Buddy's story...

Buddy's story...His owner talked to many people and almost everyone she talked to (including some local "rescues") told her that because he was a  non socialized, fifteen year old stallion, the best thing she could do would be put him down or "get rid of" him.  She heard that so many times it was disheartening.  And several people offered her the name and phone numbers of dealers who would be sure to 'get rid of him' for her!

A note about those "rescues" from me...if a "rescue" says they won't take a stallion because they don't have the type of facility needed to properly care for him safely - that's one thing.

But for a "rescue" - an organization that is supposed to be dedicated to taking the horses no one else wants (hence the name "rescue"!) - to say "put him down" is unconscionable, and they should be ashamed to call themselves a "rescue" when it is painfully obvious that they are not 100% dedicated.   Buddy has already proven them wrong in the first 48 hours he's been with us.  If you are in the business of helping animals in need - you are not in the position to pick and choose which ones to help.  The rescues that Lauren spoke with that said put him down  did not say they don't have the proper knowledge or facility to keep him - they simply said get rid of him.  Wrong answer.  When you are in the business of helping animals - especially if you are a charity that asks for and receives public support - it is your responsibility to learn  how to take care of the species (all of the species) that you have chosen to help.  It is also your responsibility to know what to say to people.  Part of your "job" is also Public Relations.  If you don't want to take a certain type of horse, you need to explain that there may be other organizations out there that will.  You certainly, as a public institution, have no right to tell someone to destroy a perfectly good life because you don't know how to deal with that type of animal - or because you are afraid to deal with that particular type of animal. 

My guess is that the people Lauren spoke to that said "get rid" of Buddy are people who have the general misconception that most of the public has - horse community and otherwise - that stallions are dangerous and difficult.  They were afraid to take a stallion because they were afraid that they'd "get hurt".  Well, the little pony that does everything you ask, when you ask, or that dead broke mare that anyone who visits can ride -  are just as dangerous as any stallion.  All horses are unpredictable, and any horse at any time could kill someone - whether they meant to or not.  

This is one time I'm going to stand up on my soap box, open my  mouth and say just what I think of those people who said to get rid of this horse.  Shame on you.  You let your ignorance get in the way of learning, and you are obviously easily intimidated.  If you don't know what you're talking about (and I realize for some of you, it's difficult to admit you aren't the all and powerful "Oz")- shut up and don't offer  bad "advice".  If Lauren had followed your advice, a perfectly good, kind, loving horse with great potential would have been destroyed for absolutely no reason.  What if it were your child who had tremendous mental and physical challenges, and without medication was a danger to society?  Would you say he needs to be put out of his misery or would you look for help from a facility that could give him the care he needed the rest of his life or give you the means to keep him as healthy and safe as possible? 

Buddy is no different.  He needed to be somewhere where he had a separate pasture and shelter until he was gelded.  He needed to be slowly introduced into a herd again, and he needed someone with a little bit of knowledge, common sense and a healthy balanced dose of fear versus confidence to step in and help him through the next few months.  That is simply all Buddy needed. 

It is disheartening to hear so many people say they aren't up to the challenge.  If you are in the business of helping animals, and you don't know how to do something - then take the time to learn.  If you simply can't learn - then find out who can help that animal and refer people to them.  Don't take the position that the horse is better off dead.  If that's the way you feel, you shouldn't be in the horse "rescue" business and you are not a professional.

Back to Buddy... Bright Futures was one of the organizations (we don't like to call ourselves a "rescue" as we try to get the horses before they need to be rescued) Lauren contacted about Buddy.  When I called her back, she told me his story, and the frustrating issues she'd been dealing with to try to find him a home before the property he was living on transferred ownership in January.  I agreed to take him, but would have to either board him or one of my other horses to make room for him.  With the help of Susan Wagner of Equine Advocates in NY, we found a local facility who would take one of my geldings, Loco, so that Buddy could come here.  Lauren agreed to pay to board Loco for a short time so that Buddy had a home to go to - the only place that said they'd take him, Bright Futures Farm.  I've worked with stallions in the past and if they are treated with respect and not bullied or approached by a fearful individual, they are just as easy to work with as geldings in most cases.  And, some geldings  and mares are more difficult than some stallions.  It is all in the way you approach the animal and what their past interaction with humans has been like. 

Buddy is not your typical stallion.  He's very reserved.  He's kind, loving, curious, and intelligent.  Being re-socialized after twelve years alone doesn't seem to be an issue for Buddy.  He arrived on December 29, and has already met most of the geldings in the barn (2-15-06).  He's gotten along with the most passive geldings with no incidents, and it will be very easy to reintroduce him to a herd once he's been gelded (He was re-introduced on February 25 and is doing well). 

Thoroughbreds are a very misunderstood breed.  To most people they are "crazy, dangerous" horses.  And that is such a misconception.  They are intelligent horses that are very easy to get to know if you approach them with an open mind, and realize that all they need is understanding, patience, and ample turnout.  I have had many people come here that did not believe the horses here are Thoroughbreds because they are so laid back.  It's just not what people expect to see when you say, "He's a Thoroughbred". 

Buddy's personality alone makes him a great ambassador for the Thoroughbred breed, but the fact that he was also a stallion would have made him an even greater ambassador.