Texas broodmares rescued from Auction

[second_glance]

Sadly, Karista's Punch was euthanized last night. And Donna is beside herself.

Sadly, Karista's Punch was euthanized this evening after a heroic effort on her part. She was very tough all the way to the end. I am so sad to say I feel somewhat responsible for her death in that we did not have an emergency fund set up for something like this. Vet clinics will not take a horse in for surgery without a huge deposit, we just didn't have it. I am starting the KARISTA'S PUNCH FUND today so I never have to make another decision based on finances. If you would like to make a donation in her honor you can go to http://www.teamkeen.com/thekaristaspunchfund.html . This account will be used only for emergency veterinary care. If we could have gotten her to the surgery clinic earlier we might have saved her. Now her fund can be there if it is ever needed for another.

This is an issue too often faced by the smaller rescues that deal with the more dire cases: auction or neglect & abuse horses, who often have medical issues. When faced with an emergency situation like this, they have to make a choice: spend their funds on one horse (I'm told that "simple" colic surgery can easily cost $5,000-10,000, depending on geography, and often much more) or let that one go so those thousands of dollars can be used for many other horses.

So think about it -- and give if you choose and can.

[mimi6920]

That's so sad. RIP Karista's Punch. My thoughts go out to RMR because they have done such an amazing job with these horses. I wish I had money to donate and help out, but sadly I am really broke right now. Maybe someday....

[second_glance]

17yo Luxury of Time, a daughter of Seattle Slew, finally made it home to Golden Eagle Farm in CA this morning. Kind of a rough trip, though. The hauler couldn't get her to drink much water, so she arrived quite dehydrated, plus her bad knee seems to be giving her problems. She got some IV fluids and banamine immediately, and will get more, but already is perking up.

Some photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0977533&type=1

You can tell they are thrilled to have her home.

[Catalina]

Devout thanks to Donna Keen and to Golden Eagle Farm. I imagine Luxury of Time recognizes that she's finally back home.

[second_glance]

Worrisome news about Luxury of Time. She has a very serious lung infection, and is fighting for her life. They are having to drain fluid off her lungs.

You can read more about it here in various posts on GEF's FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/GEFRacing



Want to know how much they wanted her back? Look at the new plate on her new halter:



Many JINGLES for Luxury!

[klsyr1]

Worrisome news about Luxury of Time. She has a very serious lung infection, and is fighting for her life. They are having to drain fluid off her lungs.

You can read more about it here in various posts on GEF's FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/GEFRacing



Want to know how much they wanted her back? Look at the new plate on her new halter:



Many JINGLES for Luxury!

Her facebook page almost brought me to tears. I so hope she can pull through this.

Thanks for sharing the update.

[second_glance]

Her facebook page almost brought me to tears. I so hope she can pull through this.

Thanks for sharing the update.

I thought these were particularly wise words:

"We will continue to do what we can for her and as long as she has fight in her eyes we will stand by her and do everything possible. Lori is picking up some ice for her feet as founder is always a secondary concern. The entire GEF staff is on watch alert taking turns checking on her and Lori & Charro's boys will be giving her little loves only kids can provide all weekend. What makes a horse great is the fight inside and that can't be taught, its a choice and Luxury will make that one for us. In the meantime, we ask that everyone continue to send positive energy, prayers and thoughts her way."

[klsyr1]

I thought these were particularly wise words:

"We will continue to do what we can for her and as long as she has fight in her eyes we will stand by her and do everything possible. Lori is picking up some ice for her feet as founder is always a secondary concern. The entire GEF staff is on watch alert taking turns checking on her and Lori & Charro's boys will be giving her little loves only kids can provide all weekend. What makes a horse great is the fight inside and that can't be taught, its a choice and Luxury will make that one for us. In the meantime, we ask that everyone continue to send positive energy, prayers and thoughts her way."

Oh, to live in a world where all owners were so kind. The pictures kill me - they look like they love her so much. It good to know, though, that they will do right by her if the time comes to say goodbye.

[SthrnRaine]

Oh no. Poor dear girl. I will be sending out prayers asking that she be afforded the Luxury of Time for many good years to come. I love that she's home with such caring people. No matter what, at least they can all find great comfort in that.

[second_glance]

Luxury in Time is hanging in there, and there's some improvement. Still has fluid draining out of her lungs; they've put in a long-term tube for drainage and she tolerated that well. Although not normal, her blood work is improving. And, knock on wood, so far her feet are okay. She's hungry, wants her grass & wants to be outside, and gets a little cranky now and then. All good signs, say her vet and owner.

[Martin]

I've only read the first page so apologies if this has been brought up already but why not do what some sales here in the UK have done and impose a minimum bid at these auctions?

A minimum that makes it uneconomical for those who are exporting the horses to buy them.

If they sell for $200 in Mexico, plus $300 for say transport why not have a minimum sale price of $1,000 - anything that goes for less than that is returned unsold.

Martin

[serenassong]

Worrisome news about Luxury of Time. She has a very serious lung infection, and is fighting for her life. They are having to drain fluid off her lungs.

You can read more about it here in various posts on GEF's FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/GEFRacing



Want to know how much they wanted her back? Look at the new plate on her new halter:



Many JINGLES for Luxury!

She still has fight in her eye, hope it's enough to pull her thru this time.

[second_glance]

I've only read the first page so apologies if this has been brought up already but why not do what some sales here in the UK have done and impose a minimum bid at these auctions?

A minimum that makes it uneconomical for those who are exporting the horses to buy them.

If they sell for $200 in Mexico, plus $300 for say transport why not have a minimum sale price of $1,000 - anything that goes for less than that is returned unsold.

