‘Cause God forbid you sell them before they look like this
Nov 16 2009
Another day, another selfish, egotistical idiot who would rather let her horses starve to death than admit that she’s broke and can’t take care of them. Today our offender is Judy Caton. Judy has some extremely nice Quarter Horses including a very nice reining horse named Meerly Inwhizable. Judy’s web site has gone poof (no, really?) but thanks to the magic of the Google Cache, you can see his page here.
Meerly Inwhizable used to be a fine looking horse, as can be seen if you click here. Now, uh, well, you can see his current condition at left. This is RIDICULOUS. Just about ANY reining horse breeder would be HAPPY to care lease this stallion (I’m noting that now I’ve been told he’s a gelding and her site does show him to be a gelding. OK so we’ll edit to “any reining horse competitor” as that is true also – this horse has won a lot and anyone would enjoy having him to show and, you know, FEED him). He is starving for one reason: Because Judy Caton is a stubborn, egotistical idiot who doesn’t want everybody to know she can’t afford to feed her horses. Well, Judy, now the world knows! Now, will you give up your poor horse to somebody who has hay money?
It’s one thing when you have horses that no one wants…the kind of horses that even the kill buyer turns up his nose at. It can be a little more challenging to get those moved along, even when offering them for free. But it’s not even MILDLY challenging to place a horse with this horse’s accomplishments.  Unless this woman is completely, off-every-possible-rocker mentally ill, there is no explanation for this. And given that she has been showing and running the frickin’ Washington Reining Horse Association, I would imagine she’s relatively lucid. Bet she’s plenty lucid enough to write me legal threats after I publish this blog.
Sadly, this stallion isn’t the only one suffering. All of these pictures were taken recently on her farm. (Clue #1: Everybody has a camera phone. They don’t flash and you can turn the clickety noise off.)
Now, here’s the interesting thing about this situation. Snohomish Animal Control, which had NO problem prosecuting people like Jean Elledge, seems to be protecting equally neglectful Judy Caton. They have discouraged media attention in this case, and at last report have decided to allow her to keep TWENTY FOUR horses. Are they smoking CRACK? Who is she buddies with at Sno-Co? She should not be allowed to keep a single horse. Visitors to the property found the horses not just without food but without WATER. Um, the only reason your horses don’t have water is that you are a lazy-ass bitch who won’t get off the couch to water them. It’s not like you have to go to the feed store and have a working credit card to water them.
Judy, the world already knows you’re broke. Anybody who can use the Washington Court Search can see how often you’ve been sued or had judgments against you that have gone unpaid. This is not a secret. Your starving horses are not a secret. You cannot cover this up. Surrender those horses now while they are still breathing to good homes, and then do something sensible to rebuild your finances – like lease out your very nice property to someone who can feed their horses.  The worst part is heading into winter knowing how many of you are out there…how many herds of broodmares are sitting on pastures that can’t be seen from the road, getting thinner and thinner, pregnant bellies sticking out underneath hipbones that grow more prominent by the day. We’re going to see a lot of these wrecks this winter, though not often with quality horses like these. I just cannot fathom what kind of selfishness makes you hang on to horses YOU can’t feed that LOTS of other people would want. Do you really think you’re going to get money for them? Not looking like that, you’re not. Face reality, swallow your pride and give your horses a chance to survive. That poor stallion is only nine years old!
Oh, for anybody who wants to ask Snohomish County Animal Control why they are allowing her to keep two dozen horses and if there are charges pending, their # is (425) 388-3440. I’m very curious to hear what you are told (and if different officers come out with different answers, so find out who you’re speaking to!) I don’t see any reason there shouldn’t be criminal charges, looking at those pictures, do you?
175 comments to “‘Cause God forbid you sell them before they look like this”
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Very Sad…:0(
No, no no. I can’t even look. My heart can’t take it.
I couldn’t get Meerly’s page to load – is it already gone?
I feel sick.
~DD
There feet don’t look to bad. Does she have a farrier and why isnt the farrier reporting this? Unless she is doing the feet herself. But why wouldnt she find homes for them if she can’t afford them. I would rather let something go and live then keep it for selfish needs. Winter is coming they are going to drop weight. they cant go into winter like that.
Its not right. I have worked 3 jobs before, when I was having it hard, but my horses never dropped weight and I kept food on the table and paid my bills. I even paid for hay in the winter from the grainery at $12 a bale! There is no excuse! Absolutely not one. You have to do what you have to in order to keep what you have. We all go through hardships. Thats life. My horses have been there for me and I am there for them. They dont chose to be where they are they have to depend on someone and they need someone that can be dependable for food and water everyday as well as their checkups, dental and feet to be done on a regular basis. There is way too much of this happening out there. How can someone enjoy there horse if they see them like that. Oh wait they dont go out there everyday to see them. I am sorry if anyone thinks I am being to hard but I agree their is no excuse. I had a lawyer I had to pay on my own for 4 yrs. for my son and custody problems that the father kept causing. Thats a whole novel in itself right there(unbelievable is all I can say -but turned out well),I can support my son and feed my horses,keep up with their needs, etc. If I can do it anybody can. Either cut down on the number of animals you have, find an extra job. What ever it takes. This will make you a stronger person in the end. And a better owner. No one look down on you if you have to give up a few horses. Free leasing is another option. Just make sure you have a contract.
>> It’s one thing when you have horses that no one wants…the kind of horses that even the kill buyer turns up his nose at. It can be a little more challenging to get those moved along, even when offering them for free. <<
To that statement, I have this to say. Usually, when you have a horse thats problematic, untrained, lame, untrained, etc… you can't really sell them, because who the heck would pay money for them.. BUT if you offer them for FREE the people who come and get the horse may be people who have absolutely no business owning a horse. They just see "free" put on an act, take the horse and starve it themselves in their backyard. Hell, they may take them for free, put 'em in the trailer, and haul them straight to auction to make a buck.
In June i put down my yearling filly that I rescued in early April. She had very long pasterns, hay allergies, etc.. WAY too expensive of a keeper for me. She was starved when she was young, had a lot of problems. I would give her away for free if i found the right home, but who in their right mind (besides me, i swear, things didnt look this hopeless when i agreed to take her) would take a filly knowing with her problems/build/etc they'd never be able to ride her, she'd need to have corrective shoes AND a special diet. So, i euthed her. A "healthy" (she wasn't skinny) year old filly. I'd rather put her down myself then have her die in a backyard somewhere, emaciated.. or get crushed on a trailer to Mexico.
I assume when you said what you did you meant more that knowledgeable people won't take 'em even if they're free. I'm sure you didn't mean just listing them for free on Craigslist and letting the first person who comes to your house with a trailer take the horse home. But i just wanted to say that anyhow
I can't believe that someone who manages a fricken reining club would allow her horse to get like that. Jaeeezus.. like you said.. i'm SURE some stallion keeper would pay money to lease him, feed him, and breed mares with him. She may even MAKE money off of it.
ARGH!
Argh, i just wrote a reply out and I don’t see it D: I usually get to see a preview.. did it get eated?! :O
Oh, for anybody who wants to ask Snohomish County Animal Control why they are allowing her to keep two dozen horses and if there are charges pending, their # is (425) 388-3440.
Or for that matter… Is she a member in good standing? I’m sure they’ll appreciate the recognition/association.
http://www.wrha.net/index.php
Seriously, I would starve myself before a horse or any animal I own would go without food! I would work as many jobs as I possibly could to afford to feed my animals…..and IF there was the time that I could not provide for them, I would be more than willing to find them new homes who could. Do these people have no morals or values? After seeing these utterly disgusting photos…..I think NOT!
I don’t have a problem with free to a checked-out home in a case like this. Who is going to pay for them in this condition, staring at potential thousands in rehab costs? I think that you have to realize that if you wait too long to place them, and now they look like crap, you lost your right to sell them for their healthy value. My guess is she is insisting they are worth X dollars and that’s why she still has so many.
Oh Darn…. I guess this didn’t work out to well either. I think we smell another rotten “let’s finance everything we own and play the big time real estate tycoon.” Hey.. It was fun while it lasted.
http://www.monroemonitor.com/Issues/020309issue/story3.html
Must have been partners with Havilah LLC. Another local place the women (hi Stacy) blew thru $150,000 and boggied (in her new F350/trailer/Friesians) on the entire construction loan.
for the record, Meerly inwhizable is not a stallion, I see you got the really screwed side of the story and not the entire story. If you would like a little more info Cathy feel free to email me… 5minpins@gmail.com THERE IS WAY more to this story than they told you. I would like the chance to tell you some stories about the people you are getting your version from and just how many horses they have killed and bloodied and beaten in the name of training. For the record, the horses have hay and water, the majority were not starving. I have more pictures…
This is some kind of collective madness, and it’s got to stop.
