Tossing hay onto private property, Marina Doerfer says the meal may be one of the first meals several horses have had in days.
“They're living off of muscle,” said Doerfer. “You know, with hips protruding, they're at the point where their spines are going to be protruding. Ribs are certainly sticking out.”
Doerfer spent Monday feeding some of the 12 horses and one pony living on a property off Thompson Road northwest of Moriarty because she says nothing is being done to help.
“It's my understanding that two have already gone down and been removed,” said Doerfer.
Doerfer found the horses on Aug. 1 after a friend driving through the area told her about it. Doerfer says the horses are in “bad shape.” The horses' owner came out of the home to speak with Marina on Monday, but soon after, went back inside and would not answer the door.
“Three of the horses are locked up and can't go to pasture. There are another three that are penned in a smaller area and of course it's just dirt,” said Doerfer.
But Marina is not just concerned about the owner, she’s concerned about the response from authorities.
The day she saw the horses, Doerfer reported their condition to Santa Fe County Animal Control. According to Doerfer, she met with an animal control officer, but a couple days later, the case was then passed to the New Mexico Livestock Board.
“The New Mexico Livestock Board is handling the case, and they have not asked for assistance from us at this time,” said Paul Portillo, supervisor for the New Mexico Livestock Board.
Since then, Marina says the state livestock board hasn't responded to the home, but has just set a meeting for Aug. 14.
“I'm concerned that we're not going to get to the ones that need help soon enough,” said Doerfer.
Marina says the livestock board's attention may be elsewhere right now.
“They are very busy. It's almost fair time, everybody is doing horses shows,” said Marina.
But with so many horses on the property in such bad condition, Marina wonders how much longer the animals can survive.
“They are just getting in worst condition to where they're not going have the strength to get up,” said Doerfer.
In her conversations with the horses’ owner Monday, the owner mentioned having difficulty with on-going medical costs for the animals. However, she says the owner has yet to accept any help.
The New Mexico Livestock Board says the case is under investigation and they can't comment any further about it now. They plan to meet with the horses’ owner Wednesday.
(KRQE - Aug 12, 2013)
