Williamstown to Old Friends
 

http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42370

Can someone explain to me how he came close to being euthanized? It said the insurance company had taken possession of him- I'm assuming he was insured against infertility, and when found infertile, in order to get the policy paid out the owners relinquished him to the insurance company, who then, having no use for a horse, were going to put him down? Is that likely what happened?

(Props to the employee at the insurance company who took the time to make the call about him to Old Friends)

Many Thanks to Old Friends!:)

We saw him there last week and he looks great!

Another forum has 7 pages of bickering as to the whys and wherefores of Williamstown's situation.

It's nice to see what Michael and others have done at Old Friends. Well worth the visit. I had visited the previous locations in the past but the new setup is fantastic.

Can you send the link to the forum, by any chance? I'm just curious if there was any discussion as to how that situation came about (that he was on his way to be euthanized, despite Ferdinand, et al). Is it because the insurance company took possession? I don't know how fertility insurance works ( or if that indeed was the case).

i'd imagine the ins co put out feelers for a home for him, as it's not as tho they have facilities for horses. perhaps the question would be put better to the farm that filed the claim. after all, war emblem had a policy paid out on him, but the farm kept him after receiving the money. i'm guessing the farm in this case wasn't interested--and shame on them if my supposition is true. euthanizing him would probably have been the case had they found no one to take him--so to say 'coming close' doesn't necessarily mean he was being lead out the stall door when he received a last minute reprieve. but it sure adds drama to the story.

put on your boots

http://thoroughbredchampions.com/for...?topic=21975.0

Thanks to Old Friends...now if we could just get War Emblem away to safety. I really am worried he will meet the fate of Ferdinand...

the farm that has war emblem has expressed interest in selling him. they're tired of trying.
but i don't know that anyone is interested, or interested enough to shell out the money. and of course both his previous owners are dead and buried, leaving only baffert as a connection to the horse state-side.

Michael Blowen is right on top of the War Emblem situation.

If I had the funds, I would have tried to buy him back a couple years ago.