Help save two special horses, Joe and Ebay!!
Donation protected
I beg all of my kind friends to please read and share!! This is a lengthy story, and I am not someone who is comfortable asking for help, but there are two beautiful horses in our community in IMMEDIATE, desperate need of assistance due to the extreme misfortune of their owner (my neighbor). It is a horribly tragic situation and I have been struggling with how to best help the horses, and I have decided to reach out to the horse world and beyond to see if we can come together to save these two sweet horses. This situation has been emotionally difficult for me and others involved, but I am taking a deep breath and trying to resolve this situation in the best way possible. With a sense of purpose I feel the need to share their story for three reasons. (1) Two wonderful horses in Tryon (Joe and Ebay) need help now or their lives are in danger!! (2) To raise awareness for the thousands of other horses also in desperate need of assistance and (3) To make all horse owners aware of how we need to protect our horses if something happens to us.
Here is the story of the two horses, Joe and Ebay. Human names have been changed for the privacy of my neighbor who is physically/ mentally impaired and is unable to tell the story for herself. She would never have wanted to burden anyone with this, and she **thought** that she had provisions set up for the horses in case anything happened to her.
About 10 years ago, a husband and wife (I’ll call them Pete and Mary) moved to Tryon in order to give their three horses an idyllic life on a beautiful farm. They had struggled for years boarding their horses in New York, as the horses had received poor care and mistreatment. Jupiter and Joe were big beautiful Irish Sport Horses who were imported from Ireland together when they were 4 years old. Ebay was an unraced TB who Pete and Mary adopted as a yearling from their terminally ill trainer. Pete and Mary had no children, and their horses were literally their lives, their prides and joy. I met them when they first moved to the area, and trained and cared for the horses throughout the years. Pete and Mary were dedicated horse owners, and the three horses had nothing but the best, getting top quality hay, feed, vet care, chiropratic, massage, and plenty of love and (maybe a few too many) treats.
About 4 years ago, the first tragedy struck. Precious Jupiter (about 20 years old at the time), had a serious injury to a front leg. Despite the best efforts of vets across the country, Jupiter was unable to be saved. The dream of the three horses living long lives in paradise was shattered. Jupiter was Pete’s special horse, his big baby, and no one has loved a horse more than Pete loved Jupiter. Pete had already been suffering from severe Lyme disease, and after Jupiter’s death he was so heartbroken that his health deteriorated rapidly and he sadly passed away within a year. The only thing that kept Mary going after this catastrophic loss was caring for Joe and Ebay, and her 4 cats.
In February of this year, the unimaginable happened. One of Mary’s staff and I found her disoriented and I rushed her to the hospital. As it turned out, she had a stroke and was in intensive care for two months, and unfortunately the stroke left her with severe brain damage. During this time, I managed the care of her farm, horses, and cats, along with her dedicated staff. It slowly became clear that due to the damage from the stroke, she would not ever be able to return home. She has very limited memory, extreme confusion, and cannot care for herself. She will need to live in a long term care facility for the rest of her life.
I had become very invested and attached to her cats, and made it my mission to find homes for all of them. This was no easy feat, as there is an excess of cats needing homes (this is a whole other issue!), and it took weeks and lots of time/ networking, but I miraculously found amazing homes for all of the kitties (THANK YOU to all who helped with that!!!). We all assumed that the horses would be fine, as Mary had thought that she had the proper legal provisions to have funding and care lined up for the horses if something happened to her. However, as we have since found out, there are legal complications when a person is put into long term care. If you do not have proper legal provisions and trusts for your animals in place, there are state regulations which force the sale of your horses. I don't understand all of the legal details yet, but once I have more information I will share more information on how we can protect our animals if something like this happens to one of us, but in the meantime I implore all animal owners to talk to legal experts and find out exactly how to provide for your animals if something like this were to happen to you.
Due to the legal regulations, we have been ordered that the horses have to be off their farm by May 19th. Joe is now 24 years old and retired (not rideable anymore due to an injury to his leg), and Ebay is 17 and retired (not rideable anymore due to chronic back issues), so I explained to the lawyer that they are not “sell-able” horses. In this situation, the state can seize the horses and take them to auction or put them down, but the lawyer is allowing me to find suitable homes for them, provided this happens by May 19th. Otherwise the horses will be taken to auction or be put down. MY CURRENT MISSION is to find these horses forever homes where they can have a safe and happy remainder of their lives.
