Jade's Story
My name is Jade. I originally bought a green 5 year-old palomino gelding from a man about 30 minutes away. From what I could see, he collected horses; he had a lot of them. I got the gelding going really well and had several great trail rides on him. Before long, though, I realized he had an issue with bolting unexpectedly. These episodes seemed entirely random, and they were dangerous. One day, while I was riding him in the pasture, he bolted and smashed me into a tree. The impact broke my pelvis. My husband said that if I wanted to continue riding, I had to sell him and buy something sane.
My ad for the palomino stated that he was green broke, had a nasty bolting habit, and had broken my pelvis. I said that he was unpredictable and dangerous, and would NOT be suitable for anyone other than a good rider or someone willing to sink some serious money into professional training.
A woman emailed me, saying that she thought he was gorgeous and that while she was an older lady, if she bought him she would send him to a trainer and he'd become her trail horse. We talked back and forth for a few days. She seemed really nice. I wish I'd researched her, though. I would have found out that she picks up cheap horses all over the state, from people like me or from auctions, and then resells them to unsuspecting people. She decided she had to have my gelding, so I sold him for $600.
The next day he was for sale on Craigslist for $1,500. This woman gave him a new name and described him as a registered (a surprise to me!) “beginner-friendly" horse. I contacted the woman, angry about the false pretense of the sale, and her lies in misrepresenting him. She reminded me that I had signed a bill of sale, and the horse was hers. The only thing I could think to do was post ads on Craigslist myself, warning people about the “beginner-friendly” palomino advertised for sale. In an effort to pacify me, a few months later the trader's husband emailed to say that they knew I needed a horse, and they had just the one for me. They'd make me a deal if I'd let the drama die. The palomino had been sold anyway, so I decided to drop it and see if they had anything worth looking at. They described a 14 year-old gaited mare that was very well trained and “kid-safe.”
Upon seeing the mare, Ebony, I knew that this was not what I wanted. I didn't want another project horse; I wanted a good, safe, confidence builder. This mare was so thin, even in full winter coat, you could see every bone in her body. The first thing out of my mouth was "Gosh, she is sure skinny." They told me "gaited horses have more bones than normal horses." I chose to ignore that, because what do you say to a statement so ridiculous? Anyway, the mare was in bad shape. In addition to being severely emaciated, her feet were in appalling condition. Her shoes looked like they had been put on six months before and her feet were horrendously overgrown. Her frogs were gone; rotted away from what was probably a combination of neglect and thrush. The soles of her hooves were bloody pits where the frogs should have been. Also, her right eye was badly damaged. The seller claimed she had impaled her eye on a stick "awhile ago" but no one sought veterinary treatment so it was ulcerated and swollen. She clearly had no sight at all in that eye. When I arrived, she was covered in sweat marks from saddle and bridle. The trader told me that she knew the mare “rode good and wasn't bothered by the eye” because they had "rode the hell out of her" for 8 hours on the trails the day before. She told me that if I didn’t want her, they would put some more trail miles on her the next day. Obviously, I didn't have a choice at that point...
According to the trader, Ebony had been with them for a couple of months, and when I specifically asked, she stated the horse had never been exposed to a stud; there was no chance she could be bred. I asked out of paranoia... I also asked about her Coggins and registration papers, and was told they would mail those to me soon.
I bought the mare for $400. Her original asking price was $1000, but they were cutting me a "great deal" because of our "misunderstanding" about the palomino. I got Ebony home and settled her in a warm blanket with good hay in front of her. Here she is the day she got home, thin and in pain, with dead eyes- she had no hope in those eyes at all. My vet, when her saw her a few days later, was horrified. He felt she would not have survived the winter if I’d left her with the trader.
My ad for the palomino stated that he was green broke, had a nasty bolting habit, and had broken my pelvis. I said that he was unpredictable and dangerous, and would NOT be suitable for anyone other than a good rider or someone willing to sink some serious money into professional training.
A woman emailed me, saying that she thought he was gorgeous and that while she was an older lady, if she bought him she would send him to a trainer and he'd become her trail horse. We talked back and forth for a few days. She seemed really nice. I wish I'd researched her, though. I would have found out that she picks up cheap horses all over the state, from people like me or from auctions, and then resells them to unsuspecting people. She decided she had to have my gelding, so I sold him for $600.
