Woman Abuses Foal Then Has Him Euthanized

Story

The Lewis County Prosecutor's Office is awaiting the conclusion of a law enforcement investigation to determine whether or not to charge an Onalaska woman with animal cruelty after a horse was photographed in dire condition.

Let's think...YES.

Prosecutor Michael Golden said photographs show the owner had put a nylon harness on a foal and left it on without adjustment until growth of the animal's head forced the strap to wear through the flesh of its face all the way to the bone.

Golden said the Lewis County Sheriff's Office has provided initial reports but that the investigation is ongoing. The owner apparently had the horse put down before law enforcement arrived Wednesday, Golden said, meaning the body might eventually be exhumed. Photographs obtained by investigators could also be key in any future prosecution, he said.

Neighbors reported the animal's condition Tuesday. Three other horses in the same field appeared to be in good health.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Golden said the owner or responsible party could face either first-degree or second-degree animal cruelty charges.

He said he's been in contact with a veterinarian, as has the sheriff's office. A decision will come after the investigation is complete, he said.

More than 100 Minis Looking for Homes in Houston

Story

Earlier this week, a Texas horse owner has voluntarily surrendered a herd of 105 Miniature Horses to the Houston SPCA. The owner also gave up 46 dogs. She admitted she was not financially able to care for the massive number of animals she had bred, but was allowed to keep some of her animals with the SPCA monitoring their care.

The owner cited the bad economy as the reason she was unable to care for her animals. However, local CBS affiliate KBTX reported that the owner had over 140 minis and 80 dogs on a three-acre ranch, an arrangement that would be unsustainable even in a prosperous economic climate.

The animals are reported to be underweight and the horses are in need of proper hoof care, but they are all expected to recover. Investigators report that the animals seem friendly, but they will undergo health and behavior screening before being made available for adoption.

The Houston SPCA is seeking assistance in the form of volunteer veterinary and farrier care, as well as donations of mini-sized halters. To make a donation or find out about fostering or adopting any of these horses or dogs, visit www.houstonspca.org

The Verdict is in...

The Lees have been sentenced.

The crime?
For those of you who've missed this extremely long case, the Lees owned two horses, both of which were severely neglected. Suzi's halter was so tight that it gradually grew into her face by about an inch and was left there to grow infected. The only reason this couple was brought to justice was because one of the two horses escaped and was caught.

The sentence?
300 hours of community service
3 years probation
$22,000 in restitution to the animal shelter caring for Suzi and Whiskey

Man Sentenced in Shooting of Three Horses

Story

Long story short: He killed three horses (two privately owned and one BLM mustang) in a corral. Sentenced to four years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution. He was a BLM employee at the time of the murders.

High Brite Tribute

High Brite was by Best Turn out of Spray. His record at two was 2-2-2 in 6 starts. He broke his maiden at Belmont Park by nine lengths, demolished at allowance field by five, and ran third in the Allegheny Stakes and Slewpy Stakes.

He returned at three for a record of 4-6-1 in 18 starts. He won the Governor's Cup Handicap, Palos Verdes Handicap, Whirlaway Stakes, and Philadelphia Park Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap. He also finished second in the G2 Bay Shore Stakes, G2 Withers Stakes, Riva Ridge Stakes, Best Turn Stakes, and War Admiral Stakes; and third in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes.

At four, High Brite returned better than ever. His four-year-old record was 8-0-6 in 18 starts. He won the G2 True North Handicap, G3 Roseben Handicap, G3 Sport Page Handicap, G3 Gravesend Handicap, A Phenomenon Stakes, Viking Spirit Stakes, and Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap. He also placed third in the G1 Vosburgh Stakes, G2 Forego Handicap, G2 Boojum Handicap, G2 Fall Highweight Handicap, El Conejo Handicap, and Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap.

High Brite returned in only three starts at five, winning the Paumonok Handicap, before being retired to stud. He retired with a record of 15-7-9 in 45 starts and earnings of $1,150,519. Over his career he proved himself a very versatile horse, winning races ranging from 6 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles though he was best as a sprinter.

He went on to a successful career at stud, siring 931 foals, 75% of which were starters. Eighty-percent of those starters went on to become winners. He also sired 33 stakes winners. His foals include champion three-year-old filly in Mexico, Pensativa; grade three-stakes winner, High Stakes Player; California champion three-year-old filly and stakes winner, Super High; multiple stakes winner, Beyond Brilliant; G1-stakes-placed, Brite Adam; graded-stakes winner, Hyroglyphic; and undefeated at two, Violent Femme.

