He pounded into me that a horseman always takes care of his horse first. If we came in hungry and tired, the horses still were rubbed down and fed before we went in to eat. We depended on our horses to do a job, and carry us safely each day. We worked hard, and the horses worked hard. His philosophy was that a horse can take good care of itself in its natural environment. But we take them out of that environment, fence them in, and bend them to our will. So they were our responsibility, and God expected us to give them the best care and appreciation. I have carried that through my life. He was hard on me, and I am glad. I wish everyone out here with horses had the training I had. Too many people have horses, and have had no training to have them. If someone isn't willing to educate themselves, and seek out the advice of someone experienced, they should rethink going in. A lot of people bite off more than they can chew. Posted via Mobile Device
My grandfather and mother are the same way (me too of course). I truly hate to see horses end up in situation because of things like this. Honestly I couldn't have said it better myself.
I hope those horses get a chance at a better life. And she doesn't get to see the light of day for a very long time. I hope and pray there is a happy ending to this horrible nightmare for these horses.
I really can't bear to think of the suffering they endured, and the painful death of the ones that didn't make it. A few years ago, my best friend and I each bought an andalusian from an egotistical person, whoms evil knew no bounds. At the time we bought them, they were ribby, but not completely emaciated. Well apparently the one my best friend got had been, and since they came from the same place, my girl probably was too, but I got lucky. Two weeks after we got them, my friends mare came down with severe colic. She was taken to the veternarian college and they did surgery. She had 50 lbs (you read that right) of gravel in her stomach. The veterinarian said that only a horse that had starved to the point of near death, would be in such pain that they would eat rocks to try to calm the pain in their stomachs. The good news is, the mare survived and went on to be healthy. This was just the beginning of discoverin how evil her former owner was. She spent her money on shopping sprees and narcotics, rather than horse feed, all the while putting on a very good show to the public. I am happy to say, her evil became public, and her horses went into other hands. I still have my chunky monkey andy. Posted via Mobile Device
PENCER, W.Va. -- Twenty horses, many of them showing apparent signs of malnutrition, spent Monday munching on hay and grain in a barn on the outskirts of Spencer, after they were removed from a Roane County farm where 22 other horses were found dead or unaccounted for on Friday.
After receiving calls about dead and emaciated horses on a farm near Reedy, Roane County law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant for the property on Friday. Once on the scene, they found the carcasses of 14 horses and learned that six other horses had died earlier, according to Roane County Prosecuting Attorney Josh Downey.
"A total of 22 horses were dead or not accounted for," Downey said.
Based on the condition of the surviving horses and the understanding that the animals had been brought to West Virginia from Pennsylvania last summer without appropriate vaccinations and health certificates, the surviving horses were removed from the farm on Saturday.
Sheriff's deputies, State Police, humane officers and state Department of Agriculture personnel rounded up the horses from the 75-acre farm Saturday morning, loaded them in trailers, and brought them to the Spencer-area barn. The animals were placed under quarantine until the results of blood tests verify they are disease-free. Lab results are expected sometime this week.
Deputies who have been feeding the animals say the horses have been consuming 10 bales of hay and 50 pounds of grain a day.
"Since we don't usually have to feed and water our evidence, we welcome donations of hay or grain from the public," Downey said. Those wishing to donate feed, fodder or the funds needed to pay for them, are asked to contact the Roane County Animal Shelter at 304-927-2555 or the Roane County Sheriff's Department at 304-927-3410.
Downey said that as of Monday, no charges had been filed against the woman who owns the horses, but he said "that's likely to change."
The quarantined horses -- two stallions, a 5-month-old colt and the rest mares -- included Arabians, Paints and other breeds.
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