If it smells like BS, then it probably is

Call me skeptical, but something smells fishy about the FHotD post today. I'm sure you all know the saying about the duck? This wouldn't be the first time someone on a forum told a wild rescue/sale story just for attention. In fact, my daughter sent me a forum post from the free speech board where a lady spun a story about how she retired her show horse because of lameness to a retirement horse barn only to be told later that her horse had passed away, stating that the retirement barn even went as far as sending her photos of the grave site. Shortly after that she said she went onto the internet to find that her retired show horse wasn't dead, but in fact was being shown even though the horse was suppose to be "lame and dangerous to ride." She spun her story for a while trying to get a reaction until she was confronted by a couple of forum members that called her BS. Turns out this person that was spinning that story had done this years and even months earlier on different boards. She fled Free Speech as soon as she was caught and called out.
So it wouldn't surprise me if Cheree embellished her story so she could be featured on FHotD. Here is why-

"The auction didn't even start yet?!" Rita new where he had gone...he was in the kill pen... purchased privately by a meat buyer before the start of the auction.... We found the broker who brought him to the sale and proceeded to find out which dealer bought him and if he was in fact in the "pen."

Sorry, but I have to agree with BEC on this one. I've said it before- kill buyers do not discriminate. They don't care if the horse is sound, safe, and sane no more than they care if the horse is skinny, lame, or crazy. But in all my years I have yet to see purchases made before start of auction when the horse is already tagged and registered in the auction- especially purchased by a kill buyer. I've seen purchases made while the horse is being unloaded to be tagged and I've seen purchases made after a owner POs a horse. Kill buyers aren't going to purchase a horse before the auction because they are in it to save a buck and make a buck. They would rather spend $500 on ten horses rather than spending $500 on one horse. Simple as that. They aren't going to give you a $100 offer on a horse before auction because your horse could very well sell for $50 when run through.

I had five good ol' boys at once telling me "You don't want that crazy son of a bitch, that horse will hurt you, he is CRAZY!" "I'm not gonna sell you that horse, he deserves to be slaughtered, that crazy son a bitch got loose in here, and it took five of us to catch him, we had to rope that crazy a$% horse, you do not want that horse!" I politely asked and stated "what makes him so crazy?" "If I got loose at a scary auction like this, I would run too and you could bet no one would catch me!" I then asked "is this crazy horse broke to ride?" They said "yes, he's a real nice riding horse, BUT he's crazy as sin, real head shy won't let you touch his face, if the wind blows he'll rip our arms off, again lady, YOU DO NOT WANT THIS HORSE!"

*eyeroll* Like I stated, kill buyers don't care what's wrong with the horse, they are in it to make a buck just like most everyone in the horse industry. If they think they can sell you a horse, they for sure aren't going to tell you how crazy the horse is or if the horse was lame in one leg. Whats even stranger is that she said she was only gone for 5 minutes and then came back. So all that "crazy" horse business went down in those 5 minutes without her seeing the ruckus or at least hearing about it?

Over all, there are just to many holes in this ladies story that make the post sound over dramatic and embellished. It reeks of someone just dying to be featured on FHotD. Supposedly, this rescue horse had been sold to a dressage/show barn for $5,000 and now that owner that paid $5,000 is saying she gave away the horse to a show jumping home even though he was lame and wasn't working in her program. Sorry, but people just don't give a $5,000 horse away, not even to a kill buyer.

To me her whole story sounds like she wanted to be seen as the great and nobel hero of this "crazy" horse that nobody wanted to take a chance on. And wanted to add in the dramatics of almost everything Cathy bashes on FHotD, kill buyer- CHECK. mistreated/misunderstood horse- CHECK. Auction drama- CHECK. Sale/buy back policy gone wrong- CHECK CHECK.

For now, until I check up more on this story, I choose to see the holes for what they are. And like most things, if there are holes, then something is probably not right.

Riding ability?

So, I just got done watching most of Cathy's youtube videos or at least the painfully funny ones of her riding. What was even more humorous were the comments left on one of her youtube videos. Here are a couple-

"OMG! haha! You suck at riding then say other people suck at riding!!Thats horrrible!"

"are you riding? It's not nice to judge other riders, when you can't ride well.You're not a very good rider, therefore you shouldn't critique other people. Simple as that. "

Poor choice in critiquing other riders on their weight, clothes, and saddle color when you can't ride worth a darn. On top of the video those comments were posted on was another video where Cathy was working a bigger filly and appeared timid and terrified to get the horse to move up into a solid trot, at one point prompting whomever was video taping to ask if Cathy needed her to chase the filly. Funny how someone who claims to be training horses for a drill team can barely ride, let alone train a horse. I really hope that Cathy didn't start VLC. Horses, especially stallions, need to be started right and not by a timid person afraid to get a horse to trot. And another humorous video I found was one of a palomino filly accidentally jumping out of the round pen and a bunch of commentators saying,"The horse should be put in jumpers!"