The 26-year-old stallion was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on July 17th.

RIP High Brite

Miller Found Guilty of Animal Neglect

Story

A jury found a rural Valparaiso man guilty on Friday of animal neglect for not feeding his horses or giving them sufficient water.

When James W. Miller, 64, is sentenced on July 22, he faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 for the two misdemeanor counts of neglect of an animal. Jurors took less than 90 minutes to reach their decision.

Authorities took two horses from Miller's property last Sept. 8, court documents state.

Both were mares that were underweight and showed signs of going without food or water.

Court documents listed one as a quarter-horse and the other as a standard breed.

Deputy prosecutor Chris Lerner said the jurors told him after the trial the testimony of veterinarian Jerry Rodenbarger impressed them.

Miller had taken the stand and told the jury the horses were the weight he wanted them to be.

Cross your fingers we don't get another delayed sentencing.

Five Horses Die of Dehydration

Story [No pictures on the story though there are pictures in the video.]

Authorities say five horses found dead in a pasture near Tracy appeared to have died of thirst.

San Joaquin County deputies say the horses were left without water in 90-degree temperatures for at least three days before being found in the pasture in an unincorporated area near Tracy.

Sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia says the horses were noticed Thursday morning by a motorist. Garcia says that the horses had food, but their water trough was empty.

Two other dehydrated horses were found alive and taken to an animal hospital. A veterinarian says one horse is in good condition, but described the condition of the second horse as "touch and go."

Garcia says the horses' owner showed up Thursday afternoon and was questioned by authorities.

Soviet Sojourn Tribute

Soviet Sojourn was by Leo Castelli out of Political Parfait.At two, she won the G3 Sorrento Stakes and the G3 Junior Miss Stakes, and placed in the G1 Hollywood Starlet and three other graded stakes. She made only one start at three in the G2 Santa Ynez Breeders' Cup Stakes where she finished third.

She then went on to a successful career as a broodmare. She produced ten named foals, four of which were winners. She is also the dam of Indian Charlie, winner of the G1 Santa Anita Derby in 1998, third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, and sire of 49 stakes winners. The last of her foals is an unnamed Not For Love yearling filly.

The 21-year-old mare was euthanized June 30 because of complications for the infirmities of old age.

RIP Soviet Sojourn

Vess Asks for New Trial

Is there some unwritten rule in lawyer rulebooks that says "In animal abuse cases, delay sentencing as long as possible?" Lee also got hers delayed two weeks and now Vess is trying to restart her trial.

Story

Attorneys for a Carroll Township woman convicted of starving her horses asked a judge to order a new trial Friday morning, four hours before her sentencing hearing.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

Robin Vess' lawyers argue she did not receive a fair trial because they allege one of the prosecution's witnesses told another witness she had a vendetta against Vess.

Judge Fritz Hany continued the sentencing hearing in Ottawa County Municipal Court to allow Assistant Prosecutor Matt Schuh time to respond and for the defense to provide more information.

A jury convicted Vess in April of 42 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. She faces up to 18 months in jail.

Schuh said he was suspicious of the timing of the request for a new trial and other motions in the case. The motions were filed at 9:08 a.m. by Vess' new attorney, Leonard Yelsky of Cleveland, who joins attorney Mark Davis of Toledo in representing her.

Shouldn't we be questioning how she can afford two attorneys?

Davis handled Vess' case at trial. Neither lawyer was available for comment Friday.

Yelsky also represents the Arabian Rescue Mission of New Jersey, a horse-rescue group that sent Vess' 36 surviving horses to foster homes and eventually permanent homes and has criticized how the Humane Society of Ottawa County handled the horse seizure. His family members fostered some of the horses from Vess' farm.

Yelsky argues prosecution witness Karen Miller of Toledo told Linda Logan of Lucas County during the trial that she had a vendetta against Vess and defense witness Tiina Burkhart of Toledo. Logan, a witness for the prosecution, said in a sworn statement Miller made the comment to her twice April 28 and then told Burkhart about it later that day.

Miller was not available for comment Friday.

Yelsky portrayed Miller as the prosecution's expert witness on the horses' condition.

"This was the most important piece of evidence in the state's case," he wrote in court records. "The defense should have been advised that one of the most important witnesses in the case had a vendetta against the defendant."

