Warmblood x Thoroughbred
Date of Birth: 2011
Sex: Gelding
Breed: Warmblood x Thoroughbred
Color: Dark bay
Markings: Star
VINNIE
Vinnie’s story illuminates dark underbelly of the hunter / jumper show world. Fortunately his is not as common a story as in other performance arenas, but it, tragically, still happens.
Catan Vuitton (his show name) was purchased by a Modesto family for their teenage daughter to develop and show with a prestigious southern California barn, and then he was to be sold when she went to college to pay for it.
But then Vinnie developed a neurological condition, and became a cost, no longer an investment. So the family scheduled a euthanasia date. He was 12 years old.
Normally when owners order that, vets comply. But in this case, the vet did not. She and Vinnie’s trainer refused as they said he was healthy enough to have a perfectly good life in a flat pasture with other horses, without the pressure or expectation of training. They started networking for solutions, and found us.
We asked, as we always do, if the family could help with expenses. They offered to send us the same amount it would have cost to euthanize him: $700. They have yet to honor their word.