Home for neglected horses planned
(CNS): With Dr Brandy Darby of St Matthews University leading a group that is working to get a corporationup and running that will cater to neglected horses, two have already come to her attention that are in need of medical care. The horses, named Annie and Gracie, are currently in the Department of Agriculture’s impoundment lot and are both thin, with Annie suffering from an injury to her right leg and Gracie suffering from cancer of the mouth. Both animals were surrendered to the DoA by their previous owners.
“Much has been in the media recently about the overpopulation of dogs and cats in the Cayman Islands but many people might not be aware that the same problem exists in the horse world in the Cayman Islands,” said Darby. “While the small animals have several dedicated groups looking out for their welfare, such as the Humane Society and CARE, no one has been an advocate for the welfare of the horses until now.”
While the corporation that Darby and her group plan to start is in the formative stages of becoming officially incorporated, they are hoping to help these two horses in the meantime. They are hoping to raise funds for the care of the two horses with a yard sale, which is to be held on 13 August at 69 Smith Road, across from Smith Road Plaza. The sale will start at 6am and all proceeds will go towards Annie and Gracie’s care. Members of the public are encouraged to come out and support the sale or make a donation.
“Both horses are thin and in need of some medical care, but have very sweet natures and will be fantastic pasture pets once rehabilitated, said Darby. “Unlike other homes where the horses are to be ridden, these horses will eventually be used to teach people respect, love and compassion.”
Darby and her group have received financial assistance from horse trainer Tricia Sybersma and hope to officially start up their corporation with the name Cayman Equine Sanctuary. Once it gets off the ground, the organisation will partner with various groups throughout Grand Cayman to educate farmers about equine husbandry and will also become involved with human-animal therapy for people with mental or physical handicaps.
They have chosen a temporary location for the sanctuary, located in Lower Valley, just off Hirst Road, and are reviewing sites for a permanent sanctuary. However, the number of horses that will be taken into the permanent sanctuary site will be dependent on funding and the size of the site.
According to the DoA, there are between 300 and 400 horses on Grand Cayman, and while some live in relatively good conditions, some fall victim to neglect and abuse.
Horse neglect is a problem in the Cayman Islands as well as overseas, with most cases largely due to overbreeding and lack of knowledge of how horses should be taken care of.
16-year-old Joshua Dilbert is a CNS summer intern.
Category: Local News
You should check out two horses off the bypass near Spotts Newlands. Go down chime street and then take a right on Raven Avenue. A small distance down Raven to the right you'll see two horse….or there used to be two at least.
I think they should take the owners these horse operations and tie them up to a seagrape tree and not feed them or give them water for weeks on end and let them feel the HEAT.
There are 3,000 Caymanians without jobs, money and soon to be shelter. How about some of the those people taking away the jobs be generous and go back to your animal loving countries and give the poor Caymanian bow, wow or horse without a job the opportunity to get one before they starve to death.
problem is caymanians choose not to have a job……
i'd help an animal over an 'unemployed' caymanian any day….
You are so right, Caymanians choose not to have a job, because you and the likes of you came in and took our jobs accepting as little as U$2.00 per hour and living in deporable conditions such as 20 to one house. Even if we wanted to it would be impossible to live like that way . It's much better to go fish and beg for handouts from our Caymanian governmet and certain politicians as many non Caymanians do. I don't know of any unemployed Caymanians begging you for assistance, all that Caymanians would beg you for right now is that you please leave our jobs and country as you found it and take the animals that you brought with you too, we have enought rubbish of our own to want yours or anything that you brought here with you.
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
It is not that easy to just "come in" to this country and "take" a job. Caymanian employers do the hiring; Caymanian immigration does the paperwork to allow $2.00 per hour workers" into the country; why can't you go to those Caymanian employers and ask for a job instead of them employing expats. Could it be that the Caymanian business owners do not want to pay more than $2.00 per hour. This is not the expats' fault. Look to the Caymanians who are in charge.
for such a 'christian' country maybe you could learn alot from the poeple who 'took' your jobs……
the live modest, clean lifestyles and do not commit crime………
such a shame they caannot live the caymanian lifestyle with a blinged up suv and a blackeberry stuck to their head…….
Yes leave our country as you found it!