The next day he was for sale on Craigslist for $1,500. This woman gave him a new name and described him as a registered (a surprise to me!) “beginner-friendly" horse. I contacted the woman, angry about the false pretense of the sale, and her lies in misrepresenting him. She reminded me that I had signed a bill of sale, and the horse was hers. The only thing I could think to do was post ads on Craigslist myself, warning people about the “beginner-friendly” palomino advertised for sale. In an effort to pacify me, a few months later the trader's husband emailed to say that they knew I needed a horse, and they had just the one for me. They'd make me a deal if I'd let the drama die. The palomino had been sold anyway, so I decided to drop it and see if they had anything worth looking at. They described a 14 year-old gaited mare that was very well trained and “kid-safe.”
Upon seeing the mare, Ebony, I knew that this was not what I wanted. I didn't want another project horse; I wanted a good, safe, confidence builder. This mare was so thin, even in full winter coat, you could see every bone in her body. The first thing out of my mouth was "Gosh, she is sure skinny." They told me "gaited horses have more bones than normal horses." I chose to ignore that, because what do you say to a statement so ridiculous? Anyway, the mare was in bad shape. In addition to being severely emaciated, her feet were in appalling condition. Her shoes looked like they had been put on six months before and her feet were horrendously overgrown. Her frogs were gone; rotted away from what was probably a combination of neglect and thrush. The soles of her hooves were bloody pits where the frogs should have been. Also, her right eye was badly damaged. The seller claimed she had impaled her eye on a stick "awhile ago" but no one sought veterinary treatment so it was ulcerated and swollen. She clearly had no sight at all in that eye. When I arrived, she was covered in sweat marks from saddle and bridle. The trader told me that she knew the mare “rode good and wasn't bothered by the eye” because they had "rode the hell out of her" for 8 hours on the trails the day before. She told me that if I didn’t want her, they would put some more trail miles on her the next day. Obviously, I didn't have a choice at that point...
According to the trader, Ebony had been with them for a couple of months, and when I specifically asked, she stated the horse had never been exposed to a stud; there was no chance she could be bred. I asked out of paranoia... I also asked about her Coggins and registration papers, and was told they would mail those to me soon.
I bought the mare for $400. Her original asking price was $1000, but they were cutting me a "great deal" because of our "misunderstanding" about the palomino. I got Ebony home and settled her in a warm blanket with good hay in front of her. Here she is the day she got home, thin and in pain, with dead eyes- she had no hope in those eyes at all. My vet, when her saw her a few days later, was horrified. He felt she would not have survived the winter if I’d left her with the trader.
Here is a picture of a front foot, after my farrier pulled her shoes. I soaked her feet twice a day in Epsom salts and kept them wrapped. We made progress but it was many months before her feet began to look normal.
And a picture of her poor eye.
After a couple of months she was starting to look a little better, but she spent a great deal of time lying down, which worried me. She was so sweet, though. She just adored being groomed, braided, fussed over. I think it had been a long time since someone had just spent time with her, without riding her to exhaustion. She was so visibly grateful for each and every meal, every pat. It's hard to explain; she was simply so thankful, and you knew it being around her.
I had wormed Ebony with a Power Pack, but after a month or so, I was concerned that her “worm belly” was not going away. I called the vet back out, and he did a pregnancy test. Much to our horror, the vet announced that Ebony had a foal due in the next month.
I emailed the traders right away to tell them that the mare was bred. They hemmed and hawed. Their first explanation was that they had bought her bred, but since she didn’t look pregnant, they assumed she hadn’t taken. After a few more emails back and forth, their story changed.
"We bred her to our gaited jack,” they said, “Her baby should be gaited, so you got a two-for-one deal!"
When I reminded them that I had specifically asked on the day I bought her whether she could be bred (out of paranoia, not because she looked pregnant) they told me that if I wanted, they would take the mare back until she foaled, and would take the foal off my hands. Not surprisingly, I declined. Ebony was home, and she'd never go back to that hell. I did, however, continue to hound the traders daily by email for the Coggins certificate I'd been promised. Finally they sent me a check for $35 for a new Coggins. A week or so later, her registration papers (or papers for another horse with similar markings; it's anybody's guess) arrived along with the long-lost Coggins papers. There was only one problem- the Coggins was for a chestnut TWH gelding, not a black Racking Horse mare. The markings weren't even close. The Coggins stated the horse came from an auction in another state. This was obviously not Ebony’s paperwork.
Ebony gained weight, got shiny and gorgeous, and the spark of life came back into her eye... This picture was taken just a few days before she foaled.
