On 1/26/07, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've certainly heard of that happening. I never personally experienced it,
I boarded *very* briefly at a large horse traders barn in our area and I will tell you 100% without a doubt they drugged pretty near EVERY horse on the property, mine included (Yes, I drug tested her after we left...). It was truely, truely frightening the number of horses that came through there and were sold, including one pony that a friend's daughter bought that was a nasty bucker. he was an angel until they took him home, 2 days after leaving the traders barn he turned into the nastiest bucker and bolted. It happens in the upper scale establishments, too, but I believe it's more of a bottom feeder auction buyer goin' to Love Valley problem than a problem with the better horse traders. Our horse, Shogun, has a nasty reputation. Rodeo type bucker, attacks other horses, etc... His problems were IMO handling and pain related. He's not ever bucked with me, not ever offered to go after another horse when in halter or undersaddle. Seriously, he's owned a beginner... However, his saddle fits, we ride him in appropriate bits (Or bitless), we condition him for his work, and we generally take his comfort into consideration. FWIW, I would do a drug panel to check for common sedation drugs when I buy another horse, if it were something I was concerned about. Steph -- "Brutality begins where skill ends." "Correctly understood, work at the lunge line is indispensable for rider and horse from the very beginning through the highest levels." Von Niendorff
