Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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:Hello everybody.
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:Today we are joined with Rena
Sweeney, and she is a board member
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:with the Humane Society of Louisiana.
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:And she is here today to talk
about the Mardi Gras horse program.
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:But before we get started with that,
Rena, can you tell us a little bit
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:about the Humane Society of Louisiana?
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:Rena: Of course.
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:So we fight for animal rights.
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:Rights here in our state.
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:For all animals, not just dogs and
cats, but farm animals, the wildlife.
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:So we advocate for anything that
falls into those categories, including
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:dog fighting getting shelters for
communities that don't have them.
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:spay, neuters, vet care
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:Anything you name it.
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:That's really our goal is just to help
benefit all the animals of Louisiana.
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:Dixie: And how long has the Humane
Society of Louisiana been around?
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:Rena: We have been around since the
80s and this program for the Mardi
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:Gras horses was just started in 2017.
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:So this is actually one
of our newer programs.
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:Dixie: I didn't know it was that new.
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:I know I recently found out
about the Mardi Gras horses.
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:So I was really glad when you
reached out to me about talking
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:about the Mardi Gras horse program
because it's kind of surprising
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:Rena: it is a lot of
people don't know about it.
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:And to be honest, we didn't know
either until it came to our attention.
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:And that's what prompted
us to start the program.
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:So I think you're right.
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:It's just something that
most people don't consider.
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:You're out on a parade route, having fun.
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:Someone's riding a horse.
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:It just doesn't really dawn on you
that, that person may not own that
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:horse or the krewe itself own it or
someone in the krewe own it and borrow
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:it, so it took us by surprise as well.
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:Dixie: Can you give us an
overview of the program?
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:Rena: Yes.
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:So the horses are brought in by a stable.
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:And so Cascade Stables in Audubon
Park goes to a broker and purchases
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:horses for the Mardi Gras krewes to
rent from them to use for the parades.
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:And typically that's anywhere from
maybe 15 to 20 horses per year that
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:they supplement their own horses with.
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:So they have horses, of course, that
they use for that purpose, but They
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:don't need that many horses year round.
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:So they go to a broker and all
the horses they have come from
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:various backgrounds and it's just
like any other rescue animal.
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:You really don't know their history
or why they ended up with a broker.
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:It could be that there was some behavioral
situation that the owner Just didn't have
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:the ability or patience to deal with.
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:Maybe the owner couldn't afford
them or care for them any
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:longer for whatever reason.
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:So by whatever circumstances
have happened in their life, they
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:ended up with the broker and.
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:When you're with a broker,
your future is uncertain.
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:You could get purchased
and go to a loving family.
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:You could get purchased for slaughter.
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:There is a market for horse
meat, especially in some of our
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:neighboring countries, and so
that is not uncommon as well.
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:So, The stable purchases the horses and
they house them and have them checked by
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:a vet And use them in Mardi Gras and then
typically they would get sold back to the
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:broker So they're still in that cycle of
uncertainty and when we found this out We
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:decided to step in and create a program
and work with the stable So that every
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:year Instead of going back to the broker
the stable works with us to help get all
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:of these horses adopted into homes You
And once they've entered the program,
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:we have committed to them for life.
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:So just like any other rescue group with
a dog or a cat where we have the adopter
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:sign a contract, and if they ever can't
keep the horse in the future, for any
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:reason, it comes back to us and we have
several sanctuaries that we operate.
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:So we can always put the horse there or
try to get it rehomed into a new family.
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:So that's sort of.
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:The big overview.
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:Dixie: Now just to understand everything.
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:So in a Mardi Gras parade,
you have the horses that are
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:in the like the riding clubs.
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:Sometimes you will have just
krewe members riding horses.
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:Because I know we'll see that where
some of the dukes or something
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:like that will ride a horse.
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:So are those horses that are
the ones that would be rented?
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:And then going from parade to
parade, is it the same horse that's
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:rented kind of over and over?
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:Rena: They do rotate them so the same
horse is not going to, be in back to back
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:parades every day or anything like that.
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:So they do rotate them so the
horses are resting in between.
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:But yes, the horses that you would
see, like a duke or some of the
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:royalty of the court riding on, With
those big krewes, those are the horses
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:that are rented from the stables.