Schuh, however, said the state's expert witnesses actually were veterinarians Dr. Irene Lavigne and Dr. Leslie Avery, who treated the horses the day of the rescue. They testified about the health and condition of the horses.

"We called Karen to establish that Robin Vess was a knowledgeable horsewoman and to show that the resulting starvation was more than negligence," Schuh said.

The Humane Society of Ottawa County seized Vess' horses Jan. 29 after receiving reports they were skeletal and that some were sick. Since then, most of the horses have been placed in permanent homes and are doing well, ARM founder Terry Figueroa has said.

Dixie Union Tribute

Dixie Union was by Dixieland Band out of She's Tops. At two, he won four of his six starts and was off the board only once. His wins included the G2 Norfolk Stakes, the G3 Best Pal Stakes, and the G3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship. He ran second to Forest Camp in the G2 Del Mar Futurity.

At three, Dixie Union won three of his six starts, finishing second twice, and running off the board only once. His wins included the G1 Haskell Invitational and G1 Malibu Stakes. He finished second in the G3 Affirmed Handicap to Tiznow by a neck and second in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes.

The stallion retired at the end of his three-year-old season with a record of 7-3-0 in twelve starts and $1,233,190 in earnings to stand at stud at Lane's End Farm.

Dixie Union was among the leading sires of graded winners in 2009, a leading juvenile sire in 2009, and sire of 55% graded stakes winners. Some of his foals include G1 winner Dixie Chatter; G1 winner Hot Dixie Chick; G2 winner and millionaire Gone Astray; G2 winners Justwhistledixie and Homebound; and G3 winners Dixie Band, Bold Union, Grasshopper, and Garden District.

The 13-year-old stallion was euthanized July 14th due to a deteriorating neurological problem.

RIP Dixie Union

10 Years Old, Pregnant, and...Racing?

Story

There is a trainer in Pennsylvania protesting the steward's decision to scratch his mare, Violet Eyed Diva, from a July 1st claiming race. Diva is ten years old, hasn't raced in seven years, and is three months pregnant. Now let's keep in mind that only a few weeks ago a certain trainer in Canada decided to do the same thing with his 13-year-old stallion who died.

But after Pennsylvania-based owner-trainer Andrew Davidovich’s mare Violet Eyed Diva, who is 2 1/2 months pregnant to his farm stallion Draft Age (by Storm Cat), was entered in a July 1 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs & Casino but then scratched by stewards, Davidovich began working to prove his mare was in fact healthy enough to race and deserved to make a comeback in spite of the extraordinary circumstances.

According to Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission officials, though Davidovich presented a compelling argument in the form of a letter stating the details behind the mare’s strong training and positive veterinary exams, regulators want to take a closer look before approving the mare to race at the Erie track.

Davidovich outlined how during her racing days in 2002-03, Violet Eyed Diva won three of 12 starts and earned $79,000. After having surgery to remove chips in her knee, however, the mare was no longer performing up to par, and Davidovich decided to retire her from racing to become a broodmare.

Violet Eyed Diva produced three foals, two of which never made it to the track. The one foal that did race—Justhitoverdrive (by Rahy)—has failed to hit the board in six starts.

After Violet Eyed Diva had spent seven years at Davidovich’s Mt. Pleasant, Pa., farm, her poor produce record, combined with the fact she “acted like she wanted to stretch her legs a bit more” led Davidovich to try and put the mare back in training. After confirming his decision with the approval from a few other horsemen, Davidovich breezed Violet Eyed Diva at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia and was pleased with the results.

So train her to be a pony horse, train her to another career or find someone else to do it for you, make her into a riding horse for yourself.

He then began working her steadily with the intention of running her in the July 1 race at Presque Isle. But two days before the event, Pennsylvania state steward Hap D’Angelis told Davidovich Violet Eyed Diva would be scratched due to the length of time since she had last raced. D’Angelis initially told Davidovich he could work the mare in front of the stewards, but then changed his mind.

Racing commission officials said it was too close to the time of the race to be able to fully evaluate the mare’s condition.

Davidovich said D’Angelis told him that allowing Violet Eyed Diva to race at Presque Isle would stir up “bad publicity,” and that he should pursue racing her at Mountaineer instead.

Davidovich said the commission told him it needed to “gather more information” from himself and others about Violet Eyed Diva before they could approve the mare to race at Presque Isle.

