TRF, others refute misrepresentations in Drape smear

[randallscott35]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/sp...pagewanted=all

[somerfrost]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions....and lack of money!

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

The road to hell is paved with good intentions....and lack of money!

Or the shortsighted fact that they made horse slaughter illegal and farmed it out to foreign countries where it isn't regulated.

[Riot]

Owner could still take responsibility, and pay $200 to have their unwanted horses euthanized, rather than trying to get a final $250-500 for them at a killer buncher.

Or do as some of the farms used to: line up the unwanteds every spring in the back pasture, humanely shoot them, and bury them on the farm.

The problem is that people don't have the guts to take responsibility for their animals. It's difficult, I agree. Who wants to put down a horse that's 10 years old but nothing but a pasture ornament, so no longer wanted? So they sell it to a "good home" - which is a buncher.

If you are going to be in livestock, you have to be willing to be tough and humane.

[SuffolkGirl]

Is there a typo in there? Reduce the per diem TO $3 - who can feed a horse on $3 per day?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SuffolkGirl

Is there a typo in there? Reduce the per diem TO $3 - who can feed a horse on $3 per day?

Nobody. It's disturbing, the pattern of not paying for their horses, over time. If they can only afford to pay for X number of horses, that's what they are going to have to do. It's heartbreaking to say, "No, we can't take another horse, sorry", but you can't let them starve trying to be a do-gooder.

[otisotisotis]

Overbreeding at work again.

[jms62]

I was in Costa Rica over the holiday and quite a bit of people there still use horses as their main transportation. I'm sure quite a few unwanteds would get a good home, the only problem and it is a huge one is the logistcs of getting the horses there.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by jms62

I was in Costa Rica over the holiday and quite a bit of people there still use horses as their main transportation. I'm sure quite a few unwanteds would get a good home, the only problem and it is a huge one is the logistcs of getting the horses there.

Yeah, trying to insure they would get humane treatment etc, but we need to think outside the box and ideas such as that deserve consideration...good idea!

[Kasept]

TRF Leadership Defends Organization
By Ron Mitchell

Updated: Friday, March 18, 2011 5:15 PM
Posted: Friday, March 18, 2011 4:47 PM

Leadership of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on March 18 defended the organization from allegations that some horses were being neglected while under the care of the equine retirement program and said it was continuining to work to fulfill its mission. During a teleconference to address a front page article in the New York Times, TRF chairman Tom Ludt said the organization “disputes many of the assumptions in the story.”

[Kasept]

Dr. Patty Hogan responds to Drape
by Paulick Report Staff

Equine surgeon Patty Hogan, a recent addition to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, responded below to Joe Drape’s article in the New York Times regarding management of the organization’s horses.

Mr. Drape - I feel I must address some of your comments with some real facts:

1. The entire TRF board had the vet report you were referring to on February 23rd - the day it was written. Dr. Loafman was evaluating those horses at the direct request of the TRF/Mellon Fdn in order to insure accurate medical assessments and the safe shipping of all of the horses from that ranch. So yes we had that information way before you did and it was at our own request. I personally spoke to Dr Loafman at length and reviewed photos of the horses as well. I wish you had bothered to ask me about it.

2. The TRF had been trying to gain access to that ranch for weeks and was continuously denied- even showing up and the gates being locked. The reason why an "intent not to prosecute" was signed was to allow us to have the cooperation of the ranch owner and get onto the premises ASAP. If we went thru legal avenues at a snails pace, we would have wasted precious time and resources rather than having the chance to immediately retrieve our horses and move them to another location. This also allowed us to send in a team of horsemen and a veterinarian to the ranch after we removed our horses, in order to personally inspect all 4000 acres and be sure there were no horses left behind or unaccounted for. We could not have done that in a timely manner otherwise. We were also advised by the sherriff's department to proceed in this manner.

3. As soon as the TRF board was made aware of what was happening, action was immediately taken to take care of the horses. That was our #1 priority. There was no cover-up, there was no hush-hush. If you had asked us for information, we would surely have given it. But the truth is, you did not ask. If you had written this article as an investigative piece, rather than in the tabloid-fashion that it was, then maybe we would have had some valuable journalism here. You took what information was presented to you on a 'silver platter' by a person(s) obviously with an agenda, and ran with it. The fact is you contacted the TRF the day before the story was to print, without so much as a desire to find out the facts. The TRF offered you many sources to check into and that didn't happen. Give us a chance please.

4. No one is getting rich here. The TRF is not a perfect charity and has made many mistakes and exercised poor judgement. But the intent was clear and well-meaning - to provide a place for these racehorses that no one wanted. The fact is the TRF feeds 1200/day every day of the year and is struggling, as are many rescues/adoption organizations. Of course they are behind on their bills - but what do you do? If you are running a business, you would cut your losses, lay people off, whatever. What can you do here when the very thing you cannot afford to do is to feed and care for a living animal that your whole mission is to protect? Where do you cut your losses? The books are open for all to see - there is little money spent on administration - most of the salaried monies are for farm managers. The rest is for horse care - and there is not enough of it to go around - plain and simple. This is not unique to the TRF - it is happening everywhere. Without an industry mandate, volunteer organizations are left to tackle this terrible problem essentially on their own.

5. I work with many rescues/adoption organizations and I can tell you that they are all STRUGGLING to battle this problem attached to racing - there is a multitude of unusable horses,increasingly limited funds, and less and less opportunities for second careers. Almost everyone who is dedicated to these programs does so on a volunteer basis - even these "blue-chip board members" as you call them. We actually volunteer for this job- crazy as it is. Believe me, is is not picnic to give up hours and hours of your personal time, your own money, and expend efforts to help these horses, only to have someone like you have the ignorance and gall to paint this picture with such a broad,unflattering, and very midguided brush.

