[anthealarae]

Here's the story:
There is a mare at a place where I am keeping one of my mares while I am having one of my friends condition her for me. It is a very basic and inexpensive facility with a few horses (maybe 10) and most are well cared for ... except a little brown mare.

This mare is obviously under fed. I would guess between a 1 and 3 in body condition (I have *very little* experience in evaluating body condition - just my best guess). The "story" is that the girl who owns the horse bought her because she was dating a guy who was into horses ... blah, blah, blah ... they break up. You get the idea. I guess the horse doesn't even get fed every day ... again this is simply "the story." Regardless, she is seriously not being taken care of.

So, I was thinking about just buying her from the girl. Any advice on how to approach? I'm hoping this girl would be happy to have a few hundred dollars (I was thinking $250-$500) and to be rid of the "responsibility."

I just feel like I should do something ... and at this point that rescues are overflowing with horses and I really don't have a problem feeding this horse, working with it and finding it a good home in a year or two.

Again, any advice would be very much appreciated!

[FancyASB]

Go for it that is how I rescued my ASB mare 10 years ago from a so called "training" barn. She was stuck in a dark dirty stall not being fed hidden in the back. 16.2 weighed 830 lbs. I went to look at another horse and saw her and offered to buy her, the rest is history I still own her and she turned out to be a lovely horse. I told the "trainer" that I liked her the best and offered some money and he accepted it = I didn't say a thing about her condition just that I liked her so he wouldn't get defensive.

[Mozarts_Girl]

I wouldn't personally offer money right off the bat. What I did a few years back for my friend's friend's horse (was TERRIBLY emaciated and pregnant) was tell the girl point blank, "either give me the mare or I call the ASPCA..." she practically threw the poor mare at me! If she doesn't listen to you, then by all means offer a couple hundred bucks

[firelight27]

Tell her that the horse is starving. Offer to pay her $200 and let her know that you can rehab & care for her. If she refuses, inform her you are calling the sheriff's dept. who will charge her with neglect. Have the # on hand. Walk away as you pull out your cell & call the sheriff or ASPCA (if u have one near). Explain it to them & try and be present when they arrive. Make sure they know you are willing to take her in.

[joce]

Who owns the barn? Are they active there?

I would approach them and have them say since you are not taking care for your horse you need to pay for full board so they can at least know she is getting feed. Then if you want to follow that up with a I'd take her off your hands for you then you can.

I would not get the horse unless you would have gotten it anyway if you were out looking(of course I am saying this conteemplating getting a second weanling in a bad spot).Call the sheriff or a local rescue etc. And are you sure it does not have any health issues? There was a horse(small brown mare actually) at my old boarding barn who looked horrible all the time but she had a looong history of health issues and her owners just couldn't put her down.

This girl really may not know any better though and may want to keep her and just needs help. Maybe approach her just to talk non threatening and see what she says. Then if it flows into I wasn't ready for this or I can't afford it or don't know what I am doing,you are there to help wether it be by taking the horse or telling her how to properly feed etc. Thats basically what we did with the mare that looked bad at our barn, Approached with a casual conversation about teeth to see if she knew anything about floating etc.