Why US Troops Risked Their Lives in WWII to Rescue Horses Kidnapped by Nazis

 “Get them. Make it fast.”

In the chaotic last days of the Second World War, Gen. George Patton’s terse command set off a remarkable secret mission to save a group of priceless stallions and brood mares kidnapped on the orders of Adolf Hitler.

The directive might have appeared foolhardy and risky to an outsider but not to the small group of American and German soldiers who put their hostilities aside, desperate to save the world’s most valuable equine prisoners of war, which were being held deep inside enemy lines in occupied Czechoslovakia.

Minutes after Patton’s order, Hank Reed, a Virginia horseman who was the commanding officer of the Second Cavalry in Europe, dispatched one of his soldiers, an accomplished rider from Tennessee, to team up with a Nazi veterinarian. Under cover of darkness, they trekked miles through dense forests and battle-scarred villages to capture the horses and place them under American protection — before the arrival of advancing Russian troops.

The valuable Lipizzaner horses — snow-white and blue-black, many of them Olympic dressage champions — had been stolen from the countries that the Nazis occupied during the war. In addition to gold, jewelry and artwork, the Nazis seized the valuable horses from Poland, Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria.

The Nazis’ goal, according to author Elizabeth Letts in her new book “The Perfect Horse” (Ballantine), was to breed the Lipizzaner with German horses in order to create an equine specimen that was worthy of the German master race.

Horses were central to the Nazi propaganda effort, and Hitler was often shown as “the man who put Germany back in the saddle,” according to Letts. In fact, as soon as he ordered the invasion of Poland in September 1939 and unleashed the grisly chain of events that plunged the world into war, Hitler had important plans for the country’s horses. As Letts writes, “In the blueprint forged for its occupation, a plan was put into place for the ‘rebuilding of Poland’s horse-breeding industry’ for the ‘interest of the German nation.’ ”

To read more on this story, click here: Why US troops risked their lives in WWII to rescue horses kidnapped by Nazis

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This Summer Has Been So Hot and Dry in Upstate New York That Horse Manure is Bursting Into Flames

The owners of a horse stable had been storing the manure in large piles that frequently spontaneously combusted in the excessive heat and dry conditions.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says one of its enforcement officers responded on July 5 to multiple calls complaining of smell and smoke coming from a burning pile of horse manure at a property in the town of Throop, in the Finger Lakes region 20 miles west of Syracuse. 

The officer learned that the owners of a horse stable had been storing the manure in large piles that frequently spontaneously combusted in the excessive heat and dry conditions. 

DEC officials say a shift in the prevailing winds carried the odor of burning manure it into the neighbors' windows. 

It took three local fire departments two hours to douse the burning horse manure.



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A Horse Clipper Has Become a UK Sensation Because of Her Serious Horse Clipping Skills

Melody Hames, 27, began clipping her own pet pony at the age of 12, and is now an absolute pro at it.

She had to trim her pony frequently because it suffered from a condition called cushings, causing it to have a thick woolly coat which doesn't change in the warmer season.

As she became more experience she decided to set up her own clipping company in Lancashire, JMC Equestrian.

She set up shop in 2013 and business has been booming ever since.

She used to do normal clippings, but has expanded her horizons after getting quirky requests from clients.

The clipper is now inundated with requests for fancy horse trimmings before shows.

Explaining how she decides patterns, she said: 'Often I will visualize it in my head and clarify it with a quick look at related objects which in turn can create new ideas and viewpoints.

"I sketched out different shapes for castles and also for the armour clip as I knew I wanted a specific kind of style castle and sword.

"This helps me visualize in my head and I run with it from there.

"I use a wide range of blades and clippers, I have blades and clippers to suit pretty much every situation, and ever breed as well as coat type.

"No stencils have been used to date or CGIs here - all hand crafted, it's very much like a craft to me that only comes with experience and practice."

Her designs, some which she draws freehand, take from 30 minutes to eight or nine hours to do.