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:They don't own those horses.
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:And most of the time you'll see them being
walked by a handler because the people
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:riding them don't really know how to ride.
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:They're just sort of sitting
there while the horse is being led
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:by, the person from the stable.
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:Dixie: And what about the riding krewes?
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:Cause I know there's quite a few
riding krewes where you'll see,
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:people riding about 20 to 30 horses.
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:Rena: Well, my understanding is
that most of those are owned.
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:I honestly, I could not
speak to all of them.
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:There might be some that aren't,
but I think typically those are
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:people that own their horses and
they're coming out as a group.
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:They're, just like the
krewe of Dolly is all.
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:Dollywood Parton fans.
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:These are all horse
owners that get together.
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:And so that would be my
understanding of those.
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:It's typically just the big krewes
that are using the rental horses.
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:Dixie: And how did it
come to your attention?
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:Rena: Jeff Dorson, who started the Humane
Society of Louisiana, along with Dana
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:Nesbitt it came to their attention.
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:I'll be honest, I don't know exactly how
that came to be, but I'm on the board.
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:I didn't say.
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:It kind of word got passed on to us
and it was something that we were
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:all just completely floored about.
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:We had no clue that that was happening.
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:And we all live here and they're natives,
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:Dixie: yeah.
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:Rena: It's shocking when
you find out about it.
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:It really is.
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:I had absolutely no idea.
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:We're really appreciative that this
stable is willing to work with us.
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:There are certainly.
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:In the area.
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:I'm sure many other stables
that have to bring horses in
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:or maybe do similar things.
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:So we're very appreciative that this
stable works with us to do the program.
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:And we passed the hundred
horse mark last year.
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:So we are really, really
excited about that.
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:It's a lot of horses who've
had their lives changed.
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:Dixie: Are you fortunate enough to
find homes for all of the horses?
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:Rena: Yes.
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:We do on occasion have.
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:So last year, for instance, we
had like a horse that was sick
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:and it went out to our sanctuary.
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:But typically they're
all in good condition.
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:But again, once they enter the
program, we're committed to them.
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:So if a horse does come in from
the broker and the vet or the
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:stable deems that it's not.
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:Able to be ridden in the parade
for whatever reason, health or
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:just temperament we are still
committed to taking care of it.
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:So we will get at veterinary care.
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:If it needs to, it can live out at
our sanctuary until we can find it a
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:home, or if it just needs to be, what
we call a pasture ornament and just
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:live out its life, hanging out in
the pasture and having a good time.
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:Dixie: What is the adoption process?
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:And how long too, is the whole process?
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:When do you get involved with the stable
and then when do the horses find a home?
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:Rena: It is super fast paced.
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:This is definitely the fastest
program I have ever been a part of.
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:The stable typically starts
bringing them in within a week.
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:Four or five weeks ahead of Mardi
Gras, and they come in groups.
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:So, for instance, this year,
we just got our first group of
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:horses in, and there were seven
of them, and we expect 20 total.
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:So we'll still have probably another
two groups of horses come in.
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:So as soon as they get to the
stable, they get their first bite.
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:Brushed and cleaned up a little bit and
a vet sees them and we photograph them
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:and Start to get them posted so that
people can begin sending in applications
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:and Once an application has been
received we do all the vet references.
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:We check with your farrier check
to make sure that you have a plan.
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:You're not just thinking you're going
to bring this horse home to, your house
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:in Metairie and put it in the backyard.
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:And so once we've confirmed all of those
things that you either have the property
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:or you have a stable you're going to
use you have a vet and a farrier lined
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:up or that you've used frequently your
applications approved and then we work to
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:get you matched up with the right horse.
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:And that's really the most important part
of the process because just like with
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:any other Animal, a dog or a cat, maybe
even more so in some cases, they're very
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:smart and they have a lot of personality.
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:And so it is really important
to make sure that we match up.
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:What's your lifestyle?
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:What are you looking for in a horse?
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:Are you just, are you willing to rescue an
older horse that can just hang out on your
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:ranch and be a buddy to your other horse?
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:Or are you looking for something to
ride and what's your skill level?
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:So it's very involved and
we're lucky to have a lot of.
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:Horse knowledgeable people that
volunteer with our program.
