52 Thoroughbreds Find Homes via Facebook in 4 Days

By John on

In a heartwarming story about the power of horses and social media to unite people around the world, 52 abandoned horses destined for slaughter have found homes and been saved in a matter of days.  TheHorse.com has posted the full story:

“Lynn Boggs recently turned to [Facebook] to find homes for 52 Ohio Thoroughbreds in need.  Boggs’ close friend, Daniel C. Sterns, DVM, died on Jan. 27. [Boggs] was instantly faced the task of rehoming Sterns’ 52 Thoroughbreds…

After Sterns’ son dismantled his father’s breeding and racing farm, he gave Boggs and her boyfriend, Jerry Noss, a week to find homes for the 52 horses. He planned to send any unadopted animals to auction. Boggs, who owns 10 racehorses herself, posted a plea for help on her Facebook page…Boggs’ post spread like wildfire. Countless people reposted it on Facebook, tweeted it on Twitter, and e-mailed it around the globe.

The impromptu Facebook campaign was more successful than Boggs could have imagined–she received more than 4,000 phone calls and hundreds of text messages about the horses…

Four days later, on Feb. 1, the last horse left the farm around 10:30 p.m.”  [TheHorse.com]

Eventing Nation’s good friend Jackie Smith, of Ohio, adopted two of the horses and Jackie emailed us that you can read about their adventures from the horses’ perspective at Jackie’s blog. [The Adventures of Jack and Jill]

I can’t say enough about the wonderful work of Jackie and all the other people who helped to spread the word and find homes for these horses.  I can’t wait to see some of these 52 Facebook horses grow up to become great eventers.  Go eventing!

Categories:

Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes
  • Mallory

    Lots of my facebook horse friends had their statuses begging people to adopt these horses.. I just love how the horse community is all so tight-knit, even if we've never met each other! This warms my heart to see that all these horses got homes.

  • KathyMcD

    Thank you for the uplifting story John. There have been so many awful stories of horse/animal neglect lately, and combined with the awful winter weather....I was feeling mighty low. It's heartening to know that there are caring people out who were willing to help out when time was running out and the "chips were down". My deepest thanks to you all.

    K.

  • Andrea

    This is a wonderful story, and God bless Ms. Boggs for going to bat for these horses. But let's recall that there are still many thousands of horses who need homes. I hope that the people who offered to adopt one of these Ohio TBs will continue their willingness to adopt a homeless horse, and more animals can find safe haven.

  • Bex

    I saw this a lot on fb and honestly thought it was bogus! Glad to hear it was legit, and even moreso to hear it had a happy ending!

  • Kathy Cook

    I'm so glad for those horses. I'm a horse lover myself and I hate to see any of them go to auction.

  • LGC

    Thank goodness they all found homes! Thank goodness for being able to find the story stating so. I've been stressing over this one! I've been leaving messages all over the US trying to find help for these horses. I can sleep now.

  • Tina Franklin

    i am so thankful that there are still people in this world that consider horses a cherished and important part of life! I own a Horse Boarding facility and am thinking about starting a rescue there! I have the room..but unfortunately..i worry about how to take them in and get the care they need as far as funds are concerned! My dream is to help save the lives of unwanted Horses! Beautiful ending to a almost tragic story!

  • Kat Keener

    I am proud to say I help spread the word early thanks to Kate Doty. She was a big part of this and a great horse advocate. I'm so happy about the results of a couple phone calls and Facebook postings. Now my good friend Joanne has a beautiful new addition (with one to follow in a couple months) in her barn. Great efforts on everyone's part!

  • Sarah Mobley

    I understand rescues have to charge to stay open, but imagine, if they allowed more people to foster and lowered adoption fees, more horses would have homes. This is a great story though.

  • Holly

    I posted this "Save the 52 TBs" plea on FB (by request from a friend not far from where the horses were located), mainly because I volunteer for a shelter dog rescue in Virginia and I frequently get asked to share notices about needy dogs and cats. For all the people on FB who I saw later that day that had statuses that said things like "If I see ONE MORE STATUS UPDATE about the thoroughbred horses in Ohio, I'm going to puke/kill someone/jump off a bridge," then all I have to say is: "If I see one more picture in my newsfeed of your newborn baby, then I'M GOING TO PUKE!!!" Sorry, no offense to my horsey-friends with new babies, of course. :-)

  • Brittany

    Wow, this is crazy. A friend of mine actually texted me last night telling me about this. He asked if I wanted a free horse and that his friends Grandfather had died and he had 52 horses that needed to find homes or they would go to slaughter.. TOTALLY crazy that this showed up on EventingNation. Small world.

