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Owner speaks out, county seizes more horses - Slick Gardner |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 26 September 2003 |
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Owner speaks out as county seizes more horses at Gardner Ranch
By Quintin Cushner/Staff Writer
Sept. 25, 2003
Slick Gardner doesn't understand why Santa Barbara County officials are again searching his Buellton ranch for mistreated horses.
At 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, in cooperation with the district attorney's office, served a search warrant at Gardner's ranch off Highway 246.
Sgt. Chris Pappas, a sheriff's spokesman, said between six and nine horses would be removed from the Gardner Ranch Wednesday. He added that the investigation will continue "for the next couple of days" and that he is not certain how many horses will ultimately be seized.
Gardner believes he's provided adequate care for his wild mustang and Shoshone horses, and that animals seized by officials for being neglected and malnourished are actually just elderly or ailing from natural causes.
"It's not illegal to own a sick horse," said Gardner. "Some of them are 35 years old and aren't going to live a lot longer. Horses are like people. They don't look quite as good as they get older."
Gardner said those responsible for seizing the horses "just don't get" how wild horses should be treated. He said the difference between tamed and wild horses is "the difference between dealing with a dog and a coyote."
Pappas said horses on Gardner Ranch have been removed on the advice of qualified experts.
"From the very onset of this operation, we have included in our contingent equine veterinarians who can identify animals who have shown signs of neglect," said Pappas. "Additionally we have brought on equine authorities that have a specific knowledge and expertise in wild horses."
Pappas said an authority on wild horses from the University of California at Davis and a representative from the Western Regional Humane Society were present during Wednesday's search.
The warrant "granted investigators judicial authorization to collect horses exhibiting objective signs of neglect and to document the condition of the other wild horses being kept on the property," according to Pappas.
Many of the horses will be placed with Return to Freedom, a Lompoc-based horse sanctuary that has already accepted horses seized from Gardner Ranch, and with other "alternate locations," said Pappas.
Gardner complained that Santa Barbara County officials "seized evidence" from him - by which he means horses - and then "allowed it to go to a nonprofit" - Return to Freedom - "who are using it for revenue."
Gardner was referring to news articles about the horse seizures that listed a phone number seeking donations for the sanctuary.
"I don't know anything about Mr. Gardner," said Neda DeMaya, founder and president of Return to Freedom. "We are just a sanctuary. We take care of horses in need. I've never used his name for anything."
DeMaya also said she and her organization had nothing to do with the searches on Gardner Ranch.
A sticking point between Gardner and Santa Barbara County officials involves two horses that died several days after being seized by the county and transported to Freedom Ranch.
Gardner blames the county for the horses' deaths, but wouldn't guess about how he believes they were mishandled.
Pappas cited a post-mortem necropsy, which he said showed one horse died from advanced pneumonia, and the other from tetanus.
District Attorney Tom Sneddon wouldn't comment on his office's plans to charge Gardner, saying only that Gardner and his ranch remain "under investigation."
About 20 people were involved in Wednesday's search, including the sheriff's deputies and investigators from the district attorney's office. Representatives from Santa Barbara County Animal Services were present, as were "a team of professional wild horse wranglers" used to help with "sorting, loading and transportation of horses."
Over 600 horses live on the 2,000 acre ranch, Gardner said.
On Sept. 4, sheriff's deputies and district attorney's investigators searched the Gardner Ranch and eventually seized 64 horses. They were responding to an Animal Services investigation that began in April.
* Staff Writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at qcushner@
pulitzer.net, or by phone at 739-2217.
Sept. 25, 2003
:nav Source: http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2003/09/25/news/local/news05.txt
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