In his own words ...
Published: September 25, 2009
“When assailed from all sides, attack in all directions.” — Nathan Bedford Forrest
I was asked to rescue 11 horses and I did. I had never met Nancy Mackall (who formerly owned the 11 horses on a Mine Run farm but now faces charges of animal abuse against other horses) prior to this time.
The horses had no recent Coggins test and no recent inoculations. It was a risk to bring them on my farm, as I have six horses of my own. Yet a risk worth taking to help horses, or so I thought.
I had not yet diagnosed the MEAN syndrome (Misplaced Emotional Attachment Neurosis). The righteous indignation of animal lovers for other people.
(Editor’s note: In an e-mail to one of the former horse owners Sept. 9, Mulford had written: “Look, I know women suffer from ‘misplaced emtional (sic) attachment mental disorder’ MEAN.”)
“Equality is being equal to those better than ourselves and ourselves better than our equals.” Gardiner Mulford, on modern equality.
Back to the story. I already have six horses and nine cows on my 30 acres of pasture. I have just enough fodder to get my own livestock through the coming winter. I have neither the land nor the money to keep the new horses.
My new horses are sound and most are good looking. Their ages range from 5 to 20 years. In keeping with my statements in the initial story, I believe retiring a sound, 20-year-old horse is paramount to neglect. It’s also fiscally unsound. It costs $4,000 a year (USDA) to keep a horse, provided you have no injuries, colic, founder or deep wounds, which could easily triple your costs.
If a retired 20-year-old dies at 38, the owner has spent $72,000 on a lawn ornament (times 11 horses equals $792,000.00 over the course of the horse’s retirement). In my opinion, the horse owners who dumped/retired their horses on this old lady’s farm are as responsible as she is.
Why weren’t they paying for the upkeep of “their” horses? The idea that I was going to sell these horses for an outrageous profit is poppycock. To date, I have given four horses to friends. One former horse owner claimed he gave the horse to Nancy and would not buy his horse back from me for $800. I said to him, “I agree it’s your horse, you owe me $250 a month for board for two months, $100 for transportation, $100 for medicine and feed and $100 for my time.” I will send you a bill for $800. He said, “OK, that’s more like it!” (Do you think we would be dumping our money into horses if we were smart?)
Contrary to the title of Nate Delesline’s initial article (“Mulford in a war of words with former horse owners,” Sept. 20), none of the previous owners were upset, and all were thankful their horses were alive and in good hands. Only one previous owner will receive a bill for board and expenses. The remaining horses will be sold or donated to good homes.
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Reader Reactions
Well, the experts are all willing to put in their two cents..The majority of the horse industry has become a desert. The economy that supports horses is not what it use to be…Horses require disposable income, and that’s drying up quickly! The folks that normaly take in the abused/neglected or unwanted animals are very overwhelmed and the money they depend on is not as free flowing as it used to be.
The horse show held here in Culpeper this week is for the elite horses… Horses at their peak in preformance.. Believe it or not the same thing could happen to one of them in the future.
Horses require a great deal of time and energy especialy during the winter. Stall cleaning, frozen water tanks, more feed and hay. Vet bills can be more frequent from injurys and illnesses. Not to mention the regular care from the vet and farrier. Taking horses on just before winter is not what most horse people do. They try to cut back, not increase their numbers.
Do you all really think Mr. Mulford is doing this to make money? Surly you jest if you think so!! Most of them cost you much more than they will ever make you, unless they are lucky enough to be one of the elite ones. Those are few and far between. Trust me!!!
These horses needed someone to take them in, and they got just that!Would you have made room for ten more mouths to feed? In the photo the horses look to be in good condition and ready as they can be to face winter.
If Mr. Mulford has found suitable homes or buyers what is the problem? I believe that Mr. Mulford comes from a long time Virginia horse family. Even though I do not know Mr. Mulford, in all liklyhood he can judge if the new home will be a good placement for the horse’s in question.
Why do the people feel that they can be so judgmental? Don’t you think that this group of horses is better off than they were a few short weeks ago? I’m glad the former owners have had contact with Mr. Mulford and I’m sure that most of them are good with what’s happening with their beloved animal now. If they are not, I’m sorry, but maybe they should have been checking in with Ms. Mackall all along to be sure that things had not changed for her.
I believe that IF these owners have not been paying for the care of the said horses during their time with Ms. Mackall they have forfited having any say in the matter. The horses became the property of Ms.Mackall, therefore they we hers to care for. And now, not being able to continue to care for them she and her uncle placed them with Mr. Mulford.
This has been a tragic event in these horses lives as well as the FORMER owners who intrusted the care of them to Ms. Mackall. Unfortunatly she was unable to continue with their care.
I hate to tell you, that this type of thing happens all the time and is going to be happening more if the economy does not improve. Abandonment and lack of care for animals gets even worse during times of financial woes..Who will step up?
The complaints that have been voiced here will make anyone with half a brain think twice about stepping up to help, and I find that very, very sad.
I’m sure that we will never have the full story, but who cares!!! I mean really!!! The horse’s are being cared for today and are in the hands of someone who will call the vet if needed and they will not be locked in trailers or left without the necessary provisions they require. They will not die in a pasture un-noticed and not properly disposed of if it becomes necessary..If one of them died tonight it will not have been on an empty gut. And that folks is all that really matters..They are being properly cared for today….I think everyone should think twice before judging this situation…What is the most importiant thing about this whole deal?? Yes, the horses are in a much better place than the they were a few weeks ago..No matter all the other issues being thrown out there…THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE it is a human interest issue!!!
Aside from “friends” getting horses for free while former owners must pay expenses, your math seems a little fuzzy to me, Mr Mulford.
$250/month for board, + $100 for meds and feed + $100 for your “time.“ If you are charging separately for feed and your time, what is does the $250/month(x2) board cover?
As a side note, and at the risk of being considered obtuse:
“Equality is being equal to those better than ourselves and ourselves better than our equals.“ Gardiner Mulford, on modern equality.
After a translation, might you explain what this observation has to do with this situation?
For those interested in hearing the whole story, thus far, including input from Mulford himself, please see the ongoing discussion at The Chronicle Of The Horse at the following quick link:
http://tinyurl.com/ChronicleOfTheHorse
And here’s an excellent perspective about this from a local horseman that appeared in this publication (don’t miss the article comments):
http://tinyurl.com/MulfordsMacacaMoment
There is NO excuse for the death and outright neglect and abuse of those helpless horses (and dogs) at Mackall’s “retirement” farm. None whatsoever.
Gardiner Mulford should be ashamed of himself for many reasons, not the least of which is trying to make himself out to be some kind of altruistic horse “rescuer” while mocking those who truly care and are actually doing something for those animals most in need.
Check out the links above and see for yourself.
Then consider the 20 horses who slowly starved to death, fenced off in small pens (one horse of which was locked in a horse trailer for a month) while watching their 10 pasturemates enjoying the ample 70 acres of pasture. Those 10 horses (yes, the “good looking ones”) are the ones Mulford “rescued” to turn around and do with as he pleased.
Is this the type of individual you want on your Board of Supervisors? Someone who turns his back on those most in need?
Someone who takes advantage of a horrible, tragic, criminal situation, then refers to it as something “good for a laugh”?
Someone who contradicts himself repeatedly?
Someone who sends illiterate nasty emails to people he doesn’t even know?
Someone who expects you to pay him for sticking his campaign sign in your yard?
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