  • Mimi Griffith

    Gee, what a nice son this guy had, huh? He had no heart for something that was so important to his dad? What's with this guy?

  • Arvella Williams

    How could anyone disrespect their father that way. He must have loved these horses and for this man to say he's sending them to slaughter just because he doesn't want them; his father did something wrong in raising him. I have always wanted a horse but could never afford one or had a place to have one. Thanks to all who gave them a good home.

  • Liz

    Hard to know whether some of this was overblown. Interviews with the son (who is apparently considering a lawsuit) say that his father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure 6 months ago and they started placing the horses then. A friend in Ohio who lived near Dr. Stearns told me that he had a reputation for breeding quality horses. Most went to friends and colleagues. He is disputing the "one week and then to slaughter" scenario. I'm glad the horses found homes -- I just wish that some of the other horses I've seen advertised in truly dire situations received the same outpouring of support. There has been a very cute colt in Ohio looking for a home for about 2 weeks now that was just as deserving.

  • Kristina Buyea

    A great example how one person can make a huge difference. May God bless Lynn for going above and beyond and being so resourceful!

  • Jen

    14. @Liz
    I agree with you, everyone deserves the benefit of doubt.. that said it's still heartwarming ~ they were saved

  • CanAmFam

    This is not the only recent example of the horse community coming together to save horses. Last week, 70 horses at two farms in New York state were in a similar situation and within days, individuals and rescues found them all homes. Also last week was the case of the Montana farm with 400 horses being neglected. The local ranchers came together to get hay to last the horses through the winter.

    Some important lessons here. In EVERY one of these cases, non-slaughter solutions were found for these horses within days. So much for the idea that we cannot absorb our misplaced horses!!

    In addition, all of these cases were breeding operations. And I can't speak for the Tbreds, but the other three farms were paints, arabians and stock horses, following what many would deem irresponsible breeding practices. If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em! Please - if you know of any operations that approach breeding like this, allowing stallions to just "run" with mares, please make a difference and try and talk them out of it!

  • Kathy Fillo

    It is a relief to know that these beautiful horses have been saved. Of note...it wasn't just horse lovers that passed the word along Facebook but rather all animal lovers were working behind the scenes posting and sharing amongst their contacts. So it is a big thanks to all of the animal world on Facebook for working together for a common cause...saving animal lives.

  • Betsy

    That is EXACTLY what I was thinking.

  • Veronica Dickey

    A wonderful story for all of these 52 horses, but the real story is horses are trucked to slaughter to Mexico and Canada all the time from the Sugarcreek Horse Auctions. If you care about horses work to close down the horrific horse auctions held in Sugarcreek!!

  • PAULA

    Have someone post it on Facebook..and from there it will go out everywhere!

  • PAULA

    Try "fostering" them out...until they can be adopted...advertise for "sponsors" for each horse...there are many ways to help

  • PAULA

    This seems to be a great way for all animal lover's to help spread the word on all kinds of animals needing homes..be it dogs, cats, horses, whatever. If we all band together on Facebook we could possibly save alot of animals!! And I agree...has to be some way to shut down Sugarcreek Horse Auctions!!!

  • Donna Braendel

    This was posted all over Alaska Facebook members pages too... Not much we could do, but it was really something to see how quickly the word got out and spread to everyone.

  • Donna

    This was posted all over Alaska Facebook member pages too.. Not much we could do... But it was something to see how quickly and how far this story reached..And it worked!

  • Elizabeth

    I feel terrible, I truly thought it was some sort of scam, so very happy they found homes through the insight of this cariny friend

  • mimi

    Thankfully no horses were ever at risk! Dr. Stearns made arrangements in advance of his passing. If people knew anything about the logistics of placing 52 horses, this story wouldn't have made it past the 1st day, which, by the way, was when the voice message claimed all horses were already placed! A miracle indeed! I hope anyone who donated to this cause has the courage to notify the authorities. That's a heck of a way to collect severance pay, when your boss dies and you're suddenly out of a job!

  • julie

    This really hit home! Individuals like Ms. Boggs are the reason I have my sweet little mare... who is a Thoroughbred/pony cross rescued a step from slaughter in 2005-06 by a lovely woman who runs a rescue in Kentucky and rehabilitated by a friend before I bought her... my horses have been one late 1979 TB gelding, one 2004 filly TB/warmblood I owned as a foal-3 y.o. and sold to a family of stellar reputation who show in dressage & eventing, and now my 2002 TB/pony mare. They all are wonderful mounts. I never would dream of abandoning my past horses or present mare, they have been my family and are like children to me. It makes me sick to see how the current national financial status has affected newly homeless pets AND horses... all I have to do is look at how many horses have been dumped and temporarily adopted by my boarding farm owner looking to re-home them in the last few years. Thank the good people of the horse community for saving these animals from a cruel fate.