“If there’s no decision made in three or four weeks, I might as well give up on the idea, because there’s no way I’m going to race her when she’s four or five months pregnant,” said Davidovich, who noted he wouldn’t race his mare on dirt at Mountaineer. He said he wants to race Violet Eyed Diva, who had excelled on turf during her career, on Presque Isle’s synthetic surface.

Davidovich, who has owned horses since the 1960s and took out his trainer’s license in the 1970s, said he would continue working Violet Eyed Diva until the situation is resolved. The mare last worked four furlongs in :51 at Presque Isle July 13. She has been deemed fit for racing by both the Pennsylvania and West Virginia state veterinarians, as well as the Mountaineer board of stewards Davidovich said.

“Some horses you know don’t want to race anymore, but (Violet Eyed Diva) is still going good and is sound, and I want to race her if at all possible,” Davidovich said.

Smarty Jones Sired First Millionaire!

Good news today. For once. Normally I wouldn't share something like this but as Smarty Jones is the first racehorse I ever cheered for, he holds a special place in my heart.

Story

Smarty Jones , the champion 3-year-old male and dual classic winner of 2004, came through with his first millionaire when his 4-year-old daughter Keiai Gerbera won the July 11 Procyon Stakes (Jpn-III) in track-record time. The $435,388 in earnings she picked in the victory upped her career total to $1,162,477.

Keiai Gerbera, out of the Danzig mare Anna Sterz, defeated males in the seven-furlong stakes. Keiai Gerbera, who has won six of 10 starts, races for Keiai Gisizairyo Hanbaisyo Co.

Unfortunately I can't keep an eye on Keiai except through the news, but I'm cheering for her. :)

Four Horses Dead During Calgary Stampede

Story

With four horses dead in a little more than 24 hours at the Calgary Stampede, organizers are facing a barrage of criticism from animal rights' groups.

The latest horse death occurred late Monday, when the animal broke its shoulder competing in the chuckwagon event.

Veterinarians treated the horse immediately, but decided its injuries were so severe, it needed to be put down.

Desiree Arsenault of the Calgary Humane Society said that society needs raise its voice to ask the Stampede to remove "high-risk" events such as chuckwagon races.

"It's just a matter of looking at the use of animals in the entertainment industry and deciding whether that's something society wants to continue," she told CTV Calgary.

The Vancouver Society and the U.K.-based group, League Against Cruel Sports, have been outspoken in their criticism of the Stampede throughout the last week.

Earlier on Monday, a horse died during the novice saddle bronc event, when it broke its back after bucking its rider off.

Another horse died of a heart attack Monday, as it trained for a chuckwagon run.

On Sunday, a horse died instantly of a heart attack during the team cattle penning competition. The female rider, Amy Carver, sustained a traumatic head injury when she was pinned under the horse as it fell to the ground.

Carver is still in intensive care.

Four animals -- one steer and three horses -- died last year at the Stampede.

The heart attacks, those could happen to a lot of people riding a horse in strenuous sports. The question is, why were there TWO heart attacks in the same twenty-four hour period? How did the bucking horse break it's back? How did the horse break its shoulder? All things that need to be investigated. But when four animals died last year and four more died this year, it's time for this to either end whether that means the end of the deaths, the end of certain events, or the end of the Stampede altogether.

Eight Horses Killed During Nevada Round-Up

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Seven of them died of dehydration and the eighth suffered a broken leg and was shot.

Teen Gets 60 Days for Shooting Horse

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A teenager who admitted to shooting a Fayette County horse with arrows in early January must serve jail time, WSB-TV is reporting.

Jeremy Richardson, 17, pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting Misty, an 8-year-old mare, WSB said. Under a plea agreement, Richardson must serve 60 days in jail and five years on probation, WSB said.

He also must do community service at an animal refuge center.

Richardson was charged as an adult with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, WSB said.

Misty was shot with arrows several times in early January. One arrow pierced the middle of the mare’s spine, another went below its eye and a third traveled through its neck, Fayette sheriff’s investigator Brent Rowan said at the time.

The horse underwent surgery and has been recovering after a neighbor spotted it standing on its owner’s farm with arrows sticking out.

The Georgia Outdoor Network, Atlanta Humane Society and a former horse trainer who lives in Kennesaw were among those who lined up offering money as an award for an arrest and conviction in the case.

Hoskins is a Horse Owner Again

I can't believe our justice system today.

