Owner Buries Carriage Horse Before Investigation
The News
A carriage horse named Freddie, who worked in and around Boston, collapsed and died in the street on Sunday in front of “visibly shaken up onlookers.” His owner, Sally Sutherland of the Bridal Carriage Co., buried Freddie before The Dept. of Agricultural Resources conducted an investigation. A spokesperson for the state agency said Freddie “could be exhumed” if necessary. Freddie, who died at 30, had been pulling carriages in the Boston area since he was 16. Ms. Sutherland said that his previous owner, an Amish farmer “drove him hard. Real hard.”
Photo: Boston Globe
Your Turn
Sally Sutherland told the Boston Globe, “I wanted my horse buried with the rest of his friends and that is where he is at. . . . I don’t really want to talk about this.” Why couldn’t Ms. Sutherland wait to bury her horse until after the investigation? Would it reveal the use of bute (phenylbutazone), a painkiller used in horses, or expose another condition that led to the sudden death of Freddie? Carriage operators claim to love their horses, but people who love their horses would never subject these prey animals to the inhumane, unsafe and inhospitable conditions of an urban work environment. If you still question the rationale for banning urban horse-drawn carriages, please watch the documentary film BLINDERS and educate others about why this anachronistic industry must go. Also, please send a letter to the Boston Globe to express your opposition to urban carriage horses and to ask for an investigation into the cause of death: letter@globe.com.
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I am so saddened to hear of Freddie’s death. It is not uncomon for carriage horses do do “light duty” jobs as they age. It is also not unusual for older draft horses and draft croses to die suddenly without having shown prior signs of being ill. Drafts seem more prone to sudden death through anyeurism, stroke or heart attack than the light horse breeds, although those can cause light horses to die as well.
That being said, I see nothing sinister in his owner Sally Sutherland wanting to bury him at her farm and to get him enterred as quickly as possible.
For those you you who have never owned a horse and have never had to deal with burying one– let me clue you in—
First, horses are very large and very heavy.
Second, most horse owners have to rely on calling someone with the heavy equipment meeded to transport and bury a horse who has died.
Third, even getting someone willing to come out on your schedule is hard, you usually have to defer to them as to when they will be available to take the job.
Fourth, most horse owners, who actually interact with their horses daily, are stunned and grieving over the loss of their horse when something like this happens
Fifth, these days it is the fortunate horse owner who has the privilage of burying his/her horse on his/her own property or that of a friend. Many places want owners to have to have their dead horses hauled away to a “landfill” or even the town dump, rather than allowing the animal to rest in peace on the owner’s land.
Sixth,not all carriage livery owners are the same as some of those who work horses daily in the big cities, and even a few of those people do care about their horses and want them properly looked after in retirement and death.
Seventh, before you all pile on me–from either the anti-side or the pro-side of the carriage issue– let me tell you: Don’t any of you DARE try to tell me I don’t know what I am talking about.
Eighth, my family has owned, shown, ridden or driven horses for generations. I have been involved with horses ALL of my life.
Ninth, Bute is commonly prescribed for older horses, even those FULLY retired and just enjoying life as pasture pets because like older people, older horses also have bouts of pain from arthritis or worn joints, etc.
Tenth, while I have grave reservations about street hack carriage rides in crowded cities being appropriate unless strictly regulated with laws enforced, I don’t think it is fair to rake Ms. Sutherland over the coals or demand that Freddie’s body be exumed.
I have had seveal horses to die suddenly in their pastures at advanced ages. Several were fine in the evening and found dead the next morning. One, Lou aged 22, literally went down before my eyes –standing quietly sunning herself in the pasture one minute and dead the next. Vet was called, and did not even think a post mortum or necropsy was necessary. Lou died Dec. 23, and I was lucky to be able to coordinate everything so she could be buried that afternoon so close to a major holiday.
Another Percheron Barney suffered a stroke that left him unable to rise and partially paralized. I stayed with him to comfort him for two hours until the vet could arrive to euthanize him. HHe was at least 30 and a retired carriage horse originally from Minnesota. He had not worked or done anything the entire year I had him because he came to me for retirement. I was lucky enough to be able to have him buried the same day he died. He was such a sweet old boy. He loved attendion and would run up to the gate whenever he saw the horse trailer becuse I think he was still hoping to be able to “go to work.”