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:Some of whom have adopted from us in
the past and then loved it so much that
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:they wanted to come back and volunteer.
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:And once your application's approved
and we've matched you with a horse they
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:pay a deposit to the stable itself.
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:And then after Mardi Gras, we
give the horses some time to rest.
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:They get a couple of days off
and then towards the end of
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:Mardi Gras week, people come.
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:To the stable and start picking
up their horses to take them home.
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:Dixie: You said that they'll
do a deposit to the stable.
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:So the adoption fee essentially
goes to the stable, is that correct?
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:Rena: Yes, really the, that fee you're
paying You're covering the cost of, the
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:horse being purchased from the broker.
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:Right.
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:This is not, definitely not a
moneymaker for the humane society.
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:We, we're doing this as a labor of love
for our community and the horses that,
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:Help run this huge festival in our city.
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:So, we're not making anything off it.
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:We're all run by volunteers, and
we're just giving our time and
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:trying to help the horses out.
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:And the stable is really just
looking to recover what they've
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:paid the broker to get the horse.
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:And the horses have been
vetted and of course, fed and
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:cared for while they're there.
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:So all the way around, it's a labor
of love just to make sure that these
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:horses are kind of out of the system
and don't end up back there again.
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:Dixie: And what is that fee usually?
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:Rena: It depends on the horse, many
different factors age and, breed,
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:how big it is, all of those things.
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:But usually it's anywhere from
to:
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:It just, like I said, it kind of depends.
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:Dixie: Now if the horses like in
years past weren't adopted, then
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:essentially what would have happened
is the broker would have just
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:bought them back for that price.
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:Is that how it normally worked
before y'all got involved?
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:Rena: Yes, exactly.
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:And again, then when they're with the
broker, anything could happen to them.
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:So the, at this point though, like
I said, once they enter the program,
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:they're taking care of for life.
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:So if they don't get adopted for some
reason, Then they'll go live at our
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:sanctuary and then the Humane Society of
Louisiana now owns them and is housing and
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:feeding and caring for them until we can
find someone to adopt them or if they're
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:not adoptable for whatever reason just
to let them live out their life there.
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:Dixie: And what about your sanctuaries?
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:Where are your sanctuaries located?
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:Rena: They're both out in rural parts
of the state, closer to the Mississippi
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:border, and we have all different
animals, dogs, cats, farm animals.
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:As you can imagine, servicing
the entire state, we get a
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:lot of calls for farm animals.
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:Animals as well, because many parts
of our state are very rural, so we
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:just have kind of a big conglomeration
of animals out there that our staff
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:takes care of and just make sure that
they're all living their best life
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:Dixie: now at the sanctuaries.
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:Is that something like the
general public could go visit
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:or make an appointment to visit?
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:Or is that just strictly
just to house the animals?
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:Rena: It's to house the animals,
but they certainly, if they were
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:interested in going out they could
reach out to us to come see them, but
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:they're not open on a regular basis.
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:As like an attraction or something where
people can buy a ticket and come in.
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:philip: I believe I may have
met a couple of your horses.
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:Because we have our rescue
is in Mount Hermon.
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:Yes.
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:And I know a couple
miles from us Oh, yeah.
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:There's a few horses.
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:One of
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:Rena: our sanctuaries is in Mount Hermon.
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:Yes.
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:philip: There's about a half dozen horses.
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:I think three or four donkeys
are currently out there and
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:they're all beautiful animals.
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:Rena: And we do have donkeys.
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:The horses in New Orleans
are at Cascade stable.
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:And so usually once the people that are
interested in adopting are approved for
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:an application, they can go out to the
stable at that point and meet the horses
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:and see them in person and kind of check
them out and make a final determination,
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:which one they think they'd like to adopt.
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:Dixie: How long will the stable hold them
before they have to be out of the stable?
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:Rena: Typically, we like to have
them all out of the stable within
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:a week or so of Mardi Gras.
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:They are taking up, obviously,
their own space from their
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:facility to house the extra horses.
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:So, within a week or so, we try to
have them all either in their new
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:homes or moved out to our sanctuaries.
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:Dixie: Is the, amount of horses that
they get kind of a consistent number
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:or does that kind of change depending
on like the size of the parades
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:and new parades or stuff like that?
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:Rena: Yeah, it does change.