So my question is. How many of you have had your riding critiqued by a person FAR less qualified? Funny stories always appreciated.

When ignorant people comment on rodeo

Not all that surprised when I clicked over to FHotD and went to the links to the youtube videos Cathy was blogging about. Yep, sending her loyal flock to bash videos on youtube again! I don't expect much from Cathy now-a-days, especially don't expect her to understand rodeo events such as roping or barrels. What I am surprised about is seeing the comments saying that kids are overhorsed and should all be on ponies. I am getting tired of the PETA and SHARK people on FHotD saying, "roping steers is cruel and mean!" *eye roll*. How do these people think these calves were vaccinated, branded, and vetted decades ago, by walking up to them with feed in your hand and hoping they stand still? Nope, they were headed and then heeled so they could be layed on their side for vaccinations, branding, and tagging. I'm prepared for the day I click to FHotD and see someone say,"The sport of Cutting is sooooo mean, it's cruel to separate a steer from it's herd mates!"
I'm also so tired of the "kiddies all need helmets!" comments. Yes, they can save the head from concussion. But do people not understand that helmets only prevent outer damage. They do nothing to protect the brain from rattling inside the skull if you're being drug behind a horse. A helmet is not an automatic,"You're safe on what ever mount". And do these people honestly think that by going onto youtube, calling people names and telling them they are abusing their children is going to make these parents automatically think their kid needs a helmet? Heck no. And if that is child abuse, then I guess my parents are the demon of child abusers seeing as all 6(including me) of my brothers and sisters never wore a helmet. And for those youtube videos of the little boy on his play day horse many people were calling the horse a saint. What you call a saint, I call a good broke horse. His horse obviously was well trained, knew her job, and was very mindful of where the little boy was on him at all times. If THAT honestly shocked you, come down to a play day here in Texas and see how a properly trained kid horse is suppose to act. Sometimes I wonder if Cathy or some of her followers have in fact ever been around a well broke or a kid safe horse. Some times I wonder if they have even been around horses at all since most of them seem so shocked about these videos. Here are two of the videos that she featured for those who no longer link to FHotD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH1hw6ieDdI&feature=channel and this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw-mTgrY2LU&feature=channel
Here is a little of what Cathy had to say-

Check out the rest of the vids - plenty of bareheaded babies on horseback, babies running around with loose foals, the world's fugliest foal being born, children galloping that don't have the riding skills to trot safely without assistance - yes, the stupid's all there, preserved on video for your entertainment.

Sorry Cathy, but I've seen videos on youtube of YOU riding and I'd just about say that even you aren't fit enough for that 'saint' of a mare. Cathy I suggest you start off with a horse like this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdsdehdg3Io. Stick to topics you know, such as ceramic kitties or the basics of grooming a horse. I'm not even going to touch on her comments on the fugly foal or the breeding as I'm sure everyone here knows exactly what I think of that crooked legged VLC baby, Bullwinkle. Those that actually are educated about rodeo, whether it is Junior or Pros, know what it takes. Next time you're at the NFR ask those barrel racers and bull riders when they started riding and then ask those barrel racers if they were out fitted in helmets. And then I want you to head over to a NRHA show and watch the young bucks show you how to rein. Those that do participate in Western Events such as cutting, reining, and WP know just how good some of these kids are for their age. Speaking of which, my 6 year old grand baby placed 2nd at a junior/youth cutting this past weekend. I couldn't be prouder.

Rodeo and Cowboy-ing isn't something that you just learn, it's in your blood.

When good people lose it due to a FHotD post

Today's FHotD post had to do with what happens when you have a horse online for sale and get stupid ad inquiries. Then went on to post an email from one of her readers that was a reply to one of those stupid ad emails. The email was frankly condescending and more or less over dramatized to make the person that had inquired about the horse she had for sale feel stupid or less human. Here is a snip-it from the email-

I was weeding my way through tons of the same old ignorant, teeny-bopper ad inquiries that are loaded with poor grammar and mis-spellings, when I came across your inquiry. I am doing the footwork in selling a race horse for my father and even though I know from your inquiry that you are not even a prospect home for (Horse), I'm wasting my time to respond anyway.

