Riding Students Raise Money To Save Horse From Slaughter

These young ladies have already begun to make a difference in this world. Be sure to visit the website.

SELBYVILLE -- The "kill pit" is where horses unworthy of auction are kept.

They are broken, bleeding and on the brink of death, awaiting transport to a foreign slaughterhouse.

"There was a horse there in extreme pain, suffering from stomach colic and a broken leg," said Shelley Wright-Estevam, owner of Sweet Meadow Stable. "While he was trying to lay down to relieve his pain, his rope was tied too short to find any comfort."

Moments later, she said, the horse died.

For 10 years, Wright-Estevam has been traveling to the New Holland Sales Stable in New Holland, Pa., to purchase horses that would otherwise be sold to slaughterhouses. She's rescued about 20 horses. This year, a group of her riding students took up the cause and purchased Rosco, a 5-year-old quarter horse cross.

"He was cute as a button," said Peyton Carter, 13. "We bid on him because he was in our price range and he turned out to be the most wonderful horse."

The other girls involved are Tarryn Chichester, 15, Rebecca Saltzman, 17, Taylor Smith, 16, and Andi Wade, 14. All live in the Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach area.

Tarryn Chichester, 15, of Reston, Va., Rebecca Saltzman, 17, of Randolph, N.J., , Peyton Carter, 13, of Rehoboth Beach, Taylor Smith, 16, of Ellicott City, Md., Andi Wade, 14, of Selbyville and Sweet Meadow Stable owner Shelly Wright-Estevam pose with Rosco, whom the girls rescued from slaughter. (Scott Nathan photo)

If you help Contact Mindi or Peyton Carter at 302-227-6364 to find out how you can help rescue horses. For more information on Sweet Meadow Stable, visit www.sweetmeadowstable.com.

Carter and her friends began raising funds for Rosco early this summer, through bake sales, baby-sitting, business sponsorships and other means. They raised more than $1,000. With taxes, Rosco cost $505. According to Wright-Estevam, all horses worth less than $700 are purchased by "killer buyers," who ship the animals to Canada or Mexico where they are processed for their meat.

"All horses are slaughtered for human consumption in foreign countries," Wright-Estevam said. "With a large racing industry, America is the largest producer of horse meat."

Rosco lucked out.

"We already have a few people interested in buying him," Carter said. "But we have to make sure that whoever takes him does not plan to send him back to auction."

The girls have dubbed their effort "The Sweet Meadow Stable 2010 Rescue Team," and plan to continue raising funds to purchase more horses. Mindi Carter, Peyton's mother, said the girls could use all the community support they can get.

"They are doing this pretty much on their own, with guidance from their instructor, while learning valuable life lessons along the way," she said.

www.delmarvanow.com

Two Men Rescued Near Hog Island By Coast Guard

The Coast Guard rescued two men from a sail boat Monday morning after they ran aground near Hog Island.

The Coast Guard received a call at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday from a crewmember aboard the sailing vessel Poco Plus Five reporting that the vessel was aground and taking on water.

A Coast Guard Station Wachapreague rescue boat crew responded and arrived on scene within half an hour. The rescue boat crew could not get within a quarter mile of the sailing vessel because of surf conditions.

An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer who assisted in hoisting the two men.

The men were then transported to Accomack County Airport, Va.
,
There were no reports of injuries.


www.shoredailynews.com

Horses And Cows Seized From Farm

Unbelievable! One of the worst animal abuse cases in Maryland history, the owner has been under close "scrutiny" of animal control for four years yet criminal charges are STILL pending??? This is just not fair!



WOODBINE, Md. (WUSA)--A horrific case of animal abuse and neglect unfolded in an evening raid in rural Oakland, Maryland.

Authorities in Garrett County seized two dozen emaciated horses and about 20 starving cows, and brought them to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine for rehabilitation.

One by one, emaciated horses took their first tentative steps toward a better life, leaving behind deplorable conditions in an Oakland, Maryland pasture without food or water, littered with horse and cow carcasses.

"This is as bad as it gets. It doesn't get any worse than this," said Brenda Curry, the President of the Board of Directors at Days End.

"Carcasses on a property," added Sue Mitchell of Days End. "And horses that are literally skin stretched over a skeleton. We'd call that horrific. It's despicable."

The weak, neglected horses are recovering at Days End Farm, where they face a long journey of rehabilitation. Many need to overcome fear, parasites, skin fungus and hooves that are overgrown and chipped. They are the lucky ones.

"What you see is the extreme. We have horses with hips protruding. Spines showing. No measurable body fat," said Mitchell.

The cows that survived are just down the road at James Ferguson's farm.

"They're not put on this earth to be punished or to starve, and these poor animals are starving to death," said Curry.

Healing these horses comes at a high price, more than $2,000 a horse, in just the first month.

Authorities are calling this one of the worst and largest animal abuse cases in state history. Criminal charges are now pending against the owner of the farm in Oakland, Maryland, a man who has been under scrutiny by animal control for the last four years.

www.wusa9.com