By ZOË WATKINS
zwatkins@bedfordcountypost.com
On Monday, Bedford County Animal Control seized all 26 horses from a property on Highway 130 East for being undernourished and emaciated.
According to BCAC Director Josie Lowery, 25 walking horses and one Palomino pony were seized and will be distributed and fostered to three different agencies including Volunteer Equine Advocates, Hickory Hill Farms, and Horse Haven of Tennessee.
Lowery said they had received a complaint to send a welfare check on the horses. Dr. Jill Johnson, D.V.M. of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), was called in and given probable cause to deliver a search and seizure.
The 26 horses were gathered on 5.01 acres of land and they ranged from babies to 20 years old, according to Lowey. Some were more emaciated than others, she said.
Lowery said it was the largest-scale horse seizure under her time as director.
It took some 30 people and several trucks and trailers to remove the horses. Lowery thanked the hard work of her team, the horse agencies and their professional horse handlers, as well as Dr. Johnson. Lowery also thanked Det. Trey Green and the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department.
Ginger Hartlein took responsibility for the horses. No court date has been set for her as the investigation is still on-going since the total number of pregnant mares on the property is unknown at this time.
The Post will stay up-to-date with this case.