No electricity
No piped water
No supermarkets
No airport
One bank
No big law firms
No A/C
and NO JOBS
So all the men have to go to sea working for companies of the foriegn country you come from and taking YOUR jobs!!
Dear poster Macman so glad to see you are still alive and well after 300 years. We need to place a bust of you at Pedro Castle and one at Hereos square. How can you leave the country that you have founded? remember Christopher Columbus only discovered these islands in 1503 and the first settlers came much later and found no pipped water, supermarkets, airport , law firms, a/c, jobs and one bank must have been Pedro Bank then again please let us know. The way I know it our founding fathers and mothers built this rock so many are now fighting over. Anyone who came here before our founding fathers simply came for better opportunities or either they were running away from something or someone.
I am one Caymanian that will not shed a tear if people who think likeyou leave today with all that you brought here and nothing that you got here. I would bet my bottom dollar that you would leave with your bare hands one covering the back and one the front. May I remind you that lack of material possessions did not kill the Caymanian people it only made us strong to go into the USA yes the great USA and some as young as 14 and 15 got jobs with National Bulk carrier and braved the high seas and some even perished at sea to make this island what it is today so that we can now give people like you opportunities that you did not have or could ever dream about having in your native country. Now you have the galls in wanting to take over. I can assure you BoBo not in this country that my forefathers worked and died for.
zzzzzz….oh yes the old seafarers fairytale..zzzzzzzz
Were the first settlers true blood Caymanians?
The first settlers were true Caymanians as there will ever be just listen to the surnames. Boddens, Watlers,Edens and the most Caymanian of all McField for your information the original Caymanian surname. Anyone with McField surname is a direct descendant of the Cayman Islands or a woman married to a Caymanian. How is that for Caymanian heritage?
cayman kind……….
I sympathize with you. But I doubt the people working for $2/hr brought any animals with them.
i'm leaving, I'm leaving… just relax.
What an ignorant person you are…no the wonder you are UNEMPLOYABLE!
Do these few sentences even make sense gramatically?
Pity the fool…….
What has this article got to do with unemployed Caymanians? Are they tied to trees without water also? If so, I say let'em loose!
Do you honestly, really believe there are 3000 unemlpoyed caymanians. If so, you are a fool
0-61!…cns: is this a record?
Where can I make a donation? Would it be possible to have a fundset up to bring private law suits against abusive owners?
About time – Thank you Dr Brandy – this problem is known to all as we drive past these poor creatures every day!!
Maybe the churches can help. All creatures great and small and they are flush with funds.
Horses can't vote
What is it? A status symbol to have a horse tied at the side of the road, with no shelter, water or food?
Perhaps the same symbol as having your dog tied yp in the sun, with no water, to have batch of puppies after puppies…..
I would like to hear from these owners with their pathetic excuses. They should be banned from keeping animals.
Perhaps dart could stretch to a few more animal welfare officers?
the treatment of animals of this island is a disgrace……
What about the home for neglected jackasses? What's that? Coming after the 2013 election? Ok, I'll wait…
Gracie & Annie happy at last!
Thank you to everyone involved in Gracie & Annie's brighter futures, and thank you to the previous owners for stepping up to the plate to seek proper care for these lovely creatures.
I would say that for the most part, the bigger problem is the sheer laziness of many pet owners. Be it a horse, a dog, acat, a bird … any animal – If you don't know how (or are too damned lazy) to take on the responsibility of animal ownership then don't own one. How many times do I see a forlorn cow or horse or dog, tied to a tree or a fence or a pathetic dog house out in the searing sun. Personally, I would like to tether the owners to see how they like it.
There is plenty of help here on the island for pet owners so please, do your animal a favour and do what's right.
How about a prison for abusive owners?
AMEN!!
You should see the horses up at Barkers
Horses at Barkers? I thought that the Park Rangers were supposed to be sharing that bicycle purchased from Uncle Bill.
Poor horses up at Barkers, makes me so upset driving past knowing the misery they are in. No shade, no water, tethered, so thin and unhappy.
The horses at Barkers are used for a business…how sad that no one reports these people. Laws are in effect but never enforced.
More accurate to say "some of the horses" at Barkers. The ones I ride are well loved and tended. The ones across the road, not so much.