Date: 12/14/00 9:16:15 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected] (diana beuchert)
Reply-to: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
I'm sorry if you misunderstood me when I said I'd take care of Zeke like he
were one of my own. I meant that I'd make sure he was safe and loved and handled
kindly - not groomed. :-) I don't know any boarding barns that clean the
boarders' horses' feet. That is customarily the role of the owner. However, since
you're so far away, I would be happy to pick Zeke's feet. Please include $18 for
the rest of this month's worth of feet cleaning (at $1/day) and $30 for January's
feet cleaning, when you send the next board check.
I hope your holidays are pleasant and safe. :-)
Diana
Comment: She knew from the beginning that I would not be there to care for him as it is over a 2 1/2 hour drive for me. This email from her is in response to a rather pointed email in which I told her that no decent barn would have allowed this horse to contract thrush and stand around with this infection without treating it or informing his owner of the condition. I would think that as a supposedly "skilled" horsewoman, she would have at least NOTICED that he had thrush, especially when she EVENTUALLY picked his feet! It is worthy of mention here that I showed up unexpectedly one day (after she knew she wasn't getting a commission) and walked into his stall to say hi to my pal. I had to walk right back out. The stench of urine was so disgusting it made my eyes water and I couldn't stand to be in his stall with him! In all of my years with horses (and I have had a few), I have NEVER smelled a stall that dirty. When he was with me, I cleaned his stall every day; it never smelled of urine. I never wanted him to be standing in urine. Apparently, Diana did not have the same concerns. So, while I agree that it is not the boarding barn's responsibility to groom the horse, I do believe it is their responsibility to clean the horse's stall appropriately so as to minimize the threat of thrush. Poor Zeke.