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I'm actually going through this right now. We are rewriting our wills 
and this is a very real issue. Barb, you have done a great job, but you 
did it on your own and I don't want the welfare of my horses to depend 
on finding a Saint to take them on if Kathy and I croke at the same 
time. I don't think the issue is so much the money or trust you set up 
(any lawyer can write a trust) - it is finding a reliable party to 
manage the trust after you are gone. That is the issue we have since 
most of our friends who we would trust are also getting a little long in 
the tooth also and I have a two young ones out in the pasture.

Truman

Mcgann, Barbara wrote:
> Karen,
> I find this an interesting thread, as I have experienced being on the 
> receiving end of the horses with no financial support. Let me back up 
> a bit...About 7 years ago, I was selling horses, trying to get my herd 
> down to a manageable number, as I had experienced several life changes 
> (husband dieing, etc) that made it harder for me to have a large herd. 
> I was doing a good job at it, too....had my horse count down to about 
> 7 (from 12 or so).
> Then my mom took a call from a friend. Short story....bone cancer, 
> husband had left her, no brothers, sisters, children or 
> relatives....and she had 22 horses!!! We ended up taking 11 of them. 
> So my horse herd went right back up to 18 in one days time! Most of 
> the new horses had not been touched in several years and were in 
> various stages from half broke to completely wild. I spent the next 
> five years gentling, breaking, training and finding homes for most of 
> them. I am NOW back down to just 6 horses total (and may sell one or 
> two more). I WISH the lady had left me some money as well as the 
> horses to cover their expenses (not to mention my time and effort!).
> My question is: How would you determine a reasonable amount to set 
> aside for the care of your critters after your death? Would you just 
> be looking at 1 or 2 years worth of care for X number of animals, 
> assuming that the caretaker would find homes in a reasonable time for 
> them? Or would you want to do an actuarial type thing...I have X 
> number of horses that will live from 5 to 25 years at $X per year.
> Barb McGann


--

“Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to 
authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?” 
Justice William O. Douglas


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