When I found out that Joe and Ebay's lives were at stake, I began calling all the local equine rescues. They are all full and unable to help. I have called all of the rescue organizations that I can find in NC and SC, most of whom area also full or can’t currently take them for various reasons. For those of you who are unaware, there are THOUSANDS of un-cared for and unwanted horses in the US, many of whom end up at auctions, most of whom are then sent to the kill pen, and then on to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. It is a horrible epidemic in our society, too many horses are cast off when they are not “usable” any more or when people can’t afford their care. During my search for homes for Ebay and Joe, I have been told by multiple people that the best solution is to just put the horses down, that there will be nowhere for them to go.
I understand that the reality is that putting them down is better than having the horses go into the wrong hands, but the whole point is to get them into safe homes where they can live out their lives in peace which were Mary’s wishes and her only concern in life. I have been so disheartened, discouraged, and emotionally crushed by the response of “just put them down”. These are my neighbor’s beloved pets, more than pets really, these horses were as close to children as you can get. It is easy for people who aren’t immediately involved to say that “putting them down” is the best option. But when I watch Joe suck on his treats with his big floppy ears and soulful eyes, and see Ebay’s adorable little head looking around for his mom, to me “putting them down” is just not a good option. Mary is cognitively unable to understand exactly what is happening or to make decisions, but she would be absolutely beyond horrified to know that her horses may be euthanized because the legal system is unwilling to provide for their remaining years, despite her best intentions. I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens to her horses. So…
First and Foremost. I need to find homes for these two babies within ONE WEEK! The horses are not overly bonded, so they do not need to go together. DOES ANYONE HAVE SPACE AND RESOURCES TO TAKE ONE (or both) OF THEM?? Ebay would be an easy addition to a farm, as he could live out or in, and can get turned out alone or with a group. He is barefoot, an easy keeper, and is up to date on all vet care and in great weight and health. Joe is a more complicated because he has some special needs. He has bug allergies and does not do well in heat, so he needs a stall with a fan for the bug season. He has some arthritis, but a daily dose of Equioxx helps him to stay comfortable. Otherwise he is healthy and in great weight and is up to date on all vet care. He is a super sweet, BIG (17.1), and sensitive boy who needs a knowledgeable horse person to care for him in his aging years.
I know that taking on a retired horse is a BIG ask (I would take them in a heartbeat but my space and resources are limited at the moment, as I have already dedicated my extra space to my two spotted rescue horses who I saved from the kill pen and are permanent residents at my farm.) I have one equine rescue that can maybe take Ebay in a pinch, but so far I have found no one that is willing to take in Joe, and we are getting down to the wire. HERE IS MY PLAN: I would like to get donations together so that if we can find an equine rescue that can take one or both horses, we can contribute to their care, and the care of other horses at the rescue. If we can’t find a rescue that can take them, I will set up an account with the donations so that we can pay for them to be kept by an individual somewhere safe and have money for feed and medical needs. Every penny that is raised will be spent to give Joe and Ebay a happy life (and hopefully help other horses as well!), and I will post updates regularly so that everyone who donates can know exactly how the funds are being used and can feel warm and fuzzy about their donation! We can all use more warmth and fuzziness in our lives!!!
SECONDLY: There are SO MANY horses (and other animals) in dire need of our help. We are all such horse lovers but I think we become so focused on providing such perfect and extensive care to our own horses, that we forget to help other horses in desperate need. I feel like we can all do more, and surely most of us can donate even a small amount to the equine rescue organization of your choice, whether it be once a month or once a year. Or if you can’t donate monetarily, donate some time to help with the many tasks involved in a horse rescue organization. If everyone can help in some way, we can make a big difference in many horses lives.
THIRDLY: Even if you THINK you have your animals covered in a will, double and triple check that if the unimaginable happens to you, and if you pass away or need long term care, that your animals are CLEARLY provisioned for. This includes having immediate funding available to continue their care while things are tied up in the court system (which is lengthy and slow), and your horses need feed and care in the meantime. In this case Mary’s family were very kind and stepped up to pay the staff to continue caring for the horses while all was in limbo. Because Mary was a long time client, our wonderful feed store and vet were generous to continue services (knowing that they would eventually be paid, but it does take time for all of that to get sorted out), so you do need to make sure there are immediate funds available for your animals if something bad happens to you.
In conclusion, PLEASE HELP SAVE JOE AND EBAY!!!! And please keep the equines in need on your radar, we are SO LUCKY to have fat, shiny, healthy horses that we can pamper to our hearts content. We are lucky to be able to go to horse shows and enjoy horses as a sport. But remember that we are all also involved with horses because we LOVE them as a species, their majesty and the deep connection that we have with them, and this should transcend to the bigger picture. Beyond our world of fun trail rides, horse shows, and the privileged life our horses live, there are MANY other horses that NEED our help and if we can all do a little bit more we can make a big difference as a society.
