Back in 2017, former HW board member Joy Aten contributed a post about a 12-year-old Standardbred landing in a kill pen after enduring 258 – yes, 258 – races. The horse: Killean Cut Kid. As Joy detailed – please take a moment to read the entire piece here – Killean’s last racing owner, Jason Moore, said this just two weeks before Killean was found in the slaughter pipeline: “I’m saying my goodbyes to him hugging his neck with all my strength, balling my eyes out…[he] was trying to comfort me as I was falling apart.”
Yes, he said that, then dumped the old “warhorse” at auction. But it gets worse. Just a few months prior, Moore replied to a congrats on Killean winning a race with this: “It’s all heart cause if [you] saw his legs lol.” And in that same thread, Killean was referred to as “an old crippled rat.” Here is how that “old, crippled rat” looked at that kill pen on Aug 30, 2017 – just one day before he was set to ship to be shackled, hung upside down, slashed through his carotid, bled-out, and butchered…
So perhaps you’re thinking, why remind us of this poor animal’s unspeakable suffering six years after the fact? Well, last week I was contacted by the couple who ended up saving Killean. Katharine and Joseph Prebula say the now-18-year-old Killean is flourishing on their farm in Pennsylvania, “enjoying life just being a horse” (a life, by the way, that does not include riding). They sent me the following video and photos. A happy ending for Killean, no thanks to the abhorrent people and industry that exploited and abused him, and who fully intended to have his cruel, mean life snuffed out in the most horrific of ways. I believe I speak for all when I say, thank you, Katharine and Joseph.
That is the best video I have ever seen! Thank you, Katharine and Joseph! And thank you to everyone who reads, shares and supports the horses every day!
I’m glad to see a happy ending for this lovely horse. Does anyone know what was done to his front fetlocks to cause those wounds? I’ve seen pin firing or freeze firing marks before (yet another thing that needs to be banned) but I can’t imagine what could have happened to cause those terrible wounds. I’m glad Killean Cut Kid has healed well and is happy now.
Finally, a good-ending story. The abuse and/or indifference that is reported is overwhelming! It brings tears to your eyes to see this horse restored to good health. Thank you, Katharine and Joseph Prebula, for opening your farm to Killean Cut Kid.
Oh and throw in the pictures of what legs were being referred to in the commentary.
Obnoxious remarks should be posted on media outlets and wherever they can be seen and read.
It sure is wonderful to see such a heartwarming story; the suffering so many undergo sometimes seems so overwhelming (and it is a huge travesty, indeed), but we also need a bit of inspiration and hope some days. There are many pleasure horses/ponies whose human’s actually sacrifice a fair amount of their own comfort to keep their beloved equines in relative luxury; we are happy to be able to have the privilege of horses in our lives, but also wish every horse could have such a life.
So much of the life of all creatures, including us, is down to sheer luck and timing, but circumstances can change with empathy, commitment and sheer effort-as in the case of the work of Horseracing Wrongs. It’s frustrating that so many equines still suffer, but each creature that finds respite from pain and mishandling (not just in death) is a small victory, and that must keep us fighting and ‘speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.’
Finally something to smile about! Thank you and congratulations to Killeen, Katherine and Joseph. A Christmas miracle! Thank you Lord.
Thank goodness for this family!
Thank you so much Katherine and Joseph. Such beautiful people. Such a beautiful horse. Such a beautiful story!
Stories like these I have to share with the race trackers I know…just the part where the guy loves his horse, hugs him, then sends to slaughter. Makes me so happy to see him happy and living the life a horse should live.
What an interesting story and a beautiful ending for a beautiful horse..
It’s a shame we all can’t watch what happens in hell to the previous owner..
And yes..thank you to all the wonderful people who are determined to rescue and love the horses…that is the only way to be
The pictures of how much damage was done to his legs especially his fetlocks show unbelievable harm and pain to the horse. The pictures and the story of how this horse was used and abused show the moral depravity of the people who think they are above the law when it comes to abuse, brutality and cruelty to horses for racing and wagering.
There is an article on the internet that Mike Repole says it will take time to fix what ails horseracing and his big problem with horseracing is that he was not allowed to run a young, underdeveloped colt in the Grade One races, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, with a bruised hoof.
So what does he think ails racing? This is another illustration of the deep pit of moral depravity of the racing industry people. What ails horseracing is horseracing. Horseracing is abuse of horses for money and ego trips.
End Horseracing NOW!
The original owner was the rat.