As I previously reported, in the early morning hours of Sep 2, a Canada-bound truck hauling 25 precious souls to their own versions of hell – the Viande Richelieu slaughterhouse – was stopped in NY. The driver, Robert Seitz, was charged with breaking the 2024 NY law that makes it illegal to transport horses through the state for the purpose of slaughter. While the case has yet to be adjudicated, the journey for the horses themselves continues, with some ups, and many downs.
The horses were immediately transferred to a farm in Saratoga County and placed into the protective custody of the New York State Humane Association (on whose board I sit). Roughly half of them, however, were very sick – strangles, pneumonia, flu – when they came off that slaughter truck, with one eventually having to be euthanized. I will have further updates on the remaining 24, but for now I offer the following indictment.
I have obtained a copy of the “Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Immediate Slaughter Horses from the United States of America to Canada” for this particular “shipment.” In addition to listing the wicked Bruce Rotz (technically his company, Rotz Livestock) as consignor, Viande Richelieu Meat Inc. as consignee, the place of origin as Shippensburg, PA, and the “Commodities Intended Use: Immediate Slaughter,” the document lists the identifying features – color, breed, age, sex, etc. – of the victims. Included also were freeze brands where applicable. So here are the (at least) 13 erstwhile racehorses who were slated to be bled-out and butchered:
Lady Buckeye, 17, last racing owner Scott Bompczyk, breeder Kathleen Borchers
Keystone Norma, 14, last racing owners Todd and Christine Schadel, breeder Estate of George Hempt Trust
Musical Moon, 14, last racing owner Jeannine Leu, breeder Karen Greengard
Rustine Hanover, 11, last racing owner Jacob Miller, breeder Hanover Shoe Farms
Onemorebro, 11, last racing owners John and Patrick Konesky, breeder Jay Watts
Petas Cottontail, 19, last racing owner Jean Hardy, breeders Peter Hardy and Jacob Malkin
Hey Cadillac Jack, 16, last racing owners Jim and Doreen Flynn, breeder Jim Flynn
Twelve, 11, last racing owner James Hemenway, breeder Dean Malin
Keepthepressureon, 15, last racing owner Joseph Urban, breeder Goldfinger Enterprises
Sexy Charlot, 15, last racing owner Jesse King, breeder Sam Noble III
One More Hug, 21, last racing owner Steven Moore, breeders Arlene and Jules Siegel
One other had the wrong ID, so I do not have a name. I can tell you he is 11 years old.
And finally, Cascada, who, despite “earning” over $100K for his various exploiters over the years, was trashed by his final owner, Michael Torcello, and landed on that truck just three years later. Cascada, alas, was the one who had to be euthanized because his 11-year-old body was too far gone. Bastards. His breeder was Patricia Hogan.
Crucially, all 25 horses on that truck were deemed – by both a private and USDA vet – healthy and fit for transport. More on that to come.
That’s correct, Mary, and I should have identified the vets who signed off on those poor horses’ transport. Private vet: Curtis Beidel; USDA vet: Lacy Crowley.
Wanda, I don’t believe that Dr. Patty Hogan colluded with the private vet or the state regulatory vet in regards to Cascada. I think Cascada was long gone before she found herself shipping to slaughter. Both Hogan and her husband are involved in the Standardbred industry and purchased a lovely breeding facility a number of years ago in Cream Ridge, NJ. Patty is an owner and breeder of Standardbreds and her husband is/was involved in the industry, as well.
I think Joy described the likely scenario that happens to many of the Standardbreds. Unlike Thoroughbreds, the Standardbreds have an “off ramp” and can be “Amished” when the revenue dries up. The owners breed them, exploit them, and then open the barn doors and move them on with little regard for where they end up. I should know. I have had five that were dumped when their productive days were over and four of the five were in rough shape and riddled with arthritis. One is still with me and at the age of 27, Knights Saharra makes an awesome pasture ornament!
I was told by a very reliable source that the Amish visit the training centers in NJ looking for buggy horses and I’m sure that the owners/trainers are only too happy to dump their horses into another exploitative situation. I was also told that another horse on the list was formerly owned by a USTA official. The BIG LIE that these horses are loved like members of the family is just that…a BIG LIE!
