Chapter 45 – The Millers
Nathan stepped away from Ghost and stood next to Jack.
"I know that you don't know me." Nathan said. "But I know what I am talking about. We will use willow bark to help with the pain. I will clean the cut with tea tree oil everyday. I will also add chamomile and echinacea to his feed twice a day. This is not my first rodeo with injured horses. I also know what look for and if things get worse we will call you. I know what I am doing and more importantly then that, Mr Sims and his family trust me."
"Fine." Sarah said. "Have it your way. I am sure that I will be back here sooner rather then later. Treating a horse like that, take a lot of work."
"Well." Nathan said. "I am not afraid of a little work and I have plenty of time on my hands. I also know what I am doing."
"Have it your way." Sarah said. "I will let Dr Matthews know. He still may want to talk to you and he is going to have to file a report that you refused medical attention for the horse."
"Noted." Nathan said. "But we didn't refuse medical attention. We refused to bute this horse as I fully believe that there is a better way to treat this horse and horses in general."
"I assume you know your way out." Jack said.
"Whatever." Sarah said.
She packed up her kit and left. As she walked away, both Jack and Nathan shook their heads. James looked on, proud that Nathan was willing to stand up for what he believed in.
"What was her problem?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know." Jack said.
"I do." A voice said.
Everyone turned and saw Carlo standing there.
"Please share." James said.
"One of the farms down the road." Carlo said. "It had an injured horse. Dr Matthews and Miss Sarah wanted to treat it a certain way. The people didn't want to. They couldn't afford the meds that Dr Matthews wanted to give the horse. They said they would treat it their way. Anyway, the horse got worse and they had to put it down. Ever since then, we all know that Dr Matthews and Miss Sarah don't like people who don't do what they say."
"How do you know this?" Nathan asked.
"My cousin worked over there." Carlo said. "Well he did when they could still afford to have help and had the horses."
"You must be talking about the Miller's farm." James said.
"Yes, Sir." Carlo said.
"Carlo." Nathan said. "I know what I am doing. I promise I won't let anything like that happen to Ghost."
"Okay." Carlo said. "If you show me what to add and how much I will make sure it gets added to his feed."
"I will do that." Nathan said. "If you want, I will also show you how to make the willow bark tea sometime."
"Thank you." Carlo said. "I told Uncle Marco that I want to go to vet school when I am older so I can help the horses."
"That is a great plan." Jack said. "Just remember, there is there more then one why to help horses."
"I know." Carlo said. "That is why I have been looking at going to school in Ithaca at Cornell. They have a great vet program. They also have many professors who believe in naturally healing of horses. Only giving meds when absolutely needed."
"Well then." Nathan said. "I think you will do well there."
"Thank you." Carlo said. "I better get back to work."
"I will come find you later." Nathan said. "For now, we are just going to leave Ghost in his his stall. He will be fine until supper time."
"I will be here." Carlo said.
They watched Carlo walk away. Jack and Nathan then turned to get Ghost stalled. They put him in his stall with a few more treats and made sure to remove the rope halter.
"Now who went the extra bit." Jack teased.
"Whatever." Nathan said. "He is a good kid. We need more people like him."
Jack turned to his grandfather.
"Don't even say it." James said. "I will see what I can do, I will talk to Marco."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"So what happened over at the Millers?" Nathan asked.
"Let's head over to the office." James said.
Jack, Nathan and Elizabeth followed James over to the office and had a seat.
"Sorry about this." James said. "I am not one to spread gossip, but I happen to know more then most about what happened over there. I don't want to speak bad about the family, but I think you, JP, need to know."
"Okay." Jack said. "I mean I have an idea, I do read the reports about my horses."
"So let me back up and give some background, it will help you understand." James said. "The Millers owned and boarded horses. They also had huge apple orchards. It started last fall when they had a poor apple harvest. I don't know why they had a poor apple harvest, because everyone else around here did quiet well. Then back the end of January, their farm was under quarantine for several weeks. After the quarantine, several of their boarders pulled out."
"Why were they under quarantine?" Nathan asked.