In my neck of the woods, I’ve seen horse people give other horse people a pass when there are two dozen racks of bones—I’m talking 1s on the Henneke scale—trying to pick the grass over the fence right by the road. The excuses get stupider and stupider the more you look. The problem is, I think, that it’s not considered sporting to actually look.
Even if you consider what a harsh winter feels like, the boniness is incomprehensible. I’ve never had a horse lose weight in winter. Mine always get fatter.
The woman you depict in this Fugly post is clearly emotionally damaged.
My biggest pet peeve is this…
What about the things you CAN’T see…
I know of MANY big namers that:
-Don’t ever do their horse’s *broodmares teeth
-Don’t ever vaccinate…for anything
-Don’t trim hooves…only 1x a year
-Deworm when they feel like it
-Don’t mess w/ any youngsters until 2YO and sell them off…
Why aren’t these types of neglect/cruelty?
I don’t know ANY horse that enjoys snacking on the sides of their cheeks…
or walking on crumbling bad hooves…
Just sucks…they make all the money…win the prizes…and their are people like me that don’t…because instead of spending $ on new clothes/saddles…training…I spend it on the necessities…
This is a random post…I don’t have time to read through it…sorry for any errors!! Just some quick points…
and while I am at it, if you call animal control, they will tell you to stop calling. they have already asked (told) a few people to cease and desist with the phone calls. you wont get anywhere with them… there will be no charges filed period.
If you have information to share, by all means start typing.
I see emaciated horses. I’m not discussing the training methods of the photographer at the moment. I’m talking about Judy Caton’s emaciated horses that need to be taken away from her NOW and put in foster care.
The majority weren’t starving? So it’s okay that some were?
No charges filed? We’ll see about that. If not, I want to know WHY not. That’s a nine year old and it looks like death. Charges ABSOLUTELY are appropriate.
The fact that someone screwed up about whether or not the horse was a stallion or a gelding, well, fairly minor error and not relevant to the horse’s condition. He’s still a nice horse that someone else would love to have and own and FEED.
Next question: (Good catch, drsjunky) – how the hell do you file bankruptcy and keep this many horses?
Oh wait, I bet you lie your ass off about the value of the horses on your bankruptcy filing. Seen THAT before.
Anyone care to pull that up for us tomorrow so we can see what she claimed as the value of her livestock? Bet that’s a real knee-slapper and far, far, far from the reality.
fair is fair, you dont want to bite the hand that is feeding you. I can understand that. but what I know isnt public fodder for this blog. Your blog does a lot of good and sometimes not to much good. This woman has been giving away horses left and right. but there were a certain few who tried to cherry pick the best stock and when they didnt get the very best and most expensive horses on the property, (as in refusing to take the lesser bred ones) they threatened and screamed and jumped up and down…so lets point fingers at all those also. And when asked to help feed the ones still there, their refusal to do so because they hated that bitch…their words…
and nope no charges, see about that all you want. no charges per AC and the recommendation of two vets.
AND for the rescues and organizations that stepped up and offered homes and hay for the horses I thank you!! That went a long way to help the horses out!
I wouldn’t help feed horses that were not being taken out of her possession either. That’s enabling. I’d only offer to help feed horses that were already officially surrendered and in foster care.
fhotd
AMEN….
good deal, I am overjoyed you would allow a horse to starve to death on someone else’s property because you view feeding that horse as enabling. You really do care about the horses dont you! Sorry I always had a little respect for you but not now, enabling or not, the horse needs fed. cut off your nose to spite your face…good job!
you want to ignore the fact that the horses were being placed all week long, so how is withholding feed from the ones still on the property awaiting their new home going to help any horses?? Ok maybe its like this…here you go ol red, you got hauled off to a new home so I will feed you…but gee sorry blacky, your still on the property and I refuse to be an enabler so you get to starve another week! enjoy!! the world needs more people like this… yep you just failed…
how the hell can anyone defend this by saying “the majority were not starving.” Those horses are racks of bones, like what you see on the Animal Cop shows on Animal Planet. I don’t CARE if all the other horses were fat and sassy. These horses are being seriously wronged.
I’ve gone hungry to feed my horse AND provide her with vet and farrier care. I’d do it again in a heart beat if that’s what it took. I can get by on a dollar cheeseburger and a bottle of water a day (I lived like that for 3 months until I met my now-husband), but my horse MUST have enough hay, bedding, and vet/farrier care as needed. It’s not negotiable.
I am sorry 5minpins, but if a person is bankrupt and can’t afford to feed their emaciated horses I find it highly cruel and selfish to pick and choose which horses you are willing to part with. The pictures speak for themselves. This did not happen overnight. So what if someone tried to “cherrypick the best stock”. Can you blame them? Cry me a freakin river.
I learned my lesson about helping to feed horses that had not been surrendered to the authorities. When you feed horses that have not been surrendered, you hand the person starving them a get-out-of-jail-free card. I don’t like to see horses starve – no one does – but you have to stay out of it and simply report it and pressure the authorities to seize them or you’re allowing the criminal to avoid the consequences. There’ll never be any prohibition against their owning horses, they won’t have a record, etc.
I don’t understanf why Minpin is defending this woman by saying the horses are starving because OTHER people wouldn’t feed them? If you can’t feed your horse(s) send them to a rescue, free lease them… something that shows you are more concerned about the wellbeing of the horse than your own pride. Their is truly no excuse for the sack of bones pictures.
It sucks to admit defeat but seriously, suck it up before one of the horses your refuse to gives up dies. Either way, you loose.
And if you have this supposed information- something to redeem, why wouldn’t you want to share it, because all I see right now is someone who seriously, seriously needs a wakeup call (by way of prosecution, of course.)
5minpins:
Just because you say all of them are not starving, does not make it right to starve one horse or all. I have seen a few that are dieing here, and you are blind to see that also. Just becasue who rote this blog or took the pictures and has done what they have with horses does not mean that starving a horse is any better. These horses need homes and her’s is not a home for them right now….. Any one that can drive by these horses and watch them starve has problems. If your herd is to big for you to keep up with in the pasture, then your herd is to large. A good breeder would know that. And for contacting the county, that is fine. The word is out and her breeding horses and selling them in this industry may be at the end…. Who wants to purchase horses from a so called breeder that has starved horses. That would be enough for me. Someone in this state of mind should not be breeding horses. This so called breeder turned down help.. This has been happening for a while and people have wanted to help her out, not just take another horse on for free. Some of these horses are not going to be cheap to get back to health. Some of us have very nice horses our selfs and are very happy with how many we have, but have to watch horses that have given their hearts and souls in the show pen for her and others, and this is what you think they deserve… Horses are not selling like they were 1,2 and 3 years ago, and will not be for much longer than that.. She should have asked for help long before these horses looked the way they do… People would have been there for her. But this, no way in HELL……..
You bet on it!!!!!!!!!! We will FIGHT and FIGHT. COUNT ON THAT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5minpins
These horse deserve more then for us to sit back and watch this greedy, selfish breeder starve them…… JUST SICK..
People threw a tantrum and started making threats when she would give them her horses? Quite honestly, if I offered to take in an emaciated horse as a favor to someone who obviously can’t FEED it, and the owner was stupid enough to tell me no, you’d bet your ass I’d be taking it to the authorities. I think they were doing her a HUGE (undeserved) favor by trying to resolve it quietly first.
That’s nice that she was trying to place them in new homes “all week.” But guess what? They didn’t get like that in a week. She had a lot longer than a week to realize that she couldn’t feed them and to find them new homes.
She needs to stop owning horses at the moment, and to all of those rescue groups who are donating money and hay, stop it. Wait until AC seizes them, then take them in yourselves. That’s the nest thing you can do for the horses- by offering them *some* hay, you are just prolonging their suffering.
5minpins – “but what I know isnt public fodder for this blog.”
I’m having trouble imagining circumstances where she’s not as guilty as she looks, but the reasons can’t be made public. Maybe someone with more imagination than me can suggest some?
