This is Slim. His "owners" have been responsible for his care since March. I wonder what he looked like then.
I don't know what his real name is. He came through the Napoleon Livestock Auction with a number. It is my understanding that he has no papers, but very good bloodlines, and parents worth around $10,000.
He and 18 of his buddies sold for as little as $100 each at the auction. Between 3 and 6 of the young horses reportedly were sold to known "meat buyers" who ship horses to be slaughtered in Canada.
His "owners" didn't care. They claim it cost them over $300 a month to feed him, same for all of his buddies. They claim they were spending $22,000 a month to care for a herd of 68 horses.
No, horses' hooves are not supposed to be that long. He has gone months without proper hoof care. His stance is altered due to the length of toe on the overgrown hooves.
No, you shouldn't be able to plainly see his ribs. In late summer, horses should be a little bit overweight as they head into the grassless, cold months of a northern winter.
No, that distended belly is not a sign that he's well fed. It is a clear indication to a horse-savvy eye, along with his lackluster coat and dejected appearance, of a parasite infestation.
Indeed, one of his pals from the same auction lot was dewormed by the new owner and found to have such an extreme parasite load, the dead and dying intestinal worms being expelled in the horses' feces made it look blood red and alive. Fortunately the new owner understood the risks of deworming an infested horse, and only used the medicine at half-strength ... a full tube of deworming paste (available for less than $3 online) could have killed the young animal due to the massive amount of dead parasites blocking the horses' intestines.
Who would let a horse get into this kind of condition? Who could ask for more than $300 a month to be paid for by the state's taxpayers, and not even give the horse vital and inexpensive routine care?
I have a lot of catching you up to speed to do.
Note: As I receive new information, I will review and edit any and all posts for accuracy.
2 comments:
Wow that is deplorable condition on that poor horse. I as well, would like to know exactly what that 22,000 a month is paying for. I take care of my one horse on about $40 a month, times that by 68, you don't come up w/ 22,000.
Maybe that is a glaring calculating error cause I came up w/ $2720 in my calculation. That's again ASSUMING they are taking care of each of the 68 horses PROPERLY.
This case continues to amaze and outrage me.
Even pasture board for 69 horses could be found for under $9,000. Full board would only total $14,000 at an average facility.
You have to remember that this figure has to include t-shirts for volunteers, and medical bills for people injured on the farm, even though the bills will be covered by worker's comp. It is insane.
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