She and two friends planned to fill two trailers with horses being offered to "meat buyers," who drive truckloads of horses and donkeys to slaughterhouses in Mexico.
Here is what she writes about the experience:
"The auction floor was packed with dozens of horses jammed together. Mares, stallions, geldings and foals were put together indiscriminately. The weaker ones were picked on. Two simply lay down and seemed unable to get up. Many were Amish work horses.
 |
| From Marjorie's Facebook: "We saved this one and she's already adopted- really sweet, gentle and BIG mare! She sold cheap $175 because she had some melanomas and apparently it shows up in the meat sometimes so not as profitable..." |
"Some were lame or sick with green mucus dripping from their nostrils. I counted nine that had one eye or an eye that was punctured or infected. There were several pairs of horses that were obviously companions and did their best to stay together.
"I was very surprised to see how many young horses were dropped off that day; weanlings, yearlings and 2- to 4-year-olds that obviously had little or no training. Why, I wondered, did people breed their horses, only to drop off the young ones at auction?
 |
| From Marjorie's Facebook: "I counted 6 horses with ruptured eyes..." |
"The bidding process was fast and confusing. I identified the meat buyers and chose only to bid against them. Among the audience were dealers, private individuals and a few other rescue groups, I figured the horses they bought had a chance at finding homes.
"I bought a mare in foal and five other horses, so I had to make two trips to haul them all home.
 |
| From Marjorie's Facebook page: "I snapped this photo as I left; this group was waiting to be crammed into the meat trucks. Some old horses, many AMish, many young paints, a dun and QHs. A couple yearlings. Don't even talk to me if you are breeding your horse any time soon. I counted 3 QHs with papers that went to kill buyers." |
"On the return trip, we were in time to see the 'meat' horses smacked, whipped and shoved onto the huge meat trucks. Mares, foals, geldings, stallions, young and old. We could hear high pitched whinnying as they drove away.
"A few really thin ones were left. We bought an emaciated standardbred mare, her friend a small chestnut mare and three wild donkeys. That was my friend's idea, and they turned out to all be in-foal.
 |
| Penny had been neglected before she was taken in March to the Sugarcreek Livestock Auction in Tuscarawas County. |
"Its been an interesting spring and summer with this group of horses. Every one of them has taught me something. Some needed more training, some are real gems and all deserve kind homes."
Muirden, a part-time attorney, paid $400 to $600 for each horse and $450 for the donkeys. She then paid for veterinary care.
 |
| Saved from slaughter, this is Penny today: Penny being ridden by Elke White, who fosters and helps train rescued horses. |
Some of the horses have already been adopted, but these remain:
• Penny was emaciated, but now is "sleek, pretty and a wonderful trail horse suitable for a beginner or timid rider," Muirden said. The adoption fee is $400.
• Jessie is an 8-year-old black appaloosa mare with a white blanket. She's an excellent trail horse and has started jumping. Her adoption fee is $650.
• Annie comes with her 4-month-old foal Riley, "a big boy who leads, ties and hops right on a trailer." Their fee is $800.
•Nemo is a 4-year-old black mini horse who was severely starved. He's now shiny, healthy and $400.
• Buckeye is a 10-year-old branded chestnut quarter horse with one eye, yet he is a "super trail horse, steady and safe." Adoption fee $400.
 |
| Annie and Riley were rescued from "meat buyers" at the Sugarcreek Livestock Auction in Tuscarawas County. They are available for adoption. (Photo: Marjorie Muirden) |
Visit her Facebook page "Maggies Mission".
(Cleveland.com - August 30, 2013)
No comments:
Post a Comment