If you donate food for the horses still in her custody (and so far you say she’s kept the best ones), she’ll feed them, they’ll look better, she’ll say ‘lookit, no problem here!’, AC lets her keep the animals, repeat the cycle. If you look at it that way, she’s culled her stock, gotten all her expenses taken care of for a year or more, and starts over with no permanent consequences. Sounds like a winning strategy for her! The next time she finds herself with too many horses and not enough money, what do you think she’ll do?
5minpins says:
“…Sorry I always had a little respect for you but not now, enabling or not, the horse needs fed. cut off your nose to spite your face…good job!
you want to ignore the fact that the horses were being placed all week long, so how is withholding feed from the ones still on the property awaiting their new home going to help any horses?? Ok maybe its like this…here you go ol red, you got hauled off to a new home so I will feed you…but gee sorry blacky, your still on the property and I refuse to be an enabler so you get to starve another week! enjoy!! the world needs more people like this…”
So…which ones are you personally feeding?
Why don’t we put the owner in a stall for a week or two without food. Then the owner might just realize what her horses feel like!!
I have and will take a free horse. I am an experienced horse owner, and I have rehabilitated quite a few horses in my area because of neglect and starvation other people have inflicted upon innocent animals. I am one person, I am NOT a rescue operation, but I do feel a need to help when I can. HOWEVER, I totally agree with fhotd, I WILL NOT enable an irresponsible, ignorant horse owner by donating feed and helping horses on another property. What happens when the donated food runs out? HMMM??? They continue starving. Where’s the help in that? If you remove the horse and place it in a responsible, knowledgeable horse owners care/guardianship, you eliminate any loose ends, hence idiot previous owner.
5minpins, they have feed or they don’t? The only person responsible for those horse’s condition was Judy Caton. I don’t care if your horses are in your backyard or boarding at a top notch facility. It is the owners’ responsibility to provide care for the animal NO MATTER WHAT, and obviously she didn’t. I hate it when someone “has an in” with the authorities and gets off without a hitch after committing a crime. It’s like the Judge who gets pulled over for a DWI and gets escorted home and teased the next day. Any other red-blooded American would go to jail…
Fug, I completely agree with you about enabling.
I used to have a neighbor who owned a couple dogs. He never fed them, watered them, and their shelter leaked in the rain and was hotter inside than out in the hot weather. They SHOULD have been taken by animal control.
The main problem was, that me being a complete and total bleeding heart, I once gave them a HUGE bag of decent dog food, unopened and ready to be fed to the skin-and-bones dogs out back. Thinking that perhaps they’re just really hard on their luck and could use the help.
Did the dogs ever get any of that kibble? Nope. I noticed, and they kept getting thinner. So, I dug into my pockets and when I fed my own dog, I made a point to go out and slip a couple bowls of food under the fence, and a bowl of water. When they were done I took the dishes back so no one would notice.
While this was great and all… The dogs continued to live in squalor, they at least weren’t being starved anymore, but that didn’t stop them from being in the miserable care of people who I don’t think even remembered they had dogs to begin with.
Animal control refused to do anything because the dogs looked “ok”. Not thin enough (thanks to me) to be removed from their owners. The owners learned that you can in fact put dogs in your backyard and NEVER look at them, feed them, water them, train them, play with them, etc… And they’ll continue to miraculously live on and be perfectly fine.
I learned, that both of those dogs were condemned to death the day I moved away. and had I just let it get a little bit worse (as they were NOT my responsibility) AC would in fact have taken them away and they would have had a chance at a real life. In essence, it was a combination of a terrible owner and MY enabling that ultimately killed those dogs.
The guilt of that will stick with me forever.
5minpins says:
This woman has been giving away horses left and right. but there were a certain few who tried to cherry pick the best stock and when they didnt get the very best and most expensive horses on the property, (as in refusing to take the lesser bred ones) they threatened and screamed and jumped up and down…so lets point fingers at all those also.
—————–
What’s wrong with ‘cherry picking’ rescues so that you only end up with horses that are usable (or at least sellable) after rehab? Many, many people on this blog do that, because they can’t support a pasture puff for the next several decades, and the rehab and training needed to turn a poor-quality horse into something useful will cost more than they could ever get back by selling it. No one owes it to this woman to take in her horses, and if certain other breeders or trainers are only interested in well-bred horses that they could actually use for something, that’s not the least bit unreasonable. Judging from the pictures, apparently she can’t feed those ‘very best and most expensive horses’, either – her insistence on hanging on to them despite that speaks volumes.
don’t get it either–I know a person that has a 26 year old arabian mare that is a walking skeleton–this horse lives on a farm that has many healthy horses that get appropriate feed and regular vet care etc. Everyone just passes off the walking skeleton as “old” even the vet!! “She’s fine. look at her keep up with the others..oh whoops poor ol’ thing she can’t get up….”
This horse was getting no extra care or feed–just all the hay she can eat. OLDER horses NEED extra vet care and feed or they ARE being neglected…..it makes me sick… how otherwise sane people can just ignore it, including professionals. FINALLY I convinced my friend who owns the farm to make the woman get the mare’s teeth floated and give her horse soaked beet pulp, F& F and minerals EVERY day and voila! she looks tons better! Imagine that!!My friend does not own this horse she just got sick of me complaining…. and she feels sorry for the owner who apparently is very “nice”….arrrgh…
I do not understand how people can see those horses and feel more for the person neglecting them than the horses themselves…..
Honestly, I don’t care what anyone says. There is no excuse for these animals to have deteriorated to this condition. That does not happen overnight! This woman should have started placing the animals or trying to sell them way before it got to this point. Yes, while I do agree it would be hard for me to give my valuable reining horses away, it sure beats this and she could have offered them up to a youth or amateur on a care lease. I can’t imagine how difficult and stressful it is on those poor horses trying to keep warm up there in that condition. I am trying to give this woman the benefit of the doubt but I must say the pictures don’t lie. Even one horse in this deplorable condition is too much.
I also want to add Bob Loomis would probably take Meerly Inwhizable back in a heartbeat if he knew his condition. My trainer has had to do that with get from his stallion and any responsible breeder would. That horse is royally bred and has value. Horses of that caliber are still selling for a good price even in today’s market.
Yikes.
I’d be very interested to hear the whole story, from both or as many sides as there are. Very certainly when we see something like this, we all jump to the worst possible conclusion. I’m willing to keep an open mind, but I’m guessing that even with the best possible excuses, there will still be plenty of blame for Judy Caton. Regardless of what really happened and who’s really at fault, however, it’s good that this information get out. The more it gets out, the more interested people become in it, the more facts will be brought to light, and, I hope, the more likely it is that these horses will get help. Things like guilt and accountability can always be sorted out in a court of law, and a little sensationalism at the beginning is sometimes necessary to get the ball rolling.
Look, I don’t know the “situation” here, but I’d rather have these horses euthed, than play these games with them. That’s directed at “all” of the parties concerned. These horses pictured, are obviously starving and in distress, they are living, breathing animals, Geeze…someone should cut the bullsh-t here and either feed and save them, or terminate their suffering. It’s a frigging sin, that’s what it is…disgusting, and frigging sickening…I don’t care whose “fault” it is..Starving an animal, in this way is criminal. Anyone involved in this debacle, should lose their position as “director” of anything involving equines..
5minpins can defend all she wants….a picture speaks a thousand words. There is NO justification at ALL that I will accept for the condition of those horses. WHY were SOME of the horses starved and some fed? WHO made THOSE decisions? Was the stallion/gelding not fed because as a gelding he didn’t have the same worth as when he was a stallion? I don’t know. I don’t care what 5minpins says charges damn sure SHOULD be filed for the condition of the horses in those pictures alone. And WTF? No water too? That doesn’t cost anything unless she is a total shit and didn’t pay the water bill too and if that is the case every living thing should be removed from the property asap.
