NEWS RELEASE
For ImmediateRelease
Peruvian Paso Horses Rescued From Severe Colorado Neglect case arrived safely in arizona on
may 23, 2007
Eleven Peruvian horses including 6 stallions and 5 mares who made the trip from Longmont, Colorado arrived safely in Arizona but are very thin and wasted
(Phoenix, AZ, June 2, 2007). 11 Peruvian Paso horses rescued from squalor by Boulder resident Rita Anderson and by Arizonan Dr. Pat Haight arrived safely in Arizona late Wednesday night, May 23, 2007. The horses were rescued from a severe neglect case that had been ongoing for years. The Peruvians were rescued with the help of charitable grants, assistance from In Defense of Animals, & compassionate friends in Colorado.
This week, assessed the horses in Maricopa County, gave them their shots, and sedated them for their hooves to be trimmed. All of the stallions are very thin and wasted at this point. Two of the stallions were rated with a body score of 2 on the 10 point Hennecke scale in which 5 is normal weight. The eleven horses will require significant veterinary care, farrier care, nutrition and training. The horses have received some of that care already.
Juan Garayar, renowned trainer of Peruvian horses, spent two days in Colorado in May assessing the horses and preparing them for travel. Garayar will adopt, Hidalgo, a young chestnut stallion needing nutrition and training. Hidalgo is being fostered at Blue Grass Arabians in Cave Creek until he can be moved to his new home in Paso Robles, CA. Three of the mares were placed in an animal sanctuary in Chino Valley, AZ to be assessed and trained for a planned therapeutic horsemanship program.
Two mares and one stallion have been placed with a trainer in Arizona for care, assessment and training.
Care of the horses is being overseen by Conquistador Program President, Dr. Pat Haight, who has Peruvian horses including program namesake, Conquistador (Champion Rayo de Olympico CdeA) who is first cousin to S.H. Burlon one of the stallions arriving from Colorado last week. Burlon and Conquistador share very old Peruvian foundation bloodlines including Regional, Sol de Oro (J), El Cid, and Sol de Oro (V). The two chestnut cousins are in the same barn and getting acquainted with their almost mirror image.
Boulder resident, Rita Anderson, will continue to work with law enforcement in Colorado for the protection of the four horses remaining in the custody of the former Longmont man. A hearing is scheduled on June 28, 2007 on a probation violation by the former custodian. The Boulder prosecutor has asked that the remaining four horses be permanently removed from his custody and that he not be allowed to have animals for the term of his probation. If the horses are impounded, the Conquistador Program has offered a home for all of them in Arizona. Anderson and Haight worked together and with horse lovers in two states to coordinate the rescue.
Contact: Dr. Pat Haight, 480-430-2294
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