- How do I know Throwleigh Farm is properly caring for my horse?
- The better we tend your animal, the longer we will have you as a client.
- Will my horse be happy?
- We don't know. Kind handling, good food and water, shade, companionship, and hundreds
of acres of pasture create an environment that might make him content. The horse has
only been given an opportunity for a happy retirement.
- What will my horse do upon arrival at Throwleigh Farm?
- Everything will be different for your horse. Horses are social and hierarchal, and
first thing, your horse will find his position in the herd. If you wish to learn more
about how a herd organizes itself, you might read the Horse Whisperer.
- Will my horse on arrival be subjected to some sort of prolonged initiation/gauntlet by the other horses?
- No. All the horses are old and/or have issues. Wandering around doing whatever he likes does not make an old horse excitable.
- Why don't you have buildings and sheds available for the retirees?
- We do when needed. Deep woods and valleys are better cover than a shed. A shed with
twenty horses in it poses a hazard. Farms trumpet the availability of sheds when they
lack adequate natural cover, particularly shade.
- How are you different from foundations that care for retired horses?
- Here your horses are tended by the ownership of the farm, all members
of the family, rather than workers who come and go. The care of horses is what we do; there are no commercial events or fetes on the property.
- Horses arrive here at all times, night and day. When your shipper delivers
your horse, we are present and carefully note the condition of the animal.
If it is dark we do not simply release the animal in a strange field. We certainly do not
instruct the shipper to release the horse into a pasture for us whenever he shows up.
- Here a horse will stay in a paddock the first day or so in sight of other horses.
After he has settled down we move him to a pasture where he is easily observed. In a
few days we determine where he should be.
- Why is Throwleigh Farm reluctant to call for veterinary assistance?
- Through sentiment and generosity you have provided a comfortable retirement for your
horse. We are advocates for your horse, but there are limits.
- We state that we will call for veterinary care if it seems to be a treatable issue,
but we will not spend thousands of dollars of your money on a retired horse unless we
have, in advance, written instructions from you.
- Quality of life is the main determining factor. We will note a cloudy eye or a limp,
but the issue is whether the horse is in pain. It makes no sense to spend a large amount
of money to ensure another month or so of life for a retiree.
- Why are Throwleigh Farm's fees less those of other retirement facilities?
- We think our fees are fair.
- In addition to the items already mentioned, if the ownership of Throwleigh Farm was
not in the retirement business and wished to retire a horse, what would be of concern?
- a) Land. Is there plenty of room? Some facilities mention hundreds of acres, but fail
to point out that a large portion is reserved for other uses; additionally the acreage
may sound impressive, but it might be primarily mountain land - unsuitable for grazing.
- b) Small holdings. Twenty-nine spacious acres is no larger than twenty-nine tiny acres.
Retirement facilities on small holdings might have a higher stocking rate and higher fees.
- c) Rented land. There is nothing wrong with rented land; we have rented additional
pasture in the past. However, there was a facility where the land belonged to the parents
of the operator's girlfriend. This is not long term security for your retiree. The
girlfriend tired of him, and the parents threw him off the farm. If the operator loses
the land, he is faced with the task of finding open spots for fifty or so retirees in
short order. Try to determine if your horse will be on a secure property.
- If the ownership of Throwleigh Farm, as above, wished to retire a horse, what comments
on internet sites would give them pause?
- a) Friendship! I will bond with your horse and become his best friend.
(Why would your horse want to be best friend with some crock in the country?)
- b) I have seen unmentionable cruelty!
(There are operations on the make, and a generous bequest would be very welcome.)
- c) Your horse has special needs, and I am just the person to care for him.
(If your retiree requires such special care, perhaps you should explore other options.)
- What finally will happen to my horse?
- He will die from age related issues or something unpredictable, such as colic or major
organ failure, will claim him. Unlikely, weedy appearing horses, can last almost forever
whilst robust, healthy ones can die early. It is random. Thoroughbreds generally do not
live as long as other breeds.
- When your horse arrives here he may live ten or fifteen years, or he may drop dead in six months.
- Owners of thoroughbreds must remember that the refinements of the breed make them less
robust. Performance enhancing drugs and steroids given at the track can cause severe problems
years later. These issues may not be visible, and there is no way to detect the damage.
- What is your policy on visits?
- An infrequent, scheduled visit is acceptable. Individuals who plan to make numerous visits should consider another facility.
Some individuals have thought that there was nothing wrong with unannounced visits or scheduled weekly bondings with their horses. This was unacceptable.
- Farms are very busy places, and showing up unannounced or on very short notice is disruptive.
- Insurance protocols are onerous.
- After my horse dies, what happens to the body?
- There are a few options, but everything is determined by code. Each state and community has regulations that must be followed, and the rules change from time to time.
- Most clients tell us to do what must be done and are uninterested in the details. If you require a precise description of what will happen, we will of course comply.
- Every procedure has a cost for the client, some of which can be expensive.
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