Racehorse Sanctuary News

8th January 2007

SO UNFAIR

Having reached the grand age of twenty two and given her best throughout her life and asked for nothing in return, does TY or any other equine deserve to end up in this state.

To keep things in perspective Thank Yourself (TY) had lead a perfectly good life as a racehorse having been purchased in Ireland as a 4-y-o for £15,000 until disaster struck on 12th December 1989 at Plumpton Racecourse when Carl Llewellyn dismounted her immediately after the eight fence as her tendon had given way causing extreme lameness.

During her younger days TY was mother to three filly foals and 1 colt foal all to quality stallions and it was in 1991 that she was lucky enough to become the property of Pam and Brian Tetley who are not only support group members of the Sanctuary but also very good friends of ours. In 2002 circumstances changed dramatically for Pam and Brian which meant that keeping TY up to the standards they had kept for the past eleven years was going to be very difficult hence they looked for solution which would mean no compromise on this.

With the very best intention TY was put out on loan to what appeared to be an extremely caring and knowledgeable middle aged lady who at that time lived locally and already had one of TY’s daughters on loan from another sauce and had made a very good job of looking after her. The problem was that the lady was relocating to France which meant a journey for both mother and daughter, however, with her past record of caring for her horses Pam agreed to the move and even transported both horses personally to France for her. As concerned owners Pam and Brian made trips over to France to keep tabs on both TY and her daughter until recently when the loaner relocated both horses without forwarding an address

Alarm bells immediately rung and the search was on to find both horses. After endless telephone calls, favours asked of many friends in the area and both horses were tracked down and TY was found to be in a thoroughly miserable state, skin and bone, covered in rain scald and suffering from mud fever and thrush. Transport was arranged as quickly as possible and both of them arrived here at the sanctuary on 28th November 2006.

First in line was a complete check over by our vet and trustee Tony Warr who although appalled at her general condition agreed that with the correct treatment, worming and proper care she should return to her usual self although he was concerned about a tumour he found on her lower jaw which needs to be monitored.

A few weeks down the line having been on two feeds a day, plenty of hay and as much grass as she can eat along with surgical scrubs and an overdone dose of caring TY has got that sparkle back in her eye and gaining condition every day.

It does go to show that regardless how careful you are there is never a guarantee of security when re-homing a horse no matter how diligent you are when checking out possible homes, thank goodness that Pam and Brian were not prepared to turn a blind eye as so many do.