The horses are pretty much left untouched, as there are 40 of them. They have all had ALOT of training, if not broke, then were halter broke, and handled every day as they were stalled and given grain at night, for 4 yrs,
So you can always go out with a halter and catch them. And they are caught a few times a year for farrier work, spring shots and the ones that might get sold or ridden have coggins pulled.
The family will have to liquidate some of the horses as 40 is too many, or there abouts. 15 or so are broke, possibly up to 20. 3 belong to a good friend of the family who is in prison, and should get out this year.
One of his horses was the former stallion that sired a lot of the offspring, now a gelding, with a sway back so bad you could swing on it, his other gelding has cancer but is not in pain, but he won't make it past this year, and his last horse is a 17hh paint mare, whom he last saw as a weanling.
2 other horses belong to a UW professor who doesn't have time for them, they are mid 20's and upper teens now, he sends a check every month. 1 belongs to a dead beat who know she needs to move her horse out asap.
And my 2.5 (I was in the midst of purchasing/trading one that Joan and I rescued that she wanted, for a filly she has). I pay board for 3 so .. I don't know if they will give me the rescue horse back, or if they will give me
the filly and I just pay them the rest whenever.
The family will likely sell the unbroke 5 yr olds, and several of the broke ones, except for 2 favorites. The rest will be kept and cared for. I will likely be part of the showing of the horses, getting them, and
getting them cleaned, brushed and ready to be sold.
Joan was hoping the economy would improve to the point she would at least get her training fees back, every broke horse had at least 90 days pro training, and if a pinto are double registered, and if solid are registered half arab. I am not sure HOW they will sell them. I know if they had an auction on the property, Joan would never forgive them, and would I don't know what it would do to her.
30+ years of breeding great bloodlines, well conformed horses...
Update on Joan
According to a family friend who talked to one of her daughters last night. It was not AS bad as she had thought.. but still somewhat bad.
I will know more today.
Carol