She is most proud of her castle design, which she did over a few days.

She continued: "I would work for as long as it took though, over the space of days, to suit the horse.

"The castle is important to me as it kick started the larger scale custom clipping and gave me something to really work at. It got me a lot of attention.

"This season my favorite has been the Armour De L'Amore clip as it's on my personal horse Romeo and I have worked over time to build him up.

"Now he stands unaltered with complete trust while I work which has been a challenge as he's was a very nervous character and still is but he trusts me and it's a great feeling."

She trims complex medieval designs into the animals for her clients, and the horses she works on always look fabulous!

You wish you were as beautiful as this horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

This is definitely Beyonce as a horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Just look at this great horse. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Credit: JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

She hand-draws all her designs. Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian Custom Clipping

Utterly majestic! Credit: Facebook/JMC Equestrian

  

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Pony Dressed as Unicorn Leads California Authorities on Wild Chase

A pony dressed as a unicorn lead California Highway Patrol on a four-hour chase through the streets of Madera County, Calif., Wednesday night.

The white pony, named Juliet, doubles as a unicorn for photo shoots with her owner photographer Sandra Boos. 

Boos said Juliet makes a lot of "dreams come true" for little girls during the photoshoots.

On Wednesday night, Juliet decided to make a dream of her own come true. Freedom.

While her owner was taking photos of a group of young children, Juliet made her move.

Donning her mythical unicorn horn, Juliet “threw up her head" and "pulled the lead rope” out of a bystander's hands and ran, Boos said.

“I was shooting, but I assume she got free and was like, ‘Oh, well I’m going to run,’ and she took off,” Boos said in a phone interview.

The California Highway Patrol tried for almost four hours to catch Juliet on the ground, as a helicopter helped track the horse from the air, Boos said.

Juliet eluded all efforts at capture, until Boos' friend rode up on a horse.

“When Juliet saw [the woman's] horse, Shady, she came running,” Boos said.

To her owner's relief, Juliet followed the horse into a nearby pen.

"I was standing with highway patrol when the call came over the radio, and they said 'the unicorn is in custody,'" Boos said.

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A Teen Saved More Than a Dozen Clydesdales, Including a 3-Week-Old Foal, from a Burning Barn

Bishop, Georgia - A teen saved more than a dozen Clydesdales, including a 3-week-old foal, from a burning barn about 60 miles east of Atlanta.

At about 2 a.m. ET Thursday, lightning struck the horse barn at Classic City Clydesdales here.

“It shook the whole house," said Shannon Martin, who owns the farm with her husband, Mark. "One minute I am in bed. The next minute I am standing up next to the bed trying to figure out what bomb went off.”

It rattled the horses, especially the 3-week-old trapped inside with more than a dozen others. With flames all around, the barn doors were locked and the power was out.

“We could not get the large overheads open,” she said.

That's when their 16-year son, Macon Martin, jumped into action.

“I just ran right out. I had no clothes on, no shoes, no nothing,” he said. “I just jumped in our Gator and I just ran it right into the door.”

He used the John Deere utility vehicle like an action hero, his mom said.

“He busted through like Rambo and opened up the end of the stalls and said, 'Mom this way,' " she said. "And we were able to push the horses out that way."

All of the Clydesdales, a breed of draft horse most famous for starring in Budweiser commercials, are doing fine — including Phoebe. She’s expecting a foal, and her due date was Thursday.

The barn is a total loss.

“It will take some time to rebuild," Shannon Martin said. "This was a dream. We saved and built it brick by brick. We’ll have to start over.”

But their horses, which travel to events and parades across the USA, will be starting over with them.

“Big horses everybody thinks (are) real tough," she said. "but Clydes are sort of the beauty queens of the draft horse world. They can be pretty fragile.”

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Awww! This Baby Horse is Adorable…and He Just Wants to Cuddle

Horses aren't exactly known for their cuddling abilities.

