The Search for An Old Friend--Cash Bar Reed

The Search for An Old Friend--Cash Bar Reed

07 March 2011

by Donna L. Doud

cashbarreedlocated2001.jpg

I'm the breeder of Cash's Bar Reed. He was born January 25th, 1993. I raised Cash from a foal, and had him till he was six years old. He was the main part of my Appaloosa breeding program and remained a stallion while I owned him.

In 1998, I made the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life because of my failing health, and sold Cash. He was sold in spring of 1999 to people I thought would be good for him and he was purchased as part of their breeding program.

Cash was always easy to handle when I had him. My daughter even loved him, and she doesn't like horses. Cash was special to both of us.

I didn't think they'd have any problems with him but they obviously bit off more than they could chew. I donut know what went wrong, but I got a letter from them people, they gelded him. Curious to see what they were going to do with him next, I talked to them. They were going to sell him.

I asked them to give me the name of the person that buys Cash, so I could know how he was doing. I reminded her that I didn't sell Cash because I wanted to, I sold him because I had to. I always wanted to know how he was doing and who had him.

I get a Christmas card from them in December 2000 and there is no mention of Cash. I call them and I didn't get the answers I wanted. They tell me they can't give me the info I want, and that the last they heard, he was sold at an auction in Illinois for $700.

I call the ApHC (Appaloosa Horse Club, Inc.) to see if they could give me information concerning Cash. The new owners had not him transferred him to their name. I gave the ApHC Cash's registered name and his registered number. No luck, he was still in the peoples name, I sold him to.

I talked to someone at the Appaloosa Journal to see about putting an article in the Field Notes section of the Journal. They were happy to help me and I sent them a picture of Cash, info about him, such as his registration number and name, who his breeder was, where he was born. The article was in the February 2001 Appaloosa Journal. I didn't get any calls. I basically decided I'd never know where he is again.

I posted information on Cash on horse groups that I'm a member of online. I moderate three horse groups. The members of them put word out for me. All my friends from the horse groups and others were keeping an eye out for Cash for me. Even horse rescue groups were keeping an eye out for him.
I get another letter from the people that bought Cash from me. She tells me this person, called her, that had him, another person called her that had him, but she didn't give me any names. Nothing to help me at all. She then wishes me good luck in finding him. I took it as her being sarcastic. I never replied to her letter.

At this point, I have practically given up looking for Cash. I heard what the meat packers were paying for horses at the horse auctions. Being the last I heard, Cash was sold at an auction in Illinois for $700, in the year 2000, I was to the point of being afraid of Cash's fate. I donut think I could've handled finding out he was bought by a meat packer. Cash doesn't deserve that. He was always a sweetie, and has a fantastic personality.

On May 15th, 2001, I get online in the morning, look over my horse group's email. I scroll down my list of new e-mails, deleting the junk e-mail, when I see Cash's Bar Reed in the subject. I froze when I see that. I was in a way afraid to read it, thinking its probably bad news about Cash.

It was good news, actually Great New!!!! Cash has been found!!!!! I was so happy to read the message. The first message I read was from the stable owner/trainer where Cash is being stabled. I go down further on my e-mail list; I see a message from Cash's new owner's aunt, also letting me know about Cash and her new owner. Cash's new owner is a 12-year-old girl in NY. The 12-year-old girl loves Cash a lot.

The stable owner/trainer, the little girl's Mom, and her aunt, were searching the net to find out if they could find more info on Cash. They got lucky, they found my homepage. That's when they got in contact me.

If it wasn't for the net. There wouldn't have been a happy ending to this story. All I can say, like all of us horse lovers/breeders/owners have been saying, Thank God for the Internet. If it weren't for the Internet, there wouldn't be stories like this.

I want thank the stable owner/trainer, the little girls Mom and Aunt, for getting in contact with me. You have made me very happy. I know now he's in great hands and is with a loving family and home and I hope we keep in touch.

If your are still trying to locate your missing horses, please don't give up, this story is proof that the horse can be found. Cash wasn't a stolen horse, and Thank God for that. I just lost contact with him. Knowing his whereabouts has always been important to me. I am so relieved the search is over and he's settling in his new home in NY.

Donna L. Doud
Sedalia, MO

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