However, I would like to point out that you have made numerous statements in your inquiry that are for the most part untrue or make you look like a complete jerk. I have never been so irritated, yet amused by such a naive ad inquiry and I'd like to save other sellers from the mess of an inquiry you sent me. Please read an ad thoroughly, think before you send, remove the BS, correct your grammar and mis-spellings, don't talk down to the seller, don't refer to the seller's horse as dog food, and don't make yourself sound ignorant.

First as a business woman who has sold many horses over the years, you NEVER send emails like this one out to people that are responding to your ad, NEVER! Do you know how fast emails can be forwarded in the horse community? Do you know how many people are going to read your email reply and think "What a total @$$!" even if the person you sent the email to did ask some crazy questions? Someone could ask me for all I care if my horse wears a pretty pink tu-tu and dances in the rain, and I would still give them a respectful but honest answer, "No my horse doesn't wear a tu-tu, she's afraid of rain- but she does love trying on my jewelry!" As a seller you are never to condescend to a potential customer, even if they are full of BS or not likely to purchase. If you feel that a person is unqualified to purchase your horse, politely state that the horse is being leased with potential of purchase or that the horse has already found a home. Never send a 600 word or more berating email to that person telling them how unqualified they are and insult their intelligence.

I've gotten my share of those crazy emails, every professional or horseman that is selling has gotten them. But it takes a true saddle Hag to weed through those emails and write each and everyone that you feel is to dumb or ignorant how they shouldn't own your horse, or any ones horse for that matter. With todays technology, word of mouth spreads quick. There are message boards on almost every horse sale site where people with complaints or alerts can notify the general public about how you do business. And yes, an insulting email is going to cause most potential buyers to look else where and not even want to deal with those issues. I'll say this again, snark and berating is not going to change peoples actions. The human brain tends to shut down at the first sign of attack leaving most people too angry to want to learn or to even hear/read what you are saying. Just because someone is not the right person for your horse, this doesn't mean they aren't the right person for another horse. Emails like the one above are likely to cause people to not want to deal with even searching. On top of that it makes the world see horsemen/women as snobby- better than you types. True some are like that, but most aren't. It also will detain most beginners from wanting to put their toes in the water and actually ask questions to learn. Who wants to be ridiculed for trying to learn?

Geeze Louise!

So FHotD topic was yet again slaughter!*head desk*. Right now I don't care which side of the fence you are on, whether you are pro slaughter or against slaughter. I've heard both sides. Cathy posted a video of old photos taken in 2005 of abuse from double deckers on the way to slaughter and current links to write and pester your states representatives.
I did venture into the comment section and one comment poster that I usually find insulting absolutely cracked me up. Thank you Go Lightly for the humorous AND educational comment.

Hay, Fugs, bought meself a new stallyun.he's reel purty.Can I pleeez be called something less than painfully stupid now?

Those terrible pictures have been around for some time. Like a long time.nothing like flaming those fires, or fanning the flames, or whutever.Making kind people feel as sad as possible, and feeling as helpless as possible, seems to be the normal. Outrage is good. It passes, as people realize they don't have the power to change powerful people into kind people.Too bad the memories will always fade, but the sad times will remain the same.The slaughter issues will not be changed by hand-wringing here.Send this to the Canadian Government, instead of upsetting kind people with no power to actually change it. I did, back when it was in the news.Found this on the ABR forum first, actually. Ages ago.The good old boys rule, or don't you get that yet?

anyway go to www.golightlyfiction.blogspot.com

to see my new horse. Might help stop the tears falling from some of your poor kind faces. You can't cry all day.Nothing gets done.Those pictures have been public knowledge for ages.Talk about instant re-runs of the terrible pain and suffering that still goes on in Canada. and the USA. And Mexico. Closing borders?sure ya can, fugs, sure ya can. Like you stopped the slaughter in the USA. That sure helped stop horses suffering.Try closing down the AQHA first, if you want to get useful. Stop breeding horses designed for the slaughter line. The nuchal ligament is shortening in some lucky QH's, makes them real easy to run through the cattle-designed slaughter lines. Oh, right but then you can't SHOW your VLC!!silly me.sorry, painfully stupid me.Oh, to all you new readers? welcome!I'm crazy, anyway.carry on...

