NEW YORK -- The owner of 14 horses at the center of a long-standing neglect case said the mares were never pregnant, despite reports to the contrary, and are being properly fed and watered.
However, Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III said the horses look better because they’ve been receiving veterinary care and are regularly monitored thanks to a court order handed down by a judge last month.
Duane Carpenter is the brother of Ann Arnold, who was convicted in July 2012 on 19 counts of failure to provide proper food, water and sustenance to her horses and one count of second-degree criminal nuisance. She was sentenced to three years of probation.
In November 2012, Arnold transferred ownership of her property at 131 Wilton Road to her brother. Since then, Carpenter and the farm’s caretaker, James B. Foster, have each been charged with three counts of failure to provide proper food, water and sustenance to the horses.
On Friday, Carpenter invited two members of The Saratogian staff to farm. He pointed out that, despite claims “made by the neighbors,” that the horses were never pregnant. He also said a veterinarian comes out to the farm at least once a week and “has always given the horses a clean bill of health.”
Carpenter also pointed to the several bales of hay stacked in front of the barn and the dozens of bags of feed inside the barn to show the horses are being fed. Foster said the animals each get a half bag of feed in the morning and another half bag in the evening.
The current conditions of the horses have come after some veterinary care. Last month, a judge ordered that a veterinarian be allowed access to the property.
Shortly afterward, a vet spent four days at the property and provided more than $2,800 in services. Those included treatment for a number of issues, including hoof trimming, dental floating, de-worming and administration of rabies vaccinations. One visible symptom of worm infestation in horses is a distended gut, which will make an animal appear pregnant.
The horses appeared to be in good health and were friendly when approached by Saratogian staff. Thirteen of the horses roam around a fenced-in pasture, while another horse is kept near the barn because “she’s on a special diet,” Foster said, “and the other horses would take her food away.”
Murphy said his office has never alleged that the horses were pregnant. “It’s not a crime” even if that were the case, he said.
The district attorney also said he’s not surprised the horses are faring better, but said it’s because of the care ordered by the judge.
“The animals appear fine because a judge ordered a veterinarian in, over the objections of the defendant, and the SPCA is monitoring their food and water,” Murphy said. “We expect that they’d would be in better condition, so it’s not surprising the defendant would be willing to invite the media in at this point.”
The pasture where the horses are kept contains a pond that has frozen over, but Carpenter showed a stream flowing nearby where he said the horses get plenty to drink.
In addition to the horses, the property also has a few chickens that lay eggs and two guard dogs kept in pens. The dogs are there because Foster said someone had tried to break in to his camper to steal money from him.
Carpenter said the purpose of the tour was to show people that the horses are being taken care of. “These are stupid claims,” he said. “There’s no realistic case against us.”
Saratoga County First Assistant District Attorney Karen Heggen, who is prosecuting the case, declined to speak on record about the specifics of the situation but said “we have announced our readiness for trial against the two defendants.”
(Oneida Daily Dispatch - March 15, 2014)
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