Newton Stud slurry death

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, the no body is suspicious. This is gruesome, but at least a photo of the body in the pit would be something. But there's...nothing? How do you know she was actually in there? Hoof prints and a missing horse? Maybe an eye witness account?

I am assuming the horse is/was insured...so wouldn't the insurance need some form of proof (vet or what have you). Unless the owner did not/is not making a claim.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Lord above. And this place is still operating !!!!!!!!

 

[bouncing_ball]

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Where is there evidence more than one horse drowned in slurry pit?

 

[Renvers]

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I have only ever known of horse deaths were a Vet was in attendance, either treating a fatality or euthanasia so always assumed they have to be present for certification/paperwork for confirmation of death. With horses can anyone vet or otherwise certify death if they haven't seen a body?

 

[Frumpoon]

Where is there evidence more than one horse drowned in slurry pit?

Well...at the minute there doesn't look to be firm evidence that this horse drowned in the slurry....

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I still can't get my head around the fact that no one checked on the horse that supposedly fell in the slurry pit until the following day it's bizarre, it's all very strange especially as now there is no actual proof of her body!!

How is this place still trading it's disgusting.

 

[Auslander]

I think suggesting that there's some sort of conspiracy theory may be taking it a bit far. Their reputation is important to them, and having a valuable horse drown in an insufficiently secured slurry pit on their land, whilst under their care is indefensible. You'd think they'd be desperately trying to cover up the cause of death, rather than admitting that it happened.

 

[Tiddlypom]

You'd think they'd be desperately trying to cover up the cause of death, rather than admitting that it happened.

Unless the real fate of the horse was even more indefensible than her falling into an insecure slurry pit?

ETA Btw, to the Newton Stud groupies on this thread. Do you have up to date and clearly recognisable photos and drone footage of how the slurry pit is currently fenced and secured? Bearing in mine that we know the lie of the land thanks to Google maps?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think suggesting that there's some sort of conspiracy theory may be taking it a bit far. Their reputation is important to them, and having a valuable horse drown in an insufficiently secured slurry pit on their land, whilst under their care is indefensible. You'd think they'd be desperately trying to cover up the cause of death, rather than admitting that it happened.

Based off of other actions I would say their reputation isn't important, as in they don't want to rightfully maintain it. Seems as though riding off the name of the Stud and the fact that there are big name horses and riders there is more the plan.

And honestly a horse that one could say "panicked during a fire and subsequently ran(?) Into a slurry pit" sounds far less nefarious than other things I can think of and heard of around the industry.

I would normally think this was an accident, although idk if I could get my horse near a slurry pit tbh. Still wonder about that. It's not necessarily what happens (although in this case, yeah) but more of how they handle it.

 

[Auslander]

Unless the real fate of the horse was even more indefensible than her falling into an insecure slurry pit?

Well, yes - but if I was dodgy enough to try and cover up what had happened to a horse, I'd swear blind it had had dropped dead of a heart attack!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Well, yes - but if I was dodgy enough to try and cover up what had happened to a horse, I'd swear blind it had had dropped dead of a heart attack!

Hm. But then you'd have to produce a body and vet finding of a heart attack.

Whereas no one really wants to search a slurry pit and might take your word for it?

Idk. I am not sure I buy into the conspiracy, but do acknowledge the lack of "proof" gives no closure to the matter. However, since there was a legal case, I would think there would be proof? But idk if they settled before things got rolling, so to speak.

Lots of unknowns and assuming here. We may never know. The Stud, I hope, learned from this and will be more mindful of the livestock there.

 

[INDIA1999]

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Where have you heard of another case. I think there is only one.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Well, yes - but if I was dodgy enough to try and cover up what had happened to a horse, I'd swear blind it had had dropped dead of a heart attack!

But if there’s a body, especially one of such a valuable horse, a vet would be called out to confirm the cause of death. You wouldn’t just call the knacker man on his morning rounds and get him to cart the body off without getting the death signed off in some way, unless the owner OK’d it.

 

[Chinchilla]

But if there’s a body, especially one of such a valuable horse, a vet would be called out to confirm the cause of death. You wouldn’t just call the knacker man on his morning rounds and get him to cart the body off without getting the death signed off in some way, unless the owner OK’d it.

Is it not usual when a horse is being boarded on another's premises to agree a plan should the animal die whilst there?

 

[ihatework]

Is it not usual when a horse is being boarded on another's premises to agree a plan should the animal die whilst there?

In my experience no.

It’s just general good practise to communicate quickly, openly and honestly with the owner.

I mean, one would hope that was just common sense. But it would appear deceit and ego can get in the way sometimes ....

 

[Chinchilla]

In my experience no.

It’s just general good practise to communicate quickly, openly and honestly with the owner.

I mean, one would hope that was just common sense. But it would appear deceit and ego can get in the way sometimes ....

Ok thank you; I genuinely wasn't aware what was usual practice.

Awful situation.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Ok thank you; I genuinely wasn't aware what was usual practice.

Awful situation.

Well deceit and ego appears common practice at Newton Stud....... but not sure that is what you mean.

 

[Arzada]

But if there’s a body, especially one of such a valuable horse, a vet would be called out to confirm the cause of death.

Equus Vets have a clinic and resident vet at Newton Stud. There isn't a call out fee for on site horses.

