Our Experience with Miner Equestrian
Hi! We're the Contis. Guy is a local attorney and Kate is a professional guardian and music teacher. We live right outside of Ann Arbor, MI. We are the proud parents of a wonderful pack of dogs, a 2 year old Percheron (Orion), an 18 year old Percheron (Ben) , and our beautiful senior 30 year old 18.2 hh Percheron Manford Clarence "Manny".
Sometime in 2021, our aged Percheron draft horse, Manny, was moved by our co-owner (Guy and Kate own 2/3 of Manny) to Miner Equestrian at 54280 8 Mile Rd., Northville, MI. Miner Equestrian provided room and board for Manny which was funded entirely by Guy and Kate (who also, of course, funded regular farrier and veterinarian visits).
MANNY'S HOOVES
Manny has, for all of the ten+ years we have known him, had problems with his hoofs and, because of micro bone disintegration, has also had problems with abscesses. Abscesses are of course, painful, but, most often, treatable.
In March 2022, Manny had a pretty bad abscess. Our co-owner advocated for euthanizing Manny, along with a pet communicator that frequented Tyler’s barn and had made Manny’s acquaintance. Kate and Guy, following the advice of Alyssa Connelly, DVM, chose to try to allow Manny to recover from the abscess. He did.
AUGUST 2022: THE ABSCESS AND HOOF WALL
Fast forward to August of 2022.
A part of the hoof wall on Manny’s right rear hoof fell off. While this looked like a huge problem, it turned out not to discomfort him at all. More problematic was another abscess in one of his front hoofs. This abscess was very, very painful. Because of this, Manny was spending a lot of time in his stall and a fair amount of time laying down.
However, he was not laying down enough to endanger himself.
Kate and Guy called in Nathan Zauel, DVM, who had been Manny’s primary vet for the last 9 years.
Dr. Zauel had saved Manny’s life when the folks at Superior Stable in Superior Twp, MI, rescued Manny from a cow barn in Wisconsin. Dr. Zauel was sure he could resolve the abscess but expressed some concern about Manny surviving another winter and advised Kate and Guy to start considering letting Manny go, maybe sometime before the winter.
Manny started to feel better as the abscess resolved and Dr. Zauel instructed us to make sure Manny got out in the pasture and got some exercise.
THE CONVERSATION- FIRST ACCUSATIONS OF ABUSE
Now, of course, given the conversations with Dr. Zauel, Kate and Guy were contemplating the near end of our beloved Manny. Needless to say we were devastated but willing to do what might need to be done.
During this time, on August 17, 2022, Tyler Miner asked to have a conversation with us. Kate and Guy spoke with Tyler by phone. As a standard practice due to our professions all of our phone calls are recorded. Michigan is a one party consent state, meaning as long as one of the participating parties knows about the recording it is legal.
Please note that, about 5 minutes and 30 seconds into the conversation, Mr. Miner indicated that he felt it would be “abuse” if Kate and Guy didn’t agree to put Manny to sleep.
He also indicated he thought some vets would string owners along by collected a couple of hundred dollars every time they came out and not recommending euthanasia. Guy explained to Mr. Miner that we had known Dr. Zauel and his family since 2004, long before we ever met Manny, and that such behavior was beyond Dr. Zauel.
THE TEXT MESSAGES
At about 5:30 PM on August 22, 2022, Guy arrived at Miner Equestrian and walked Manny to the pasture. Guy advised Tyler Miner’s employee Ashley that he wanted to put Manny in the pasture as the vet had ordered it and asked if they could get him back in. She assured Guy they could. So, he left Manny in the pasture and went to a meeting.
At about 7:30 PM, Guy received the following texts from Mr. Miner:
Upon receiving the texts, Guy immediately obtained a trailer and a truck and proceeded to Miner Equestrian to recover Manny and move him to Superior Stables.
Guy arrived with helpers at around 9:45 PM. Mr. Miner sought to deny us possession of Manny and called the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Six deputies responded to the scene and Mr. Miner, after claiming that Guy was a neglectful and abusive horse owner, that Manny would be dead by the time he reached Superior Stable, and that Dr. Zauel was merchandising us, finally had to let Guy take Manny to Superior Stable.
Mr. Miner posted to Facebook:
ARRIVING AT SUPERIOR STABLE
Upon arriving at Superior Stable, Manny had a new lease on life! He practically flew off the trailer and immediately proceeded to visit all his old friends at Superior by walking around the barn. He was greeted by a cheering crowd of about 15 people. Superior Stable gave him a double-sized stall with his own private paddock.
Since that time, and as of March of 2024 - 19 months after Mr. Miner told the Sheriff's Deputies that Manny would be dead by the time he arrived at Superior Stables, he has had many more good days, has been reunited with his love, Jade, a 16 year old Clydesdale and his buddy Max (a miniature horse) and has gone out to graze and walk every single day. His muscle tone is returning and he is as happy as he has ever been. He has trotted and canted without prompting and his condition has, according to Dr. Zauel, “markedly improved.”
Here is that medical report:
Additionally Here is Dr. Connolly's Report
THE BIG MAN ENJOYING HIS PADDOCK ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
ALL PHOTOS SINCE MANNY'S RETURN ON AUGUST 22, 2022