"They had taken two of their horses to a show." James said. "While at the show, their horses were exposed to strangles. They didn't tell anyone that they were exposed to strangles and continued to offer trail rides."
"So that was why seven of our horses were quarantined this winter." Jack said.
"Yes." James said. "Seven of our trail horses were exposed by the Miller horses. When one of our riders returned, they kept the horses out in the paddock because they didn't like they way that the Miller horses sounded and looked. We immediately, quarantined our horses and did a deep cleaning of everything."
"What happened to your horses?" Elizabeth asked.
"One got sick." James said. "So we further isolated that horse. No other horses, here, got sick and our horse recovered. Because we had multiple stables and we able to completely separate the exposed horses, we were placed under modified quarantine. We had to limit personal in and out of the exposed stable, but we were still able to move the thoroughbreds that never came near the exposed horses. We were lucky. If they would have brought the exposed horses into the stable, we also would have been under full quarantine and not have been able to send thoroughbreds to Florida to race which could have cost us a lot of money. We also had pregnant mares and that could have been dangerous. We were lucky. The horses and riders who had been exposed stayed out of the stable until we were able to set up a decontamination zone and isolation for the horses. They knew something was wrong and they took action as soon as they could and it prevented our other horses from getting sick for that I am grateful. It could have been a lot worse. For once, I was grateful that we have things set up as separate properties and try to limit contact of horses between stables."
"You are right." Jack said. "We were extremely lucky and you are right the large separate properties really did help this time. I am just glad that the rider was aware that something was off and took action to not make things worse."
"Aren't the horse vaccinated?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." James said. "But the horses can still get sick. Vaccinated horse are more likely to not get as sick and they are also more likely to survive. Granted age and physical condition of the horse are factors as well. Foals and older horses or those in poor physical health are more likely to have a worse case and have higher death rates. Any exposed horse still need to be quarantined so as not to expose additional horses. Because even if they are vaccinated, they can still carry it to another horses.
Precautions need to be taken when dealing with an exposed horse. It also was why we cleaned everything so we could make sure that other horses were not exposed. Even though the exposed horses never went into a stable, we still cleaned every stall, water bucket, feed bucket, shovel and wheelbarrow on the entire property. We also deep a deep clean of all the tack the exposed horses had used before it was brought back into the stable. Once the horses recovered, we brought in a professional crew to power clean the entire stable that they had been in."
"Oh." Elizabeth said.
"Don't feel bad about asking if you don't know something." James said. "It is the only way that you will learn. I would rather you ask a question then do something wrong."
"So what happened with the Millers?" Nathan asked.
"They lost four of their twelve horses." James said. "Five of their boarder horses also got sick. Once those horses were clear of quarantine, the owners pulled them. Already hurting for money, the Millers were fined by the authorities for not properly quarantining sick and exposed horses."
"Compounding their money problems." Nathan said.
"Correct." James said. "To try and get ahead, they sold some land. They were able to pay the fines and barely get their head above water. But the damage was already done."
"Their reputation?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "I even heard about that."
"It gets worse." James said. "The few people that stuck by them almost lost their horses."
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"A rider was injured." James said. "Granted it was the rider's own fault. They lied about their riding experience, so they were put on a horse they couldn't handle. When the rider was injured on the trails, it automatically triggered an investigation by the local authorities. As a board member for the trail system, I was asked to evaluate the horse and talk to the rider. I helped determine that the rider lied and in part lead to his injuries."
"I take it others didn't agree with you." Nathan said.
"Correct." James said. "Because of their damaged reputation, the authorities felt that the Millers were creating an unsafe environment for both horses and riders. Six weeks ago, the authorities went in and seized all the animals on the property. Because they have no income, the bank is foreclosing the property."
"I don't understand how people almost lost their horses." Elizabeth said.
"When the authorities seized the animals." Nathan said. "They took all the animals. Those that were boarding there would have to prove their ownership and then pay whatever fines and fees were assessed to get their horses back. Some people don't think it is fair that they have to pay more money, when they had paid to board their horses already. Don't get me wrong, most of them could probably afford it, but they are also the most likely to pitch a fit about having to pay more money."