Seriously, 5minpins? You actually think that if someone offers to give her nice (starving) horse a home, it’s okay to deny that horse a good home because the people refused to take a lesser quality horse instead? So now, instead of at least one horse going to a good home, and freeing up the lady’s resources to distribute into feeding the remaining horses, she still has to feed those horses and nothing has changed. She ABSOLUTELY should have given the high quality horses away. This is a no-brainer. They are ALL her horses, no matter what quality, and ALL deserve homes where they will be fed. When you get to the point that you can’t feed your animals, you don’t get to pick and choose to keep the highest valued ones. You do what you have to do to save them, even if that means finding homes for the higher valued ones and continuing to care for the others as best you can until you find homes for them too, or finances pick back up and then you can keep them. I have known plenty of selfless people who have had hard times and have had to cut down on their herd, and they choose to place the good quality ones (because those are much easier and safer to rehome) so that they can continue to care for the ones who would not be so quick and easy to place. It is NOT the rest of the world’s responsibility to continue to feed this lady’s horse just because she refuses to give it away. I do not expect anyone else to feed my horse for me. I will not be expected to feed someone else’s horse. There is a fine line between knowing how to ask for help, and developing a sense of entitlement that everyone else should take care of you when things don’t go exactly your way.
Could it be??
http://www.facebook.com/people/Judy-Caton/100000170911169
I agree FHOTD, feeding non-surrendered horses is only going to make the problem bigger. In my opinion, providing one bale of hay will turn into buying hay for the entire herd; the same thing will happen with grain and and even basic vet and farrier care.
And, even then, do you know if the person is even FEEDING this FREE food to their starving animals? Can you guarantee that the money YOU pay for THEIR horses to see a vet is even going towards that purpose?
Providing food to an owner who refuses to surrender any neglected animal is only adding fuel to the proverbial fire.
Hey 5 minpins, I’d like to know how many of her horses you rescued or are feeding prior to rescue. Just wondering.
fhotd is spot on here. No reason to help this woman out until she surrenders the horses. Period. Yes, I feel horrible for the horses, but there are tons of horses everywhere who need help and are with people who deserve the help — I’d help them first. This woman does not deserve help yet — period. She needs to do the right thing, as do the authorities. She needs to give these horses to a rescue, the county, or whoever is willing to take them and feed them. Who cares if people want the better horses? Give them away first, then surrender the rest if you can’t find someone to take them. You know they aren’t going to slaughter looking like that!
She could always start selling off her stuff and feeding them herself, but Heaven forbid she should suffer.
5minpins, if you can’t back up your “facts” to us, I don’t see how we can believe what you are writing. These horses’ situation has gone public. What are you hiding? Fill us in or stop posting.
Sort of on the topic. I’ve been reading this blog for a few months now and I noticed that there is two conflicting opinions being expressed: #1 what a shame that the horse prices are down the toilet, because now every Bob, Mo, and Larry can afford to buy a horse but not necessarily to feed it and provide it proper care; not to mention Mr.KB might show up and dish out the change if you ask too little or for free; and #2 what are those idiot owners on craigslist thinking asking so much for their fugly, untrained horses?
Secretary at the school told me that they had an older QH, but under 20 y.o. A been-there-done-that gelding that was in very good health, very good weight, up-to-date on everything including ridden. They wanted to find him a good home – may be a youngster who needed a reliable horse to start on. So this grandpa came up, with his grandson. Grandpa climbed on the horse and rode him around, was happy with the horse, paid for him and trailered him off.
Next weekend the secretary and her husband were at Stateline auction with friends (AR/OK border) and the old man was selling the old gelding and got more money out of him – he pretended he didn’t see them.
And that horse that I sold? A good solid trail mare, gaited, 7 y.o. blue-papered MFT, good feet, all that… I asked $800, who’s to say that’s too little or too much when she was going to people that we knew? Yet they rode her twice on long (20 miles) rides, wearing a saddle that didn’t fit. Now she has scar tissue on top of her spine in the back, and she’s started to buck under saddle. I garantee that they will sell her, and her new home might be a trailer heading for Mexico.
Seams that even when we try to do our best for our horses, when it comes to selling them we just don’t have the power to control what happens to them after they leave our hands. I just don’t know, it’s so depressing that I’ve decide to take our 3 y.o. mare I’ve been advertizing off the market. I’m still helping grandpa sell his mare (since his idea of selling a horse is halling it to the auction), but she’ll be my last for a while, fingers crossed.
I’m going to agree with Fugs here, just feeding these poor creatures while still on the property IS enabling – and if charges are NOT filed, there needs to be a serious investigation. How about instead of dropping hints and making vague “there’s another side of this story” comments (Dean of PEC had supporters who made this an art form) Tell the WHOLE story then. Refute the accusations with FACTS (though it’ll be damn hard to refute images like those!) instead of lowing yourself to emotional blackmail –
“Oh noes! The Truck is coming! The Truck is coming!”
And if AC is getting annoyed – well damn, maybe they need to get off their rears and say “WHY” there will be no charges filed….
In looking in the background of the photos, what beautiful pastures and fences. I’d kill for a farm like that. Sure makes it scary knowing that even when people come to your farm to look at your sale horses – the fancy truck, the knowledgeable potential buyer, the well known show record, etc. are not 100% guarantees that your horse will get a good home. Looks like you have to do a background check on everyone before making a sale. We used to have a family in my area that at the shows looked like they had their act together. Everything looked perfect on the outside, yet a visit to their farm was downright scary. Horse practically standing on their heads in tie stalls because there was a mountain of poop under their hind feet, expensive show saddles thrown on the ground, tack scattered around, the barn was practically eatten away by hungrey horses, yet the one show horse was well cared for – putting on a good front for those who didn’t know. In the house, you could stand in one small spot in the center of the room and dirty clothes and papers FILLED the rest of the area to the ceiling. There were 6 inches of papers on the stove top, guess she didn’t cook much, and a dog was tied to the leg of the kitchen table. Seeing her at the shows, you never would have known, things were not A-OK at her farm.
FHOTD – You asked how can you keep all those horses and file bankruptcy. Depends of which type you file. I “believe” that with Chapter 13, you can protect most of your assets. You are allowed to keep certain things, but on others you have to basicly “buy them back” at a firesale price. Chapter 7, you have to liquidate to pay your creditors best you can – I think.
WHAT THE HELL! These people should be strung up!!!
On the topic of imprinting, which came up yesterday, I found this article (Horseville Newsletter):
Does Imprinting Make A Better Horse?
By Jen Sparks
“Imprinted from birth!” You are bound to hear those words often when looking over young horses on Horseville. But do these words really mean much? The answer may surprise you… in most cases these words won’t mean much.
For those of you who may be new to horses and/or unfamiliar with the term imprinting, when one imprints a horse one spends an hour or so as soon as possible after the birth of a foal touching sensitive areas such as the legs and ears, thereby desensitizing him for the future.
The University of Washington conducted a study to see if there was a sizeable advantage for an imprinted horse versus a non-imprinted foal. Six foals were imprinted while six were not during a breeding season, and after weaning the foals the result of this study was that the imprinted stock did not behave any better or different than the non-imprinted stock. An imprinting advocate was invited to see for herself the results of this study, and was asked to point out which of two horses was imprinted. The advocate chose wrong.
Imprinting does generally succeed in showing the new foal you are not a threat, but done improperly imprinting will go beyond that – it will show the new foal you are an equal. I have seen loving horse owners coddle their young weanling from day one with the very best of intentions and get some undesirable results, namely a young foal that bites and kicks. The young foal wasn’t at all behaving in this manner out of mean-spiritedness – quite the contrary. The young foal saw its owner as a playmate and equal and was simply trying to play. But while the old “nip and run” routine may prove fun among horses, it can hurt when the horse plays with you in the same manner.
One must always maintain a leader/follower relationship with a horse, even when the foal is one-day old! Imprinting serves to throw away fear of humans, and it is vital you replace that fear with respect. If you don’t discipline “naughty” behavior adequately when they are young, they will grow up with these habits and it will be that much harder to eliminate them. I would rather start working with a slightly nervous foal than an improperly imprinted foal, for the nervous foal will show a healthy respect from the very first minute, and become just as trusting as the imprinted foal within a few days.
This isn’t to say imprinting is bad – it isn’t. Who among us isn’t thrilled at the prospect of being a new parent and spending time with the new foal? As long as one establishes a leader/follower relationship with the new foal once the foal starts becoming “frisky” there’s no reason why one shouldn’t imprint a foal.
But at the same time, if you don’t have the time to imprint your foal don’t kick yourself over it. Allowing baby to stay with mother until the foal is ready to be weaned is perfectly acceptable, and you will still have as nice a horse as an imprinted one in the end. While many seem to imply the first hours – the imprinting hours – are the most impressionable hours in a young horse’s life, I disagree. Personal experience has shown that the weaning period is the most impressionable, for that is the point where the young horse is taken away from mother and is open to finding a “replacement” to fit his mother’s shoes – and that replacement will be you.
