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[RC] Fwd: Herb and horses - DeborahHuebschHi Ridecampers,This email just came to me and I couldnt help but forward it to all of you, especially since there has been so much discussion about mustangs, wild horses, etc. Maybe someone can help here. Thanks, Deborah (So. Calif.) --- Begin Message ---Dear Deborah, I just saw Herb over at Town Center, and in the conversation the subject of horses came up. I mentioned to you earlier that I was involved in some litigation with a "rancher" in Santa Ynez Valley. This "rancher" was charged with 13 felony counts last year, most of which involved animal abuse. Specifically, he had accumulated some 450 wild horses on our ranch, which he had been leasing (not paying the rent, though), and had not been properly feeding or caring for them. Long story short, he pleaded guilty last week to some counts, and the County of Santa Barbara is now in the unenviable position of having to dispose of some 400 horses in 45 days, without the option of selling them to slaughter. I have become friends with the investigator, Laura Cleaves, who now has the responsibility for caring for these horses without the resources to do it with. She has the help of the Wild Horse and Burro Association, but that is not enough. They are trying to adopt them out in groups of 30 or so because of the sheer numbers. If you could put out the word to horse owners that you know, perhaps more could be done to save these horses. They range from stunningly beautiful to very sad-looking. Mostly they come from the range in Nevada. If nothing else, maybe someone who could take one or two from one of the larger Associations could help them fill the pipeline. Anyway, if you want to forward this email to anybody that you may know who could help in anyway, it would be appreciated. They can contact Laura Cleaves at the Santa Barbara DA's office at (805)568-2357. Thank you, Jack Mathis =====
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