Lio's full story is on the website now, if anyone is interested. Not sure how to make a blue link here, but the site is gratefulacres.org.

He is coming along beautifully with halter training and leading, though he has taken me for a couple of drags. It's so cute...whenever he acts up, and gets the resulting correction, he's miffed at me but still seeks comfort and reassurance from me right away. I can practically SEE the bond developing, and am so honored that he trusts me this way.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

Grateful Acres Link

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), February 15, 2002.

hmmm i couldn't find the story.

-- steve (stevetamara@mindspring.com), February 15, 2002.

Here's a direct link to the story.

Lio's Story

Shannon, I've visited the flea market at Shipshewana several times, and I had no idea that things like this went on. Thanks for the information.

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Shannon, He looks absolutely gorgeous! I am happy for him and you! You are a special person. Kate

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), February 15, 2002.

Shannon, I'm overwhelmed, by horror at the story, and by gratitude to you for rescuing Lio. God bless you in your work.

-- Bonnie (51940@aeroinc.net), February 15, 2002.

Keep in mind, folks, that we all put those animals there. If there were no market for horse meat, there would be no auctions like this. To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure what horse meat is used for in this country, but I would assume it is used for dog and cat food. We should all use caution about condemning the kill-man when his job wouldn't exist if there were no demand for his product and we create the demand. I guess education is the key, but a lot of folks out there would still prefer inexpensive products to humane ones (since they don't have to see the cruelty), and often humane products cost more since being humane is more labor-intensive. Don't get me wrong, I abhor cruelty to any type of animal (including human), but we all need to keep in mind WHY these things go on. I'm sorry to be depressing!

That said, Lio looks great now! It was amazing to see that big body and baby face next to your other horses...Lio is about the same size but with that baby face I know he's got a long way to grow! Enjoy him!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 15, 2002.

Thanks for the link, Chuck. And Sheryl, you are absolutely 100% correct! Horse meat factoids: 1. animals used for pet food are "rendered" while those used for human consumption are "slaughtered". 2. The horsemeat that is produced here in the US is shipped to Japan and Europe for human consumption. Ironically enough, Belgium imports a lot of horsemeat, too. I imagine that the pet food companies take the stuff that is rejected by the packing house as unfit for human consumption, whether it's horse parts, cow parts, or whatever. Does anyone know, is it even legal to eat horses in the US? I mean, theoretically, could Joe Blow shoot his old pony out back and butcher it, just like he'd do with ol' Bossy the cow?

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

I don't know why someone couldn't butcher a horse, they are considered livestock.....

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), February 15, 2002.

Shannon, I strongly suspect that the overpopulation of Belgian horses, the males anyway, are due to the need to produce Premarin, which is by far the biggest seller of all drugs in America right now. And this is entirely our fault, or the fault of anyone that uses Premarin!!! There are better, and cheaper, and safer alternatives to Premarin, you just have to insist on not using a mare's urine drug to your OB/GYN.

The estrogen found in Premarin is only natural if you are a horse, not for humans, there are vegetable produced estrogen compounds and drugs that are better for you, and all those foals produced by the Premarin farms that keep Belgian mares pregnant round the year just to collect their urine to produce the drug Premarin. Truly a digusting method to make a drug that doesn't even treat lifethreatening symptoms!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 15, 2002.

Go Annie! I think there's a Premarin link on our site, that gives the whole ugly story. And you're right, our boy may have been a PMU foal, since they like those big horses who produce lots of pee. We'll never really know, but there sure were a lot of Belgian babies at that auction.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Premarin mares are being returned to their owners, according to reports at Rural Heritage Front Porch. I had heard that due to synthetics, premarin would be discontinued soon. Now I hear that mares are being sent back home to their owners. Some people leased their mares to the Premarin "centers" and now those mares are being returned home and may not be utilized again.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), February 15, 2002.

I've heard about the horrible treatment of horses at auctions before, but your story really hit home. I haven't been able to get it out of my head all day. I'm sure that others are wondering the same thing as I am- what can the average person do to prevent such things? Are there companies (such as cat and dog food makers) that we should boycott, or perhaps legislation that we could write our congressman about? Thank you for sharing Lio's story, and also the stories of those that weren't so lucky- hopefully hearing of their fate will get people to act, and prevent more suffering.

-- Sarah K. (ladynuala@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

Cindy, what you're saying is almost too good to be true...where can we find out more about it? And you know, I'm not really sure what, if anything, regular people can do about the problems at horse auctions. However, there is a group called the Equine Protection Network. Their site is exclusively about auction abuse. I will get the address for you.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Well. let's not blame just the dog food companies. They are just buying what is produced. What about all those people who think it would be so "cute" to have a baby horse. As soon as they find out how much work it takes they sell it to who knows where and sooner or later most of them end up at an auction. Then there are all those "breeders" figuring on making some MONEY because they have a purebred something or other and those bloodlines should be continued. Yada, yada, yada. The bottom line is that if there wasn't such a surplus of horses generated by the horse lovers of america, there wouldn't be so much misery at the auction house. I've rescued 3 horses from there already but I've run out of space and time to care for any more. Shannon, I would be willing to donate some $ for another one if you can manage it.

-- teresa (teresam@ascent.net), February 15, 2002.

My God! I would have GLADLY purchased the broodmare or filly or one of the colts. I can't believe the mare and filly went to slaughter and not snapped up by someone else. I bought my farm from Amish and are friends with some that remain and I do not see the lack of care you noted. Ernie has helped me with a foal last year that fell in my creek and he was very helpful and most gentle. I wish I were closer, I would happily give one a home

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), February 16, 2002.

My sister had to have a complete hystorectomy at age 29. None of the synthetics have worked for her so she relies on Premerin. Folks, not every drug works for every person. Sad fact is that some will not be able to take the synthetics & will need premerin.

As for dog food, I can tell you that my hubby works for Purina and they do not use horse meat as far as we know. Most fo their stuff is grains, beef hearts & other parts, lamb quarters, fish & chicken.

-- ellie (elnorams@aol.com), February 17, 2002.