Thank you for reading and caring about these two boys!!! I am grateful for our equine community and hopeful that we can come together to help! Joe and Ebay are innocents in all of this, and they miss their mom terribly and I know that she misses them. Give your horses a hug and appreciate every moment you spend with them.
Here is the story of the two horses, Joe and Ebay. Human names have been changed for the privacy of my neighbor who is physically/ mentally impaired and is unable to tell the story for herself. She would never have wanted to burden anyone with this, and she **thought** that she had provisions set up for the horses in case anything happened to her.
About 10 years ago, a husband and wife (I’ll call them Pete and Mary) moved to Tryon in order to give their three horses an idyllic life on a beautiful farm. They had struggled for years boarding their horses in New York, as the horses had received poor care and mistreatment. Jupiter and Joe were big beautiful Irish Sport Horses who were imported from Ireland together when they were 4 years old. Ebay was an unraced TB who Pete and Mary adopted as a yearling from their terminally ill trainer. Pete and Mary had no children, and their horses were literally their lives, their prides and joy. I met them when they first moved to the area, and trained and cared for the horses throughout the years. Pete and Mary were dedicated horse owners, and the three horses had nothing but the best, getting top quality hay, feed, vet care, chiropratic, massage, and plenty of love and (maybe a few too many) treats.
About 4 years ago, the first tragedy struck. Precious Jupiter (about 20 years old at the time), had a serious injury to a front leg. Despite the best efforts of vets across the country, Jupiter was unable to be saved. The dream of the three horses living long lives in paradise was shattered. Jupiter was Pete’s special horse, his big baby, and no one has loved a horse more than Pete loved Jupiter. Pete had already been suffering from severe Lyme disease, and after Jupiter’s death he was so heartbroken that his health deteriorated rapidly and he sadly passed away within a year. The only thing that kept Mary going after this catastrophic loss was caring for Joe and Ebay, and her 4 cats.
In February of this year, the unimaginable happened. One of Mary’s staff and I found her disoriented and I rushed her to the hospital. As it turned out, she had a stroke and was in intensive care for two months, and unfortunately the stroke left her with severe brain damage. During this time, I managed the care of her farm, horses, and cats, along with her dedicated staff. It slowly became clear that due to the damage from the stroke, she would not ever be able to return home. She has very limited memory, extreme confusion, and cannot care for herself. She will need to live in a long term care facility for the rest of her life.
I had become very invested and attached to her cats, and made it my mission to find homes for all of them. This was no easy feat, as there is an excess of cats needing homes (this is a whole other issue!), and it took weeks and lots of time/ networking, but I miraculously found amazing homes for all of the kitties (THANK YOU to all who helped with that!!!). We all assumed that the horses would be fine, as Mary had thought that she had the proper legal provisions to have funding and care lined up for the horses if something happened to her. However, as we have since found out, there are legal complications when a person is put into long term care. If you do not have proper legal provisions and trusts for your animals in place, there are state regulations which force the sale of your horses. I don't understand all of the legal details yet, but once I have more information I will share more information on how we can protect our animals if something like this happens to one of us, but in the meantime I implore all animal owners to talk to legal experts and find out exactly how to provide for your animals if something like this were to happen to you.
Due to the legal regulations, we have been ordered that the horses have to be off their farm by May 19th. Joe is now 24 years old and retired (not rideable anymore due to an injury to his leg), and Ebay is 17 and retired (not rideable anymore due to chronic back issues), so I explained to the lawyer that they are not “sell-able” horses. In this situation, the state can seize the horses and take them to auction or put them down, but the lawyer is allowing me to find suitable homes for them, provided this happens by May 19th. Otherwise the horses will be taken to auction or be put down. MY CURRENT MISSION is to find these horses forever homes where they can have a safe and happy remainder of their lives.
When I found out that Joe and Ebay's lives were at stake, I began calling all the local equine rescues. They are all full and unable to help. I have called all of the rescue organizations that I can find in NC and SC, most of whom area also full or can’t currently take them for various reasons. For those of you who are unaware, there are THOUSANDS of un-cared for and unwanted horses in the US, many of whom end up at auctions, most of whom are then sent to the kill pen, and then on to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. It is a horrible epidemic in our society, too many horses are cast off when they are not “usable” any more or when people can’t afford their care. During my search for homes for Ebay and Joe, I have been told by multiple people that the best solution is to just put the horses down, that there will be nowhere for them to go.
