Ribot’s Progeny Escapes Slaughter

Ribot’s Progeny, Ribot Dream escaped slaughter at Cavel International in April of 2007, he is the only racehorse to have seen the inside of a slaughter plant and lived to tell his story.

In April of 2007, Cavel International, a horse slaughter facility located in DeKalb, Illinois was shut down by a Supreme Court ruling.  Thirty-three horses, standing on the floor of this slaughter house were staring their brutal ending in the face; a cruel death by slaughter to be served with garnishment overseas for human consumption.

Denkai Animal Sanctuary located in Grover, CO, working in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States helped to take in, place in rescue organizations and save this trailer full of horses after they were loaded back on the slaughter truck and dumped in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  These Miracle Horses as they have come to be known, were mainly young, very well trained and have been placed in permanent Sanctuaries, Rescues and homes.

One of the horses in this transport stands out, a bay racehorse gelding.   For the last year, Gus as he has come to be known has been fostered with Christine Schultz for Denkai Animal Sanctuary in Ramah, CO with his Best Friend Smiley.  Christine has an incredible passion for racehorses; she has been to the tracks and followed the industry very closely for most of her life.  She immediately took to researching Gus’s history, where he came from, his lineage, everything.

Gus’s story is this: He is the direct Progeny of Ribot.  Ribot was also a bay thoroughbred originally from England.  Ribot raced 16 times in England and was undefeated.  He was a champion at ages 2, 3 and 4 in both England and France.  Ribot’s earnings totaled $294,414 in the 1950’s. After his winnings in England, he was then transported to the United States where he stood at stud.   Barbaro, Funny Cide, and Pleasant Colony, all descendants to Ribot and relatives to Gus (saved from slaughter) went on to win the Kentucky Derby

Gus’s registered name is actually Ribot Dream; he was foaled in North Dakota in 1972, still living well today at the ripe old age of 36 years.  Gus is the only racehorse to have stared slaughter in the face and lived to tell his story.   Gus became a byproduct of the racing industry, he was sent to slaughter because his useful life was over. This is unfortunately not uncommon within this industry, finally some racetracks and congressmen are beginning to understand the plight of these amazing horses.

Recently Suffolk Downs, a racetrack in Boston has enacted a zero-tolerance slaughter policy in which the track managers will now deny trainers stalls if they sell a horse for slaughter which will deny the ability for them to race horses. (www.thehorse.com)  In a recent press release, Congressman Whitfield (r) Kentucky is looking into legislation regarding this issue.

There are networks and foundations along with rescue groups that work daily to help in the care of retired racehorses such as Denkai Animal Sanctuary, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and CANTER (the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses) .

Hopefully in the near future, racehorses like Ribot Dream will see a suitable retirement and placement where they will no longer be considered simply byproducts and breeding machines.  Thanks to Christine, Gus is living happily and eating well!

Contributions towards Ribot Dream and his care can be made to: Denkai Animal Sanctuary  36710 WCR 126 in Grover, CO 80729.

Letter from Thoroughbred Breeder and Owner 

Hi,

I am a thoroughbred breeder and owner and was reading the article of Gus on the Bloodhorse. I was so deeply touched that I logged on to your  website to read the other amazing stories of your rescue. Tears run down my face, as an animal lover, horse lover I am so impressed of your efforts to rescue and care for these horses that death was their destiny in the most tragic way.  More people, more of us horse owners should be more like you all and we should ALL applaud you on all that you do. We have a responsibility to these horses as we breed, buy, or sell them to care for them to the best of our ability. I would go without food on my table to feed those I own. They can not take care of themselves!  I will be making a donation to your organization. 

Thanks for all you do. 

With much respect 
Karen 
Reddick, FL

Gus is just the most GORGEOUS TB!! He has regained ALL of that weight. He is a typical Thoroghbred. Go!Go! Go!! Anxious, Edgy, Nervous, sooooo deserving of love and patience. TRAINABLE!! This horse it was obvious someone really gave him a hard time. Every time I'd go in the pen headed his way, he'd run. It took me months of working with him; now he's calmer. He has had some major breakthrough's. He likes to play with the other horses over the fence. He always wins since he's the biggest one here. It must be good to be the big man on the block.

One morning I was feeding and I noticed out of the corner of my eye, he was not wanting to eat as normal, but hanging out at the gate waiting for me, So I went up and pet him; ( I wasn't sure what he wanted) that morning he reached over and nuzzled the tip of my nose! We have had several of these "human/horse bonding" sessions. It's a little nerve-wracking; but I manage to take the love as it comes. His farrier then was having trouble trimming him, so my next project was to get him a little quieter. He wanted to prance around. We have taken this very slow, I started asking him to pick up his feet with a simple touch on the front of his knee, his reward was scratching his neck and a kiss on his muzzle. Again, Gus stepped up and hit a home run! Now, he looks forward to the sessions, he's like a student that loves to succeed. He drops his head, lets me rest my head on his, then I move to his front legs to ask him to pick them up for me, and reward him with love and praise. We do this daily, morning and night. Sometimes, just like his "nose nuzzling" he will not eat and wait for me to work with him, after he's shown me how perfect he can be, he will then walk over and start to eat with Smiley. He is loosing his nervousness, and excelling at the groundwork. It is very obvious he was worked with a lot as he knows all kinds of cues to move, he has no trouble moving back, forward, side to side, and I'm thinking when I start riding him next summer when the groundwork is set in, he knows a lot!

We have had 4 readings of that infamous tattoo! All reads different. The veterinarian read it again today, and she's confident of the number. We had good light, and I am very hopeful we will know who he is. I have photos and the numbers and will mail them too, this Monday. If this attempt doesn't work. I have a blacklight, and we can attempt the "blacklight trick". I will let you know who the "mystery man" is as soon as they run the number.

Below is a picture of Smiley and Gus! What a pair!!

Gus arrives at Denkai....

Gus is a 35 year old TB Gelding. He is an ex-racehorse and we have found a tattoo on his upper lip confirming this. He is showing some bone spurs on his stifle and is a bit stiff, but at 17 hands, he is a very majestic horse. He loves to nuzzle and would enjoy a good brushing along with a forever home!