However, one baby horse at the Rapid Run Training Center is Morristown, Florida is exceptionally affectionate, acting more like a dog than a horse when Sunny Bayne approached it.

"This is the best day of my life," Bayne said as the filly laid on top of her.

Cuddling changes people.

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Tips For Buying a Horse or Pony: Mistakes Most New Horse Buyers Make

Buying a horse or pony for the first time is an exciting experience. It's easy to get carried away by a big set of brown eyes, even though the horse batting them may not be the best beginner horse. However, the wrong horse can ruin the fun of horseback riding or driving and may be unsafe. Learn to avoid the top mistakes that new horse buyers make.


1.  Buying an Untrained Horse
Many experienced horsemen and women will tell you they see this too often. Because untrained horses are often cheaper, or for whatever other whim, beginner riders will choose untrained horses. Don’t buy a horse that you plan to train yourself or even send to a trainer. Training can take months. It can be dangerous if not done right. Young or inexperienced mature horses are not reliable. Beginners will be safer and happier with a horse they can enjoy the moment it gets off the trailer.

2.  Turning Down Older Horses
An older horse, who has seen the world, makes a great beginner horse. Beginners might shy away from a horse into their late teens and twenties. However, many healthy, sound horses can be ridden well into their senior years. In fact, light daily exercise, such as a quiet  hack or drive may be beneficial to both horse and rider/driver.

3.  Buying a Young Horse for Their Children to Grow Up With
This is a romantic notion, but the reality is that young horses and young beginner riders or drivers are not a safe mix. Buy your kids a mature, well trained horse they can saddle or harness up the same day you bring it home. Buy a horse that knows how to handle itself when all the scary aspects of the world present themselves—because a young beginner won’t know how. On an older, well trained horse or pony, kids will learn and have fun in greater safety.

4.  Buying at Auction
It takes a keen eye to pull a good horse out of an auction. Horses can appear docile at auction because they are so confused they ‘freeze’. Horses can be drugged to make them look calm or healthy. Things like heaves and lameness can be hidden easily with drugs. More » 

5.  Impulse Buying
Don’t buy a horse on first sight. Try the horse out, try it again, ask lots of questions. Go home and think about it for a few days. Look at other horses besides the one you’re smitten with and make comparisons. Be absolutely sure you’ve chosen the horse most suitable for you.

6.  Not Asking For a Trial Period
Don’t be afraid to ask the seller for a trial period. Most private owners want their horses to go to good homes, and are confident about the type of person they feel can handle the horse. Some dealers may agree on a trial period, or help you find another horse if the one you are looking at doesn’t work out. Just ask. And if you get a ‘no’ answer, ask why. There may be a valid reason. More » 

7.  Buying a Horse to Breed
Do you want to buy a horse so you can breed it and have a foal? Before you do visit an auction where horses are destined for rendering or meat. Pay attention to how many look like the result of backyard breeding experiments. Consider if you can live with this outcome for a horse you have brought into this world. Horses should be bred because they have outstanding qualities to pass on. The fact that you love it or think it would have a really cute foal is not an outstanding quality.

8.  Buying “Too Much Horse”
You may envision yourself jumping 5 ft. concrete culverts in a cross country event. However, the reality is you’ve only been riding six months. The type of horse required for high-performance sports may not be the one suitable for safe learning. Buy a horse to match your skill and fitness level, not one to match a dream that may not come true for five years or even vanish.

9.  Buying a Horse of a Particular Color
While it is perfectly reasonable to want to own a special coat pattern horse like a Paint, palomino or Appaloosa, it isn’t wise to buy for color only. If you have a choice of several horses, and all are of the same sane mind, and good training, of course buy the color you like. However, don’t base your decision on the color if the mind and training aren’t suitable. When buying a car the adage is ‘you don’t drive the paint’. With horses, you don’t ride/drive the color.