Makes you wonder why Judy wouldn’t “sell’ the stallion and use that money to feed the other horses? I just can’t understand people like this!!!
OK, there are tow sides to every story but, 5minpins, I have to ask, how the hell did the horses get in that state in the first place, and I actually have no problem with people wanting the best stock…what was the owner trying to do, keep them for herself because we can see just how well that was working out!!
Animal Control are public servants, unless there is a court case pending that takes legal precedence, surely their proceedings come under the Freedom of Rights Bill???
Barring that there is always a civil case, although I would want to see proof, I would be willing to put money into a prosecution.
NOT a “witch hunt” though, we need a more accurate assessment of the situation than a few photographs, shocking though they are.
I can’t imagine watching my horses get to this point!!
I have about 140 bales of hay in my barn, I rescued two TBs recently (in addition to my two personal horses) and know I’ll need more hay this year and I’m already looking! The 140 bales will last 4 months but I’m already nervous about getting more!!
I know I’m not special but I just can’t imagine not having food for anything in your care, wheather it’s your two legged kids or four legged ‘kids’ !
When my mare was pregnant I bought supplements, got her ultrasounds, blanketed her, how the hell can some one breed a mare and let her get to that state??? UUUUUGGGGGGHHHH drives me NUTS!!!
5minpins, care to tell us WHY there will be no charges? WHY will AC do nothing about these horses? Even if the majority aren’t starving, as you say, why are the horses in the photos starving? Is she feeding selectively or what? The condition of these horses is a travesty & no matter how you feel about the situation, I can’t believe you’re defending the starvation of these horses.
I hate to see them starve as well, but I have to go with the enabling theory on this one. They suffer a little longer in the immediate future but long term is more promising. If you bail this woman out now the horse has feed this week, but how long can you supplement someone else’s inability? By allowing them to be placed elsewhere they at least have a chance of a successful recovery, forever, not just right now until the next big news story. I’m not there, I haven’t seen it firsthand, and I don’t know any of the people involved. I have a rescued OTTB, that I can afford, who was bone thin when I got him. The owner couldn’t afford to feed him so she GAVE him to Friends of Ferdinand, who placed him with me. I guess I’d like to see a little more forward thinking than finger pointing, as we’re all entitled to our opinions.
The picture that gets me is the foal standing next to the rack of bones that we assume is its mother.
One of the problems I have with many rescues is where their priorities lie when it comes to using limited time and treasure to benefit the animals in their care. It’s like triage in an emergency room. SOMEONE with firm emotional wiring needs to go through the carnage and determine which victims can be helped and which ones cannot — comfort those too far gone until “the end” and expend effort and resources on those with a chance to make it. And I’m not just talking those with the best pedigrees or show records. I’m just talking “viability.” Rescue is a thankless task, often, but there are those who do the job and do it well. I applaud — and support — those groups.
As for the Judys and others who appear to have their priorities a bit backward, there is the “walk a mile in their shoes” camp on one side and the “WTF” school on the other. Regardless of where you fall on the scale, it is the animals that suffer. That is the real crime here. Whatever it takes to do right by the horses must be done. If the people involved are mentally ill, that’s one thing. If they are criminally negligent, that is something else.
Regardless, the animals need food every single day. We have domesticated them, we are their stewards. End of discussion.
Although I have nothing in this:
5 minpins wrote: there is more to this story than what you know.
IMO I don’t give a shit if she lost both of her legs in an accident. Call someone and have those horses hauled out of there. I have seen horses around here that were confiscated or given away that didn’t look as bad as that 9 yr old stallion. There is absolutely no excuse for starving horses. Period. He isn’t even skinny, he’s absolutely starving.
fhotd nails it again. they’re like children guys. there has to be consequences. yes, it is sad that the horses are the victims of this behavior, but if they are “rescued” from the person doing the starving without that person enduring any consequences… guess what? you will be out there rescuing more horses sooner than you can say, “Damn, that used to be a nice little reiner.”
Just for shits and giggles….what does a bale of hay cost in Washington? Isn’t that where Judy lives?
I live in Central Pa and hay is very plentiful here. Horse quality round bales are $25-30. Square bales that weigh about 30lbs a piece I paid $1.50 delivered to my house. Bigger bales 60lbs were $2.50.
Is hay the expensive were she lives that she can’t buy any and other people have to do it for her?
If anyone in the mid-atlantic region is looking for a really nice warmblood … cheap, here’s one that needs a home. This ad doesn’t have pictures, but I remember seeing one of her a while back when her price was higher. She’s a very attractive bay. She’s located pretty close to me. If someone was really interested, I could go check her out.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/grd/1466636797.html
Kabuki is a beautiful bay 16.1h Dutch Warmblood 17 yr old mare by 17h stallion “Consul” (http://www.ironspringfarm.com)
She has fantastic gaits – active forward walk and effortless canter.
Could do lower level dressage.
Her dam is a Native Dancer grandaughter.
She is easy to breed and a GREAT mom!
Sound, no vices, easy keeper, good for vet and farrier.
Gets along with other horses.
Current coggins, shots, dental. Good shipper.
July 30, 2009 – Kabuki just foaled a gorgeous filly “Dutchess”
I must sell this mare quickly due to my health issues.
$900 to excellent home – any reasonable offer will be considered.
Photo’s and Youtube video clips are available.
Call Wendy 908-797-3535.
Judy has resigned from WRHA, not sure about NRHA as she is/was on the BOD.
Fugly with all due respect I would offer a parable (true parable) about enabling and would suggest you think more about your stance on the subject, because you can always provide/help/feed with strings attached.
This parable is from another form of addiction (hoarding horses being just one of a whole panoply of psychoemotional disorders). I was married to a late stage alcoholic who drank and drove a LOT (I would never be his passenger OR his driver which really po’d him). We were at a gathering where he drank deeply and well. I took his keys away, and called a cab for him. Next day in my Al-Anon meeting – group for families, etc., of alcoholics – I was told that by removing his keys and putting him in a taxi I was “enabling” because “he needed to get in a bad wreck and maybe kill someone so he could FACE THE CONSEQUENCES of his addiction.” I walked out of that meeting, and never went back.
In some people’s views it is enabling the addict/hoarder/abuser to help to prevent suffering or death. In some people’s views it is compassionate helping to prevent suffering or death – compassion being for the victim.
I continue to be committed to helping the animal victims of these situations and do not consider that enabling. That’s my opinion. I am disappointed that it isn’t yours, too.
It just doesn’t make sense, when people let any animal get in that condition! And it’s truly unbelievable that law enforcement and animal control are letting it continue! I don’t have a lot of faith in our local animal control, since I have personal experience with them. When we had our boarding facility, we agreed to take 11 Morgan mares, out of 34 that had been seized in our area. All we offered, was a nice size pasture for them to stay in for 2-3 weeks. Hay was supplied, and volunteers were to come out and try to “tame” these horses. Two girls (18), came approx. 3 times, so my daughter and I went and at least started brushing them. 1 farrier attempted to trim feet, and was knocked on her ass in a matter of minutes. That’s the last we saw of her. I had requested shots and coggins be done in the first few days, as I had 30 other horses in my care, and they were well separated. That never happened. So, the 2-3 weeks, turned into 3 1/2 months, and I finally told them they needed to be removed! They finally got some people together, and had a YAHOO round-up, that started at noon and finally finished at midnight!!! And that’s after I went out in my pj’s and told them we hadn’t had any sleep, and had to be up at 4. Then the trashing of us started…. Never again…
You know, people who defend the people that caused a situation like this often state things like “but this is a special situation” and “you don’t know the whole story”, as if the owner having a hard time is a valid excuse. I know, shit happens, horrible things can happen in life. I don’t think anyone in this blog will argue with that, since many readers have probably gone through hell and back and still managed to care for their horses. And I know, sometimes circumstances actually do prevent the proper care of horses (although “being really stressed” does NOT qualify – chemotherapy, two broken legs and nobody to help you, completely broke with all your possessions already sold of – fine, you really can’t take care of your horse) but then it is absolutely the responsibility of the owner to FIND CARE FOR THEIR HORSES, EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING THEM AWAY. Those horses DID NOT GET THAT SKINNY OVERNIGHT. It takes a long time for a horse to get in that bad of shape. I do not believe that everything possible was done to find them a home. Sure, I bet everything possible is being done now, but it should have been done much sooner.
