369 Days Later

369 Days Later
http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=60332&catid=8 More than a dozen horses seized from a farm near Bristol last June are now cleared to be adopted. The neglected horses were suffering from malnutrition. Horse Haven of Tennessee in West Knoxville has been caring for them ever since. "When they first came here, they were so used to being in stalls, they stood by the fence when we let them out, and it was like, 'Are we supposed to move?'" said Nina Margetson, president of Horse Haven. "Because standing in a stall all day is like you or me standing in a telephone booth, so they just stood here for five days, and then, all of a sudden, one kind of walked away from the fence and went, 'Oh hey, this is pretty cool, we can actually move around,' so by allowing them outside, they have learned to become horses." Over the past year, volunteers have been nursing the horses back to health. In that time, the horses have gobbled up about 1,000 50-pound feed bags and another 2,000 bales of hay. That food, plus the cost of their care, has cost Horse Haven about $38,000. The horses' owner pled guilty to animal cruelty last October, but until Wednesday, her family still retained legal rights to them. Instead of trying to recoup the costs, Horse Haven got the family to agree to turn over the horses for adoption. All 14 will be available at Horse Haven's monthly adoption day, next Saturday, July 12. "The happy ending to the story is when we see none of them out here. That will be the happy ending because we know they've all been placed into good homes," Margetson said. Meanwhile, six other horses connected to the case are still with the property owner. Margetson said the property owner may have to put those six horses up for public auction in order to recoup some of the money she's owed. Margetson does not want that to happen, because the horses could wind up back in the hands of family members or at the slaughterhouse. She says she's hoping Horse Haven can help good adoptive parents purchase those horses if they do go on the adoption block. Meanwhile, one horse will go to STAR, a therapeutic riding academy. Another horse named Phreddie, registered as Rainaway, is the great-grandson of the Triple Crown Winning Secretariat. He's set to retire at the Virginia State Fairgrounds, where Secretariat was born. 10News has featured the recovering horses in several stories during the past year.

Nina, You are a hero.

Very impressive!!! Great job you all!!

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/horses_find_safe_homes/12145/ Horses From Cruelty Case Are Heading To New Homes Photo By Andre Teague/Bristol Herald Courier Auctioneer Ron Ramsey indicates the currennt bid of $300.00 for the horse displayed, as others watch Tuesday night at the B&H Stables in Blountville. By Amy Hunter Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier Published: July 30, 2008 BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – The sad story of six starving horses and the family who nearly went broke saving them came to a happy ending Tuesday night at an auction where each animal was sold to a loving home. Last June, 19 horses were seized from their owner, Bristol Tennessee resident Karen Harlan, after Sullivan County Animal Control officers found them near-death at B&H Stable where Harlan boarded them. Thirteen of the horses were taken to other facilities for special care; the six that remained were unofficially adopted by Boyd and Heather Smith, owners of B&H, who say they spent tens of thousands of dollars nursing the horses back to health. The horse auction was over in less than 30 minutes Tuesday night. And when the final horse was sold, the Smiths felt relief. After a year of financial strain and uncertainty, they said they can finally rest easy knowing the horses found safe homes. Nearly bankrupt, the family was forced to sell their home and stable. Friday morning, the family will move to Nashville where Boyd Smith is employed and, Tuesday night’s auction was their only chance to find good homes for their now-thriving equine friends. “If they’d taken the horses to the market they’d be lucky to even get $100 for them,” said Melissa Vencill, a friend of the Smiths who attended the auction. On Sunday, Boyd Smith said his family has spent about $35,000 caring for the animals since they were taken from Harlan. Tuesday’s auction didn’t generate anywhere near that amount but still brought in more money than if they’d been sold elsewhere, Vencill said. Jellybean, a mild-mannered Appaloosa, brought in the most money after a bidding war finally ended at $1,000 and the other horses sold for an average of $325 each. Money was not the primary concern of the Smiths or the hundreds of folks who came to participate. What mattered most, Heather Smith said, was the horses’ future and well-being. Jellybean will head to his new home today, said new owner Don Riddle, who bought the Appaloosa for his wife, as well as Mister, a bay gelding, for himself. Some of the six horses were sold to Horse Haven, a rescue farm in Knoxville where other horses of Harlan’s were rehabilitated, while others were sold to individuals who will use them for companionship and leisure riding. As for Jellybean and Mister, they can look forward to a long life full of green pastures, crunchy hay and molasses-covered oats, Riddle said. “My horses eat better than I do,” he quipped.

"Some of the horses were sold to Horse Haven of TN"..... ok, fess up! I know I'm out of the loop here, did ya get the other four??

lol, sorta. We got Magic, some foster/adoptive parents got Major (whom Greg had said if he were broke would have come home with HIM :-) the CFO of Wellsprings won Alf, The sweet, sweet Riddle's got Mister and JellyBean and I forget who got Buck.....

I must say I am glad to see that this is all behind us now! I am also very glad to say that I offically own my two also! I have loved them like they were my own for the past year but now to say they are mine is even better! I am so glad that ya'll got Majic. She is a beautiful mare and I had a smile on my face when Ron asked who the winning bidder was and HHT was said. That was just GREAT! I am glad the others got good homes too.

That was pretty cool when everyone cheered cause HHT got Magic. Course, it spooked her lol Poor thing. I wish I was a smallish person cause she would have come home with me. I love that mare. Stephanie

Woohooo! Go HHT! It's so good to see a happy ending for those horses at last! Now they can start to trust and live out their days as horses should!

HHT can proudly say that three horses will not become breeding stock to add more unwanted horses to this already over crowded state. Major & Majic were just great trailering home last night. You wouldn't have known he was even a stallion. Majic was palpated this morning and she is NOT pregnant, so that was a blessing. We didn't want any surprises. We want to thank everyone who stepped up and made the drive to Bristol last night. It was a long night for everyone. It was really cool though when everyone kept looking at me just sitting there and wondering why I wasn't up in front bidding... :-D I got some strange looks...but when Stephanie was asked for her name when she won Majic the look on their faces was priceless. :shock: Having as many people there as we did made life a lot easier. I still wish we could have gotten Jelly Bean...but that 70 year old lady was so sweet. She had seen his picture on TV and told her husband he was to get him for her to pet on and give plenty of love. He is in good hands. Good night for everyone. Thanks again everyone, you all done great. Majic is doing fine, not a bit of trouble...so far :shock: :cool: Majic will be posted soon along with Ms. Tianna whom was picked up today in Sevier County.

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