Fifty-seven malnourished horses removed from neglectful owner

Horses transported to Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center

Colorado Humane Society & S.P.C.A and Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center™ assisted the Park County Sheriff’s Office with the removal of 57 neglected horses from three different locations near Hartsel, Colorado on Thursday.

Malnourished and severely underweight, the horses were in imminent danger and immediate action was necessary. In addition to the rescued horses, several deceased horses were also discovered on the property.

Upon arriving at the Harmony Equine Center, the horses were evaluated to assess medical and behavioral needs. In addition to warm shelter, veterinary care and nourishing feed, the horses may require months of physical rehabilitation and professional training before they are healthy and ready to be adopted to loving owners.

“The cost of hay has nearly doubled recently,” said Garret Leonard, director of the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center. “It is going to be very expensive to provide nourishing feed to these animals. We expect to invest more than $40,000 to heal these emaciated horses.” Anyone wishing to help provide care to these horses can visit harmonyequinecenter.org or call 303.751.5772.

The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center is a private rehabilitation and adoption facility for abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement authorities. Harmony also serves as a central hub where horses from human societies and rescue groups in the Midwest and the southwestern United States can receive training and rehoming. In March 2018, Harmony began opening its doors to privately owned Colorado horses in need of rehoming. Since Harmony opened in 2012, more than 1,500 horses have been helped.