    I do realize the cost of showing, I used to do some with my hunters and even what I did wasn't cheap so I can imagine that the cost of campaigning an AQHA stallion is at least 20 times more.

    But, if she wants to stand an AQHA stallion with the all important performance record, shouldn't she be showing him in AQHA shows? And if she can't afford it, then she either needs to sell him to someone who can, or geld him and continue to do what she is doing with him. That is exactly what she tells everyone else to do isn't it?

    I have said previously that he is probably the nicest horse she has ever had (at least that was still a viable show horse)and probably will ever have so she sees him through rose-colored glasses and because she is who she is, it is okay for her to do that, at least in her own mind.

    I totally agree with you about Cathy and her dream as well as Cathy and her inability to admit she was wrong.

    Seems that the old saying about pride coming before the fall could come knocking on her door and that plate full of crow and humble pie will be a bitter dish to swallow.

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  177. Anyone else notice that Fugly's trainer isn't exactly a skinny-mini type? I wonder if she's read any of Fugly's stereotyping of fat people.

    And the trainer looks to be about as skilled a rider as I am - which is to say someone who's ridden a bit, but not consistently enough to be really confident.

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  178. The irony I see in that video is that BYC looks like a pleasure to ride. He's not forward and seems content to shuffle along. Sadly, that does not make him a `pleasure horse' in show horse terms. He isn't really a pretty mover, his tail set is too high and he's not round. Because Cathy has spent years bitching and ripping people to shreds about their show horses, she likely sees gelding him as defeat. The fact is she would probably enjoy her horse far more if she did geld him and just played around at schooling shows. I would suggest trail rides but she has already said she is terrified to go out on the trail. I don't see that horse as sound enough or built to stay sound enough to game off of or do anything tougher than shuffling around a ring.

    I don't know her trainer, but I'm not overly impressed with her riding. The sad fact is, that you cant' put an AQHA performance record on your horse by doing it on the cheap. You do need a trainer that regularily shows AQHA and can go out and win. I have no idea what the point in showing that horse in an open class in a pinto show is supposed to accomplish, but then again I don't see what the value is in going to all these buckskin shows. Does that mean he can't compete with a bay, chesnut or black? I don't get it...

    lolasl

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  179. Anon 9:38, I noticed that too, fugly would have called her fat if she weren't her own trainer.

    She is a tall, larger framed person who does carry some weight, but that doesn't mean a person can't be a skilled rider.

    A few years back, when I was still showing my hunters, there was a BIG girl who had a very nice bay TB gelding. She had one of the lightest seats and pair of hands ever. They did very well. She was an amie but went into the open classes against the pros and did extremely well, even at finals where she competed against 40 + horses, not a measly 6-8.

    One point I want to make as far as the discipline that I show in, there is no breed/color distinction, what matters is jumping form and movement. A horse of any breed can win as long as it meets the criteria, but there are breeds that don't do well because they can't and don't meet the criteria.

    Fern, a response to your question about stallions, in my area and discipline, unless you are showing at the upper levels, most barns do not allow stallions on the grounds. If you want to get a performance record on a stallion in the hunters, you better have the money and time and talent to show at the bigger shows or you are shit outta luck.

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  180. CCC, wasn't me that asked about the stallions in the class , but it stands to reason esp if you are promoting your stallion as breeding material. He needs to be competing in breed specific competition and at the higher levels in open competition. Otherwise its just not really propmotng the horse adquately. Part of the reason Phoenix didn't go with me to the open shows this year ,he would have been allowed but , really ,its not where I want him seen at this time. Bigger girls can and do in fact ride well and show good balance and a correct seat , Fugly's trainer , looks a little out of her element in that short video , but I don't want to critique 30 seconds of video.

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  181. Also CCC, reading back over my comment , I didn't mean it to come off as pissy, I agree 100% with you . Nd again I don't really think the VLC/BYC is a bad horse, just not the horse to overcome tha damage Cathy has done and come out the other side smelling like a rose

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  182. Oops, sorry Fern, the person asking the question about the stallions was right below your comment from an anon.

    And, I didn't take your comment or anyone's as being pissy, didn't mean my response that way. Just shows a bit of my continuing frustration with everything that is Fugly, although why I give a rat's patooie is beyond me, oh, wait, it does matter. What the horse world DOES NOT need is a know it all, ignoramus like fugly.