Bottom line, the owner has failed to get her horses what she needs. How hard it’s been for her is besides the point.
drsgjunky – Yes I would bet that is her on Facebook. I noticed one of her friends and he is an equine insurance agent I have personally used in the past.
It amazes me how well bred some of her horses are and how she let them get to that point! Let this be a lesson to all the backyard breeders out there that if this woman has horses that royallt bred and can’t sell them, what makes you think you can sell the grandson/daughter of a big name horse when she obviously couldn’t get rid of these? Think before you breed!
Its not about the saleability of the Horse…. Its about the salesmen that has the knowledge to sell the horse. Some people couldn’t sell a NRHA Futurity Champion if they had it in their own backyard.
5minpins,
Can we have the names of the veterinarians who examined these horses?
MelissaV explained it PERFECTLY. Go read her post. That is exactly what will happen. And she’ll breed mares in the spring – mark my words.
When riders, owners and or breeders of quality horses hit the skids there is a simple, realistic and efficient answer. It’s called a liquidation sale.
A date is set. The horses are groomed, trimmed and admired. Friends within the association and people looking for a deal on a quality animal gather and buy the stock. The horses go to their new homes, the owner gathers what money she can and life goes on.
Often times the friends who buy the horses are more than happy to sell them back when the seller gets on his/her feet.
I have seen this happen more than once. The gossip is there, but it’s not usually cruel. It dies down. The person who had to sell is welcomed back and not judged.
This woman needs to go to prison.
She needs to be banished from the NRHA and AQHA permanently.
I’m sending a complaint today.
This needs to make it into the magazines.
Bloggers got Clive Wells nailed. If you google him the second definition is “Clive Wells horse abuse.”
It needs to be done again.
That’s a nice thought, Sunvalleysally, but fhotd and the rest of us can only help so many horses. If we help this woman’s horses, we neglect horses with owners who actually deserve the help. And it is enabling, period. Yes, it’s sad for the horses, but if she’s able to keep them because other people fed them for her, what’s going to happen to the next horse, or the one after that? What’s going to happen to them when others stop helping? How can animal control justify taking the horses or charging her for animal cruelty when they look OK?
Your parable is sad, and I disagree with the group’s thinking, too, but it really is a different type of addiction and enabling has a different outcome.
The “special” circumstances are that she messed up and she knows it. The starving horses were put in the wrong [already overgrazed] pasture. But what is not so special, in my opinion, how did they stay there that long?!?!? That is why some of the horses are fine and others are not. For the person wanting to know the cost of hay here, I paid $240/ton put in my barn, I think it is about $12/bale at the feed store, not positive on that number.
Do all of these horses needing homes have them now? If not, how do I go about getting on “the list?” I dabble in reining and wouldn’t mind a good prospect to start next year. I also feed my horses and have references to back that and my training ability up. And I live in Washington. Did I mention that I feed my horses?
Oh my God. This is the high falutin Caton Ranches???? Holy crap, what the hell? I guess if it can happen to Caton Ranches it can happen to anyone. Jesus, ask for help! Any one of us who has shown at your facility, or with you, or in the associations would step in if you would just freaking ask. It is a terrible thing to allow your pride to get in the way of your stewardship of these animals, they have carried you to amazing heights and this is how you repay that?? I am sickened. Sickened!
MrWiggles says:
Judy has resigned from WRHA, not sure about NRHA as she is/was on the BOD.
=====
Don’t see her here:
http://www.nrha.com/board.php
Things must be getting quietly cleaned up. Not to worry. These types surface again and again (e.g. CBER). Thank the endless line of Enablers.
As for “cherrypicking”, that sounds as if Ms Caton has decided to feed some and not others — and now is offended that when she begs people to take her horses, they are first interested in those that will not cost them a great amount to rehab. “I didn’t think this horse was worth feeding, so take it.” When you cannot feed every horse, then EVERY horse is a candidate for free rehoming, including those you deigned to care for! Do the first to respond get the best? Well, sure — they were the first ones to step up!
There was a similar situation recently where dozens of Arabians were seized; some were in horrific condition, others bad, others so-so to “okay” — reportedly the owner had repeatedly refused assistance because he was offered low prices for horses he considered more valuable, regardless of condition. And some on the lists supported him! He could have sold most of his animals for better than meat prices, but because he chose to be offended by the offers now he has nothing. No horses; no money from sales. He at least finally admitted his situation and surrendered registration papers and provided identification.
If you cannot feed/vet/care for feet/clean stalls/etc., it doesn’t matter what you think the horses are “worth” — a horse is always worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and not a penny more. You are only entitled to feel the horse is worth more to you than to potential buyers if you are taking proper care of it — if you cannot do that, then guess what? It’s your responsibility to take what you can get to place that horse with someone who *can* care for it.
As for enabling — while it would hurt my heart NOT to help, I would only do so if either I could deliver the feed/hay to the horses myself or if a third-part administrator was put in charge of donations to care for the horse, and this was announced far and wide — with the goal of supporting the horses while new homes were found for them and every dollar was put against Ms. Caton — that is, to be repaid in full before she benefitted one penny from any sale.
BIG sign in the pasture: These horses cared for by (Organization Name); available for sale/adoption. Apply at ….
Imagine the glow in the eyes of the junior rider/4Her/amateur who finds the ex-stallion in their barn on Christmas morning — he could look quite a bit better by then, and would probably never want for anything for the rest of his life.
Sunvalleysally, your ex-husband chose to be a drunk. These horses did not choose to be starved. I’m all for helping people and especially animals but sometimes you have to draw a line. These horses should be taken away and given to someone who will care for them properly.
Bacchus – God of wine. Hmmm.
Death or agony of slow starvation at the hands of a horse neglector or death disability or disfigurement at the hands of a drunk driver – it is still agony and it is still death, Bacchus. A victim is a victim. And I DID say “strings” but perhaps in your haste to make me “wrong” you didn’t read that part.
I too would like to know which vets passed these horses. As I used to live in that area I bet I could accurately “guess.”
lol you guys are amusing, you assume so much. you dont read what is being said. for the record, I have two. one of them is 20 and lame. nobody wanted her! I took her. let me say it again, the cherry picking, she was trying to get the worst ones in foster care of whatever you want to call it… they were thin not starving. those were turned down by a certain few, they wanted to take the well bred ones that were not skinny or having problems. and when told no, for now those ones are ok but I need these ones to be taken care of first…they screamed and threatened. tell me there wasnt some greed on the agenda…they wanted to leave the ones that needed attention and take the ones that were worth the most and didnt have ANY problems. go figure… I would think that if you truly were trying to help, you would remove the ones that needed help the worst. not remove the ones based on bloodlines alone…
nobody said she gets a free pass or an excuse for the others is acceptable, but feeding the ones that were waiting to be removed later on in the week wouldnt hurt anything. I dont call it enabling if I know that they are going to be removed and are just waiting for their ride. but quite a few refuse to see that they might benefit from some feed while they waited. how sad is that? nobody said lets bring a load of hay so she can keep them all. on the contrary. here she is doing exactly what everyone is screaming for her to do, yet they are making lots of excuses so they dont actually have to help, sitting behind a computer and saying get them out of there!! but I only want one if its not skinny and has the best bloodlines…fuck that…
as far as I am concerned the show is over, the horses are being taken care of. They have new homes. there is hay and vet care now, real people actually stepped up and helped take them in. She gave them away and is working with AC to rectify the situation. Nobody said she is not responsible for the situation. You can assume what you want, it is your right. it wont help one horse out but hey, if thats what makes you happy then so be it.
5minpins
Did it ever enter your mind those that offered to take horses might have had to consider their own finances? By the looks of the photos, there was going to be a fair amount of expensive involved to rehabilitate the horses, IF they ever were going to be healthy again. Anyone with common sense would not take on a horse or project they themselves know they could not afford or did not have the means to care for in the condition those horses were in. Likely the real horsemen knew the limit of their finances, considered the added expense, & the funds it might take away from what they could provide for their own horses.
AC are indeed public servants, but so are our elected officials. Give some of these folks a badge, uniform and citation book and too mant times you get the “Renta-a-Cop Rambo.” I’ve been to the local Pound several times — once I went two times in one day — and was treated like I was the worst dog killer in the county. No reason, but customer service is non-existent in the High Desert for the most part, and it takes real determination to get past the mostly toothless minimum-wagers that know the keycode on the door leading to the cages in back and are, therefore, in control — of YOU — the taxpayer who contributes to their paycheck.
