Hey Coot - Got Room for More Horses?

[MNeedham73]

Looks like there may be a few here needing homes soon (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-horse_weboct29,0,5960426.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout) :(

The fate of 46 horses that survived a weekend wreck in Lake County remained unclear Sunday as investigators looked into why 59 Belgian draft horses were being transported in a double-deck trailer made for cattle and pigs.

Here are some pictures of the accident. (http://www.bristolwisconsin.com/Horse%20semi-trailer%20Accident%20Photos.htm) A couple are a little graphic.

So far as my thoughts on the accident - I hope the truck driver, the owners of the horses and the owners of the trucking company get hammered for this.

"They were wedged in like sardines," said Fisch, who stayed at the crash until it was cleared about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

"At least seven were removed alive and had to be put down," Fisch said. "They would literally come out flopping over on their side—if not dead, in terrible shock. So exhausted, and so stressed."

Fisch praised the veterinarians and horse lovers, as well as the Newport Township firefighters, who worked long hours saving the trapped horses.

"This was just sweaty, dangerous, back-breaking work," she said. "We're all sore from pulling and pulling, trying to get these animals up out of the trailer."

:clap: to all the emergency responders. That had to be a massive job to get that situation under control.

I can't imagine what would have happened had the accident occurred in downtown Chicago rather in an area where there are several horse farms.

[Coot]

Man, that's messed up. Anyone find out why that yahoo was transporting them like that?

[MNeedham73]

The theory going around is that they were being transported to slaughter for pharmaceutical production. Also that the truck that wrecked wasn't the only one full of horses that went through that area.

Some of the horse owner's groups around here are planning to ask a judge to strip ownership of the horses from whoever the owner is.

I think one of the articles I linked to in the OP mentioned that the truck driver hauled ass home to North Dakota after the accident. That is pretty damning to me.

I have a feeling there are going to be several dozen Belgians up for adoption in the near future.


Here's an article from the other big Chicago newspaper (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/624788,5_1_WA29_HORSEACCIDENT_S1.article). I'm amazed at the sheer number of emergency personnel and volunteers that showed up to help with this. There may be hope for humans yet ;)

Newport Township Fire Protection District crews responded to the scene along with more than 40 firefighters from Newport, Beach Park, Fox Lake, Gurnee, Pleasant Prairie, Round Lake, Winthrop Harbor and Zion participated in the removal of horses from the trailer.

Plus, one veterinarian in particular put his life in danger helping the horses.
Dr. Gary Koehler, lead veterinarian at Tempel Farms, literally risked his own life while moving around inside the wreckage to aid the injured animals."He was in that truck. He was in the belly of the beast, and he did not come out until the last horse was out," Skofstad said. "He put himself in harm's way in a horrendous situation, and I'm real proud of him."

Tempel Farms (http://www.tempelfarms.com/) is one of the largest farms in the area here, and train and show Lipizzans. Bad enough that they experienced their own tragedy last week when one of their trainers was hit by a van and killed.

[Coot]

Unreal, these are yearlings. I can't imagine why they would be sending them to slaughter. You betcha, if they come up for adoption, I'd be very interested in acquiring one.

[MNeedham73]

Alright man. I'll keep an ear out and let you know when I hear anything regarding that. :)

[cdw]

transported to slaughter for pharmaceutical production.

Ok, explain that to me please. I know I don't really want to know it, do I.... but it's something I'm supposed to be aware of, isn't it.

What a terrible thing to happen. I wonder how long they've been transporting them in this fashion... just got caught because of the accident. I don't know how these responders deal with what they do. Thank god for them.

[MNeedham73]

Actually, I should rephrase that, Cyd. The horses could be the result of a method of producing estrogen.

One method of producing estrogen for hormone replacement therapy is extracting it from pregnant horse urine. (http://www.smart-drugs.net/ias-esnatri.htm) And of course, you have to have pregnant horses for that.

EDIT: I just noticed that they've updated the Chicago Tribune article since I originally linked to it. They've found and have been talking with the owner.

Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Curtis Gregory said the owner had health certificates and vaccination histories for the horses, but the records were not in the truck when it overturned. The owner faxed the records to authorities Monday.

Officials declined to name the owner, whom they identified only as a horse broker from Minnesota. The owner has cooperated with the sheriff's investigation, Curran said.

Gregory said it appeared the owner was aware of the type of trailer in which the horses were carried: a double-decker designed for cattle and pigs.

[MNeedham73]

Unreal, these are yearlings. I can't imagine why they would be sending them to slaughter. You betcha, if they come up for adoption, I'd be very interested in acquiring one.

Got a name and town for you from the Trib article Coot, just in case the horses go up for adoption:

Earlier Monday, the surviving 41 horses meandered about the Wadsworth farm of Fred and Vicki Carney.

The Carneys, who live less than 2 miles from the accident scene, volunteered their stable as a shelter. The barn phone has been ringing ever since as friends with stables offer to adopt horses and others ask how they can help, Vicki Carney said. Every serving of hay and every stroll around the open pen seemed to strengthen the horses, observers said. The rest are expected to survive even though most are injured, Vicki Carney said.

Up to 18 dead horses now, for the record.

[Coot]

It sounds like they have them covered locally. I found two records for Fred Carney in Wadsworth. I'll try and get a number for them tomorrow. If any of those youngsters are still in need of a place to call home, I'll offer to come and get one or two of them.

[MNeedham73]

The horses are going up for adoption (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-horse_adoptnov01,1,3374769.story?track=rss), by the look of it. But I think you're right Coot. It looks like they want to keep the adoptions local. :(

[Coot]

It makes sense, no need to traumatize them any further. This way, they have as close to a guarantee as they can get that they are going to good homes.

[Fiona]

That's along the lines I was thinking... They are going to be extremely nervous about getting into another trailer. The shorter the trip, the better.

I wish them long happy lives. :)