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  183. I have a question...how long as this Cathy's stallion been in training?? Again, there are so many ways to handle a horse but if you are wanting to be this great horse person, why wouldn't you be taking lessons with a reputable riding instructor and learning to have a solid seat? If the horse has been in training for over a year and she can't ride it, I would be seriously questioning the validity of the trainer, of myself, and lots of other things (like should even be into horses) I saw her comment the other day that "she can't ride western" What? The tack truly has nothing to do with it. Our riders are started bareback on safe mounts with years of teaching under them. We start them on the lounge line teaching basic balance exercises and only once they can effectively walk and trot on the line with arms extended like a tightrope walker do we move to the saddle. Most of our riders choose to ride western simply because there are more western riders, personally we all like the solidness of the western saddle when trail riding, and many of our riders enjoy fun shows which dont have too many english classes. I am dumbfounded by the comment that "i can't ride western". My dressage instructor (what, I am a trainer and yet take lessons?? um yes, I go to clinics a lot to!!)allows her riders to use a western saddle if that's their preference, because it's not the tack. It's the seat and the hands :) <3Mendy

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  184. Mendy, to some extent tack does matter. I've never been on a Western saddle, to put me on one a week before a show and expect me to do well against folk who are comfy in western tack, well, I think is ridiculous.

    Put a person who is use to a multipurpose English saddle and put them on a cutback saddle (which has NO padding and can be VERY slippery) and tell them to "have a go" they are going to spend the first time around the ring trying not to slide off the saddle.

    Can someone learn to ride well in different saddles or tack set up? Of course, but it might take a while to be comfortable with it.

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  185. Ummm,Cathy can't really ride English very well either. If you have a solid foundation, you should be able to adjust to English or Western tack no problem. Lord knows I did it enough back in the day. If anything starting English and moving on to western is far easier than the other way around. Also, Cathy does ride BYC, she just does not show him. I don't think she has the polish to be in the showring and she kinda acts like she's half scared of BYC despite her numerous posts saying how quiet he is. I think the fact she thinks he is so huuuuuuuuggggge at 16.2 may show she's intimidated by him. I'd hate for her to have to convince my 17.2HH guy to do something he doesn't feel like doing LOL.

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  186. What type of horse and their movement will also have some factor in how comfy you are in a certain type of tack. I could sit a trot all day long on one of my field hunters. Nice padded Stubben Siegfried VSSG, I could sit atrot all the way home. Put me on a 3 gaited SB and a Freedman Victory Pass, my teeth are going to rattle in my head if I try to sit a trot. That high up and down action flings you out of the saddle.

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  187. My warmblood was like learning to ride all over again. I was used to QHs and TBs...even some very high quality one, but the big guy has hang time and is very `floaty'. It took me awhile to learn how to ride him without looking like a complete sack of poo. Now I can say I can `effectively' ride him in so much as I can make him look good and not get in his way too much.....

    lolasl who forgets to sign her stuff somtimes :/

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  188. I'd love to watch Cathy try to handle our 18hh Clydesdale which btw drives and rides. We use a treeless all purpose english style saddle but the stirrups are more western in design. My daughter rode him in a drill team event (his first public showing) and he got scared by the roaring thunderous applause when he entered the ring. She was in a halter only with him because we were having difficulty finding a good fitting riding bridle. He bolted on her yet she did not fall, did not crash into anyone else, got him settled and finished the drill (all at the age of 17 yrs old) The video used to be on youtube but the boarder who is now a fug cronie is the one who took the vid and she removed it because "she can't afford to be associated with us given our stance on horse slaughter and that we don't really rescue horses". Ok..I didn't know that horse rescue meant you HAD to adopt out the horses you get from the killers. The horses we get from auctions and dealers and yes (gasp) even free ones from craigslist usually don't ever leave our ranch. They are rehabbed and loved by the children in therapy or lessons or at camp at our ranch. If I were a hateful person I would march over to fugs and "out" this woman. I wish I could remind her that while she was supposed to be walking her daughter's horse, he went down and died...while she was napping and then getting coffee and that I'm the one who puts flowers on his grave on the anniversary of his death as he's buried on our ranch....NOT her. But instead, I ignore the hate and think about how much fun I had with my students this weekend when we set a trail class up in the arena and they learned to navigate the bridge and pivoting in a box :)<3Mendy

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  189. oh..did I mention my daughter was on Reign (our clyde) BAREBACK??? He was still unsure of the saddle (he had been badly injured by a 14 inch saddle strapped down 3 yrs before with his previous owner) and he was at an education event....we wanted to show how trusting an injured horse could become when given time time time. Some may call us stupid but we all ridebare back a lot. I personally love to be able to go out to the pasture and get my saddlebred qh cross and ride him in with just his halter and lead. Sometimes, I ride him from the outer south 40 and then when we get to the barn, just turn him loose. He gallops back out and we had a great short ride together. Try that fugs :) <3Mendy

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  190. Mendy,

    Fugs has little credibility. Remember, we are talking about a woman who can spend $6,000 to $7,000 getting to the show in Tulsa, but can't come up with money to cover a few hundred dollars in bounced checks that have been owing for a very long time.

