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Copyright 2008 Rocky Mountain Rider. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction of any editorial material, artwork and photos is strictly forbidden without express written permission of the publisher. For information about reprint rights, please contact the editor; editor@rockymountainrider.com.
October 2008 Issue Editor’s
Note:
No other article we have ever published has brought as much reader
feedback as “Left for Dead,” written by our staff writer,
Dorinda Troutman, for our September 2008 issue. It is the story of Able,
a bay gelding, as well as three other geldings, who were ill-treated by
their owners on an extended pack trip during June and July 2008 in the You may read the entire story, with photos, at www.rockymountainrider.com. The Charges
The horses’ owners, Curtis Heydon, 37, of
The Heydons’ four emaciated and sore-footed horses, with saddle
and tack sores that in some cases went bone-deep, were confiscated by
the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office and placed in the care of a local
veterinarian and the Bitter Root Humane Association. They will remain at
the shelter until either a plea agreement is reached or a trial forces a
decision about their future ownership and care. When the Heydons appeared in court on the charges, the judge asked if they would pay for the veterinary costs and care of the horses. The Heydons refused.
Recap of the Horses’ Plight
The story first came to light August 1, 2008, when two
horsewomen, Dawn Merrill of Missoula, MT, and “Q” DeHart of
Stevensville, MT, went trail riding up Big Creek Trail west of Victor,
MT.
They had ridden about two miles when they encountered Curtis
Heydon who was riding toward the trailhead. He told them he was riding
out of the Selway–Bitterroot Wilderness, and that his father and two
other horses were waiting at an
When he learned how far the women were planning to ride that day,
he told them that he had left a “lazy” horse back up the trail that
had refused to go on “for no apparent reason.”
The women rode to a point about six miles from the trailhead
where they discovered a horribly thin, middle-aged bay gelding lying on
the ground, tied to a log, and with his saddle still cinched on. The shocked women gave him bottles of water from the nearby creek, untied him, and took off his saddle, which revealed deep wounds beneath it. They covered him with a wet blanket to help with the biting flies and heat. The horse was unable to rise.
A day and a half later, the horse was rescued
by Merril and her friend Mike Svaboda, who slowly coaxed him to the
trailhead, loaded him into a trailer and took him to a veterinarian.
In the meantime, according to US Forest Service District Ranger
Bill Goslin, Curtis Heydon drove his truck and trailer to
Goslin had first encountered the Heydons in June when they were
camped at the Big Creek trailhead waiting for the winter snow to melt
off the trail. Goslin informed them that they would not find enough
grass for their horses to eat in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. He
also advised them to redo their makeshift packing method of long bags
slung over wood supports on riding saddles so that the weight of the
gear would be easier on the animals. Current Condition of the Horses
The four geldings are: Magic, a bay aged about eight years old;
Casino, a sorrel in his late teens; Diamond, a palomino in his late
teens, named by shelter employees for his “Diamond Running M” brand;
and Able, the horse who had collapsed on the trail and was named by his
rescuers, Merrill and DeHart, for his willing attitude.
As of RMR’s press date, September 17, the horses are being held
at the Bitter Root Humane Association Animal Shelter. Able was
hospitalized with a local veterinarian for several weeks following his
rescue. On September 8, he was strong enough to rejoin his companions.
Jessica Hoyt, a shelter employee who has cared for the horses,
explained their care. Initially, all the horses were wormed and started
on a special diet so they would regain weight. They each get twelve
pounds of grain per day, plus all the hay they can eat.
Both Able and Diamond are suffering from ulcerated eyes caused by
biting insects. Although they are being treated with eye ointment, it is
still possible they could lose the sight in the affected eyes.
Shelter Manager, Vicki Dawson, says that a specialist in equine
opthomology from
All the horses suffered from saddle sores. These are being
treated and are slowly healing. Diamond is finally losing the winter
coat he carried all summer due to malnutrition and is growing in another
coat. Able had his teeth floated. All the horses are more alert and are
very friendly to visitors. Able suffered the worst ordeal, with the
soles of his feet being almost completely worn off. On September 11, he
was shod by Frank McKinney of
Quality Supply Stores of Hamilton and
Trapper Creek Job Corps, located near
The Case Against the Heydons
A pre-trial omnibus hearing is set for: October 9, 2008. 3:30 p.m. Judge Jim Bailey The Heydons need not appear. Probably either
a plea agreement will be accepted or a trail date will be set at that
time.
Craig Heydon refused to comment about the horses from his home in
When questioned why the Heydons had refused to pay for care of
the horses, after the judge had asked if they wished to do so, Stevenson
replied, “They wanted to take the horses with them and find the
appropriate people to care for them. One or two of the horses were fine.
Anyone will get a little on the thin side after spending two months in
the Wilderness. I’m sure Lewis and
“It is not that anyone set out to abuse animals. My
understanding is that they did their best to feed and care for these
animals as best they could in the situation they were in.
“They got stranded at some point with a lack of supplies and
with the horses’ diminished ability to pack, so Curtis left his father
and came out with two horses, planning to return for his father and help
him out.
“Curtis had every intention of going back and reviving the
horse (that had collapsed on the trail) and bringing it out. Everyone
was traumatized. They had every intention of bringing the horses back to
health.” Advocacy for the Horses
Montana Animal Cruelty Laws go back to a time when horses were
used as work animals, and severe abuse or neglect was treated lightly.
The laws currently state that, in the case of horses, a crime is charged
as a misdemeanor if there are less than ten animals involved and the
cruelty is not “with the purpose of terrifying, torturing, or
mutilating the animal.” Today, few authorities are willing to spend
the time, effort and the public’s money to prosecute a misdemeanor
cruelty case. Many animal cruelty cases never go to trial, but are
pleaded out with light sentences.
Dawn Merrill has been motivated by the horses’ plight to begin
the task of getting changes made to the Montana Animal Cruelty Law,
which has very light punishment for the crime.
Merrill would like to see punishment include mandatory
restitution of the costs of care, relinquishment of all animals and
larger fines. She is pulling together a group of interested people and
experts to help. Their goal is to update the law in a bill, find a
sponsor in the upcoming legislature, and then take the bill before the
Ag Committee to seek recommendation.
For more information, email Kathy Leudtke at kathyluedtke@q.com. What You Can Do to Help To put pressure on the authorities to
prosecute the Heydons to the fullest extent, write to: Prosecutor John Bell Ravalli County Attorney’s Office email: rcao@ravallicounty.mt.gov.
To help the horses with money for veterinary bills or food, or to
donate hay, contact the Bitter Root Humane Association
at 406-363-5311,
On
September 16, ten horses (and 17 goats) were seized by the sheriff in a
neglect case and are now also being cared for by the shelter.
Copyright 2008 Rocky Mountain Rider. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction of any editorial material, artwork and photos is strictly forbidden without express written permission of the publisher. For information about reprint rights, please contact the editor; editor@rockymountainrider.com.
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