2 Peaceable Farms T’breds find home at TRF

To Clem and Oligopolist, rescued in October from Peaceable Farms in Va., have been accepted into the herd at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

A pair of red ex-racehorses rescued in October from the notorious Peaceable Farms in Orange, Va., where horses, dogs and cats have suffered or died in one of the worst animal abuse cases witnessed by some Virginians, found new homes with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).

Thoroughbreds To Clem and Oligopolist were welcomed on Tuesday by inmates of the James River Work Center, where the orphans will be cared for as part of the TRF’s horsemanship training program for inmates called Second Chances, says Anne Tucker of the TRF.

“The men were aware of the horrible situation at the farm” the horses were rescued from “and they were pretty excited and curious to see them,” Tucker says.

To Clem
Sire: Two Davids
Dam: Steve’s Dream Girl, by Big Burn
Foal date: March 31, 2004
&
Oligopolist
Sire:Mutakddim
Dam: Corporate Takeover, by Corporate Report
Foal date: March 24, 2003The Thoroughbred geldings appeared sound and calm as they unloaded at Barn 4 and were led to stalls where piles of hay and buckets of clean water awaited.

The decision to make room for the two orphans of Peaceable Farms was made after Tucker and the rest of the Virginia horse community watched in horror as 80+ horses were rescued from the farm in October.

A police raid on the facility revealed dead and dying horses in paddocks and stalls in a scene that was described by one law enforcement officer as the worst case of animal abuse he had witnessed. (Please read an earlier story here: http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/11/09/80-horses-rescued-from-va-death-farm/)

As the farm owner was arrested and jailed on 27 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, horse people came out of the woodwork to help. Charities sent trailers and personnel to take horses out of the putrid scene, while good Samaritans and horse businesses, including feed store Southern States, donated feed, supplies, and funds.

The pair of chestnut Thoroughbreds, who were scooped up and rushed to safety in October, needed a more permanent home, Tucker says, adding, “That’s when we decided to do it. It just seemed like an important thing to do.”

To Clem arrives at the TRF’s James River facility this week.

As the horse community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the case, and the investigation into the case is continues, Tucker says that the two chestnut Thoroughbreds have a good, safe life ahead of them.

Clem comes to the TRF after weathering many storms.

Seven years ago he suffered a catastrophic injury to his left hind leg in a freak accident while turned out in his paddock. He sustained a severe cut to his deep digital flexor tendon, Tucker says. He had surgery, but the veterinary doctor gave me less than a 50 percent chance of surviving the injury, as it was deep and very contaminated.  Not only did he survive, but he has is sound for turnout and light riding, and could potentially be used as a school horse, Tucker adds.

Ollie is athletic and was ridden a lot, she says, noting he’s an excellent jumper, and suitable for more advanced lessons in a riding school.  He is sound, but with a caveat.

He had Potomac Fever while in Maryland,and he developed laminitis while he was sick.  He was sent to Morven Park Equine Hospital, where he stayed for about ten days, on support treatments while trying to survive the disease, she says.  His coffin bone rotated very slightly in his right front foot, because of the laminitis.  Tucker says he needs to be in a situation where the owner would be very conscious of this weak point in his construction.