Spring Hill Horse Rescue volunteers received a call for help from the Humane Society of Chittenden County on January 15. The caller reached out to Spring Hill because the rescue was able and willing to work with large animals.
Gina Brown, officer of the Humane Society and founder of Spring Hill, rallied her fellow volunteers and rushed to the scene. Said Brown, “Of all the cases I’ve ever seen, this is the most shocking.”
The group found three “stabled” horses that included Willie, a stallion, and Dolly and Lolly, two mares. The animals were standing on manure layers several feet high and were surrounded by the bones, hair and hides of several long-dead horses. The stall conditions were so horrendous that the standing room for the three horses had approached the ceiling and their backs just about touched it.
Sadly, Willie is completely blind and both Lolly and Dolly have impaired vision. Since they had been existing in darkness, their vision became impaired, most likely irreparably.
The three horses were severely neglected and malnourished. The mares were terrified of humans and had could not bear to be touched or near people.Willie’s hooves were severely crippled, curving out more than 12 inches, impairing his ability to walk. Ultimately, it took six volunteers to carry him into the trailer.
Brown said,
His hooves are the worst case of abuse and neglect we have ever seen. You would not be able to put these horses outside. They’ve been institutionalized and wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. They are unsocialized, which makes basic health care pretty much impossible.
The case is under investigation, but there are rarely consequences for these abusers in Vermont. She recalled owners from whom animals were rescued a second time.
She continued,
The problem in Vermont is that we have animal cruelty laws, but rarely do people get prosecuted. There’s nothing to keep these people from getting animals again.
The Spring Hill Horse Rescue receives no funding from federal or state sources. It exists solely on donations. To make a donation, go to www.springhillrescue.com.
Please lend them assistance and/or make a donation if you can. View the attached pictures and others on their Facebook page. Any and all help will be appreciated in these difficult times.
If you can find it in your heart to aid Spring Hill Horse Rescue in any possible way from donations to sponsorships, from hay to feed, the rescue group would be most thankful. They are doing tremendous work on behalf of needy horses.
Read: Horsemoms
View additional videos: Three horses rescued from extreme neglect and Group rescues three severely abused horses and an earlier video that talks a bit about Spring Hill: Spring Hill Horse Rescue
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