Count de Monet “CASH”

There’s something extraordinary about the way a horse looks at you when he’s finally safe. It’s as if, for the first time, he allows himself to believe in hope.

Born on April 24, 2013 in Pine Bush, New York, Count de Monet came into this world with greatness in his bloodline. His bloodlines spawned nearly multimillion dollar earners, making him the kind of colt that breeders and owners dream about. His name, Count de Monet, reflected that very expectation a “money horse,” bred to win, to earn, to be worth something. But like so many stories within the racing industry, Cash’s journey didn’t unfold as planned. After two years on the track and seven starts, his total earnings amounted to less than $5,000. When he didn’t live up to the promise of his pedigree, he was discarded, a number on a spreadsheet, another life deemed unprofitable.

This is the heartbreaking truth behind the racing industry, horses bred for potential are too often abandoned when their bodies can no longer produce profit. For Cash, his story went silent for the next ten years. No records. No trace. Nothing. He surfaced in a kill pen in Pennsylvania, his fate hanging by a thread. We can only assume that during that lost decade, he was used as an Amish buggy horse (due to where he came from), pulling heavy loads day after day, year after year.

By the time he reached us, Cash’s body told the story of that labor. He was very skinny. He was diagnosed with moderate DSLD (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis) a painful, progressive condition that affects the connective tissues in his legs. He is now on extensive daily supplements and pain management medication, and our team monitors him closely, ensuring every day is filled with comfort, safety and dignity. We don’t know how long Cash will be with us, DSLD is degenerative and its timeline is uncertain, but one thing we do know is that he will never suffer again. He will live out his days surrounded by love, soft hay, sunshine and the gentle company of his new herd. Count de Monet’s story is a powerful reminder that not every life is measured in winnings or worth, some are measured in heart. Here, with us, Cash’s worth is immeasurable.

Welcome home, Cash. Your happy ending begins here.