    Also, I have actually heard her tell somebody that the VLC never sired anything at all (not kidding, she actually said that).

    The VLC is a sweet, pretty horse, but watching him walk with his head dragging reminds me of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I think Fugs hopes to be able to breed him just enough to be able to pay for his keep, and so hopes he'll have enough of a show career to attract a few breeders per year to pay for himself.

    By way of analogy, this is a good example of why major fashion modeling agencies don't keep woman shorter than 5'8" on the books, even for print modeling, no matter how pretty they are. It's because they like to keep as many of their models working as possible, and they already have enough tall girls who can do both the runway work, which requires that they fit into clothes already made for 5'8" to 5'll" without having to alter the clothes for a shorter women, and in addition are also pretty enough for print modeling such as cosmetic ads. So there is no point in taking on women who are only limited to print work because of being too short for fashion modeling, when they already have enough tall models who can do it all. Same thing for VLC. Breeders know there are just too many other horses who have not only fantastic looks but can also do it all by way of performance. So why breed to the VLC with his limitations when they can have the total package? He would make a lovely gelding (and I don't think Fugs has ruled that out eventually).

    But she is a stubborn, self-serving person. And while I'm sure she does love animals, I suspect she also uses "rescue" for self-promotion, social advancement, and to rub shoulders with celebrities.

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  191. Just for fun, I convinced Mendy to upload the video she made of their women's clinic to youtube. It's a short clip of stills taken during the clinic and I love how Mendy uses youth riders to teach the adult women. Just something positive during all the negativity. ~Devils Adv.

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  192. Now she's an expert on weight. Her blog today is about fat people. And, she's giving advice on how to drop 10 pounds. Yet makes no allowances for people with illness or genetic anomalies or the fact that women's hips spread during pregnancy and many woman never get back to the "pre-baby" weight. I cannot understand why people continue to follow this woman. What a waste of time.

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  193. Ummmm ok so I forgot to include a link and just realized it. Sorry. Enjoy ~Dev Adv.

    http://upload.youtube.com/my_videos_upload

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  194. I'm pretty sure Cathy reads this blog and its comments from her topic choices. Maybe tis wishful thinking on my part.

    DA, the link doesn't work.

    lolasl

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  195. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT1j-XUukWw

    Sorry, that's the link Mendy gave me from when she uploaded.....I am having a total DORK day!!!
    ~Dev's Adv

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  196. The womens clinic looks like a great idea , and gotta say Lookit the spotty pony!

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  197. That is Sophie. One of the "faux rescues" that Mendy did. She was put at the in protective custody by the sheriff after the meth dealer who owned her blew up his trailer. Debris from the explosion killed the little mule colt at Sophie's side and blinded her in the ride eye. The sheriff placed 6 horses with Mendy and she cared for them out of her own pocket. @ of the fillies had to be put down due to the extent of their injuries. The stud pony was gelded and donated to a 4H program in southern MO & the other 2 horses stayed at the ranch. The sheriff signed them over about 3 months later. Though she was half starved and blind in her eye, Sophie immediately showed great trust and Mendy's daughter took to rehabbing her. That pic was taken at the beginning of the summer. The other horse was a 4 yr old stud who was gelded and started under saddle. He also still lives at the ranch. Mendy does Women's Clinics in Oct and Nov at her ranch, will travel to other's ranches (even bringing appropriate mounts and her assistants) during the winter months and then does them again in March and April plus the 3 day weekend one in summer. ~Dev's Adv

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  198. Holy Schmoly batman...look at all the typos....

    *sheriff put them at their ranch
    ride=right
    @ =2

    Can you all imagine how much trouble I would be in at the fug's place for all those typos.... LMAO
    ~Dev's Adv

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  199. Sophie is a cutie! and rescue smescue I am glad she got a good safe home

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