  • Sarah

    WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? These horses were neither abandoned nor "destined for slaughter"... I know this family and it's crazy how people manipulate what others say. Whatever happened to responsible journalism?? The horse community is worse than a group of 3rd graders playing "telephone."

  • Kelly

    It is truly incredible how fast it all happened and how thankful I am for all the people who were willing and able to take these horses for them. I am faced with selling my own horse because I have finally fallen victim to the economic mess our country is in and I know Dr. Sterns is probably in heaven, happy that his horses were all adopted. That is all any true horse owner wants is a place where their horse is well cared for and happy.

  • Gail Anderson

    There are thousands of horses being abandoned in Ireland because of the economic crisis. Is there anything you can do for them?

  • Natasha Zywicki

    According to the son of Dr. Stern these horses were being placed well before the death of his father. Additionally he has not stated a word about this 'Boggs' woman. Do a little research people. Tons of rescues are asking for donations for these 52 horses... and the amount of horses being claimed as Dr. Sterns is well over 200.
    Don't start praising some crack job who's just making money off of a hoax like this. Makes me sick.

  • kali doty

    im truly glad all the horses hav homes its heart warming 2 know there safe my family and i helped spread the word

  • Erika

    I can't believe his son (Daniel Charles Stearns iv) would put these poor horses in such a bad position for his own gain. If anyone on this board know him personally, please tell him what a selfish jerk he is!

  • Pamela Hernandez

    Hello i didn't know this person who had put the horses on FB but i repost anything about adopting or helping animals. I'm just glad they all were saved. I reposted it and before long it was like dominating FB over any other post for the day i put it there. People respond when they care.

  • Anonymous

    I couldn't agree more Holly!! You go girl!

  • wvgodiva

    CanAm, I couldn't agree more. If you can't feed them (remember that times can get tough) then you shouldn't breed them. Why on earth would it ever be okay to have 400, 70 or 52 horses? and still be breeding? Blows my mind! Getting rid of slaughter isn't the problem, (it's part of the solution) changing the way people think is the problem.

  • sharlet tyler

    i was delighted to hear about the horses. I'm a horse person myself but I can't ride anymore. Praise the Lord for the compassion and love that people showed. To the rest of the world, this is an example of how american's care. BLESSINGS TO ALL SHARLET TYLER

  • david c

    Having rescued and purchased many OTTB's the past 15 years...I applaud anyone who considers helping support, place, or provide loving homes to TB's. I have said countless times over the years that the myths that surround the breed are exactly that. Yes, some come with track vices or bad habits but they are generally acclimated to farm life very quickly and truly love and appreciate being able to be a horse once they've left track life. I wouldn't trade my TB's for any other breed.

  • Kelley Seigler

    Just wanted to say THANKS TO EVERYONE EACH AN ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THE HORSE YOU JUST SAVED WILL THANK YOU 10 FOLDS OVER BY THE WAY YOU SAVED IT !! IT LOVE YOU BACK LIKE NO OTHER ENJOY YOUR NEW FRIEND .

  • Sharon Tupper

    I am glad to see these Thoroughbreds went to good homes. I didn't want to hear about them going to slaughter. I love horses and now that my back will not allow me to ride anymore, I will find ways to show my love to them.

  • Stefani Olsen

    This is a heartwarming story that I will repost and share so people can understand how social media can be used for good. I really thank and appreciate everyone involved in the rescue, most of all Boggs.

    With that said, I truly hope it will cause all those involved, Boggs included, to rethink breeding and racing of horses. Activities like racing which exploit animals --even when engaged in by people who truly care for the horses -- inevitably do not have the care and wellbeing of those animals as the highest priority. While I am glad we've ended slaughter in the US, it is a fact that now many horses are transported to Mexico for slaughter. It is stll a sad situation. There are more horses needing homes than there are homes. This happy ending is not shared by all castoffs of the racing industry or breeding operations. It takes special people to provide good homes for horses and there are not enough of the people with the means, will, and knowhow. I have volunteered at a local horse rescue, and I have seen the ravages of neglect with my own eyes.

    Peace and blessings to all involved in rescuing these beautiful horses.

  • Linda Wescon

    I live in Australia and was asked by a friend in Australia from a friend in America to pass on the message on to my friends in America of who are many,

    Which I also did and got a message back to say they were all safe and homed
    Great News

  • Angelia Kerr

    What a happy ending to this story. If I could have one, I would!

  • Paula Rivenbark

    WOW, I'm like so many others, I wish I could have one or even them all.. I absolutely love HORSES with all my heart...