Otherwise healthy horses do not become skeletal overnight. She knew long before they started to go down that she would not be able to take care of them in an acceptable manner. At that time, she should have started selling/leasing/or giving them away. It is absolutely criminal that she allowed the horses to deteriorate to the point they are in the pictures. If there are horses on the place that are not starving, that makes it all the worse.
As for people donating feed to care for the remaining horses – if you give that woman hay you are merely allowing her to continue the facade for a little bit longer. She can’t take care of them, and feeding them for her would only prolong the inevitable. There is never an excuse for empty water troughs if that part of the report is correct.
I live in Central Oregon and paid $110 a ton for alfalfa – really nice hay direct from the farmer. There was some work involved in the 8 ton I bought for my 4 horses, but it was a labor of love.
ridingspots – she says she is “keeping” the horses left or they are for sale. As someone else said, there were people taking horses for themselves, not to save the horses but so they could get a better chance of winning and a lot of fighting going on over it. How admirable – not!
hossluvr – what facilities? She has talked about building a show arena, etc for years but has never followed through. She has sponsored a lot of events though.
drsjunky – yes, looks like she did resign from NRHA also
How commendable the woman donated to Reining shows & etc. I once knew a woman that donated to every possible project in our community & kept a herd of valuable dogs, she spent a fortune on. In the meantime she was hiring someone to wire up her husband’s truck with explosives. Lucky for him, someone on his job noticed the wiring sticking out behind the seat. Yes, she went to prison and all the good front she put up for the world to see did not make her any less evil.
MelissaV: If you donate food for the horses still in her custody (and so far you say she’s kept the best ones), she’ll feed them, they’ll look better, she’ll say ‘lookit, no problem here!’, AC lets her keep the animals, repeat the cycle. If you look at it that way, she’s culled her stock, gotten all her expenses taken care of for a year or more, and starts over with no permanent consequences. Sounds like a winning strategy for her! The next time she finds herself with too many horses and not enough money, what do you think she’ll do?
Spot on IMO.
All the horses need to go and an investigation mounted. Preferably before any horses die.
Having seen more than one unjustified attack on this blog, I’m reserving judgment. We don’t know when those pictures were taken, the circumstances around the story, etc… With 5MinPins comments, I’m not willing to throw Caton under the bus just yet.
This is OT but, I adopted a rescue horse about 5 1/2 months ago. I know nothing about his past. The rescue I got him from only told me that he was 6 years old and an Arabian. They also said the other “rescue”, aka the ass holes who made the horse a rack of bones, had little ids ponied on him. I was wondering if there is any way to find out more info on him? I have lost contact with the rescue ( the didn’t answer my last two e-mails ) but, the last time I talked to them I asked if they could give me the POS rescue’s e-mail or number or any other info they said no. I do not have papers, or even now if he is registered. Is there any resources to find out anything about him? The rescue I adopted him from was called Blue Barn Farms located in Zanesville, OH. There were two other horses hauled in with my horse (Bones). A sorrel yearling QH colt, and a 6? yr old bay hackney pony. All horses were emaciated. Feel free to e-mail me at stwawbeweisncweam16@yahoo.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9594162@N02/sets/72157622205709944/
http://frombonestobeauty.blogspot.com/
This is making me climb the walls.
At least they all seem to have decent feet… I’m puzzled as to keeping good trims on horses and paying to get it done and having the horses starve in their pens… I’m not sure, but I think I could put off farrier services for 1 month to buy hay and feed the poor things. Second thing… I would NEVER take on 24 horses myself… What are people smoking!?!?!?! Give them away to good homes who will rehabilitate them and get them back to where they were. This is not a pride thing, it’s a life and death thing… man up and face what you need to face. I personally couldn’t bare to see my mares like that and would’ve gave them away to good homes who can feed them. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE them to death and would die to see them go, but what needs to be done needs to be done! If I had a property like that, I would’ve considered dividing pastures and leasing to other people, but I would’ve definatly downsized before that.
5minpins is “Salina Bailey” one of our reining people here in Washington at the WRHA. I can’t believe you want to side with Judy Salina.. Well now people know who at least one person that is standing behind Judy..Good luck facing all of us at the WRHA shows now. Your name will run right along with Judy’s.. The thought that I know you…
Feeding the starving horses belonging to someone who can’t or won’t is, indeed, enabling. There have to be consequences.
Could she be a hoarder? Does she think she can take better care of them than anyone else, in spite of the state they’re in?
However, if she doesn’t want to admit she’s wrong, if she doesn’t want to let go of the good stock but is willing to let the lesser critters go, then she’s just selfish and self-centered. Looking good is more important than actually doing good.
In both personality problems, self-delusion is a big part of the picture.
And I totally agree that 5minpins should tell the story. Perhaps she tried, and when it was typed, it didn’t look as exonerating as she thought it would. Or maybe she hasn’t read the comments yet… C’mon, 5mp, let us have it. I’m always willing to look at both sides, and happy to defend those who need it.
Ruthie
Oh, and one more thing. If theses horses are for sell, where can we find them advertised??????? Her website sucks. Nothing on there other then old old pictures.. If someone that didn’t know of her and was looking for a horse, then how in the hell would they find her horses for sale and know what she has to offer????? We need not to sit back and think that other people are taking care of this matter. We all need to step up and not let her get away with this.. If you want to fight this matter, pick your phone up, start writing letters, reports, send pictures with the reports and speak up.
I’m a reiner and there has to be more to this story. The stallions are standing elsewhere and this woman is a non pro. Non pros can’t do much in NRHA outside of showing. The feet on most horses are trimmed. There had to have been a trainer running things in this barn. Reiners don’t show on their own and typically have the horses at the trainers to be fitted up to show. I’m not saying she’s in the right, any association would be ashamed to have their name out there like this, but I’d like to know the rest of the story.
My estimation is, the horses in the condition they are in could not grow a foot. There was no food value going into those horses. All of the horses’s body fat was being consumed just to stay alive.
Snohomish County Animal Control avoids seizing horses if at all possible. Although there are some caring officers, the management (shared with the comptrollers office) does not want the financial responsibility of seized horses. There also is an unfortunate focus on horses as livestock rather than companion animals. I fails to see any logic in that rationale.
Should charges be filed and the horses seized, the owner has fifteen days to notify the court whether they want to regain possession. For at least that two weeks AC must pay all the expenses of the animals. If the owner wants to fight for custody, AC must support the animals until the case goes to court. Rescues and individuals can offer to support the horses with no remuneration. With most rescues full, that leaves individuals to step up to the plate. I assure you there are not many appropriate foster homes available.
So, yes call them. Call them often! They won’t like it. Who cares? I believe my next call will be to the Monroe Monitor for a little follow up story to Judy Caton’s building being auctioned. Snohomish Animal Control won’t like that at all.
As for her buddy, 5minpins, you are enabling her with your support. I know she has assets that could readily be sold to buy hay. How about the truck? You do what you have to do when your animals need feed. Or you give them up. By the way, since those two vets support her horse care how about you share their names so we can ask them directly?
So it comes down to money. And social responsibility.
Her friend even admitted ” they only wanted to adopt all the best bloodlines, because they weren’t skinny and didn’t have problems” She has the nerve to call them greedy.
Well guess what cupcake, they didn’t breed them, did they?
I guess she was a bit of a cherry picker herself.
She only fed the ones that had good blood lines?
Or wanted to keep the ones that didn’t have any problems and let other people trying to help take all her problem horses that she created?
Whether they were opportunists or not. If I couldn’t feed 10 and someone wanted my 5 best that were show quality…I would give them up so I could feed the other 5. See how that works?
Unless she bought that gelding in that condition recently, there is no excuse.
Even if he was in the care of someone else at a boarding facility, She should have checked up on him.
Dang…. the FHotD snipers are out in full force!
OK, Judy Caton is an asshat for letting things get to this point, but 5minpins, you did NOT give us any of this other info till now. And the whole “I KNOW things that YOU don’t know” thing got a little old back in high school.
At least things are getting mopped up, but Ms. Caton definitely needs more than a slap on the wrist.
Last year I saw a girl riding an exquisite Arab I didn’t know. I asked her dad, “Jerry where DID you get that gorgeous mare???”