Another, Belle, a TWH also around 30+, died suddenly during the night right before Memorial Day Weekend. I was not able to coordinate her burial immediately. She died in the night or very early before dawn on Saturday. I could not get a backhoe and operator to come out until Monday morning at 8 a.m., and then at additional expense because of the weekend and holiday.
Here is some reality for you people: I had to stand guard and have friends taking turns standing guard over her from Saturday morning until Monday morning to keep buzzards, coyotes and other preditors from getting at Belle’s body while we waited to get her buried.
Even though she was fully covered with weighted-down tarps, the buzzards still began circling by Saturday afternoon. Friends had to scare off coyotes, farm dogs, raccoons, rats and opposums Saturday and Sunday nights. We had to deal with the buzzards during the day all Sunday.
So, you see, I for one understand perfectly why Ms. Sutherland was in a hurry to get Freddie buried.
Mrs HB, Always nice to see feedback from real horse people.
As a horse person I can clearly see you know what you are talking about.
Kudos!
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/08/25/horse-dies-while-giving-rides-wedding-reception-guests/whYQ34kxBNM02KjOsmJdrL/story.html
read the article. Freddie did not work 7 days/ week in the City. was kept at a farm in Pembroke and did light work; a few weddings. a few birthday parties. It is sad he died on the job, but 30 is a good long life for a draft horse.
horses like routine, even if it is a work routine. Try feeding or letting them out to their pasture 1/2 hour late ….. it upsets them. take away their routine (job) and many get quite depressed.
knowing this won’t be a popular post here. oh well
I hate when non-horse people try to pretend they know about horses. Enough said. P.s. When you see me riding my horse on the road, remember that I have the right away and you need to stop. The people driving by at 45mph are the cruel ones. U can’t speed down roads and demand that bikes and horses be outlawed so u don’t hv to slow down. Ridiculous.
Great looking 30 year old Gelding. Looks like he could have worked 5 more years, doing what he loved to do. Most owners call the sanitation company , but this owner had the horse buried. Kudos to Sally.
Having the horse exhumed because of Animal Activists cynicism should be considered a crime.
“visibly shaken up onlookers.”, “could be exhumed” ,“drove him hard. Real hard.”
Donny you obviously have a great grasp of the English language, and can use it for bias quite effectively. However, how does driving a horse hard by a previous owner, 14 years prior, have any bearing on his death. Bute: This is nothing sinister, but the way you portray Bute in the article. You show your lack of real horse knowledge.
Its like complaining a human death due to aspirin.
Horses will, and do die of old age. You are adding insult to injury by
literally kicking a dead horse. Let the owner grieve in peace.
By the way, DP you have issues.
Agreed
Agree. Bute is routinely given as a pain med for older horses who have arthritis and joint issues just like older people. I wonder if Mr. Moss thinks it is cruel to allow older people like me to be able to take my ibuprofin or asprin for my aches and pains?
Should “older horses” who need painkillers really be pulling carriages?
I think Freddie’s death SHOULD be carefully investigated. I did send an email to the Globe. Just use the link at the end of the article. There ARE some people here who CARE about the welfare of animals!!! Yay for us.
Now I am curious. Legally, does every horse with a license to work in public have to have an autopsy if they die on the job? It seems that race horses are always autopsied if they are killed in a race but I wonder how anyone can keep a horse preserved for an autopsy unless there are places set aside for that.
@Ruth Ellis … so who the heck are you? A driver, part of the evil biz? You sure don’t want any empathy for poor Freddie. What’s YOUR profession, huh? You were very adamant about Mr. Moss disclosing his film connections, so I think that YOU should fess up and do the same! What is YOUR JOB in this life? Always someone like you sneaking around and trying to make evil look good.
@Nancy B. … Thanks for setting the record straight. I’m in NYC and we’re fighting hard to get our NYC Carriage Slaves er Horses retired to farms and sanctuaries. It is no life for any animal to be pulling a carriage amid heavy, fume filled and dangerous traffic. Many have been hit, injured or killed by cabs, cars. They only get an isolated 5 weeks off. The other 47 weeks are work to stable and back to work. No field they can be in for those 47 weeks. NONE. I’m hoping our groups here can get our horses our of the traffic and ban this miserable business.
