Keep in mind while reading through this that the cost to board your horse at this facility (which still does have a boarding barn) has been listed to be in the ballpark of $700-$800. This rate is standard for the amenities available and other barns in the area. The cost of feeding horses and housing horses has increased significantly over the past couple years. The majority of a board rate covers grain, hay and bedding. Other costs include labor, facility and equipment maintenance, facility improvements, utility bills and insurance. Anyone boarding personal horses at a facility should pay a board rate to contribute to all of these costs.
The best way to lay this out is to list horses by name, so here we go.
QUINN, QUICK, RODDER, DEETER, SPARTY, BLAKE, BELLA, NICK, JASMINE-
These names you won't see on the website but these are all horses that reside at The Devoted Barn property. These horses all belong to Melissa, her children or her boyfriend (who lives there). Again, the board rate at the farm is $700-$800 to cover all of the expenses needed to run the facility. Are these horses all paying that board rate? Who is caring for them and cleaning their stalls on a daily basis? Is that person a paid employee of The Devoted Barn or paid personally by Melissa?
SHEMY: Standardbred Foal- Intake Sept 2020
What happened to Shemy? The Devoted Barn posted about this sweet foal with severely contracted tendons for many months, tracking his progress, until he suddenly disappeared. What did the vet say about his tendons? Was a surgical repair an option and if so why was it not considered? In the videos posted of Shemy walking around doing physical therapy, as described by The Devoted Barn, he looked very uncomfortable. Was he on pain medication or any vet prescribed treatments? None of this was ever mentioned by The Devoted Barn. Here is an article about flexural deformities from Ohio State University. https://www.vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/equineFarmAnimals/equine/articles/2008/FlexuralDemformities.pdf
Were any of these treatments done for Shemy to help him? We never observed any photos where he had splints applied. Why was there not an attempt made to splint his legs?
-Shemy the day after intake 9/11/2020 - https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAogtsh8T_/
-Shemy on 11/2/2020- https://www.instagram.com/p/CHGS8qnBIj1/
There is an obvious difference in his physical appearance in these two photos. It is assumed that Shemy passed away or was euthanized, but this was never announced by The Devoted Barn.
AMERICA & FREEDOM- Intake July 2020
America and Freedom were purchased from an auction with the support of Downriver For Veterans. Freedom was only 8 weeks old at the time of adoption. The Devoted Barn had stated several times that these two horses will be remain at the sanctuary to be used for their Veterans program. To date, we have seen no details about such a Veterans program being arranged at the farm. What will the purpose of these two horses be? Why would other horses already at the farm that are aged or have medical issues making them less adoptable not be suitable for this program? A young foal should be able to move on to a home to free up money and a stall to save another horse. Another valid question, why would a foal be chosen to work with veterans? A young horse is usually not the best choice to work around people unfamiliar with horses as they can be excitable and unpredictable because they are babies. It has been mentioned to us that Freedom is being kept for Melissa's daughter. If that is the case, his care expenses should not be on the non-profits tab.
LINCOLN & ROSIE-Born at the farm Summer 2021
These two foals were born at the farm Summer 2021. The Devoted Barn did not have safe and proper fencing to care for foals and they constantly were escaping from their paddocks. This was so dangerous for these babies. Lincoln and Rosie remain at the farm as of April 2022. Lincoln has been retained by Melissa herself and Rosie was adopted by a volunteer, Kelly K. Are Melissa and Kelly personally paying board to keep and feed these horses at the farm? Melissa already has a number of personal horses at the farm. Why would she keep a rescue foal that could be adopted out to raise funds for the organization and help provide for the rest of the animals?
BABES & BUTTERCUP-Criminal Case seizure 2019
Babes and Buttercup are miniature horses that were part of a criminal case that The Devoted Barn housed until the case was settled. These two were part of a larger group of minis, several of whom were adopted. Why did these two stay and why are they not available for adoption now? They are routinely seen being ridden by Melissa Borden's young daughter and her friends. Are they also now considered to be personal horses? If there was an interest to adopt them, are they available? Again, these horses cost money every month to feed and shelter, why would the rescue want to continue to pay for the care of adoptable animals?
HUEY-Intake December 2021
Huey is a young quarter horse foal who arrived at the farm as an owner surrender. He apparently has a birth defect that affects his epiglottis as well as a retained testicle that will require surgery to remove. Huey also has a severe injury to his hind right ankle that causes him to limp around his stall due to the pain. He has been on stall rest because of this injury. What follow up care is being provided to him and what is the timeline to get him the care he needs to be pain free? There have been no posts about veterinary follow up care. Video below is from April 2022.
RUBY & MAE- Intake Spring 2021
Ruby and Mae were the mares that gave birth to Lincoln and Rosie. Ruby is still available for adoption but there is no information posted that gives more details about what she does or who would be an appropriate adopter for her. One video was posted on February 14th and there have been no updates made since. How does The Devoted Barn expect to have interest in their animals for adoption if they don't post any details about them? Mae was supposedly adopted by one of the horse coordinators Theresa E. This horse also still lives on the property.
HANNAH- Intake October 2021
Hannah is an off the track Thoroughbred mare that came to The Devoted Barn in October 2021 along with a horse named Tucker (also off the track). Hannah, like Huey, has been on stall rest since her arrival. Her injury is to a front limb and it has been reported that she also needs a surgical repair. Why has she not yet received the care she needs to be pain free? Why are there not posts about follow up veterinary visits on her either? She has been left standing in a stall in pain for nearly 6 months as of April 2022.
GOLD CASHER/LUCAS-Intake December 2021
Gold Casher was purchased from an auction and arrived at The Devoted Barn in rough shape with a leg injury as well as a good sized hematoma to the chest. The Devoted Barn posted about him and asked for donations towards his care. The last with a photo of him was from December 23, 2021 on a post asking for donations and supplies for the horses. What happened to him? There has been no update on Lucas or his condition as of April 2022.
In conclusion, we don't believe that this organization has been as transparent and forthcoming about the animals as they should be. The director houses many personal horses there (up to 13 possibly) and regardless of what she pays or not, this facility was purchased by a non-profit to be a sanctuary for un-adoptable animals, not a facility to house personal horses on. Those horses take up space in stalls and use up resources on the land. Pastures can only sustain so many animals. Workers and volunteers are in short supply and adding animals to the mix that they have to care for only burns them out quicker. And what happened to Shemy and Lucas? Why have there been no updates on their care and status? Why are Hannah and Huey not receiving the surgeries necessary to make them pain free and able to feel grass beneath their feet? When these animals see a vet, updates should be posted to give followers and financial contributors new information. This would be the practice of a transparent organization.
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