Kool Aid anyone?

  This is borrowed context from a morning rant.  While this isn't just about AC$H, this blog will explore more than them, but for some reason or another everything seems to go back to the them.  However, there are very vailid points made here, when it comes to rescue and the racing industry.  Of course this is another aspect we will explore.  So many things to do, and only so much time to type.  Thank you J.Doherty for posting this on a public page.  

What exactly is it with people and AC4H? As a Standardbred owner and trainer, I have tried to add all of the "Rehoming" FB pages in order to network with people who may be looking for a horses that are coming off of the track....we always have plenty in need of homes - PLENTY. I've noticed that one by one, AC4H has spread to each one, even the ones that are supposed to be for FREE HORSES ONLY. Last night I commented on a post that Lara put up on "Rehome The Standardbred" for a horse they want $450 for. Not two posts down, one of the admins had posted, again, that this was for FREE horses only. So I asked why Lara's content was posted there and was told something along the lines of "Just don't go there." Really? Why is that?

     Then I looked down the rest of the page and every other post was as ad for AC4H including that Sadie Lynn mare that they failed to mention had a foal back in the Spring and had been re-bred. So I ask, WHY...what is it with them that makes people act this way towards them? Basically they seem to run rough shod all over the horse industry. Do they blackmail people? (Well, telling them that they will report them to the racing stewards if they don't fork over money would be that). Are people afraid of them? Does the general population NOT involved in the harness racing industry realize that we have so many free horses available that WOULD NOT end up with the Amish and then in turn in these grade sales sold to kill buyers if people would offer them homes when they are FREE? Do they not realize that the Amish buy horses essentially in bulk when they come around, some of the nice sound trotters are resold for $2500-$5500 and the lame ones that wont be any good on the road are dumped down there in the sale? Basically the Amish are providing a "removal service" and AC4H is getting people to pay 5-10 times what the Amish gave for them to begin with? A good number (MOST in fact) aren't even fresh off the track, most have had numerous Amish owners in between the racing connections. 

          Do people not realize that saying "this horse won over $24,000 for his owners and they dumped him" is a ridiculous statement when the horse is 11 years old, hadn't raced in 5 years and probably cost the owners three times that amount to care for while in their stable. Oh, this has now turned into a full blown rant and I have horses to get to in the barn, so I'll conclude this essay with this....a good way for rescue people to de-bunk the myths of AC4H and groups like them is to educate themselves and other horseman about how each industry "really works." Come out to the tracks and the training centers, talk to racing officials and track management...help the harness horsemen in evaluating their retirees and assist them in rehoming the horses.