Case 4 - 1989

This was a case of very poor management, not necessarily abuse or neglect. This was an Appaloosa breeding farm with approximately 30 horses housed on less than an acre of land. The complainant stated that the horses were fed once a day and the fencing was a "sea of wire". Upon investigation, we found 1 stallion living in a pen approximatley 1/8 of an acre in size. He had 2 buckets of water and tires for toys. He looked content, in good flesh and friendly. There were also 12 horses in 1/2 acre dirt paddock and 4 broodmares and 3 foals in a 1/4 acre dirt paddock. All had water. There was algae in the tubs but the water looked ok. The mares were thin and an Arab foal was a bit rough but none were close to starvation. The barn was neat and clean. Although it was overcrowded and far from ideal - broodmares poorly managed - this could not be considered an abuse or neglect case.