After being malnourished to the point of danger, a horse was seized by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office on November 14th. The horse is now being nursed back to health by BCSO with the help of a local veterinarian’s advice.
According to BCSO deputy Michelle Holder, the 7-12 year-old Bay mare is a good looking horse that had a rough time recently. Holder stated that the exact age of the horse was unknown as she has had multiple owners. Holder said that the she was told the mare was once a race horse for a couple of years, used as a breeding mare for a couple of years, then developed a hoof injury and later began to have problems holding any weight on her frame.When the horse began to decline, she was transferred into the care of a person who intended to nurse her back to health; however, without the resources or knowledge, that person was unable to do so and the mare continued to decline to a point of being in danger, Holder said. It was at that time that Holder began the legal proceedings to seize the animal because the owners would not give up custody of the horse to allow a more knowledgeable owner to adopt her. Holder stated that she worked with the owner and tried to help but when no progress could be made, something had to be done to save the mare.
“She has a lot of life and is not going to be a ‘little girl’s pony,’ after what she has gone through. She is still young enough that she may recover and be suitable (in the future) to carry an experienced rider,” said Holder. “She is a good looking horse and she’s doing better, even getting an attitude.”
Holder explained that the mare was in such poor health that she had to be put on senior food that would just dissolve in her mouth because her body was shutting down and unable to process the nutrients she needed out of the regular food. In the beginning, she was being fed small portions of the senior feed, alfalfa and coastal hay 4-5 times a day and now has been doing well enough to go to larger portions 3-4 times a day and is anxious to be fed, said Holder.
“We want people to know that we understand their circumstances, but once you can’t provide an animal the proper food, grazing, water, and shelter it needs, you have to consider adoption, or selling the animal to someone who can care for it properly,” explained Holder.
She further explained that the public needs to understand that you cannot just let an animal starve and not provide food, water and shelter.
“It doesn’t have to be a fancy barn, shelter can be a nice shade tree in the summer,” said Holder.
She explained that once the mare, whom the BCSO staff affectionately calls “Hope,” is back to good health she will be put up for adoption. Those interested may contact Holder at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office by calling 325-646-5510. Holder stated that the person that adopts the mare will be screened so that “Hope” doesn’t get back into the same situation again.
Above and below are pictures of the mare and her caretaker Deputy Holder.