@Maggie,TC You sound so caring and compassionate (NOT!). If I’ve heard the line “horses like to have a job” a thousand times, I’ve heard it once. What is your angle on this. Have you ever been around City Carriage Horses or are you just a giddyap cowgirl? A horse at 30 DESERVES to be retired to a farm or horse sanctuary where he can live as a HORSE, graze, run, lie in the sun, whatever. Sure give them a job … ONE that isn’t CRUEL and dangerous. Come on you’re just flinging the manure around.
@Anita Venturi … I’m with you totally. It’s so cruel making these horses work in fume filled traffic where they can and ARE hit by cabs, cars, etc. Horses need to free to be horses more than 5 isolated weeks/year. We in NYC are fighting hard with our Mayor’s support to END this CRUEL misuse of horses. Beautiful sweet animals, they need to have a field to run in, lie down in, graze in … on regular basis. Thank you for your comments.
@Ruth Ellis … Oh Ruth, didn’t you know it’s a big ole conspiracy against, em, er, gee I just don’t know. What a comment, someone who can find something negative in anything. You must be a fun person to be with.
@Susan … OMG, you have to be a driver, yes? There are farms and sanctuaries where horses are hardly, as you so wrongly put it, “warehoused.” Oh yeah, bet those slaves back when also felt grateful to be kept working “keeping (them) fit and healthy.” Yassur. You’re beyond logic or compassion. Why don’t we strap a harness on you my girl and let you take Freddie’s place. WHY you wouldn’t have to worry what to do anymore, wouldn’t need a gym to keep fit. Giddyap Susan!!!
Good for the Globe and Donny Moss for exposing the CRUEL Carriage Horse “industry.” It IS Cruel as the horses are never given sufficient time off to be horses. Maybe 5 isolated weeks somewhere, once a year. That is NOT enough!! Horses need to have a field to regularly run in, to roll in, to just stand and let the sunlight hit their unencumbered backs. Working a horse to age THIRTY is just criminal. Most of these drivers have no caring for their horses. Horses do not belong in city traffic, with fumes, cars that can and do hit them. It’s time to stop this antiquated and cruel business. We abolished slavery but apparently not for these horses.
You try standing in the sun-it’s hot.
30 is an older horse, but I’m betting that Freddie did not have a saggy back and all the problems that entails, BECAUSE he was doing light work in harness, keeping him fit and healthy. It is a fact that people and other animals just die from heart failure. No drama. In fact, when my time comes to die, I’d prefer to be around my horses, riding or cleaning stalls or tack or… something directly horse related. and… I don’t want a funeral or anyone grieving over me. Enjoy my company while I am alive, and please don’t warehouse me in a “retirement facility” with no purpose for Life to continue.
Why doesn’t the author have to state that he’s also the director of the film he mentions? I thought authors had to disclose things like that.
Ruth … What’s your schtick? What are you promoting? WHO do you work for? What is your job? You’re a troublemaker for sure. No empathy for the horses and how little time they have to just be horses. Shame on you.
I disclose that very clearly under “about us.”
I see that now. I had been sent a link to this story so the connection was not clear.
I am disappointed and also in this case
I say just to end an abuse.It is not love and respect and regard for a lovely horse.
Ban Horses Carriages!
Free the Horses.
First of all it is not uncommon to find BUTE in a horses system. Second, if the horse was 30 yrs old he probably just died of old age. Third, horses like to have a “job” and if this horse has been pulling a carriage most of it’s life he probably died happy cause he was doing what he liked to do. Horses love having something to do rather than run around in a pasture eating grass all day. I love horses and they are happiest when doing some kind of “job”. Just let this horse rest in peace.