Apparently a local person with a small, high-quality operation came down with cancer, and invited all the Arab people he knew to come pick out a horse or two from the pasture before things got bad.
I can respect that.
She’s a Khemosabi granddaughter – you can tell just by looking, too….
/cheap shot/JudyCatonlikesSarahPalin/cheap shot/
i agree with fugs on this one 5minpin….. it is terrible yes but i agree that you help her, the cycle will repeat again especially when you get some f…….cking idiots out there that won’t press charges .. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE .. and I hope you read this blog and realize that this is you. I wish there was an Animal Cops Washington State .. cause this shit wouldn’t go on. You see the ones in NY Texas and Florida….those people DO NOT get off. There is no reason healthy horses look like that…..and NO horse gets like that in a couple of weeks or a month. I say bombard the damn town officials .. let it be known it is going public and they have no gag order for it. Does the reining association have a blog? or a facebook page?
And 5minpins … what is her f……cking excuse for not watering her horses? Can you elaborate since you are all knowing about this situation?
How is she paying her mortgage? once she is forclosed on then what happens ?
Well 5minpins: “Salina Bailey” I was a person that offered to help and guess WHAT????????????? I was turned DOWNNNNNNN. I wasn’t one of those that said I only want this one, I would have took the worst of all of them. I have nice bred horses and don’t really need more THANK YOU, “I HAVE MONEY TO FEED MINE AND BUY WHICH EVER HORSE I WANT,” but I seen horses that need food. Judy looks like she has been feeding herself. Doesn’t look like she lost any Weight to me the last time I seen her… Whats up with that. I would rather starve myself and die before I watched my horses or family starve and die… WHATEVER she has no right to keep any of them. She is not a responsible breeder and is just going to get herself in a mess again. Beside that, her brand is no good to anyone anymore.
TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THESE PHOTO’S AND TEL ME THIS HORSE DESERVES THIS?????????????????????????
http://waltenberry.com/displayproof.html?gid=23&id=1666
NotaFollower says:
Having seen more than one unjustified attack on this blog, I’m reserving judgment. We don’t know when those pictures were taken, the circumstances around the story, etc… With 5MinPins comments, I’m not willing to throw Caton under the bus just yet.
Well, I can tell you that I have seen some that were just removed last week and they are very very sick horses. Not a ounce of fat or muscle on their bones to feed on any more. That is enough to show me that Judy shouldn’t be breeding horses any more that is for sure.
5minpin says:
“as far as I am concerned the show is over, the horses are being taken care of. They have new homes. there is hay and vet care now, real people actually stepped up and helped take them in. She gave them away and is working with AC to rectify the situation”
boy that was sure fast…..Hmm lets have proof of new homes ie copies of papers listing new owners.. that would be nice to know. I wonder if someone is going it take them on a free lease for a little while and then they will probably will go right back to Judy later to go through the same shit right?
The only thing the AC should do is to do what other judges do and forbid her to ever have horses again….wait .. any animal again. Once an abuser/neglecter always one.
That sounds too sugar coated for me to believe….ouch my sugar sensitive teeth…(no dentist work because my horses and animals came first) and I realizing the truth couldn’t afford to keep my last horse any longer so I sold him and a now a sweet 13 year old girl is just thrilled to have him and is loving him showing him and YES most importantly FEEDING him.
some people just don’t see the truth in owning animals. They are not only property but they are living breathing things that need food, water, love and someone smart enough to know what is important.
nikki said:
Just for shits and giggles….what does a bale of hay cost in Washington? Isn’t that where Judy lives?
She does live in Washington, and actually only 10-15 miles from where I was keeping my horses over the summer. We pay about $300-400 for a ton of very nice timothy or timothy/alfalfa mix hay. That was feeding my 4 (including a draft and a TB) for about a month. We can’t really do round bales here, they get wet and rot before the horses can eat them.
Fugly said:
“And she’ll breed mares in the spring – mark my words”
The two TB mares I recently rescued were from a ranch that the owner went to jail (selling crack in a school zone) and he thinks he is getting out soon so he told his tenant to let his stallion out so all the mares will have their babies again next year, he has 21 horses, 5 babies from last spring, no hay in the barn…the tenant (who only rents a cabin there, and has her own horses to take care of) told him she would but she never did, thank God! She did tell him she though all the mares were probably pregnant…
One of the mares is about 15 and has an old broken knee (dumb rescue but she is my mare’s double) and the other is a beautiful chestnut about 3-4 that was thrown out in a field as a weanling and apparently never touched! So I have a 3-4 yr old, 16.2hh ‘weanling’ on my hands! just taking it slow and easy with her….
@Sunvalleysally
The problem with your comparison is that the situations are not even remotely similar. You are your husbands loving wife and will be in a position to take his car keys away from him forever, if you chose to do so. You are quite likely sparing the rest of us grief although your husband will never change without any need to.
However, are you suggesting that we, people who are not related to this woman in any way care for her horses for her? For how long? When will this stop? What consequences will there be for strangers stepping up? You can’t expect society to take responsibility like that. There has to be personal responsibility somewhere.
BAKERHORSEPOWER says: I’m a reiner and there has to be more to this story. The stallions are standing elsewhere and this woman is a non pro. Non pros can’t do much in NRHA outside of showing. The feet on most horses are trimmed. There had to have been a trainer running things in this barn. Reiners don’t show on their own and typically have the horses at the trainers to be fitted up to show. I’m not saying she’s in the right, any association would be ashamed to have their name out there like this, but I’d like to know the rest of the story.
Well no trainer is running her ranch.. She has been on her own.. And her stallion is on her damn ranch…
Concerning feeding horses that are still in the hands of the abuser: I think this is a classic example of winning the battle but losing the war. Sunvalleysally’s AA group story about letting a drunk on the road so he can “crash, maybe kill someone, and face the consequences” is awful, I’d walk out of that group too. But there’s a big difference between endangering innocent human lives for the sake of teaching a drunk a lesson, and leaving innocent animals hungry for a little longer so that AC can jump in and stop the situation permanently. I don’t like it AT ALL either, but if you feed the animals, AC can’t do their job and nothing will happen. The situation will continue, and more animals will suffer for it. So as much as it sounds cold hearted, I’d rather take a long term view and shut down the animal abuser – and hopefully that can be done before anyone dies.
I could see feeding animals for a couple of days until the trailer shows up to take them somewhere safer, as long as there is a written and legally binding agreement that the animals are leaving ASAP. Otherwise, the promise to give up the animals will disappear the moment the hay hits the ground.
I was there. I PURCHASED two horses in June. I bought Wally and Lena a 20 year old mare that I was told was 15. Wally has an ongoing kidney issue from the lack of feed and water. Lena seems to be okay. I also was given 7 starving yearlings that were in rough shape. All of the yearlings were placed in loving show homes and are all thriving today. I was there again on Monday the 16th to get papers on the original batch of yearlings. When I saw the conditions of the remaining horses, I was sick all over again. I was told that the money from my purchase would be spent on feed. I don’t think it was. I was told as late as October 10th that she had 140 tons of hay on its way to her house….I never saw it and I was looking for it. I have tried to give her the benefit of the doubt for the last 5 months. I have called and emailed offering to purchase feed and help in any way that I could. I stood in her barn last week and begged her to let me help so that this wouldn’t become the circus that it now is. I am done being sympathetic. This has to stop. As I was rescuing starving babies in June, she was waiting for a new batch of foals to arrive….why didn’t she feed what was already on her property? I cannot get beyond her inability to accept any responsibility. I pulled Whiz out of the mud. The puss from his eyes was oozing to his nose. That picture was taken immediately after I put him in a stall in her barn last Monday. Just to be clear….some of the pictures on here were NOT taken at her house. The yearlings and 2 geldings were removed at dark and the pictures were taken at their temporary home the next morning. The truth needs to be told. I have tried to help in any way. I was there with Animal Control and the sherriff. I do not know who the vet was that saw the horses. I was told by Animal Control that one had been called and was on his way before we left that night. I have no reason to lie. I have not gained in any way by getting a “free” horse. These poor animals deserve to be “heard” they needed a voice and they deserve to live.
Jiver Have you called Angel at Pasado’s? We need your story.. In writing so we can use it. Please, Please if you haven’t yet write a letter and email it to her or call her at 360-793-9393. We need everyones story.. Judy has already took horses back to her property this week.
You did your part and now don’t have to have any guilt. But that kind of human being who neglected those horses I would never want for a friend.