Town residents upset that fireworks display will cause them to euth their pony

[Alagirl]

Maybe their drama llama can keep the pony company....

[carolprudm]

I can only hope that all of us here who side on L.L. Bean will be there to support L.L. Bean when this 30-year-old pony bites the dust during or after the fireworks.

Seriously. I can see this happening. Lawsuits are the name of the game these days.

Anyone can sue anyone, that's for sure, but I suspect LLBean has some pretty good lawyers and some pretty deep pockets. And I think LLBean has covered their a$$$

[MistyBlue]

I always support LLBean...their clothes rock and last forever, their customer service is the best.

[cowgirljenn]

How come it's always an animal who was "rescued from abuse", too? As far it having been abused goes, pictures or that didn't happen. These days anyone with a horse that even flinches at a raised hand 'rescued them from abuse.'

That's a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Between the two rescues I've run, we've handled nearly 1300 horses. And I think I would label less than 15 horse (maybe even less than 10) as truly abused. People love to toss that label around..

As for horses and fireworks: If someone has horses that are truly bothered by them, I really do feel for them. The NYE before we moved to our own place, we happened to stop by the boarding barn at midnight. The neighbors were shooting fireworks off towards the barn, and my guys were pretty panicky in their stalls. We threw them some extra hay and they settled down. I think the issue was they could hear the noise and not see where it was coming from.

That next 4th of July, we had our own place. My husband LOVES fireworks, and I figured other neighbors would be shooting them off. So we shot them off and I kept an eye on the horses. I found my own stallion standing outside watching the fireworks go off, completely calm. The horses in the stalls could see them too (it was an open barn) and they were fine. We've never had a fireworks issue again.

[Event4Life]

I always support LLBean...their clothes rock and last forever, their customer service is the best.

Yup. Love LLBean; my family have been buying from them for longer than I can remember. I have some duffel bags I've been using since middle school (over 10 years ago!), and I travel a lot!

Anyway...agree with everyone else (except 1, I think?). Owner is being unreasonable. LLBean is an outstanding company and holding celebrations on the same day of the year the rest of the USA will. This pony has somehow made it through 29 other fireworks displays, so why should this one be different??

Someone should send this link to CS....Just so they know not all horse people are crazy (and on COTH, that's saying something! heehee) :-D.

[azeventer]

has anyone heard how the pony did with the fireworks?

[CVPeg]

The pony lived!

July 7
Fireworks 'pure terror' at nearby farm
By Randy Billings rbillings@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

FREEPORT – While thousands of people turned out to enjoy L.L.Bean’s 100th Anniversary fireworks show, for one woman and her farm animals, the event was “pure terror.”

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Susan Campbell, who owns a 100-acre farm on Hunter Road, was concerned the fireworks – billed as the biggest show in the state – would cause her animals to stampede and hurt themselves.

Campbell was particularly concerned about a 30-year-old rescued pony prone to panic attacks. However, she said the pony survived, her cows didn't not break down any fences, and the horses appear to be all right, though one was slightly limping.

“The pony a couple of times was gasping pretty heavily,” Campbell said. “Fortunately the pony didn’t have a respiratory arrest, which is what we were worried about.”

Campbell said she spent all week preparing her four horses and 10 cows for the event by playing loud music and turning on the barn lights at night. She also began giving them three kinds of calming medication in increasing doses.

But still, she said, the fireworks, which were launched the Pine Tree Academy on Pownal Road and from Morse Street in the village, were worse than she imagined, comparing it to a war zone.

“(The show) lit up the entire pasture like it was daytime,” she said. “It was just a constant barrage of shots coming from all around. (The animals have) no escape.”

Campbell collected 215 signatures in an effort to get L.L.Bean to shoot fireworks only from the Morse Street location, but L.L.Bean went through with plans to also launch fireworks from Pownal Road.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Fire...arby-farm.html

AND July 9

FREEPORT

Farmer's animals survive fireworks, despite 'terror'

While thousands of people turned out to enjoy L.L. Bean's 100th anniversary fireworks show on Saturday, for one woman and her farm animals, the event was "pure terror."

Susan Campbell owns a farm on Hunter Road near where fireworks were launched. She was concerned in the weeks before the fireworks that they would cause her animals to stampede and hurt themselves. Campbell was particularly concerned about a 30-year-old rescued pony prone to panic attacks.

However, she said the pony survived, her cows didn't break down any fences and the horses appear to be all right, though one was slightly limping.

Campbell said she spent all week preparing her four horses and 10 cows for the event by playing loud music and turning on the barn lights at night. She also began giving them calming medication in increasing doses.

"(The show) lit up the entire pasture like it was daytime," she said. "It was just a constant barrage of shots coming from all around."

L.L. Bean offered to help Campbell pay for veterinary and transportation services to remove animals from the farm during the fireworks. But as of late last month a suitable livestock trailer was not available to borrow or lease, and L.L. Bean declined to buy one at a cost of $6,000, Campbell said.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/disp...012-07-09.html

[Anne FS]

What a crock.

I can't post pictures. Maybe someone can post that Attention Horse picture, because she sure is. That and she wants her hand in LL Bean's deep pockets.

[Shine]

"L.L. Bean offered to help Campbell pay for veterinary and transportation services to remove animals from the farm during the fireworks. But as of late last month a suitable livestock trailer was not available to borrow or lease, and L.L. Bean declined to buy one at a cost of $6,000, Campbell said."

You have got to be freaking kidding me! Campbell couldn't find a suitable trailer with that much notice? She apparently has a regular vet and couldn't get a recommendation or information on where to get one? And L.L. Bean declined to purchase one for $6,000.00. What of bunch of meanies.

I think if I tried to stop the fireworks in my town, I don't think it would be the pony's safety I would be concerned about!

[GraceLikeRain]

What nonsense.

[hundredacres]

The pony "gasped a few times".....? I can't think of a time when I've heard a horse "gasp". Am I crazy?

[Kwill]

"Campbell said she spent all week preparing her four horses and 10 cows for the event by playing loud music and turning on the barn lights at night"

That must have been a fun time for all. Not just one night, but all week!

[Derby Lyn Farms]

Thanks, I needed a good laugh tonight. And she couldn't find a trailer for less then $6000?

[MistyBlue]

So the drama queen wasn't able to sucker a free trailer out of LLBean?

Oh the humanity! What's the world coming to when you can't screw over a business for doing something legal and patriotic???

[carolprudm]

For $6000 I would have driven up there and moved the animals myself

[michaleenflynn]

I think the offer to take the pony to a different location or pay for vet/drugs is MORE than reasonable on LLBean's part.

But then again I hate fussy, prissy, "the world should revolve around me!" horse people anyway, so I have little sympathy.

Agreed on both counts. I think it is extraordinarily benevolent of LL Bean to make that offer, dayum.

[Grataan]

What a crock.

I can't post pictures. Maybe someone can post that Attention Horse picture, because she sure is. That and she wants her hand in LL Bean's deep pockets.

Ask and you shall receive:
My Little Pony Attention Horse
Attention Horse T Shirt
Most of us hate Attention Horse
Steeplechase Attention Horse

[hundredacres]

LOL.. the last two made me laugh out loud

[oldpony66]

The pony "gasped a few times".....? I can't think of a time when I've heard a horse "gasp". Am I crazy?

Can't say that I have... but maybe the "three kinds of calming medications in increasing dosages" caused breathing problems. Sounds like the lady needs some calming medications of her own.

[Anne FS]

Thanks, Grataan!

I was actually thinking of this one [bad language warning]:

http://cousinavi.wordpress.com/2010/...tention-horse/