Even I couldn't help but laugh and snort at THAT! Come to find out Go Lightly sent money into Cathy for Champs rescue and recovery. But was basically ignored when she requested information on how the money was spent and if documentation was made. Instead she got a scan of the vet bill, which some how I refuse to believe that a lot of peoples money just went towards the vet bill. I'm sure Cathy got in a lot of donations for Champ. And what gets me is if Champ wasn't Cathy's rescue horse like she claimed, then why not have people send donations straight into the rescuer of Champ? Instead, money went through two hands and as money grubbing as Cathy is, I doubt she told the "rescuer" the exact amount of donations received. If 200 people(which I'm sure even MORE sent in money) sent in $5 a person that would come out to $1,000. I'm going to make an estimate that there was nearly twice that amount donated. I doubt she paid for board and Cathy has only offered up a vet bill as representative of the donations spent. I'm surprised the rest of FHotD readers that donated aren't outraged. Sure they kind of asked for it because they donated to a person that did not have a 501(c) status. But still, the economy is tight and I would like to know if Cathy went on a little shopping spree with money donated. Don't be surprised if she pulls this again.

A lot of her readers feel they know Cathy, feel that Cathy is speaking for all the abused and neglected horses, and feel that Cathy is a far superior person to the likes of any scammer like lets say- Dean or Sam! So people are going to be willing to pay money towards another one of Cathy's rescues thinking they are doing good.

All I can say is, as hypocritical as Cathy is for preaching day after day about the only way to stop horse over population is castration- but turn around and she has her own stallion, what makes you think that she won't pull a scam. After all she's already stated the more people that come to her blog are supporting her VLC show fund. I could care less for those that want to give the argument,"Well, Cathy is only going to breed him if he does well in the show ring." Just because he does(saying IF) well in a show ring does NOT make his GET any more safe than a unshown backyard stallion. There is no status when it comes to horse over population- there is no blue collar or white collar. Cathy's reader's have already seen her post stories of High Dollar geldings, stallions, and mares that some how ended up on a trip to slaughter.

Cathy, Cathy, Cathy!

Even I had to laugh at checking the not one, but TWO new posts. *chuckles* This is what Cathy had to say about her trolls.

Finally, to all of our visiting trolls who don't seem to be feeling the love, I just want to thank you. In the past month, my traffic has shot skyward! The columns represent (from left to right) people, visits and page views.) We haven't seen a jump like this in a while! I'm so excited and I know that I have all of you to thank. Keep up the great work. Be sure to add this URL as often as possible to your rants, and please rant on as many different boards as possible in as many different countries as possible!

Oh Cathy, if you're going to give information at least don't lie. Anyone can go to the Horse Traffic site that you have represented on your page and see that your numbers have actually FALLEN! Yes that's right kiddies. Her readership has fallen! Anyone is welcome to go check the stats on Horse Traffic just by clicking onto the link to your right of my page. FHotD is number two. Three days ago her average readership was represented as a 4.8. Today it is represented as a 3.1. If you click on the word Stats next to where it says FHotD you will see that she is actually getting almost 2,000 LESS hits a day.

Now for anyone confused. Unique PVs is how many different computers have logged onto your site. Total PVs is the number of times your site has been logged onto. So today you might notice that she's had so far 4,o35 Unique PVs that have visited repeatively giving her a total page hit of 10,500. That means that all those computers had to have logged onto her site at least 2 times each, some probably linked to her site 3 or 4 times. Now since the whole Cathy bashing her readers on this site>>http://themanurepile39728.yuku.com/topic/7350?page=1 (Her name is Snarkosaurus) her numbers have dropped down 2,000-3,000 readers with several of her readers coming back multiple times.

The moral of the story is Cathy, you can lie to yourself all you want about your loyal following. You can bash your loyal following all you want. But please don't post fake numbers to make yourself feel better. And if you have to post fake numbers- at least disable the Horse Traffic site so no one can track your long line of BS!

And when they won't go away?

So what happens when you're called out on your BS by a whole flock of your loyal readers? You post, post, and post some more! Of course Cathy, bravo for your tactical diversions. With those song and dance numbers you, Cathy, my dear- could easily be a PR for when your towns Mayor gets caught with a prostitute in a seedy hotel room.
What I'm wondering, is why the sudden heighten of posts? It's rare to see this many posts for FHotD on a weekend. I so admire those that chose to walk away after noticing her hypocrisy and disdain for her loyal following. I'm sure she'll be up there on The Manure Pile with a "Woe is Me!" post about how all her readers took what she said out of context and how she never meant to hurt her loyal readers, how she only said those things to those who continue to troll her blog.
I'll be honest, this really doesn't surprise me after I saw one statement made by her early this month about how she wished everyone would quit bugging her about trying to out certain rescues and how those rescue drama was nothing new. I mean, because the constant Dean and Sam topics aren't old news? Because Cathy seems to relish bringing up Dean's photo shopped @$$. Seems to me that the only rescues that matter in Cathy's books are the ones in her area that she can get her gleaming recognition from her admiring public.