10.  Not Considering the Time and Expense of Horse Care
Horse ownership is a big responsibility. Horses don’t stop eating and drinking on the weekend when you want to go away. The expenses don’t stop because you want to spend the money elsewhere, or you’ve been unable to work. Be honest about the time and money you are able to spend on a horse. It's okay to admit you love horses, but would rather spend $30 on trail ride or riding lesson occasionally and leave all the other expense and fuss to someone else.



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What is the Difference Between a Horse and a Pony?

If you are currently looking into horses for the first time and aren’t particularly familiar with them yet, then you may be forgiven for thinking that a pony and a horse are essentially the same thing – the common understanding it seems for many people is that ponies are just smaller horses. However this is very much not the reality, and there are many considerable differences between horses and ponies that you should familiarize yourself with if you have an interest in buying one. Here we will look at the differences between horses and ponies and examine the differences that are more than just skin deep…

To read more on this story, click here: What is the Difference Between a Horse and a Pony? FOLLOW US!

Horse Health

Spring might be the best time of the year, but if we have horses that are prone to developing grass founder, this season may be the beginning of serious problems for some of our horses. Horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked seem especially vulnerable to grass founder and should be the focus of founder prevention.

To read more on this story, click here: Horse Health

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Native American Horses

Horses forever changed life on the Great Plains. They allowed tribes to hunt more buffalo than ever before. They tipped the balance of power in favor of mounted warriors. And they became prized as wealth. For Native Americans today, horses endure as an emblem of tradition and a source of pride, pageantry, and healing.

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Woman Fined for Taking a Pony into McDonald's Where it Defecated on the Floor

A mother who was fined after her daughter took her pony into McDonald's claims that the pet has previously been served plenty of times - and has a fondness for a McFlurry.

Christine McGrail and daughter Olivia were told to tie up their steeds after being forbidden from using the drive-through service at the fast-food restaurant in Whitefield.

Managers at the franchise told Christine, 33, who was riding stallion Dancer, and her nine-year-old girl, on pony Minnie, they weren't allowed to queue with waiting cars.

                 Christine McGrail and daughter Olivia took the pony into the McDonalds so they could pick up a snack.

Christine McGrail and daughter Olivia were told to tie up their steeds after trying to use the drive-through service at the fast-food restaurant in Whitefield.

Ride-thru: The woman and her daughter attempted to use the drive-thru at McDonald's before taking a horse inside.

The mother says she took managers "iterally" when they suggested the pair dismount and enter the store.

So she let Olivia lead her six-year-old pony into the restaurant - to the amazement of customers.

But once inside, Minnie defecated on the floor and police were called.

The mother-of-one admits she acted 'rashly' after the pony opened its bowels in front of diners but claimed the treatment of horse riders was inconsistent.

She said: "Minnie likes McFlurrys. We've genuinely been served several times before and I didn't think using he drive-through would be a problem."

She said that Minnie, who defecated on the floor of the store, had a taste for the ice cream treats.

An officer issued Christine with a £90 fine for causing "alarm and distress" to customers and managers have also banned her.

A statement posted by Greater Manchester Police’s Whitefield branch on its Facebook page said they received a call from McDonalds.

It added: 'The staff refused to serve the women due to company policy.

The women then took the horse into the restaurant who ended up doing his business on the floor.

Not so happy meal: Staff and customers at the branch of McDonalds were distressed after the horse defecated inside the restaurant.

                                                              Ice cream culprit: Minnie loves the ice cream treats


Fine: She was issued with a fixed penalty notice after the horse defecated on the floor of the restaurant in Whitefield, Greater Manchester

The sight and smell of this caused obvious distress and upset to customers trying to eat, as well as staff members.

Officers arrived at the location and woman was issued a Fixed Penalty notice.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: "I can confirm that on 20th July a woman allowed her pony to enter our restaurant in Whitefield after being refused service in the drive-thru lane."

The incident caused distress to customers and disruption for the restaurant and the police issued the woman with a Fixed Penalty notice.