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:Some years we've had less, 12-15
this year, they expected maybe 20 or
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:21 horses were going to be needed,
so it does fluctuate per year.
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:This is definitely one of the bigger
years that we've seen, but since covid,
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:I do feel like the number of horses
needed has been on the higher end.
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:Dixie: Now the COVID year, I
would imagine that's a year that
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:was skipped because of COVID.
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:Rena: Yes, that's correct.
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:They, they didn't have horses
that year and, and so the program
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:was kind of at a standstill.
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:So, since 2017 including a
break for COVID, we still have
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:adopted out over 100 horses, so.
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:Dixie: Wow, that's a lot.
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:Rena: Yeah.
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:Dixie: Yeah, because I would imagine
it's a lot harder to find them homes than
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:it would be to find a dog or a cat to
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:Rena: it is.
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:I think it's, it's very involved.
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:However, I will say we have been
very lucky that a lot of people in
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:our community, just like you guys
have helped us get the word out.
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:So we've slowly seen.
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:Our following increase over the
last few years and last year, we
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:just, we had so many applications.
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:We were really struggling to get
through them all and process them.
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:And so, luckily, this year, we
have extra volunteers on hand that
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:are helping us do that because
it is such a fast paced system.
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:We only have a few weeks
to get 20 horses adopted.
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:And that's, considering someone
might be interested in one horse.
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:But then we realized it's
not a good fit for them.
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:And that's really the only
horse they were interested in.
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:And so then we go back to the drawing
board and it's, it's pretty involved.
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:It's a lot of work and
it, it does move quickly.
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:So it's a labor of love.
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:. philip: I know a lot of people
that wind up buying a large
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:track of land and they'll decide,
Oh, I think I want a horse.
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:Right.
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:And then they'll wind up realizing how
much vet care can go into a horse, how
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:much hands on work go into a horse,
and then they wind up backing out.
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:And I can see that being problems.
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:Rena: Yeah.
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:It's like I said, that's kind
of the hardest part about making
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:sure you have the best fit.
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:That's the hardest part
of the adoption process.
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:And we obviously want everyone
to have the right horse for them.
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:But if for some reason that
doesn't work out, then again,
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:we're committed to the horse.
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:So, we would take the horse back.
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:We just want to make sure that they
never end up back in the situation
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:where, they don't have an owner
and they're with a broker again.
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:Dixie: Now, you said that you had
like a lot of applications last year.
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:Do you keep those applications
on file for the following year
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:if it's like a good application
or do they have to apply again?
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:Rena: They do have to reapply.
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:They You know, situations change.
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:Circumstances change.
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:So if someone comes back and wants a
horse for a second year, even if they
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:had an application in previously, we
just asked them to fill out another
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:application just so that we have
all their current information and.
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:Pictures of their land or
property and all of that.
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:Dixie: Have you had anybody from
the city requesting a horse?
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:I'm just curious.
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:Rena: Yes, we definitely have
people that live in urban areas,
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:not even just New Orleans.
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:We've, I mean, we've had people
from all over the United States
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:and we are open to that as well.
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:Of course they have to arrange for the
transport, which can be costly, but.
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:Otherwise, we are definitely open to
people that live in suburban areas.
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:Typically when they do, they'll
house their horse at a local stable
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:and, go, go visit it every day or
every other day, take it for rides.
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:So that's no problem either.
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:Just as long as we know the horse
is going someplace where it's
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:going to be loved and cared for.
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:No high rise apartments.
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:philip: Well, I know that there's a
couple of smaller towns around us like
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:Harahan, where you can still own a horse
if you got a big enough piece of land, but
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:that's getting a lot smaller and harder
to do, but I've seen a couple of horses
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:out and for listeners that don't realize
where Harahan's at, but I can't see it
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:being very conducive for horses, but.
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:People seem to do it.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:And for a long time in Kenner, they
had stables at the end of the lake.
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:It was just a last couple of years,
really, when they got rid of those
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:Rena: yeah, there are definitely still
some pockets of land and especially
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:like on the North shore, there are
areas where you can be, in, in what
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:seems to be a pretty populated area and
still have a good chunk of land too.
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:Dixie: Well, I'm glad to
hear that y'all started this
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:program for the horses though.
