<b>By TIM THORNBERRY<br>
Kentucky Correspondent</b> </p><p>

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — In a state so widely known for horses of all breeds, it is inconceivable that mistreatment of the animals happens in Kentucky; unfortunately, there are times when horses are neglected and, in some cases left to die, on abandoned properties, usually by owners who can no longer care for them.</p><p>
An organization in Jessamine County has made a mission out of taking in unwanted or neglected horses in order to nurse them back to health and find new homes.</p><p>
The Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) opened on April 16, 2007, and since, has taken in 120 horses and found homes for 50 of them, according to Executive Director Lori Neagle.</p><p>
“The center was started by a group of people who wanted to see the end of slaughter and neglect of horses,” Neagle explained.</p><p>
And some of those people are heavy-hitters in the equine industry, including the organization’s president, Staci Hancock – who, along with her husband, Arthur, own Stone Farm in Paris, Ky., which bred and raised Kentucky Derby winners Gato DelSol, Sunday Silence and Fusaichi Pegasus.</p><p>
Upon the opening of the center, Staci Hancock said, “This is an opportunity for all of us to do the right thing and play a role in ensuring the welfare and humane treatment of horses here in Kentucky, the horse capital of the world. With Kentucky’s signature event, the Kentucky Derby, just around the corner, we believe it is an ideal time to open our doors and bring attention to the plight of horses that are at risk.”</p><p>
Another prominent figure from the horse industry affiliated with the center is Nick Zito, who has trained such notable thoroughbreds as Kentucky Derby winners Strike the Gold and Go For Gin. He and his wife, Kim, serve on the KyEHC board of advisors and were founding members.</p><p>
“Regardless of pedigree or performance, all horses have to be treated the same. Consequently, we all have the same responsibilities to meet those needs, whether we are working with Kentucky Derby winners or horses that are just horses. Again, they have to be treated the same,” said Zito in a report on the KyEHC website.</p><p>
The site is also populated with numerous success stories of horses brought to the KyEHC and adopted. The center even has become the temporary home to nine mules. Neagle, co-founder of the successful Thoroughbred rescue organization ReRun, said everyone has been receptive of what the facility is trying to do.</p><p>
The center also makes an effort to educate the public on the responsibilities of owning horses and serves as a model for similar organizations with the same mission. “This is a positive place. We are here, first for the horses, and also for the people who are caring and want to take care of their animals, but life’s experiences have kept them from doing that,” said Neagle. “We don’t judge people here.”</p><p>
The center is operated mostly on donations and volunteer work from individuals and organizations. Neagle said volunteers are the “backbone” of the operation.</p><p>
4-H groups from Hardin, Jessamine and Kenton counties have visited the center. Margaret Collins and Debbie Noem, 4–H sponsors from Kenton County, thought it would be a good experience for their group.</p><p>
“I think this is a really good field trip for the kids to learn about community service, as well as wanting to do horse-related trips. I think the kids might be interested in coming somewhat regularly,” said Collins.</p><p>
Anita Spreotzer, who is from New York, N.Y., serves as a volunteer and said being here has been a life-changing experience. She worked in animal rescue for dogs and cats before moving to Kentucky last June.</p><p>
“I visited the center with a friend and found a horse of my own – actually, the horse found me and I just fell in love,” she said.
“I have been around horses since I was four years old. Going to the country with my parents, I used to dream of my horse running along beside our car, and this has always been my dream.”</p><p>
Spreotzer went on to say that at the age of 45, she finally has her horse, Kentucky, which made her dream come true.</p><p>
“I cried all the way home when we took her that day. I had decided the city wasn’t a place I wanted to live any more, because I’ve always been a country girl at heart,” she said.</p><p>
“So I came here and the first thing I did was get my horse. This place changed my life.”</p><p>
Neagle said she hears that story a lot, because many of the volunteers adopt, and at first she worried those volunteers might not return after getting their horses. But that hasn’t been the case and most, like Spreotzer, do continue to help out at the center.
The facility is much the same as any Humane Society office and will not turn a horse away, according to Neagle. Just last week, the facility made news when nine horses suffering from severe neglect were brought there.</p><p>
The Humane Society of the United States reports that, according to the USDA, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in 2006. Those facilities have since closed. Another 37,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter and 4,000 were imported from other countries into the U.S. for slaughter.</p><p>
The USDA also documented that more than 92 percent of horses slaughtered were in good condition.</p><p>
With the help of many horse lovers, the animals at KyEHC are fed and nursed back to health in most cases, in hopes of finding the caring home they deserve. The center’s website includes a verse entitled “A Horse’s Prayer” which contains the passage:</p><p>
And finally, Oh My Master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured and starved to death; but do thou, My Master, take my life in the kindest way and your God will reward you here and hereafter.</p><p>
For more information about the center, including the rules of adopting and how to volunteer, call 859-881-5849 or visit its website at www.kyehc.org