Story

East Aurora horse farm owner Beth Lynne Hoskins is facing more than 100 additional misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, even as she is in the process of getting more of the 40 horses that were ordered returned to her custody last week.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office said today it is charging Hoskins with 114 additional counts of animal cruelty, adding to the 10 counts already in place.

Hoskins is expected to be arraigned on the additional charges later this week in Aurora Town Court.

Officials of the SPCA Serving Erie County arrived on Hoskins' horse farm March 18, and took 73 horses, 53 cats and four dogs because of the animals' living conditions. The SPCA recently released photos of the horses caked in manure and stalls full of manure.

The additional charges cover all of the horses and 51 of the cats. The only animals not covered by the animal cruelty charges are four dogs and two cats in good health that were returned to Hoskins after living conditions in her home improved.

Word of the additional charges emerged during proceedings related to the civil trial involving Hoskins. Hoskins was not in court this morning.

Hoskins, who had 17 of the seized horses returned to her East Aurora farm last week, was rounding up more of the 40 horses that State Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Glownia ordered to be returned to her control.

A hundred and twenty-four counts of animal cruelty altogether and instead of throwing her in jail for a couple years, he gives her her horses back.

According to the video, protesters believe that the judge made this decision before the evidence had been presented to him (which is a whole other argument altogether) and thought he was helping the ASPCA out.

The ASPCA doesn't WANT to be helped out unless it's helping deliver justice to the abusers and helping the horses to have a happier life. Returning the horses to the very person that the ASPCA worked so hard to help get them away from is like rescuing a gazelle from wolves, healing it, and then throwing her back to the wolves.

It's clear from the evidence that she can't take care of those horses so really you're just adding extra work for when Hoskins goes to jail and the ASPCA has to take those horses back.

Michael Morissey Suspended

Story [There's a video of the incident if you'd like to know exactly what it was over.]

Way to go, USEF! I've never seen anything like it. I don't know how he thought that was going to help or how he thought he was going to get away with it.

Horse Height

Horses are measured in hands from the ground to the top of the withers.

One hand = four inches.

Any horse under 14.2 hands is considered a pony.

Now, you can have 14.0 hands, 14.1 hands, 14.2 hands, and 14.3 hands. You cannot have 14.4, 14.5, or 14.6.

14.4 is technically 15.0 hands.

That is all.

New York City Carriage Ban?

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Animal rights advocates rallied in Central Park on Saturday to ban horse-drawn carriages.

The demonstrators said horses are being exploited for profit, then slaughtered once they can no longer pull the carriages.

Advocates said last week they rescued a carriage horse from slaughter and they want to save more.

"We can't rescue them all, so we're educating New Yorkers that there are so many other fun, attractive tourist options that they can do that doesn't support animal abuse," said activist Edita Birnkrant.

"The carriage industry claims they love their horses, but a third of them go to auction where nobody knows what will happen to these horses," said activist Claudia Emerson.

"I'm not saying that there's not abused animals somewhere else around the world, but I know for sure we drive the horse and carriage, and we take very good care of our horses," said "Oliver," a local carriage driver.

New York Horse and Carriage officials released a statement saying they do not practice or condone the sale of their horses to slaughter.

The organization says 99 percent of its members work to provide retirement for their horses both on privately owned property and through the New York Humane Society's Carriage Horse Adoption Program.

They also say the owner of the horse saved from slaughter has not paid dues or participated in the Association for some time.

Let's pretend for a second that carriage horses in New York City were banned.

First of all, where are all the horses going to go? Are you guys going to take on however many draft horses there are that pull NYC's carriages? I'm guessing the answer to that question is no and since the carriage drivers will be out of a job, they're not going to be able to afford them. No one wants to buy a perfectly good horse these days, let alone a carriage horse so selling them is out. If you see a problem and you want to fix it, you have to think about all the problems you're going to be creating trying to fix the original and then come up for a solution for them.

Second of all, you're putting quite a few people out of a job. For many of them, this might be all they know and what they love. In this economy, where are they supposed to go?

Third of all, what are you going to do, shut down Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing next? Because you know a lot of slaughtered horses come from racing.

Fourth of all, where do you guys get these statistics? Do you just make them up off the spot or do you really know that a third of carriage horses go to auctions where they're sold to kill buyers?

I have a solution. If you're going to protest the slaughter of carriage horses, why don't we just protest slaughter in general?