I had wormed Ebony with a Power Pack, but after a month or so, I was concerned that her “worm belly” was not going away. I called the vet back out, and he did a pregnancy test. Much to our horror, the vet announced that Ebony had a foal due in the next month.
I emailed the traders right away to tell them that the mare was bred. They hemmed and hawed. Their first explanation was that they had bought her bred, but since she didn’t look pregnant, they assumed she hadn’t taken. After a few more emails back and forth, their story changed.
"We bred her to our gaited jack,” they said, “Her baby should be gaited, so you got a two-for-one deal!"
When I reminded them that I had specifically asked on the day I bought her whether she could be bred (out of paranoia, not because she looked pregnant) they told me that if I wanted, they would take the mare back until she foaled, and would take the foal off my hands. Not surprisingly, I declined. Ebony was home, and she'd never go back to that hell. I did, however, continue to hound the traders daily by email for the Coggins certificate I'd been promised. Finally they sent me a check for $35 for a new Coggins. A week or so later, her registration papers (or papers for another horse with similar markings; it's anybody's guess) arrived along with the long-lost Coggins papers. There was only one problem- the Coggins was for a chestnut TWH gelding, not a black Racking Horse mare. The markings weren't even close. The Coggins stated the horse came from an auction in another state. This was obviously not Ebony’s paperwork.
Ebony gained weight, got shiny and gorgeous, and the spark of life came back into her eye... This picture was taken just a few days before she foaled.
Soon after, this little guy was born.
Ebony gained weight slowly because her foal was sucking all the nutrition right out of her. On our vet’s advice, I weaned the foal early. I sold the baby to a wonderful mule-knowledgeable home. They had great references, and we were lucky to find them.
After that, Ebony gained weight rapidly, and she looked great. We had her teeth floated, which helped tremendously with her condition. She was full of energy, and I did get to ride her a little before her health again declined. She was like riding a freight train, an incredible ride. She must have been one heck of a horse before she was ridden into the ground. However, the trader had misrepresented her GREATLY. She would never be kid safe, and if I'd thrown a kid on her to ride around, it would have been a disaster. I was able to lead my daughter on her, but only on a lead and only in the pasture. She was a hot, eager mare- not a deadhead trail horse, as stated. I’m sure the only reason she'd behaved so well for the traders was because she was starving and heavily pregnant. She did not neck rein like they said, and she had a marked head tilt when ridden- even though they'd said the eye didn't bother her. It bothered her very much, and needed special care. It took a long time before she did not react in fear to being touched on her blind side. Our vet suggested that the eye be removed and we began to plan for that surgical procedure.
Happily, after months of work, her feet were also finally free of disease and looking healthy.
After that, Ebony gained weight rapidly, and she looked great. We had her teeth floated, which helped tremendously with her condition. She was full of energy, and I did get to ride her a little before her health again declined. She was like riding a freight train, an incredible ride. She must have been one heck of a horse before she was ridden into the ground. However, the trader had misrepresented her GREATLY. She would never be kid safe, and if I'd thrown a kid on her to ride around, it would have been a disaster. I was able to lead my daughter on her, but only on a lead and only in the pasture. She was a hot, eager mare- not a deadhead trail horse, as stated. I’m sure the only reason she'd behaved so well for the traders was because she was starving and heavily pregnant. She did not neck rein like they said, and she had a marked head tilt when ridden- even though they'd said the eye didn't bother her. It bothered her very much, and needed special care. It took a long time before she did not react in fear to being touched on her blind side. Our vet suggested that the eye be removed and we began to plan for that surgical procedure.
Happily, after months of work, her feet were also finally free of disease and looking healthy.
Just when we thought we were winning, Ebony’s balance began to deteriorate. The vet came again to do a neurological exam, which she failed. He guessed that foaling in such bad condition caused damage to her spine, nerves, and hind legs and no treatment would help her. The time she spent lying down increased and she had more and more difficulty struggling to her feet. At its worst she would flip backwards and hit trees or take out a fence line.
Watching my horse, I realized that Ebony was getting progressively worse. She still had good days, but I didn’t want to wait until she was suffering horribly; I didn’t want to say, “I waited too long and now my horse is in terrible pain.” I knew I had to have Ebony euthanized. It was an agonizing decision, but on the day the vet arrived to put her down, she was feeling good, and looked frisky. He refused to "kill a healthy horse." He made the heartless suggestion that I should take her to a sale instead. Obviously, I did not do that. I called around to all the local vets until I found one who would talk to me about putting Ebony to sleep.