Martin

To the best of my knowledge, most, if not all, of the big TB horse sales do have minimums. But these types of auctions are toward the other end of the spectrum. However, I learned this year that at some of them, at least, the seller can set a reserve.

[Martin]

We do have some minimum bids at some sales (like Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland). But you're talking of cheap sales where riding horses may be bought for peanuts. I'm guessing these sales are all over the world, not just here.

They are V. I was at a sale here in the UK, the bargain basement sale with our trainer and they set a minimum sale price of £400, anything sold for less is returned to the consigner unsold.

The minimum sale price was imposed as the butcher was coming over from Belgium, buying 5 or 6 for £600-700 in total and then shipping them off back to Belgium for slaughter etc. There are still the odd one that is sold to the meat man for slaughter but it's far less than 3 or 4 years ago.

There's no point having a minimum bid at Fas-Tip yearling sale or at Keeneland - they're top sales and there's massive demand for horses, it's sales like the one we refer to here that need the minimum bids etc.

All TB sales I know of allow the seller to set a reserve but if there's no minimum sale price and the seller doesn't set a reserve then presumably you could buy a horse for $20-30????

Would prefer legislation regarding the sale of horses at such auctions, treatment etc. post-sale.

Martin

[Rainyday]

They are V. I was at a sale here in the UK, the bargain basement sale with our trainer and they set a minimum sale price of £400, anything sold for less is returned to the consigner unsold.

The minimum sale price was imposed as the butcher was coming over from Belgium, buying 5 or 6 for £600-700 in total and then shipping them off back to Belgium for slaughter etc. There are still the odd one that is sold to the meat man for slaughter but it's far less than 3 or 4 years ago.

There's no point having a minimum bid at Fas-Tip yearling sale or at Keeneland - they're top sales and there's massive demand for horses, it's sales like the one we refer to here that need the minimum bids etc.

All TB sales I know of allow the seller to set a reserve but if there's no minimum sale price and the seller doesn't set a reserve then presumably you could buy a horse for $20-30????

Would prefer legislation regarding the sale of horses at such auctions, treatment etc. post-sale.

Martin

You might be surprised by Keeneland. Their sales are massive, and some very cheap horses are run through in the later books. I've read about meat men visiting the stables of large Thoroughbred auctions after the sale and loading their trailers with the no-sales, although I'm under the impression there's been an effort to stamp that out, at least at some sales.

I'm not sure if you get just how low end some of these low end auctions are. I've never been to one, but I've read a lot of auction reports. They're not TB sales, but general livestock auctions in farm country that hold a horse sale every month or every few months. The auction these mares ended up at was of this sort, although I haven't read any reports from there. And, yes, horses at these sorts of sales can and do fetch double digit prices. Frequently it's some breeder, usually of quarter horses or Paints, that hauls in a bunch of shaggy unhandled youngstock, and runs them through the ring for $25 apiece. Ponies, minis, and donkeys often don't crack the hundred dollar mark either. These are seriously low end places, where the average price isn't above meat price, or isn't above it by much. They might lose a lot of business with a minimum bid--after all, meat men are clients, too, and some horses go to legitimate homes at those prices. Not even all horses bought by kill buyers go for meat--some of them are dealers on the side who pick up some nice-looking cheap horses as resale projects, and some of them have learnt they can make a lot of money off bleeding heart rescuers.

When all that's said and done, I'd prefer to see minimum bids, too, but I don't think it's going to happen. I think it comes down to the simple fact that in the current state of the economy, there are more horses than there are homes. If they don't go to meat auctions, a lot of them are going to be giveaways on Craigslist and end up in the same place.

[Flanders]

All TB sales I know of allow the seller to set a reserve but if there's no minimum sale price and the seller doesn't set a reserve then presumably you could buy a horse for $20-30????

These aren't just TB sales though, any kind of horse, donkey, or mule could go through the auction. There are many low-end auctions. I've seen posts on other sites giving a brief description of the horses that go through an auction and their sale prices. It seems like every low-end auction has horses selling for well under $100. So yes, you could buy a horse for $20-$30, sometimes you could probably get 2 for that much.

[Tice]

These aren't just TB sales though, any kind of horse, donkey, or mule could go through the auction. There are many low-end auctions. I've seen posts on other sites giving a brief description of the horses that go through an auction and their sale prices. It seems like every low-end auction has horses selling for well under $100. So yes, you could buy a horse for $20-$30, sometimes you could probably get 2 for that much.

The incoming President of the APHA just sold a TB through a known kill auction. She and her MONTH OLD foal were pulled from the kill pen by a rescue. They called him to see if he knew what had happened.

Not only did he know he wanted to know how much she brought (I think $100) and told the rescue more were on the way. And no he refuses to sign them over.

I am so glad I let my membership lapse.

[second_glance]

If you've got some extra prayers or jingles lying around, Luxury of Time could use them! Latest update:

Been out all morning with Luxury. She's still holding her own although she went off her food and had a temp this morning. We did an ultrasound and noticed some fluid in her chest again so decided to change out her old chest tube with a new one. So glad we did as we hit a huge pocket and drained over a gallon of fluid from the right side of her chest. Dr. Talbot thinks that if she starts to improve after this we might be headed in the right direction with her. If she continues to decline, it might be her body is just to weak to fight anymore. This weekend will tell. Continue the prayers!

[serenassong]

Prayers for her.

[Native Diver]

I will definitely remember her. Maybe getting that fluid off will improve her appetite and things will pick up from there for her. Stay in the fight, Luxury!