Spot-on, Joy. Thank you.
FYI: Patricia Hogan got her degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine which exclusively awards the Latin version of the DVM/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree which is known as the VMD/Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris degree.
Any horse ,dog,cat or other wonderful animals are a blessing to our world and no one has the right to abuse them in any way. But what is interesting is that the elderly humans are treated in the same way As i grow old (89) i find that we are discarded and treated with disrespect and not valued as being able to contribute to society in any way and are not valued as sources of past experience but just made to feelthat they dont matter anymore –just like the horses!!!
Omg reading this just goes to show that these despicable bloody greedy owners definitely don’t care about these voiceless gorgeous innocent horses. Please keep fighting their lives matter
Could it be possible that Dr. Patricia Hogan, the well-known Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, well-known in New Jersey, for example, (and also the only person named Patricia Hogan who breeds Standardbred Horses according to the information online), is friends and/or acquaintances with “the private vet” and “the USDA vet” engaged in providing false information on “Health Certificates” that deem very sick horses as “healthy for transport/export/slaughter”?
Can’t wait to see the names of all the fraudsters involved in this case reported as prosecuted for their crimes!!!!!
Agree, Mary. Hogan “unaware”? – most likely, because isn’t that how one operates (create, sell, walk away with the cash and on to the next) when they create horses to use and/or sell? – making them mere commodities which they exclaim they LOVE like their own family members?
Racehorses don’t “fall through the cracks” – they’re led through the door its last racing owner pushed wide open to discard them, throwing them for purchase to the “bad apples” they all know exist. It’s calculated and it’s accepted by racing & its fans.
NO horse found himself on his way to slaughter without his VERY FIRST human making it a real and dangerous possibility.
Mary – it is Dr. Hogan.
The horse was bred in Cream Ridge, NJ, and last raced in 2023. Poor guy probably got Amished out after his racing career was over.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do on behalf of these horses.
I have adopted several horses from kill pens in the southern US, one of whom was formerly a racehorse. After he sustained an injury at 5 years old, he was abandoned at a kill pen. Horse racing has never been “the sport of kings,” and it’s up to us to continue to spread the truth about the inhumane practices inherent in racing, including the horrific fate of so many. Thank you to you and all who continue to speak out on behalf of horses; they need us to be their voice. 🐴
Marie, I suspect Patricia Hogan, breeder of Cascada, is the SAME Patricia Hogan who is a well known vet. A vet who breeds is beyond revolting but I was told that Hogan is probably “unaware” of what happened to her beloved family member. Well, if that is true, she needs to be made aware since she profits off the bodies of damaged horses. I can’t describe to you how much I despise this industry.
I’m sure most of the Standardbreds had since been sold to the Amish after leaving the track, as that’s who the kill buyers love to buy from.
Amish horses I usually don’t test positive for drugs like English Horses do! The Amish are so hard on their biggie horses
Good catch, Mary. I would say yes. I just read an article where she talks about her and her husband’s standardbred breeding and racing operation.
Thank you for dignifying these horses by giving us their names. And thank you for shaming the perpetrators by giving us their names. It’s very important work to shine a spotlight directly in the faces of those vile people who traffic in exploiting horses. Their names should be shouted from the rooftops.
This makes me physically ill.
And we know it goes on all the time.
Further, I doubt either vet ever set eyes on any of the horses being shipped. Issuing false “health certificates” should be grounds for license revocation.
The vets involved should be brought up on malpractice charges. It sounds like anybody could have seen that several of these horses were not healthy and fit for transport of any kind. This probably happens on a regular basis.
Treated like royalty, loved like family, my ass.
Is Cascada’s breeder the FAMOUS vet, Dr. Patricia Hogan? Or another person by the same name?
Thank you so much for gathering and sharing this information.
I am interested in knowing if/when/how the New York Humane Association plans to prosecute the private vet and the USDA vet for falsifying the health certificate information on the sick horses deemed healthy for slaughter; or what legal procedures are appropriate in this case.
Thank you for your efforts and perseverance!