The health safety of our customers and staff is our top priority and for this reason we are unable to serve pedestrians, bicycle riders or customers on horseback through the drive-thru.

The policy was introduced over fears that safety of staff and customers could be put at risk if a horse is spooked by a car.

The company said they would not be releasing CCTV footage of the incident.


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Did You Know that there are Homeless Horses?

When most people think of homeless animals, they think of dogs and cats. Did you know that there are homeless horses?

There are no unwanted horses in the United States, simply homeless horses. "Unwanted Horse" is a pro slaughter term.

No one has a litter of horses show up on their door step, no one is walking down the street and finds a basket full of baby horses!

All domestic horse breeding, save the exception of an unlatched gate, is controlled by human intervention. A homeless horse has simply outgrown the reason for which he or she has been bred and is now homeless, not unwanted.

As a domestic species in America, the horse tends to have an ownership history that closely resembles that of a used car. An estimate I’ve heard is that the average horse will pass through 7 to 10 homes in their lifetime. The implications of this sad fact are compounded many fold when you come to understand the nature and needs of a horse, a beautiful, highly intelligent herd animal who thrives on companionship, leadership, routine and a predictably safe environment.

The Humane Society of the United States, says, A typical horse has a life-span of more than 20 years and will have several owners over the course of his life. While most will find owners who love and cherish them, some will fall victim to abuse, neglect, or even death at a slaughter plant. We’re working to make sure that doesn’t happen.




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We Have All Heard of Pet Insurance for Your Dog or Cat – Did You Know that There is an Insurance Company that Will Cover Your Horse or Pony?

Did you know that after buying a home or a car, a horse can be one of the most expensive purchases that many people make? You protect your family, home, cars and even your pets with insurance, so why not your horse?

You probably never thought about it…or even knew that there was a such thing as “horse or pony” insurance.

According to Neal King, former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, vet’s fees are increasing at around 11% year on year. Could you afford to pay your horse’s vet’s bill if it ran into hundreds, or even thousands of pounds? Many of us couldn’t, which is why it makes sense to protect yourself should the unexpected happen, with good quality horse insurance.

I want to tell you about a company that can give you the added protection that you need for your horse or pony.

What They Offer:

They excel in offering comprehensive cover for your horse or pony. They are dedicated to providing you with competitive premiums and a great product. Horse-insurance.co.uk provides the coverage, and gives you the freedom to choose a policy that suits your requirements.

On their website, they have an easy to use quote system which will allow you to build a policy unique to your requirements. You will be able to get your instant quotation and then proceed to buying online and having instant cover. Their horse and pony insurance is an exclusive online policy.

Horse-Insurance.co.uk is a scheme administered and underwritten by Equine & Livestock Insurance Co. Ltd. (Registered in England & Wales no. 294940) which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA register number 202748). Equine & Livestock Insurance Co. Ltd is also a member of the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.

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The Beauty Of The Horse

As a child I always wanted a horse. Once my parents explained to me that I could not have a horse living in the city (Washington, DC)…I settled for a dog that finally had a litter of 6 pups.  My mother told me that after the pups where here, I told her, “you should have let me have a horse!”.

The closest that I have ever gotten to a horse was a pony ride, and watching the series, “Mr. Ed”. Mr. Ed the talking equine star of the 1960s television series, was a golden palomino. He learned an enormous amount of tricks for his role, including answering a telephone, opening doors, writing notes with a pencil, and unplugging a light.

What Is A Horse:
A horse is a large hoofed mammal (Equus caballus) having a short-haired coat, a long mane, and a long tail. It has been domesticated since ancient times and used for riding and for drawing or carrying loads.

Horse Facts:
Horses are social animals and will get lonely if kept alone
Horses sleep longer in the summer than in the winter
Horses generally dislike the smell of pigs
Horses teeth never stop growing. You can tell if a horse is cold by feeling behind their ears. If that area is cold, so is the horse.

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