Oy Vey!

Sure am glad Cathy is mentioning places to get help for funding castrations in todays post. I'm guessing she won't be taking her own advice even after she says this-

"remember, the way to stop equine slaughter is at the root of the problem "

But on a lighter note thought I would post a funny site full of horse advice and humor.

http://www.whinny.org/humor.htm

Sweet Jesus!

Today's post may not be directly related to FHotD or the VLC blog, but none the less- it has to do with one Cathy wanna-be. Her blog is as vulgar and ill- inspired if not more so than FHotD. This person makes Cathy look like a genius. In fact I've found that most of the people making Cathy-like "lets bash everything in the horse industry" blogs make Cathy look like the Pope. Do they aspire to be as popular as Cathy? Or do they want to feel like they are a higher power making a huge difference in the horse world?

http://shameinthehorseshowring.blogspot.com/

Not only can I not stand her detracting statements but her ill informed comments. At the bottom of her blog she wants to feel so powerful by making this statement- cause god KNOWS that her dang blog was causing such a huge upset in the ApHC horse community. This is what she had to say upon asking, "How upset are people about this blog?"

~"The answer would be *very*. Some ApHC members actually paid for an online search to find out where I live. How screwed up is that? And why did they think their little secret yahoo bitchfest group would remain secret? There are always moles amongst the rats.

This blog has already opened some eyes and will help make some changes in the horse industry. I doubt bitchers and moaners will accomplish as much."

Wow- she just gives herself too much credit. Does she really think a tiny public blog is even going to make a dent in horse world ethics? I think she likes to think that much. I just love that last line about b**chers and moaners- wouldn't her blog fit in that category? I think it's pretty funny on how people think that ragging and bashing is going to make a change in show policies. When was the last time you saw a spokes person for Missing and Exploited Children using the F-word and b**ching and moaning about the plight of Americans children being kidnapped, abused, and murdered? NEVER. When was the last time you saw Amber Haggermans mother on TV yelling and using profanity trying to make a change with kidnapped children? NEVER. And guess what, she's had several laws passed to help aid in protecting future generations. Do you know why? Because well informed and educated people that want to make changes go to heads of congress, state boards, and top organizations with EDUCATED, LITERATE, and WELL SPOKEN speeches that show what's wrong, how it's wrong, and what can be done to change it. They don't go start "lets bash everything involving _____(fill in the blank). They don't use profanities, name calling, or come with an attack mentality.

You want to make a difference? Start with forming petitions, gather well informed and educated people. Compile evidence and head to a AQHA or other horse organization congress meeting. They are open for that purpose. Choose a spokes person that will provide an educated, well thought out, and provide ways to improve the organization.

Took long enough!

Well, Champ was PTS. Long over due to say the least as most thought he should be put down A MONTH ago. On FHotD Cathy talks about how he was kept in a million dollar facility and cared for and given tons of cookies every day. PFFT! I don't think Champ would be able to tell if he was in "million dollar facility" with as much pain as he was obviously in. But no! That didn't stop Cathy from taking in donations for him just shortly after bashing several other rescues and people for taking in donations for obviously lame and in pain horses. Preaching how the money could be used to rescue sound and sane horses. Guess all those donations could have been better spent on a sound horse, eh Cathy?

Cathy, Exhibit A!

A while back someone asked where Cathy had pointed in the way of harassment by giving to much information- and today's post is the perfect example. How on earth does Cathy think that by giving out a Judges telephone number over an abuse case, how does she expect it to be a civil telephone call? Has she not read anything half the folks that post comments in her own blog?

Time served, my you-know-what! Please call Judge Uhrig at 360-676-6747. It should go without saying that polite, succinct and profanity-free is the way to make your point. To me, the most important point is that someone who will slash the throat of a puppy is awfully close to the line of doing just that to a human being. That shows a level of depravity far beyond hoarding and starving animals (which is bad enough!)

Sorry Cathy, I know I wouldn't mind seeing these animal abusers locked up. But with as many heartless murderers, rapists, and child abusers there are in the US- you can not expect jails and prisons to be able to hold them all. So it's either let out the rapist/serial killer or let out the animal abuser. Take your pick Cathy! Mine is to keep the rapist/serial killer locked up.
And honestly, do you think that those that actually have no brain and do call are going to refrain from profanity? And speaking from experience of my ex husband being a small claims judge- judges don't like when they are told how to do their job, when to do their job, and how to prosecute criminals. If that were the case I'd be calling up every judge in the state of Florida and telling them to put Casey Anthony on death row.