Horse neglect Huntsville, AL (US) Incident Date: Friday, Aug 19, 2005 County: Madison Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Frank Hedspith

Case ID: 5389 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: horse View more cases in AL (US) Login to Watch this Case

Horses Coco and Lucky share a quarter-acre enclosure where brambles and poke salet grow but nothing else. On Friday, Lucky was still standing, but Coco was down. The ailing horse was near death as Limestone County authorities called a local veterinarian in to administer emergency treatment for starvation and dehydration.

Charged with cruelty to animals was Frank Hedspith of 408 Kingview Court, Nashville.

Hedspith said he visits the enclosure off Bell Road in the Blackburn community, about twice a week. Neighbors who called authorities to report the starving horses said that Hedspith occasionally brings a bail of hay, but they hadn't seen him recently. Hedspith told Blakely that he had delivered a bail of hay on Monday, but there was no trace of hay and the standing horse chewed on bare vines. He said he has owned the two horses since April but a veterinary had never seen them.

Sheriff Mike Blakely called Dr. Jack Goodman, who gave the downed horse several shots at midmorning, returned in early afternoon to administer dextrose and fluids. Hedspith had erected a small plastic tarp tent to shield the horse from the blistering sun, but it had fallen down. The horse continued to struggle in an attempt to stand up but had flopped into a slight dip in the ground, making it more difficult to get its footing.

Goodman said that while 4-year-old Coco's heartbeat remains strong, the danger with horses lying on one side too long is that fluids rapidly accumulate and pneumonia develops. After that, death is nearly unavoidable.

"It's not a good prognosis," said Goodman. If it keeps eating and drinking possibly it will improve."

Hedspith said that while his family owned horses and mules when he was a youngster, this is his first experience as a horse owner.

Blakely apologized for citing Hedspith, but he said he had to charge him with animal cruelty. He told Hedspith he could sign his own bond, but told him he would be liable for all veterinary bills incurred in treating the downed horse.

"Just hay alone is not enough for horses," said Blakely in advising Hedspith. He said horses must have grain and plentiful fresh water and not the tubs of brackish water that were on the site. He also said horses should be checked on a fed daily.

The horse named Lucky, a 7 1/2-year-old, is also thin with ribs clearly visible, but seemed in much better shape. Goodman said it must also get adequate nutrition and fresh water to maintain health.

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