You’re kidding, right? Yes it’s true that it’s not uncommon for horses to have Bute in their system. And yes, horses do eventually die of old age. It’s also true that a lot of young, healthy horses want and even need something to do. But c’mon, let’s be honest here, how many horses do you know that would prefer to leave a lush pasture and go do a “job”? Do you even have horses? Ok, sure some might but certainly not the majority. And particularly an old horse, a 30 yr old horse that has worked very, very hard all of his life? No, I think that horse would much prefer the quiet, peaceful retirement he so deserves. With turn out in a pasture with other horses, plenty of good food, and a warm, clean and dry stall to spend his nights. I have two old horses now and have had several very old horses over the years, some who have received low doses of Bute to help them be comfortable in their retirement after so many years of working for people. But to give Bute to an old horse who has worked this hard all of his life for the purpose of enabling him to continue to do such strenuous work is a whole different thing! I think it’s selfish, certainly not in the horse’s best interest!
Does anyone know what Freddie’s real job was? I read in the Boston Globe that he was only available to work at weddings and children’s parties for a long time. And he had been on a farm in Maine for two years so it wasn’t like he’d been working all his life.
Thank you Nancy … it’s overwhelming how powerful the evil doers are, the many drivers and their proponents who want this cruel business to keep going no matter how many horses suffer, are injured or die. It’s staggering that people can be so clue-less.
Maggie … You’re one sad parrot that’s all I can say. You would have felt that child labor was just hunky dory, keeping the kids busy “fit and healthy.” Haha, you’re a regular laugh factory. Compassion and intelligence not your game eh?
At 30 years of age this horse was WAY too old to be working the streets.
Heather … this is a very cruel and inhumane “business.” I’m in NYC and we’ve been fighting for over 4 years to free the Carriage Horses who have to work in fume filled traffic, get hit by cabs, etc. We have farms, sanctuaries already lined up for the approximately 200 deserving horses.
Age 30 is absolutely far too old to be doing this. But, you know what, the proponents and drivers in this “industry” don’t give a rat’s fanny. Cruelty R Us.
Heather, he was NOT a street hack at this stage of his life. This horse was kept at a farm and used only for a few weddings a year or children’s parties. As you know, I have retired my 25-year-old-mare Dixie for EXACTLY this reason– I do not want her to drop dead in front of a bunch of strangers, working or not.
From the time she turned 20, I kept a blanket nad a tarp inder the seat, “just in case” to shield her from prying eyes, should she have “gone down.” Dixie LOVES to go. She stands at the gate and nickers or whinnies when I come to get one of her two much younger understudies, now. Of course, right now all of them are just relaxing and standing around in the pasture and the pond because I no longer provide livery during the hottest parts of the year.
But I can afford this luxury becasue carriage livery is not my only income source and Ihave enough to be able to afford to let the horses have time off.
Perhaps using Freddie this time of year or to do public livery does not show the best judgemnt on his owner’s part, but I figure he probably was like some of the old schoolies or old fire horses who just did not want to be totally “retired.”
Investigate Freddie’s death.
YES agree 1,000%. Time to end this cruel “business” everywhere. Cheers!
Denise, you really do not know what you are talking about. Carriage driving properly done is not any more cruel than riding a horse. But then maybe you are one of those very unrealistic people who thinks no horse should ever interact with people in any way and they should all be “set free” to roam in endleas lush green pastures in Never, Neverland.
Reality check, Toots, it takes thousands of dollars a year to properly provide for a horse. Land is not free and neither is fencing or improved pasture. Keeping a horse properly means you need a barn or shelter, vaccines, vet visits, farrier work, equine dentist visits, blankets, turnout rugs for bad weather, feed, hay, suppliments,grooming products, over-the-counter medicines and prescription meds, hoof maintenence products, brushes, picks, combs, curry combs, halters, lead ropes, harness, collars, carts, carriage, saddle, saddle blankets, bridles, and treat jst to name some things.
Because I would rather have horses, I don’t go on vacations, or cruises, or buy designer clothes, or any clothes that are not “on sale,” or eat out often or buy jewelry or go for spa days or even drive a nice late model car. But I do not miss those things, because I would rather be in the company of horses than have those material things.
BTW, Denese, when were you last in the company of horses, and have you ever really handled or owned any horses? I bet not.
can you (I will, too) write letters to Boston Globe??
Mickey — I did write an email to the Globe, used the link at the end of the article. Cheers!!
Thanks for sending a letter! Please send it to us if you learn that it’s published so that we can post it on TheirTurn.