FANNIN CO., TX - IIt's been several months since 24 horses were rescued from a ranch in Fannin County. Maddie Garrett tells the story of their miraculous recoveries as volunteers and new owners work to nurse them back from near death and starvation.

Nancy Gracey is what you would call a “horse person.” The four horses she has now on her ranch in Bonham are like family to her.

“I love them, and I mean I don’t know what else to say, I love them. And I can’t stand to see any animal suffer, and they were definitely suffering,” said Gracey.

But these animals don’t belong to Nancy, she’s been nursing them back to health after they were rescued from a ranch in near Bonham last August.

“I was mad, I was furious that somebody could do this to an animal,” said Gracey.

On August 13th, 2009, the Fannin county Sheriff’s Office and Habitat for Horses seized 24 malnourished and dying horses.

Habitat for Horses’ volunteer Deanne Murillo headed up the rescue that hot summer day.

“You have a real sick feeling in your gut until you know everybody’s safe, until you know everybody’s going to make a recovery. But it’s just amazing what these animals will bounce back from; they really will bounce back from the brink of death,” said Murillo.

But not all bounced back. Six had to be euthanized at the scene because they were in such poor health. And since then four more have died as a direct result of emaciation.

“Well I think there’s no excuse, those animals that died, died a horrible death. And the ones that then were euthanized by the veterinarian the day that Fannin county came in there they had spent days suffering, needless suffering,” said Murillo.

Through Habitat for Horses, countless volunteers and donations from the community these horses now graze in greener pastures.

“It’s like being a mother nursing back your child to health, they were not in good, good shape and it’s been a struggle with a couple of them,” said one owner who adopted six horses.

But looking at them now, their coats and skin are healthier; they’re starting to fill out and to the untrained eye you wouldn’t know that just a few months ago these horses were emaciated and starving to death.

All but four have been adopted by owners across Texoma, including a ranch in Rockwall that takes in the horses to be part of a children’s riding and rehabilitation program.

“We have new members like I said, we have new adoptive homes and we have new foster homes an just a really very good outcome for what was a really terrible situation,” said Murillo.

And for the new adoptive owners, saving these horses became a blessing in disguise.

“I really believe that the old saying, behind the eye is a soul with these horses, and each one of them I believe are grateful for what they’ve been through and where they are today,” said an adoptive owner.

And for Nancy, letting these horses go after spending hours of time and effort caring for them isn’t easy.

“Everyone that has left to go to a new home so far I have cried, I know I can’t keep them all. It’s heartbreaking to let them go but I know it’s for their own good,” said Gracey.

While Deanne says they are grateful for these horses’ recoveries, she feels situations like this one should never happen in the first place.

Deanne
“Before you’re in trouble, before the animals are actually starving to death, if you’ll reach out then you’ll find people to help you. Too many times horses are dead and then the sheriff’s called and then it’s just really too late.”

If you’d like to volunteer or adopt one of these remaining horses who still need a home contact Habitat for Horses at 1-866-434-5737 or at www.habitatforhorses.org.

Other organizations that offer horse rescue and rehabilitation are:

Hope for Horses, Equine Rescue Inc.
Blue Ridge, TX
www.hopeforhorses.com

Throwaway Ponies, horse rescue and therapeutic riding
Rockwall, TX
www.throwawayponies.org