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:Cause like I said, I had no idea and when
I heard about it, it was, very upsetting.
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:Very, very upsetting.
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:Rena: Yeah.
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:It's like I said, it's something that
we didn't even know about and we've
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:been doing this since the late eighties.
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:And so I think it's just not well
known and every year with the coverage
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:that we get, we have more and more.
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:Information out there for the public
to kind of see and understand.
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:But it's something that at this
point is so ingrained in the culture
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:that it's really not going to change
unless it's a cultural change, unless
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:the krewes themselves decide we're
not going to use horses anymore.
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:Until that day comes, if ever, the
horses are going to be in demand
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:and it's going to keep happening.
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:So we're really hoping to be
able to continue the program.
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:It is difficult because like I
said, it's, It's a loss for us.
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:We are putting money into the program.
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:And we're not making anything off
of it, but we really are trying to
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:keep it volunteer based so that we
can all help the horses and be able
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:to continue to do this every year.
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:Dixie: Like you said, it, would be
a cultural change . Has there been
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:any talks with any of the krewes
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:Rena: That's been a discussion
in the past for sure.
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:I think that, that's something that the
krewes themselves probably would need
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:to internally make the decision that
they would want to not do that anymore.
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:Dixie: How do people see the horses
that are available for adoption?
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:Rena: They can go to our
website, mardigrashorses.
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:com.
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:And we also have a Facebook page.
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:It is linked through our website as well,
but it's a Humane Society of Louisiana's.
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:It's Mardi Gras horse adoption, and
either of those places they can see the
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:horses, they can put in an application,
they can message us to ask questions,
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:and just if you're interested, don't
wait, because the horses go quickly like
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:I've mentioned, it's a very fast paced
program, so if you think you might be
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:interested, go ahead and just put an
application in and get the ball rolling.
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:Dixie: are the horses up on the website
now, or they get listed later on?
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:Rena: They are, they, we just
got them listed today, actually.
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:So this is perfect timing.
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:Yes.
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:So the horses the first seven that we
have are up on the website right now.
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:I'll give a little shout out to Daphne.
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:She's my, my current favorite.
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:I love that horse.
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:She's very sweet.
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:She's a beauty too.
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:These horses you'll see
also on our website, a.
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:Testimonial from someone that adopted
last year and just seeing the difference
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:of the before and after photos when
they come in from the broker, they're
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:almost always skinny, sometimes, a
little ragged and just need a little TLC.
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:And of course, they're at the stable for
such a short period of time during Mardi
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:Gras that they're getting fed and, cleaned
up, but you really see the difference
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:when you come back later and they've been
in their home and they've had a stable
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:loving environment and have been fed
well for the last year and had vet care.
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:And so seeing those before and
after photos is really satisfying
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:to see just what, what some love
and time can do in an animal's life.
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:philip: Okay, let me ask you this.
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:For someone who's very new to horses and
they're just wondering what would be the
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:annual expense to take care of a horse?
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:But what would they expect
to, to try to spend per year?
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:Rena: I think that would vary widely
based on, if you were housing it
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:at a stable or yourself at home.
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:But you know, that's something that
we do encourage people to look into.
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:We also recommend that these not be
your first horse that you ever own.
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:We really prefer for them to go to
somebody that's already familiar
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:with horses, whether they have them
currently or have had them in the
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:past because, they are rescues.
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:So we also encourage All of our adopters
to hire a trainer and work with the
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:horses once they get them home, give
them some time to unwind and settle
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:in, just like you might adopt a dog
and bring it home and it might be
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:skittish or scared and take a little
bit to settle in and become comfortable.
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:Horses are the same way.
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:So we really Prefer to have people
that are horse knowledgeable and have
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:either worked with them in the past or
own them in the past or currently, and
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:that's typically the best situation.
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:And they are social.
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:So having more than one just like with
cats, more than one is always great
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:because then they'll have a buddy as well.
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:Dixie: Where did you say we could
see the before and after pictures?
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:Because I've seen the pictures
of the horses up for adoption.
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:And I'd love to go look at
some of the after photos.
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:Because, when, when you see them
get into a loving home, you, like
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:you said, you can definitely see
the difference in the animal.
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:Rena: Yeah, our website, MardiGrasHorses.
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:com We have, we have
one story up there now.
