Jefferson County – Authorities raided a ranch in rural Jefferson County this morning and seized 28 horses, several of them severely malnourished. The horses were on the ranch of John McCulley, who was not home during the raid at 12601 W. 82nd Ave.
About two weeks ago, Jefferson County authorities got a tip on the condition of the horses and warned McCulley that they would be confiscated if he didn’t fix the problem.
When they checked on Wednesday, the horses were still in poor shape. So sheriff’s deputies, animal-control officials, veterinarians and others swooped in this morning to rescue them.
The horses were checked out and then taken to area ranches, where they will be nursed to better health. Several needed immediate medical attention.
“It’s always overwhelming when you first walk in and see them, but then you just have to take a deep breath and do what you have to do,” said Ingrid Spikker, one of several volunteers of the Jefferson County Horse Evacuation Assistance Team, which helped in the raid.
Many of the horses suffered from severe hoof pain, as their hooves had not been trimmed in months or even years. The horses struggled to make it into the trailers that were used to transport them to the foster ranches.
McCulley could not be reached for comment. Authorities say he will be cited for at least 28 counts of cruelty to animals, all misdemeanor charges.
He has 10 days to post a $500 bond on each of the horses, then he can temporarily retain them or they’ll stay in the care of the county until a judge decides what to do with them, sheriff’s spokesman Jim Shires said.
Animal-control officer Christine Brooks said she spoke to McCulley’s wife recently and asked her why the horses were in such bad shape. “They didn’t see a problem,” Brooks said.
The condition of the animals even shook some rescuers, many of whom have seen these types of conditions in the past but not on such a large scale. Some of the horses’ ribs were clearly visible. Another was so malnourished that a large bone from his hind quarter protruded.
The horses quickly gobbled up the grain volunteers feed them.
Ashleigh Olds, a veterinarian for Aspen Creek Large Animal Clinic in Conifer, said some of the hooves were the worst she had ever seen.
“It could take months or years to get these feet back to normal,” she said of one of the horses, which had cracked, enlarged hooves.
Twenty-two of the horses belong to McCulley. The other six were being boarded there.
Brooks said some of the owners hadn’t seen their horses in months, while at least one was a friend of the McCulleys who knew that the horses were in bad shape, “but not that bad.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has not yet decided what will happen to the horses. For now, officials are asking anyone who wants to help to donate money to the Table Mountain Animal Center, 4105 Youngfield Service Road, Golden, CO 80401. The phone number is 303-278-7575. They are asking for money because the horses will need special feed and medicine.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
