News briefs from California’s Central Coast Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2003 Associated Press BUELLTON, Calif. (AP) – County investigators raided Slick Gardner’s horse ranch again to begin seizure of at least 100 allegedly neglected wild mustangs. A team of about 20 Santa Barbara County investigators, accompanied by wild horse wranglers and veterinarians, showed up at the ranch Wednesday to remove the horses. About a dozen horses were transferred to local ranches by the end of the day. It was the second wave of raids at the Gardner ranch, where about 600 wild horses roam. The raid was part evidence-gathering of alleged neglect and abuse and part rescue effort. The latest operation, expected to last several days, is nearly identical to a Sept. 4 raid that transferred 70 of the sickest horses, mostly mares and foals, to a local sanctuary. Two horses died several days after their transfer to Return to Freedom American Wild Horse Sanctuary. Gardner attorney Steve Balash had sought an administrative hearing Wednesday to decide whether the county can keep the horses that were removed Sept. 4. The second raid was a surprise to Gardner, the lawyers said. “He is utterly baffled,” Balash said. “He is feeding the horses, he does have people working out there.” District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said there was evidence some of the horses weren’t being fed properly. “What are we supposed to do, just sit around and wait because there’s a hearing set? He’s upset? Well, that’s life,” Sneddon said. Five months ago, county Animal Services began an animal cruelty investigation after receiving complaints that Gardner wasn’t feeding his wild horses, which were gathered in Nevada by the federal Bureau of Land Management. :nav Source: [url=http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/6858563.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp]Monterey Herald[/url] // MJJF
BUELLTON, Calif. (AP) – County investigators raided Slick Gardner’s horse ranch again to begin seizure of at least 100 allegedly neglected wild mustangs. A team of about 20 Santa Barbara County investigators, accompanied by wild horse wranglers and veterinarians, showed up at the ranch Wednesday to remove the horses. About a dozen horses were transferred to local ranches by the end of the day. It was the second wave of raids at the Gardner ranch, where about 600 wild horses roam. The raid was part evidence-gathering of alleged neglect and abuse and part rescue effort. The latest operation, expected to last several days, is nearly identical to a Sept. 4 raid that transferred 70 of the sickest horses, mostly mares and foals, to a local sanctuary. Two horses died several days after their transfer to Return to Freedom American Wild Horse Sanctuary. Gardner attorney Steve Balash had sought an administrative hearing Wednesday to decide whether the county can keep the horses that were removed Sept. 4. The second raid was a surprise to Gardner, the lawyers said. “He is utterly baffled,” Balash said. “He is feeding the horses, he does have people working out there.” District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said there was evidence some of the horses weren’t being fed properly. “What are we supposed to do, just sit around and wait because there’s a hearing set? He’s upset? Well, that’s life,” Sneddon said. Five months ago, county Animal Services began an animal cruelty investigation after receiving complaints that Gardner wasn’t feeding his wild horses, which were gathered in Nevada by the federal Bureau of Land Management. :nav Source: http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/6858563.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp