Horses in the News

Two major stories, and they need to be heard and compared.

I’m sure anyone with the vaguest inclination to follow newsfeeds has heard about the polo pony deaths in Florida: 21 valuable athletic animals were given shots prior to participating in a quarterfinals match of an international polo tournament and began dying before they were even off loaded at the field. After less than a week of speculation the cause has been discovered and publicized: their shot, given to supposedly alleviate wear and tear from the hard ride and fast pace of high goal polo, which was administered before leaving they left their home stable was misformulated by the Florida compounding pharmacy. The shot contains selenium and phosphorous, both of which can be fatal to horses in a high enough dose. Every horse given a dose died.

And the media is all over it. Wealthy owners, valuable animals, and sudden death in a very public locale and connected to a prestigious sporting event = news.

Here’s the story to do with horses you prolly didn’t know about. Over 200 head of mustangs, in varying states of malnutrition from neglect were rescued this weekend off a Nebraska ranch, run by a man who purported to be a trainer specifically gifted for working with feral horses, but who has a previous history of neglecting horses to death. Over 60 head died in his care on the Three Strikes Ranch, located in Alliance: their bodies could be seen from the air, dumped into two sand pits on the 1900 acre ranch, which has been turned into a dustbowl by the overgrazing of the feral bands he purchased or adopted from the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM, following up on tips from neighbours came to the ranch early last week to reclaim the five horses they still had title to, four of which, as it happened, were already dead. The one remaining was the cause of the single cruelty charge that led to the arrest of Jason Meduna.

After his release on bail and the intervention of two renowned rescues and the US Humane Society, just over 200 head of emaciated horses were removed from Meduna’s ranch and taken to a holding area at the nearby rodeo grounds, to be fed, vetted, sorted, identified and eventually shipped to various rescues and rehab farms. Volunteers came from as far away as Texas and Washington state to do whatever they could to help: donations for feed, hay, water tubs, and food for the volunteers poured in from several internet sources.

It was an immense and successful operation, and the dedication of the volunteers, vets and law enforcement personnel is to be applauded at the highest levels. But…

You won’t hear about it on the news, or read about it on any feed, unless you happen to follwo specific forums dedicated to horses and rescue. Because it took place on a remote locale in the midwest, no news cameras were on hand to catch footage of the starving horses or the massive efforts to save them, and because many of these animals were sold to Meduna for $10-50 a head, there’s no interest in the animals as valued assets of a wealthy owner.

Thousands were spent and donated, and thousands more will be to find these animals good homes, but it’s not news, is it?

There’s a whole story here, for anyone wanting to be educated. Someone with the drive and talent could make a brilliant book or film.