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:The website is very new, so we are
working on getting more success
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:stories up there as we speak.
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:But Jasmine is featured on there right
now, and you can just see straight
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:away when, even if you aren't familiar
with horses, you can see straight
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:away, just glancing at the photo.
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:How beautiful her coat looks
and she's filled out and has a
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:little more meat on her bones.
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:And she is just kind of living her best
life with a horse buddy just hanging
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:out in the pasture and having a good
time and a good life being loved.
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:She's not really working or anything.
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:She's just having a nice,
cozy, cush, posh life now.
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:Dixie: So she's a happy horse now
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:she
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:Rena: is
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:Dixie: no idea on her history then other
than she just came from the broker.
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:Rena: No, yeah, that's I think
probably the most frustrating part
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:for everyone us as well as adopters
because There are so many unknowns.
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:Sometimes, they they come in and Just
like again a dog or a cat They might be a
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:little skittish with one thing or another
and that's why it really can take time
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:to get to know them and their preferences
and maybe you need to saddle them a
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:certain way or let them run and get some
energy out before you try to ride them.
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:They have personalities.
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:And so, just like humans and dogs,
cats, any other animal, the owner
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:gets to know them and we'll kind of
figure all of those things out and
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:what works best with their horse.
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:But it is frustrating because we don't
have any of that history to know what
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:they've been through or what their
personality is like, and unfortunately.
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:Like where a dog or a cat maybe
would have been in a foster family
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:or even in the shelter for a while.
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:And the shelter workers or the foster
would know a little bit more about
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:their personality or preferences.
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:We don't really have that option.
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:And so it is more difficult.
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:And that's why we really encourage
people to give the animals some time
463
:to settle in when they get at home.
464
:Don't don't bring it home, load
it off the trailer and try to
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:throw a saddle on and ride.
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:And also to have a trainer that
they trust and can work with in case
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:the horse just needs, it may not
have ever even had any training.
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:We really don't know.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:I mean, it's the same thing with
any animal that you adopt too.
471
:You have to be willing to
give it time to settle in.
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:Rena: Yeah.
473
:Dixie: Before we end the episode, is there
anything else that you would like to add?
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:Rena: We would love to
continue to spread the word.
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:So even if someone isn't in a position to
adopt a horse, please go to our Facebook
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:page and help share and like our posts.
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:All of that helps tremendously
with getting the word out there.
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:And you never know when a friend
of yours knows somebody looking
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:for a horse or something like that.
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:So we appreciate all of the
support whether it's a donation
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:or even just a like and a share
and a comment on an online post.
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:Dixie: We'll definitely include all
your links in the description, too,
483
:so they can go to the Facebook page
as well as to the, to the website.
484
:We would love for you to come back
on either you or Jeff, or you or Jeff
485
:together to talk about the other programs
with the Humane Society of Louisiana, too.
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:Rena: We would love that.
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:Thank you so much.
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:Dixie: Great.
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:Great.
490
:Yeah.
491
:Cause I know y'all do great work.
492
:I've known Jeff for a long time.
493
:I've known you for a long time and
you do have some wonderful programs.
494
:So there's a lot more than just
the, Mardi Gras horse program.
495
:This is just one that's very
important too though.
496
:Because it is something that
I find when more people learn
497
:about it, it is something that is
shocking when you hear about it.
498
:Rena: So, yeah, and again, I think
it's just a cultural situation at this
499
:point that if people aren't speaking
out or if the krewes themselves
500
:don't decide to make that change,
then it's not ever going to change.
501
:And we are seeing more krewes
leaning towards sustainable
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:throws and things of that nature.
503
:So, the day may come, but unfortunately
we're not There yet, so we still need to
504
:help get these horses into some homes.
505
:Dixie: Well, thank you for taking the time
to speak with us today and explain the
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:program and we can't wait to have y'all
back on to discuss the other programs.
507
:Rena: Yeah, we really
appreciate your help.
508
:Thank you so much.
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:Dixie: You're welcome And that's all
the time we have for today's episode.
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:If you are in animal rescue, or if
you know someone that has a story that
511
:should be told, please contact us.
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:We would love to have
you or them on the show
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:.
Thanks for listening, and please join us next week as we continue to
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:explore the world of animal rescue.