  • Rot Tranum

    THANK GOODNESS THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT ENDING.

  • Rot Tranum

    ONCE AGAIN ,THIS IS A GREAT STORY!

  • Anonymous

    Such a relief to know these beautiful creatures were saved. I worried over it wishing I had the resources to help. All I could do was pass the word along. Makes my day to read this

  • Suzie

    Hi Sarah, I run a rescue in Ohio. We haven't charged adoption fee's in several years. I see some rescues asking thousands for rescues, I don't agree with that. It would be nice to cover some of the expenses we invest (out of pocket) for feed, vet care, vaccinations etc., but the most important thing is finding homes for them. Suzie - West Wind Stables

  • mimi

    Some of you may be interested in the video at http://www.wkyc.com/video (follow link and search videos title "Ohio horses slaughtered"). The blonde woman in the video is the owner of Drafty Barns Rescue, friend of Lynn Boggs, and claims to have rescued 12 of the 52 horses. Very sad. Praying for those horses.

  • anonymous in ohio

    NEW INFORMATION on this story is slowly surfacing, and it is looking like more than a hoax. Just this week, folks who claim to have personally known Dr. Stearns, including a Euclid Ohio police officer, have come forward to say that there was no truth to Lynn Boggs' story.

    Here's what has come out so far:

    Dr. Stearns was a respected member of his community.

    *Arrangements were made for the Dr.'s horses prior to his passing, and they never faced slaughter.*

    Dr. Stearns was a past president of the Benevolent Horseman's Society, and many times awarded "Breeder of the Year".

    He was a vet for the Cleveland Mounted Police.

    He owned the Euclid Veterinary Hospital, where he worked until shortly before his passing, since 1948. His vet hospital remains open.

    He aided in the rescue/retirement of many horses.

    Dr. Stearns' son never told anyone (and that would include Lynn Boggs), to place the horses or they would go to slaughter.

    The people who have come forward have used words like: misinformation, bogus, farce, hoax, scam, and malicious lie, to describe Boggs' story.

    These folks have never heard of Lynn Boggs.

    The only real connection (if you can call it that) is that her boyfriend, Jerry Noss, was Dr. Stearns barn manager at Harmony Hills Farm in Barnesville, Ohio. Jerry Noss was given a week's notice to close the farm, upon the Dr.'s passing. AND THAT IS WHEN THE LYNN BOGGS HOAX BEGAN.

    What a shame she had to smear a good man's name in order to place some horses that she herself may have been responsible for.

    This is the real story, and while it may not be as fantastic or frightening as the Lynn Boggs version, it certainly deserves equal attention and then some!

    Please share this, to help undo the terrible wrong that has been done here. God Bless.

    RIP Dr. Stearns

  • anonymous in ohio

    NEW INFORMATION IS COMING OUT on this story. People who actually knew Dr. Stearns are coming forward, and none of them can say who Lynn Boggs is.
    They do, however, say that Dr. Stearns was a respected member of his community, with ties to the Cleveland Mounted Police, among other horse communities.
    They are also saying that Dr. Stearns' began being placing his horses privately, prior to his passing, as he had recently fallen ill. Most importantly, DR. STEARNS HORSES NEVER FACED SLAUGHTER.
    They have described the Lynn Boggs story as a malicious lie.
    She sure did a number on the reputation of a good man.
    How long will it take for the truth to go viral, without the hype and fear that her lies carried?

  • Anonymous

    me too

  • Candy MacDonald

    Just an FYI - The plea to help these TB's made it's way to Texas, where a rescue friend of mine bounced it over to me in Ohio. Imagine my surprise finding this had happened, as I knew Doc Stearns via his small animal vet practice in Euclid and thru my mom, Eloise Noss. I have loved horses all my life, and it was Jerry Noss who introduced me to them. I'm so happy to see that he helped to rescue these beauties. This world of horse lovers is indeed small!

  • Anono 2

    I just learned of this today and found it interesting. I do think it very humanitarian of the son to find homes for the horses rather than let them try to survive otherwise. With no more info, I'd say for whatever reason he was unable to care for them. Everyone should thank him for his caring and generous attitude.

  • Anono 2

    I just learned of this today and found it interesting. I do think it very humanitarian of the son to find homes for the horses rather than let them try to survive otherwise. With no more info, I'd say for whatever reason he was unable to care for them. Everyone should thank him for his caring and generous attitude.

  • Anono 2

    I just learned of this today and found it interesting. I do think it very humanitarian of the son to find homes for the horses rather than let them try to survive otherwise. With no more info, I'd say for whatever reason he was unable to care for them. Everyone should thank him for his caring and generous attitude.

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