The Short Version

 

Now that I know I don't have the means to pursue further legal action, I can let you guys know that I lost custody of Booger and Lucy to the psycho who gave them to me six years ago. After 1300+ hours of riding, 2000+ days of care, and $12k+ of receipts for their care (not counting entry fees, tack purchases, or improvements to the farm), the fact that she holds their registration papers is the only thing that mattered. Even with a really good attorney advising me, there was nothing I could do. 

I have never felt so betrayed or humiliated in my life. This one is going to take a very long time to get over. I am pissed and I am heartbroken. 

They are going to suffer and rot on her farm like so many did before them. I try to comfort myself with the fact that I was able to give them six good years, but this one cuts deep. It would have been easier if they had died, and I am not being dramatic about that. 

I spent 14 years of my life helping this woman and buying into her victim story. I birthed a cow during a pandemic. I testified on her behalf in court. I saved her money and gave her countless hours of my time (and Mike's). I got her riding for the first time in 20 years, in whatever capacity she could handle. I took care of her endless string of horses. I got her boarders and then took care of them too. I got bitten by her shitbag dogs that she insisted on importing from Slovakia. 

She is an objectively terrible person, and I just hope that when she gets what she deserves, I get to hear about it. 

When she dies, I will finally write that book everyone has been telling me I should publish. I will use her real name.

Blogging is one of the things that holds me together, so I will likely resume posting about our road trip shortly. I am angry that instead of getting to bask in the glow of this once in a lifetime adventure, I am instead forced to accept and grieve an unimaginable loss. 

All your comments have meant so much to me, and I appreciate your love and support. The silver lining of this shit show has been that I have a really incredible support system both in person and online. 

I'm not sure what I did to deserve this sort of karma. I must have been a really bad person in a previous life. If not, I for sure get to be a serial killer in the next one...

Thank you all, very sincerely, for the support and for following along all these years. 

If you have any kind of off the record agreement that involves your horse, you may want to get that shit notarized. Apparently texts, emails, and six years of receipts are not enough. 

Oh yeah... and fuck the justice system. There is no justice.