By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

MT. VERNON, Ky. — In less than two weeks, the eyes of the world will be on the state as the Kentucky Derby
showcases its horse industry.

The last two weeks, however, have shed a different light on a state known for horses of all breeds, as separate incidents have led to the discovery of dozens of dead horses and others near death.
Acting on a tip, Kentucky State Police (KSP) found five dead horses and 21 that were in emaciated condition on the Rockcastle County farm of Jerry Campbell from London, Ky. KSP Detective Gary Lane investigated the matter and Campbell was charged with 21 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals.

KSP Public Affairs Officer Trooper Don Trosper said the investigation is continuing and it is not known if other charges will be brought against Campbell.

“Detective Lane owns horses himself and said the vegetation on the land where the horses were found did not look like it was quality enough to sustain the horses or raising livestock,” said Trosper.

He said that upon being contacted about the discovery, Campbell brought hay to the farm, and that cases in which animals are being allowed to starve is on the rise.

Two weeks ago, a Rowan County farm owner, Don Miller, was charged when 31 dead horses were found on his property, with at least 10 others in bad shape. Many of those remains were discovered on a remote section of the farm and thought to be decades old; however, 11 of the animals were found dead in a barn.

Last year’s drought left local hay supplies low, driving up the cost of outside sources. That, along with pastures left in bad shape, has created a difficult situation, at best, for many livestock owners. Many cattle producers opted to cull their herds or get out altogether, but horses are a different matter and the increasing costs to take care of them has caused several of the current problems – problems that may not go away in the near future.
Ginny Grulke, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), said the hay shortage has increased the numbers of horses being found dead from starvation, but even if supplies increase the situation may be around for some time to come.

“I think it will not get any better for a while because of increased costs like fuel cost; fertilizer has tripled and hay seed has doubled. Between individuals not having as much money as they used to and what they need to buy being more expensive, I think it will continue to be a problem,” she said.

“I think we have people in the horse business much like those in the dog and cat area that will breed (the animals) regardless of what you tell them.”

Grulke noted a situation the organization is handling, in which the owner continues to breed, she said, because that is the way he is used to doing things.

“I guess they want to put baby horses on the ground, and when you can’t sell them, it’s not too smart,” she said.

While nothing is good about the situation, Grulke said once one sees horses die, “it wakes people up and they know we have to do something about this problem.”

The horse industry is a $1 billion-plus business in Kentucky mainly thanks to thoroughbreds, but the majority of horses in the state are of other varieties and breeds.

Grulke offered some advice for these horse owners who have gotten into a bad situation or want to stay out of one.

“First thing – don’t breed unless you have registered stock and you’ve already determined, through a little bit of research, that there is a market for that horse. If you want a horse, go out and buy one that is already on the ground,” she said.

“Now, if you’re in trouble and you already have too many horses and can’t feed them, the most important thing is to ask for help. That’s been the frustrating part; we have a hotline and we have money donated to buy people hay and we still hear of these situations and people just don’t ask for help. They let the horses stand out there and starve, and they’re not looking for solutions. They’re just letting it happen.

“Ask for help, tell somebody. There are lots of us out there that will help and do things, but we have to know about it,” she said.

Grulke added in Kentucky, counties have the ultimate responsibility for the disposition of these cases and “we’re finding that a lot of counties either don’t have (anyone with) the expertise to go out and look at a horse and determine whether they really need help, or they might have the expertise but they don’t have the funding or the place to put horses if they confiscate them. That’s an issue we have to solve in Kentucky.

“At the Horse Council, we try and help but we couldn’t feed every horse in the state that is starving right now, we just don’t have that much money. It’s a huge effort, but we can put the word out and maybe there are other people that will.”

For those needing help with their horse or to report starving horses, the Horse Help Hotline is 866-634-0030. For more information, visit the KHC website at www.kentuckyhorse.org

This farm news was published in the April 23, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.