Animal Control was called on my mom today

[Paige]

Which was a good laugh to be honest. She's been taking in horses for years now who are in rough shape. The man was really nice. I was there cleaning the barn and he asked me a few questions like why some had blankets and others didn't. I explained how some of them don't go under the shelter too often and/or are harder to keep weight on in the winter and need them. I offered to show him their condition under their blankets. I took the blanket off of the thinner mare who is extremely difficult to keep weight on due to a physical condition she has. She by no means looks starved but she isn't as porky as all the other horses. He was surprised that she wasn't overly thin. Lexci just has a small frame and with the blanket on I could easily understand how someone would expect the horse to be in horrible condition.

In casual conversation while walking through the paddocks I mentioned one of the mares had cancer. He then asked when the last time the vet was out. I told him. He's good friends with my vet. He got a whole lot of horse kisses. He said they all looked good and was surprised anyone complained. He looked in the barn and looked at the fences.

Then he started talking to me about Bandit and Spanky. He complimented on how great they both looked. He asked if I'd consider fostering dogs. I said I wasn't in a place right now to do so but in the future of course. Then he asked if I wanted a job because they were hiring. :lol-sign:

So he came with the intent possibly removing horses due to animal neglect and was trying to get me a job by the end of it.

I have a feeling I know who put in the complaint. Some rude people were my horse was. Who does that? All those horses would of been put down had my mom not taken them in. They are well fed, get their feet trimmed, are up to date on all their shots and get regular medical attention for all their individual issues. They are all very friendly and are members of the family.

/sighs
Some people.

 

[Renee750il]

Oh, what was that character's name . . . . in Bewitched . . . GLADYS KRAVITZ!

 

[Buddy'sParents]

That's odd.. but in a good way. So when do you start?

 

[Paige]

It's really not all that odd. People in the horse world can be extremely b!tchy. The person who I am assuming put the complaint it knows where my mom lives and knows that a few of the horses wear blankets. But honestly who doesn't blanket a hard keeping horse in the winter? There is nothing to hide. They were all eating when he came and I was filling water buckets. Clearly not neglectful. Obviously not abused either. Seven horses following you around giving you kisses and stealing your hat doesn't spell out "SAVE ME!"

To a non horse person I guess they may look a bit worse for wear with their thick winter fuzzies and branches in their hair from hanging out under the trees. That's just a horse being a horse though.

And I like my current job but he stayed and talked to me well beyond what he had to. He kept mentioning it. He was head over heels for Spanky. Who wouldn't be? They are so charming.

 

[Zoom]

That's crazy...but with a good ending for sure!

 

[Paige]

I was so shocked when I saw them pull up. Such a nice guy though. Then again I am a pretty cheery gal especially when someone is willing to listen to me babble on about the horses and dogs. Even better if they are interested.

 

[mrose_s]

We had a comp[laint put in about our last horse. We had spent stupid amounts of money on her even though she couldn't be ridden and due to lack of attention was hard to get near unless you were very confident. But she had shade, she was fed every day or every second day during summer. And when we got her her gums were receded so badly the vet was surprised she was still eating.
After a week at the vet she spent a couple of dyas in our backyard before we took her back out to where she was being agisted. Her teeth got heaps better and she was going blind and getting bossy, we eventually put her down last year before she put herself throug the fence or got onto the road at the wrong time.

But we got complained on that she was "never fed" and "had no shelter"... some people.

 

[Dakotah]

I understand that people in the horse world can be b!tchy.
I'm in the horse world. I use to work at a barn (until medical leave) for over a year. My dad is good friends and co-workers with the couple that has/runs/owns the barn. They barrel race, talk about a b!tchy world... I never even started barrel racing cause of how some people are. Reining and cutting are more my style.
Anyways, they have LOTS of rescue horses and they get complaints, well unless they have heat lamps on in the barn during the winter and it looks like a fire has started in the barn cause the heat lamps glow through the barn windows.
But all in all I know what you mean Paige.

Oh Spanky and Bandit are stunning.
I gotta question for you Paige, do you live with your mom or alone? Sometimes I think you live alone but then again sometimes I don't by how you type things on here. Just asking.

 

[milos_mommy]

Paige Paige Paige

I DIDN'T KNOW MOM RESCUES HORSES! WHERE ARE THE PICS?!?

 

[BostonBanker]

To a non horse person I guess they may look a bit worse for wear with their thick winter fuzzies and branches in their hair from hanging out under the trees. That's just a horse being a horse though.

It may very well just be that. It always surprises me some of the ways non-horse people interpret things. How many of us have gotten yelled at for cruely blindfolding our horses? Hands up, everyone. Yup, Tristan looks clearly upset and blind in the photos below, doesn't he?

 

[Snark]

Glad things worked out okay! And I agree with milos mommy - pics, we need pics!!

 

[Tankstar]

Well atleast you guys proved him very wrong. It amazes me what people will do just becuase they are mad "I'm pissed, I will call the SPCA on those horse lovers" sigh, some people.

It may very well just be that. It always surprises me some of the ways non-horse people interpret things. How many of us have gotten yelled at for cruely blindfolding our horses? Hands up, everyone. Yup, Tristan looks clearly upset and blind in the photos below, doesn't he?

When I worked at the barn i would get people driving up or driveway (which was a good half a mile or more long) flying up. Slam their doors. I go out to ask if i can help them and they flip "Why do you blind fold those horses out there? The need to see! And where is their shtler they are standing int he middle of the field, you need to unblindfold them and lead them to shade" huh. No there wasnt a leantoo in that field, BUT that field is COVERED in trees, and has a creek (small) going through it, plenty of places to cool off. Plus they are only out about 8 hours a day. I would always say hey are fly masks and can easily see through, and grab a extra one to show them. Obviously non horse people who dont know what they are talking about.

 

[pitbullpony]

I liked the people who would drive up the driveway to let you know in a very concerned way about all the dying horses in the field. (It was the baby paddock and they all lay flat out soaking up the sun -- sometimes I think they were exceptionally convincing; since the vultures used to do flybys to check on them)

 

[BostonBanker]

I liked the people who would drive up the driveway to let you know in a very concerned way about all the dying horses in the field.

LOL Yup, I've gotten that one, too!

Have any of you read the story "Your Horses are on Fire"? It's included in the book An Apple a Day, and I've seen it printed in other places. It's the true tales of the conversations this farrier, who owned two draft horses, had with his bothersome neighbor. The woman always called to complain that they looked cold, weren't getting fed enough, etc. The final straw was when she called to tell him they were on fire! It had been snowing, and then the sun came out and the moisture was evaporating off their backs in the heat.

 

[Agilitylabbie]

I also like how all the ponys are automatically classified as 'baby horses' & no matter how many times you try & explain that no, Rusty is not a baby, he's 17 yrs old, they still don't believe you.