I understand that the reality is that putting them down is better than having the horses go into the wrong hands, but the whole point is to get them into safe homes where they can live out their lives in peace which were Mary’s wishes and her only concern in life. I have been so disheartened, discouraged, and emotionally crushed by the response of “just put them down”. These are my neighbor’s beloved pets, more than pets really, these horses were as close to children as you can get. It is easy for people who aren’t immediately involved to say that “putting them down” is the best option. But when I watch Joe suck on his treats with his big floppy ears and soulful eyes, and see Ebay’s adorable little head looking around for his mom, to me “putting them down” is just not a good option. Mary is cognitively unable to understand exactly what is happening or to make decisions, but she would be absolutely beyond horrified to know that her horses may be euthanized because the legal system is unwilling to provide for their remaining years, despite her best intentions. I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens to her horses. So…
First and Foremost. I need to find homes for these two babies within ONE WEEK! The horses are not overly bonded, so they do not need to go together. DOES ANYONE HAVE SPACE AND RESOURCES TO TAKE ONE (or both) OF THEM?? Ebay would be an easy addition to a farm, as he could live out or in, and can get turned out alone or with a group. He is barefoot, an easy keeper, and is up to date on all vet care and in great weight and health. Joe is a more complicated because he has some special needs. He has bug allergies and does not do well in heat, so he needs a stall with a fan for the bug season. He has some arthritis, but a daily dose of Equioxx helps him to stay comfortable. Otherwise he is healthy and in great weight and is up to date on all vet care. He is a super sweet, BIG (17.1), and sensitive boy who needs a knowledgeable horse person to care for him in his aging years.
I know that taking on a retired horse is a BIG ask (I would take them in a heartbeat but my space and resources are limited at the moment, as I have already dedicated my extra space to my two spotted rescue horses who I saved from the kill pen and are permanent residents at my farm.) I have one equine rescue that can maybe take Ebay in a pinch, but so far I have found no one that is willing to take in Joe, and we are getting down to the wire. HERE IS MY PLAN: I would like to get donations together so that if we can find an equine rescue that can take one or both horses, we can contribute to their care, and the care of other horses at the rescue. If we can’t find a rescue that can take them, I will set up an account with the donations so that we can pay for them to be kept by an individual somewhere safe and have money for feed and medical needs. Every penny that is raised will be spent to give Joe and Ebay a happy life (and hopefully help other horses as well!), and I will post updates regularly so that everyone who donates can know exactly how the funds are being used and can feel warm and fuzzy about their donation! We can all use more warmth and fuzziness in our lives!!!
SECONDLY: There are SO MANY horses (and other animals) in dire need of our help. We are all such horse lovers but I think we become so focused on providing such perfect and extensive care to our own horses, that we forget to help other horses in desperate need. I feel like we can all do more, and surely most of us can donate even a small amount to the equine rescue organization of your choice, whether it be once a month or once a year. Or if you can’t donate monetarily, donate some time to help with the many tasks involved in a horse rescue organization. If everyone can help in some way, we can make a big difference in many horses lives.
THIRDLY: Even if you THINK you have your animals covered in a will, double and triple check that if the unimaginable happens to you, and if you pass away or need long term care, that your animals are CLEARLY provisioned for. This includes having immediate funding available to continue their care while things are tied up in the court system (which is lengthy and slow), and your horses need feed and care in the meantime. In this case Mary’s family were very kind and stepped up to pay the staff to continue caring for the horses while all was in limbo. Because Mary was a long time client, our wonderful feed store and vet were generous to continue services (knowing that they would eventually be paid, but it does take time for all of that to get sorted out), so you do need to make sure there are immediate funds available for your animals if something bad happens to you.
In conclusion, PLEASE HELP SAVE JOE AND EBAY!!!! And please keep the equines in need on your radar, we are SO LUCKY to have fat, shiny, healthy horses that we can pamper to our hearts content. We are lucky to be able to go to horse shows and enjoy horses as a sport. But remember that we are all also involved with horses because we LOVE them as a species, their majesty and the deep connection that we have with them, and this should transcend to the bigger picture. Beyond our world of fun trail rides, horse shows, and the privileged life our horses live, there are MANY other horses that NEED our help and if we can all do a little bit more we can make a big difference as a society.
Thank you for reading and caring about these two boys!!! I am grateful for our equine community and hopeful that we can come together to help! Joe and Ebay are innocents in all of this, and they miss their mom terribly and I know that she misses them. Give your horses a hug and appreciate every moment you spend with them.
Organizer
Catherine Schwartz
Organizer
Landrum, SC