This is Ebony shortly before she died.
This is Ebony shortly before she died.
The scheduled day arrived. My friend pulled up with her trailer, and looked at my mare in the pasture. Ebony was happy and gaiting around the field, excited to see the trailer. My friend asked me if I was sure about my decision, but when she saw how hard it was for Ebony to step up into the trailer, and how she could barely lift her legs, she understood. We finally got her loaded, and were very lucky to get her to the clinic without her going down. After a difficult time unloading Ebony, we walked her into the clinic. As the vet did his work, we fed her bananas and carrots, and loved on her. She was wearing her pink sheet and pink halter, and she was glossy, fat, and content. I'd promised her she would never suffer again, and she never did. She died surrounded by people who loved her. The vet didn't even know me, but he was so respectful of my horse. We cried, but as we looked down at her body, my friend said it best.
"We should all be so lucky to die fat and sassy, wearing pink."
Ebony died a week before Christmas, just 9 months after I had bought her.
These traders had lied about how long they'd had the mare, lied about breeding her, and then offered to take the foal “off my hands.” Ebony should never have had to carry a foal in her condition. The decision to breed her was what ultimately destroyed her poor, old body. To add insult to injury, they starved her, exhausted her, let her impaled eyeball rot without veterinary care, and told me the eye didn’t bother her. They said she was dead broke, safe for kids, up-to-date on everything. They also claimed that my horse was 14. Her registration papers, when I finally got them, told us she was actually 23 years old, which our vet confirmed by looking at her teeth. The only true thing the traders said about the mare was that she was black, and she had a nice long mane. She was not a horse for a beginner or child, and I believe she could have seriously injured a less experienced rider.
I bought Ebony knowing she would require many months of rehabilitation. I knew she would need expensive veterinary care. Oddly, I had never been deeply attached to a horse before, and had no premonition about Ebony. I told this story factually, and without unnecessary drama. What I wish to convey now is the wholly unexpected, utterly shattering manner in which she stole my heart. She was, as it turned out, that special, once-in-a-lifetime horse. Whether I could ever have ridden her was irrelevant. I would have kept her forever, and will always regret that our time together was so short.
A few months after Ebony passed, I was perusing Craigslist and came across five or six ads for Racking Horse mares from my traders. The horses were all emaciated, and they were all bred to jacks. I wonder how many people went through what I did? It makes me so sad. People like this woman and her husband are in the business of pawning off used up, low-end horses on people either too ignorant or too gullible to protect themselves. They sold my palomino as a “kid-safe” horse. They are beyond despicable. Horses suffer, people suffer... it's a shame.
"We should all be so lucky to die fat and sassy, wearing pink."
Ebony died a week before Christmas, just 9 months after I had bought her.
These traders had lied about how long they'd had the mare, lied about breeding her, and then offered to take the foal “off my hands.” Ebony should never have had to carry a foal in her condition. The decision to breed her was what ultimately destroyed her poor, old body. To add insult to injury, they starved her, exhausted her, let her impaled eyeball rot without veterinary care, and told me the eye didn’t bother her. They said she was dead broke, safe for kids, up-to-date on everything. They also claimed that my horse was 14. Her registration papers, when I finally got them, told us she was actually 23 years old, which our vet confirmed by looking at her teeth. The only true thing the traders said about the mare was that she was black, and she had a nice long mane. She was not a horse for a beginner or child, and I believe she could have seriously injured a less experienced rider.
I bought Ebony knowing she would require many months of rehabilitation. I knew she would need expensive veterinary care. Oddly, I had never been deeply attached to a horse before, and had no premonition about Ebony. I told this story factually, and without unnecessary drama. What I wish to convey now is the wholly unexpected, utterly shattering manner in which she stole my heart. She was, as it turned out, that special, once-in-a-lifetime horse. Whether I could ever have ridden her was irrelevant. I would have kept her forever, and will always regret that our time together was so short.
A few months after Ebony passed, I was perusing Craigslist and came across five or six ads for Racking Horse mares from my traders. The horses were all emaciated, and they were all bred to jacks. I wonder how many people went through what I did? It makes me so sad. People like this woman and her husband are in the business of pawning off used up, low-end horses on people either too ignorant or too gullible to protect themselves. They sold my palomino as a “kid-safe” horse. They are beyond despicable. Horses suffer, people suffer... it's a shame.
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