Jack and James both nodded, but Elizabeth still looked confused.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "But why were the owners fined."
"When the horses are seized." James said. "It costs to transport them, feed them, vet them and house them. Normally some of that money would be recouped when the horses are sold at auction or from the property owners."
"So when the owners came to claim them." Elizabeth said.
"They are assessed the fees." Jack said.
"What happened to the seized horses?" Elizabeth asked.
"They are currently at a rehab facility over near Ithaca." James said. "From there, they will sold or rehomed."
"What kind of horses?" Nathan asked.
"Mix of Morgan and Quarter." James said. "Why?"
"I have friends that are always looking for a good horse." Nathan said. "They rodeo. If the horses are able to be retrained, Morgan and Quarters are nice horses."
"I am sure that they would be free to contact the rescue center." James said. "I will get you the information for the place."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "These horse were previously trail horses?"
"Trail and hunter jumper." James said.
Nathan nodded.
"I know that you need to get back to work." Jack said. "But what is going to happen to the land?"
"The bank will probably sell it off for what they can." James said. "I think that the bank will take possession of the land in maybe late July or early August if the Millers can't come up with the money that is owed. Why?"
"To buy it." Jack said. "Better then the bank selling it off to developers."
"What would you do with it?" James asked.
"Keep it from developers at the moment." Jack said. "Beyond that, I have ideas."
"Let me look at that books." James said. "I will also need to talk to your father."
"Get me the specs on it." Jack said. "I am an adult and can buy a property if I want."
James just looked at Jack. Nathan looked between the two men. Elizabeth sat there wide eyed, she had yet to see this side of Jack – the business man.
"Normally." Nathan said. "I would stay out of this. But on this, I tend to agree with Jack. Buy it and keep it from developers. You would always be able to resell. At least it will keep the developers from getting any closer to your property. All else fails, you have an apple orchard. Even if you don't get a great harvest, there will plenty for the horses. If you own the property, you can always build up the orchard. It could be another stream of income. I mean I don't know what things look like for you, but land is never a bad idea if you have the money."
"Talk to your father." James said.
"Fine." Jack said. "But you know that he will agree with me."
"I am not getting in the middle of it." James said. "I will get you the specs, but I will also let your father know."
"Fine." Jack said with determination.
"I need to head back to the arena." James said. "I know the banker handling the property. I will see what I can learn, off the record. I don't want them to know that we am interested. I will say I am working as an intermediary for another party."
"Sounds good." Jack said.
"We will talk about this later." James said. "I need to go check on your brother and finish things up with your mother."
"We are going to go check out the mares and foals." Jack said.
"Nathan." James said.
"I won't forget about Ghost." Nathan said. "I will check on him before we head over and when we get back."
"Thank you." James said.
James left the office and headed back over to arena. After James left, Jack looked at Nathan.
"Thank you." Jack said.
"Your welcome." Nathan said. "Property is always a good idea, like I said. I also think the apple orchard is a good idea."
"Your right." Jack said. "I just think Grandpa is concerned about the reputation of the property."
"So you change the perception." Nathan said. "It may take some time, but from what I have seen you have a pretty good rep around here."
"And beyond." Elizabeth said with a smile.
Jack smiled and shook his head at Elizabeth.
"So what were you thinking for the property?" Nathan asked.
"Expanding the jumper business." Jack said. "I have other plans I am not ready to share just yet. The apple orchard also is interesting. I didn't even think about that."
"Fair enough." Nathan said. "Let me know if there is anything that you want to bounce off me."
"I will." Jack said.
"Are we riding over or what?" Elizabeth asked.
"I was thinking of taking a side by side." Jack said. "Maybe we can ride later this week. Dealing with Ghost cut into our time. I know that I promised to get you on a horse."
"Then lets get going." Nathan said. "I will need to be back here to show Carlo how to help with Ghost."
Nathan quickly checked on Ghost while Jack showed Elizabeth around. Nathan also left word that he would be back shortly and that the stuff that he had wanted could be left in the feed room.