I fear that there can be no good to come out of your article and the horses will only suffer even more. Donations are already so hard to come by in these tough economic times, and the less people are inclined to trust and give, the less horses that will be cared for.

Maybe you would like to throw a couple of bales of hay our way? Its the least you could do.

Dr. Patty Hogan
TRF Board Member

[Kasept]

TRF: No Easy Solutions
by Ray Paulick

The allegations made by Drape – which I dispute as largely false and reckless -- are painful. Though several TRF board members, in particular chairman Tom Ludt and president George Grayson (who stepped into the role when a former president resigned suddenly Jan. 17 of this year) have spent countless hours dealing with the issues raised over the past several months, this is not the time or place to get into a “he said/she said” debate over conflicting reports from equine veterinarians on the care of the TRF horses, the motive of the veterinarian that leaked her reports to the New York Times, the competence of some former TRF employees, or the relationship between the executors of Paul Mellon’s estate and the TRF.

[randallscott35]

Thanks for these, so hard to get an accurate picture without info.

[jms62]

Problem nowadays is information is instant and most people believe what they read in the media with question. Especially from the NY Times... People are too fuking lazy to dig deeper.

PS..

I am still reeling over the Memphis loss...

[Cannon Shell]

Joe Drape is a sad joke.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Joe Drape is a sad joke.

Yes he is. . . I think there's obviously some validity to elements of this story, but the presentation of things came with that usual Drape spin.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Joe Drape is a sad joke.

If you've ever witnessed his attempts to handicap or to cover actual horse racing .... you'd better appreciate how relatively good his columns on subjects like this are.

[Kasept]

Dear Joe:

What's wrong with you? Do you have an axe to grind with somebody in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation? If so please let me know? By your very actions you have condemned many racehorses who desperately need our help to their death. And I for one cannot let this go without trying to reason with you. Permit me to explain. You rushed to judgment in an isolated incident, without doing your due diligence, and by doing so, instead of providing your readership with the true picture of all the good things the TRF has done, you have poisoned the well.

I have owned racehorses for more than a quarter of a century. I know all the good deeds the TRF has done since its inception as I can speak to you first hand. For the record, FLS is about 400 partners strong. They are all being copied on this email as well as other prominent members of the racing community. I have a feeling you're going to be hearing from more than a few.

One of our long time veteran partners is Regina Schneller, Esq. When I first met Regina, she and her husband John had never owned a horse or a horse farm. They joined us in 1999. Since then, they bought a horse farm in NJ. They now have over a dozen retired racehorses they personally bought, claimed, or were given that live with them on their farm. They have others that live nearby because they need constant around the clock veterinary and boarding care that they pay for personally. Why don't you go see their farm and all the good and loving things they do?

Regina serves as Counsel to the TRF. She is heartbroken by what you wrote. Regina out of her own pocket pays for retired broodmares {of ours} to have messages. She checks on them as best she can. No one loves animals/horses more than Regina does. Do you realize the pain you've caused her and other devoted good and decent people who only give of themselves on behalf of the TRF?.

Joe, even if your allegations were proven correct, you must realize that it's impossible to be in all places at all times? If you had just brought your information to the attention of the TRF they would have been on top of it. But you didn't even give them one ounce of respect for all the good things they truly do. Why? In all fairness, most reporters would have performed their due diligence and done some real investigative reporting trying to get both sides of the story before going public. You had to know that because of the power of the pen will hurt the TRF with continuing donations?

Your story single handedly in itself will most certainly send retired racehorses to their slaughter? Other TRF members, who only give of themselves and can't take the heat, will resign. Why? Because who needs the aggravation from unbalanced attacks such as yours in a non profit organization? The TRF has placed horses {of ours} in homes with former partners and also correctional facilities throughout the United States. It's a win-win story.

Please I implore you to do the right thing and write a follow up story on all the good the TRF has done. Joe, I always give people I've never met the benefit of the doubt. I am providing you this chance to admit to a rush to judgment and right a wrong. You have no idea how many good and decent people you've hurt? And the worst part is you have sent the very animals you profess to protect by bringing your story to public awareness to their deaths.

We horse lovers know, that without the TRF and other fine similar organizations, these magnificent creatures entrusted into our care don't stand a chance. You're so wrong here in your character assassination of the TRF that I find it truly frightening. Please man up to your mistake and simply please investigate? Once you do, you'll learn all the good things the TRF has done. Thank you for listening as I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply.

With kind regards,

Bob Hutt

Start with "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

End with "With kind regards, weaselface."

Just be honest. All this formality bulls.hit was started by the rulers to condition people to accept intolerable as.sholes.

Crinkle




Trash Can


try again.

[FGFan]

It seems strange to me having long been involved in Animal Rescue, fostering, evaluation and adoption that there are not more people screaming about this. I can't find anything on HSUS or ASPCA's sites about TRF and this situation and they would definitely be the first to start the campaign against TRF. PETA doesn't count and I haven't looked there but those people are nuts, they'd scream if you didn't pet your dog as often as they would like.

The red flag for me was that only 2 farms were cited and one actually locked TRF out until they said they wouldn't prosecute for the condition of the horses. I've seen this before and the people that locked out the agencies that were funding them did in fact end up prosecuted for animal abuse and neglect. In fact they were hoarders. One was actually a horrific case, she went on the lam for awhile, was apprehended and is currently serving jail time for a long time. All of this was done in the name of being an animal rescuer.

I think TRF does need to do some cleaning up in where they put their horses and more inspection of the properties where they place their horses. But you can't always control so called 501C3's that will foster abandoned/retired animals that no one wants. On paper they pass all the checks and then something goes very, very wrong. Looks like a smear campaign to me but it will make TRF more diligent in their placement