I'd like everyone to meet Red. Red is the best, most beautiful horse there ever was (in my opinion anyway). I leased Red from a farm near my house during the summer of 1994. In 1995 I got Kasey, but I still rode Red from time to time, and even asked her owner if he would sell her to me. Since I was keeping Kasey at his farm anyway, he said he didn't want me to have to pay board for two horses. He said that if he were ever going to sell Red, I would be the first to know. In June of 1996, I moved Kasey to another farm. I still visited Red often, rode her some, and took treats to her! In November of 1996, Red's owner took her, and an appaloosa he owned, to an auction in Shipshewana, Indiana. You can image how I felt when I found out. I felt like she'd been stolen from me, because I had always believed that if he were going to sell her, he would let me know. He didn't. She was just gone, and there was nothing I could do about it. Now you know what my first thought might have been when I learned she had gone to an auction. I know what kind of people go to auctions, they aren't all good people (you know what I mean... I'm not trying to offend people who go to auctions to buy horses for pets). But as much as I wanted to know what had happened to Red, I left it at that. I just hope that she is somewhere nice, with someone who loves her. I'll always miss her.
UPDATE: April 2, 1998: I got up the courage to call the Shipshewana auction and find out about Red. I sent in a $25 "research fee," for them to go back through the records. Now I sit and wait for a response.
UPDATE: April 16, 1998: I got a letter from the Shipshewana auction today. Red and Jody (the appaloosa) were sold as "kill horses" and bought by "kill buyers." It was very upsetting news, but at least I know where Red is. I'm writing again to find out what exactly is meant by "sold as a kill horse," and to find out the address/phone # of where she went to.
UPDATE: April 31, 1998: I received another letter from the auction. The seller decides to sell a horse as a "kill horse" or a "saddle horse." Kill horses usually go for slaughter. This really makes me angry. She went to Ryan Horse Co. in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Laura from Illinois Horse Online has told me she would call for me and find out about Red. I've accepted the fact that she is probably dead, but there's always that chance that someone may have saved her.
UPDATE: July 27, 1998: Laura e-mailed me, someone thinks they have RED!!! A while back I had Laura put Red up on her web page to see if anyone had her. I guess this person saw her picture, and they think they've got her! Is this possible? YES! Ryan Horse Co. is not a slaughter house but a horse dealer! This person bought her from an auction in Pennsylvania. Laura is waiting to hear back from them. They are suppose to send pictures so we can be sure it's really Red!!! They've said they won't take a million dollars for her, but I don't even care! I just want to know she is safe and happy!
March 14, 1999: Okay, since I don't want to leave you all hanging here, I thought I'd let you know that I'm still waiting. I've e-mailed Laura twice since last July, and I have heard nothing. I really hope she can get that person to send us pictures so I will know if it is really Red. For now, I'll keep hoping!
November 2, 1999: Still nothing. I figure it probably wasn't her anyway, but I still believe she is out there somewhere. And I believe that I will find her someday.
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This page created and maintained by Jillian Hansen.
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