Hoskins vs ASPCA

Story

The fight continues.

One photo shows gray clumps of manure caked to a horse's belly.

Another shows a horse standing in a stall filled with a sloping pile of frozen manure.

A third shows SPCA employees leading a horse whose rib cage is visible through its coat.

The SPCA Serving Erie County on Thursday released the photos, taken when the organization confiscated 73 horses from an Aurora farm in March.

The organization handed out the images after a State Supreme Court justice urged the SPCA and farm owner Beth Lynne Hoskins to settle their standoff.

Hoskins insists she treated the horses well, and she wants them returned, while the SPCA said the photos show the horses were neglected and they should stay with the SPCA.

"The conditions were terrible — those animals were suffering," said Larry Robb, president of the SPCA's board of directors.

The SPCA's release of the photos to news organizations is the latest salvo in the bitter fight between the SPCA and Hoskins over the seized horses.

The SPCA said it has spent more than $200,000 caring for the horses since March and its officials want Hoskins to pay for the animals' care.

But Hoskins said the release of the images is part of the SPCA's "vilification" of her and insisted the photos don't show neglect.

"Unsightly is not unsanitary," Hoskins told The Buffalo News.

My room is unsightly. That's just disgusting. If you don't think it's so bad, then maybe you should stay there for a night or two.

The SPCA seized 130 animals — 73 horses, 53 cats and four dogs — from Hoskins' 50-acre farm.

Hoskins has pleaded not guilty to 10 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty under the state Agriculture & Markets Law. The criminal case is proceeding in Aurora Town Court.

The question of whether Hoskins will have to post a bond to pay for the care of the horses while they are in SPCA custody, or whether she can get the horses back, will be answered in State Supreme Court.

The two sides are to return to court July 12, when the SPCA will press its case that Hoskins — and not the SPCA's donors — should pay for the horses' care.

The SPCA raised about $200,000 from donors for that purpose, Robb said, but that money is gone.

The SPCA on Thursday complained that State Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Glownia urged the two sides to compromise, by returning some of the horses to Hoskins, before reviewing the organization's evidence of alleged neglect.

How would a compromise solve anything? You can't care for horses from jail.

The judge suggested the SPCA would oversee the care of the horses after they are returned to Hoskins while she would pay for the care, Robb said.

The SPCA wants the judge to review the photographs before making any such decision because the organization believes they demonstrate Hoskins can't care for so many animals.

Robb cited photos that show a horse with an injured hoof — Hoskins said one horse had a pre-existing hoof condition, managed with trimming — and another living in a stall with a floor covered in a steeply sloping pile of manure.

Pre-existing hoof condition called what exactly? Somehow I don't think standing in mud and manure would help that anything.

"It took four weeks to get the manure out of those horses," Robb said.

Another photo released Thursday showed several cats in the corner of a barn, next to a manure-filled sink.

One of Hoskins' attorneys, Barry N. Covert, said it was "absolutely inappropriate" for the SPCA to release the photos and make critical comments to reporters because the case should be resolved in court.

Because you know what will happen if those pictures are released, don't you? Because people will learn about the case and you'll have to work a little harder to prove that animals don't matter.

Covert and fellow lawyer George V.C. Muscato provided a letter from a U.S. Department of Agriculture conservationist that, in general, defends some of Hoskins' practices.

John R. Whitney, a district conservationist with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, said that spring is a season when horses' coats can get muddy and manure can stick to the longer hairs.

I've known a few horses. But I have yet to have found one that was okay while covered in mud and manure. While I will admit that some horses will go out of their way to roll in mud, I highly doubt there are horses that will roll in manure in their stalls. And if they do, you wait until it dries and go out and groom them.

"This is not necessarily a problem for the animals or any indication of neglect or abuse," Whitney wrote in March.

He also wrote that a bedded manure pack can help keep animals more comfortable than they would be on a hard floor in a stall or barn, even if conditions get sloppy, as long as the horses' hooves are closely monitored.

I'm not even going to respond to that. I'm just amazed one of the horses didn't slip and fall. I had a mare that hated mud once. Hated it so much that you had to coerce her to walk through it to get to the pasture gate in the spring. I always made sure to walk her to the water trough after every ride to make sure she was drinking.

Robb responded that the stalls had rubber mats, buried under up to three feet of manure.

Whitney added that older horses can appear "thin" or "bony" as part of their natural age-related decline and not because they are malnourished.

