The 2 yr old Filly on the left Died due to Starvation

   She had a halter left on that was too small for her to open her mouth enough to eat, poor feed, lack of worming, competition and overcrowding.....  i.e. owner  neglect and ignorance.

I dedicate this rescue project to the memory of this filly, I just called her "Sweetheart".

   Another died the week previous, dragged off to a corner of the farm, left for the dogs. I found a skeleton from years past. There are many  more that need help.  I came to KY to help the horses. I found them starving with these appalling conditions, and in this dangerous hostile environment. Even though  the Vet and I instigated a treatment plan, the owner refused to continue to follow through to care for them properly. " This is an old ongoing repeating  problem and keeping John attuned to the continued care has had repeated failures",  Don the Vet told me.  I personally saw Johns failure to follow through with their care when left to his own decisions.  I fixed fences. One of the twelve stallions got hung over a barb wire fence acquiring many lacerations. I got them all wormed but it was like pulling hens teeth to get the owner to come up with the meds. Than getting him to buy decent hay was a similar  ongoing  ordeal, due to "I can't afford to feed good quality hay". On days I tested him, left to his own choice, he would purchase the cheapest he could find, severely moldy round bales. He towed 3 round bales of this hay on one lowboy trailer and left it in the field with 16 mares. Obviously only a few could eat at one time, his "competition problem". He would throw grain on the ground  over manure and gravel. I never got a chance to look into there teeth.

     Why?  How could anyone let this happen. Severe malnutrition, epidemic skin fungus infections, severe worm infestation, overcrowding, barb wire wounds, survival of the fittest, (some are in fair condition),  inadequate feed and feeding practices.....   I witnessed neglect, laziness, (daily, weekly, months, and years), ignorance, "caring" without action, minimal action/attention, excuses, blame on all and everything but himself.....,   I lost all respect for this uncaring inhuman being.  This individual doesn't deserve these wonderful creatures and has proved beyond a reasonable doubt to be incapable of caring for them. Worse yet  there are a dozen mares due soon.

     I stabilized the herd from immediate death by: 1) Catching  50 horses to worm, 50%  being half wild and there needing to be lassoed was quite a new experience for them and I both. The extruded worms in the feces included copious blood worms and copious numbers of a 1/4 inch orange segmented form. 2) carrying sq bales of  hay that I basically had to force John to buy on a day to day basis. 3) I  made sure they were separated enough so all could eat relaxed and was able to shelter all but the mares from the weather. 4) A stallion got hung up in the barbed wire and I treated his infected lacerations than took four of the stallions to get gelded. I wanted to take at least  five more. After getting them friendly enough to groom, their winter coats fell out in matted, especially over their dorsal (top) surfaces, due to exposure and fungus infection. I treated them with betadine arresting the worst cases.  I kept the feed away from the barbed wire fences. I could work with the horses but not keep up the battle with John for their support and care. so I left Campbellsville, KY, to start this rescue project online, so as  to gather support, start a trust fund for them, find help (I couldn't keep the fight up alone) by  alerting  humane and news agencies, and am willing to return to testify in court as needed. A trust fund is established (see donations to Taylor Co below) to use in any way needed to care for them. We will likely via court permanently remove them. See updates below.

      Let these pictures speak for themselves. I'm sorry for these grotesque photos. If they bring tears to your eyes , imagine the anger and crying  I went through as they lay dieing in my arms and feeding them to prevent further suffering and deaths.

On a positive note we now have four new foals on there new ranch.

The youngest ones, less than a year, and far right, a three year old.

     Another, condition makes aging difficult (probably 3 Yrs+)                  Hay, when I arrived.  (Briers and sticks).

                            Fence conditions. They fought from both sides, over food hung in tires on barb wire fences. Most falls out on the ground where they eat with gravel.

It was going to get worse. One of a dozen  pregnant mares due soon. Now in the hands of a Vet Donny and Taylor Co.  we have two new foals.

Please help   these wonderful creatures.

4) Taylor County Humane society and the DA   in Campbellsville, KY. took guardianship. They have control of the care via  court judgment. Am Saddlebred club, and others are involved and helping.

7.)  3/13/04 Monday court update. link to news article http://www.cknj.com/articles/2004/03/10/news/02horses.txt

8) pretrial result pending

9)  4/23/04 Trial Humphress the abuser vs. Taylor co.

10) Continual delays by Humphress and his counsel for pre-trial/trial dates.

11) April 23ed... a jury of 6 found Humphress guilty beyond any reasonable doubt after putting up with his 16 hours of improper court conduct (fined 4x by Judge for failure to comply with the simple procedures of the questioning process of witnesses) sentencing him to jail for 1 year, the maximum penalty allowed. Peta has urged the DA  that John needs psychriatic help and never needs to be in the care of horses again. As a physician, as well having spent 6 weeks noting his personality, agree whole heartedly.

Please note:

 The views opinions and data expressed herein is solely the responsibility of the web master and in no way reflect the views, opinions of Taylor county, Am Saddlebred club or any other agency or individual involved in the Humphress equine abuse case.