 

[Goldenstar]

Clearly one could not compete a well-known and recognisable horse after a theft but as a broodmare of that quality - £££££££

A mare is valuable because of her performance record and breeding neither of which would add value to warmblood foal of unknown breeding because it’s mother had been spirited away not drowned in terrible circumstances .
Lets try to keep this within the bounds of reality .

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Is it not usual when a horse is being boarded on another's premises to agree a plan should the animal die whilst there?

I've always included this as part of any livery or production equine contract. Plus which options of pts, disposal, autopsies (if required) and if shoes, mane/tail, ashes wanted back etc etc.

But hey, I was (still am) a tin pot outfit compared with most. Cover all bases as much as possible in the hope I'd never need to use the plan

 

[Chinchilla]

I've always included this as part of any livery or production equine contract. Plus which options of pts, disposal, autopsies (if required) and if shoes, mane/tail, ashes wanted back etc etc.

But hey, I was (still am) a tin pot outfit compared with most. Cover all bases as much as possible in the hope I'd never need to use the plan

I do it, too, when petsitting, just wasn't sure what was usual for livery yards.

 

[Archangel]

Looking at the overhead shot of the farm, there is nothing on the farm that looks like a slurry lagoon. it looks like a possible slurry lagoon 2 fields away from the buildings but it does look fenced - when you go to streetview it is just a field so maybe not. It is the corner so I suppose possible for a horse galloping madly to just run up the bank and go in it. Not impossible to recover the mare with a bit of machinery with a long arm though. I am sure DEFRA would have an opinion about a horse left in a slurry lagoon. It doesn't look like the sort of farm that would have an open slurry lagoon, some of the old farms in Wales are a death trap but this one looks modern.

 

[INDIA1999]

Equus Vets have a clinic and resident vet at Newton Stud. There isn't a call out fee for on site horses.

So presumably the resident vet will have seen/examined her after she was removed. So how can there be no vet report?

 

[Gingerwitch]

So presumably the resident vet will have seen/examined her after she was removed. So how can there be no vet report?

The owner has stated body not recovered.
You cannot examine something not recovered.
Why animal was not recovered can only be answered by newton.
They do not appear to give facts only interpretations of what they would like you to believe.

 

[Annagain]

Looking at the overhead shot of the farm, there is nothing on the farm that looks like a slurry lagoon. it looks like a possible slurry lagoon 2 fields away from the buildings but it does look fenced - when you go to streetview it is just a field so maybe not. It is the corner so I suppose possible for a horse galloping madly to just run up the bank and go in it. Not impossible to recover the mare with a bit of machinery with a long arm though. I am sure DEFRA would have an opinion about a horse left in a slurry lagoon. It doesn't look like the sort of farm that would have an open slurry lagoon, some of the old farms in Wales are a death trap but this one looks modern.

I have an old slurry lagoon from the days when my farm was a dairy farm, it is the size of an arena. It is fenced, the gates are double tied shut and it is now a sort of big wildlife pond,. All the local farmers warned me about it when I moved here saying it was bottomless and to leave it well alone.

Why in Wales? We're not all backward hillbillies here - or the only place place where there are old farms.

 

[INDIA1999]

The owner has stated body not recovered.
You cannot examine something not recovered.
Why animal was not recovered can only be answered by newton.
They do not appear to give facts only interpretations of what they would like you to believe.

There does seem to be a lot of unanswered questions. I posed a host of them on here a couple of days ago after reading everything doing a bit of basic research including what was clearly some form of ambiguity/spin in the quotes from the stud in H&H article. The going through the gate implies that she somehow smashed through a gate but the owner has said the gate was left open.

 

[Rowreach]

I've always included this as part of any livery or production equine contract. Plus which options of pts, disposal, autopsies (if required) and if shoes, mane/tail, ashes wanted back etc etc.

But hey, I was (still am) a tin pot outfit compared with most. Cover all bases as much as possible in the hope I'd never need to use the plan

So did I. When I was in England there were lots of different options and it was easier (and protected everyone) if every eventuality was covered beforehand, just in case.

Fewer options where I am now, but I still had it written in the contract.

 

[Rowreach]

I still keep coming back to the fact that if I knew a yard had an animal waste pit on it, anywhere, I wouldn't let any of my horses anywhere near the yard (never mind the pit).

 

[Gingerwitch]

I still keep coming back to the fact that if I knew a yard had an animal waste pit on it, anywhere, I wouldn't let any of my horses anywhere near the yard (never mind the pit).

But until this awful tragedy occurred it would not be on top of most peoples ask list.
For those that continue to use this facility, knowing these events of the lost mare and the deadspermgate incident only have themselves to blame for any losses, failings and cover ups.

 

[Littlebear]

But until this awful tragedy occurred it would not be on top of most peoples ask list.
For those that continue to use this facility, knowing these events of the lost mare and the deadspermgate incident only have themselves to blame for any losses, failings and cover ups.

I agree, I have looked at this place before reading any negatives and it held me back that it was such a long way from where I am to visit regularly. I would never have thought to check every inch of the place for something like this nor have I ever searched a large yard i have been on for similar, it would not have crossed my mind.
I would however, have expected a credible place to take adequate precautions with regard to the risk of something like this. Really feel for the owner in this situation.