There's a difference between old and malnourished. A big difference. I know a very handsome old grade horse. No one really know exactly how old he even is but we estimate over thirty. He's not thin at all and I know a large number of people that have ridden him bareback.

Hoskins' lawyers said she is a highly regarded Morgan horse breeder and capable of caring for her horses, many of which are more than 20 years old.

Hoskins said the presence of frozen manure and mud in the stalls isn't "ideal," but the SPCA raid was conducted just before the farm's spring cleaning.

"Nobody feels worse about it than me, but it's not a crime. And nobody can produce any science that shows that those horses were damaged from being dirty," she said

Black Tie Affair

Black Tie Affair was born April 1, 1986 in Ireland. He was sired by Miswaki out of Hat Tab Girl. As a weanling, he did not sell at the Keeneland November sale, but sold for $85,000 at the Fasig-Tipton sale in August as a yearling.

As a two-year-old he won the Malus Stakes and finished second in the Deputy Minister and Allegheny.

At three, Black Tie Affair joined the barn of trainer Ernie Poulos. He won the Bold Favorite Handicap in his debut for the barn. He also won the G3 Sheridan Stakes, finished second in the Cupid Stakes, and third in the Thomas Nash Handicap and Sportsmans Park Handicap. He closed out the last year of the 80's with the Breeders' Cup Sprint where he had a rough trip before being promoted to eighth by disqualification.

The new decade dawned and Black Tie Affair really came into his own. He stayed on one-turn events for most of his four-year-old season, winning the G3 Commonwealth Stakes and the G3 Equipoise Mile Handicap. He was also second in the Island Whirl Handicap, Johnston Stakes, and Isaac Murphy S; and third in the Louisiana Downs Stakes. He returned in the Breeders' Cup Sprint for the second time where he finished a rallying third. To close out his year, he stretched out to 1 1/4 miles for the G2 Hawthrone Gold Cup Handicap where he won going wire-to-wire.

The now five-year-old stallion kicked off his 1991 season with a third in the G2 Razorback, but bounced back to take his second Commonwealth, defeating two-time sprint champion Housebuster. Black Tie Affair finished second to Housebuster next out in the G1 Carter Handicap and went on to finish ninth in the G1 Metropolitan. After his loss, he stepped up to two turns and never looked back.

He absolutely dominated, building a six-race winning streak all in front-running fashion, starting with a 2 3/4 length victory in the G3 Stephen Foster Handicap. Then he went to Detroit, taking the Michigan Mile and G2 One-Eighth Handicap. He romped in the G3 Cornhusker Handicap. He outdueled multiple G1 winner Farma Way in the Philip H. Iselin Handicap and defeated 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall by 7 1/2 lengths in the G2 Washington Park Handicap. Once again, Black Tie Affair headed for the Breeders' Cup, but this time he was going to the Classic. He broke quickly and took early control of the lead, setting steady fractions. Under pressure from Twilight Agenda, he held on to the lead to win by 1 1/4 lengths going gate-to-wire.

Black Tie Affair was honored as Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male of 1991. He retired after the Classic with a record of 18-9-6 in 45 starts, including 13 stakes wins and 12 stakes placings, and earnings of $3,370,694.

Black Tie Affair sired multiple G1-winning millionaires Formal Gold and Evening Attire; millionaire turf filly License Fee; Brazilian champion filly My Tie; and multiple Japanese stakes winner Washington Color.

He was sent Japan in 1997 to stand at stud and a campaign was created to bring him home after his stud career ended. He returned to the USA in 2004 where he stood at stud for five more years. He was pensioned in July 2009 due to arthritis and moved to Old Friends in Kentucky. He was euthanized July 1 due to laminitis.

RIP Black Tie Affair

Wiki Answers

I recently started skimming through the horse-related questions on wiki.answers.com.

What wiki answers is NOT:

1. Your trainer. If you have a problem with your horse, don't go to some random people on the internet. We don't know your skill level and we don't know your horse. Find a qualified instructor or a very knowledgeable friend to help you out instead.

2. Your vet. Any and all questions about horse injuries and illnesses should be put first and foremost to your vet. If you can't trust your vet to give you answers, find another vet. You wouldn't walk up to random strangers on the street and ask them questions like that.

3. Your researcher. Ninety percent of the questions I read yesterday could be answered with an easy Google search (excluding the ones that should find a vet or trainer and ask them instead).

So please don't treat it like it is.