As one of the most loved of wild creatures human beings have been fortunate to interact with relatively harmoniously, it is always tragic to hear of their abuse, and absolutely wonderful to hear of their saving from abuse through a partnership of the public and private community; both sharing a love of horses.
Horses get a ride to refuge
Volunteers build trust with malnourished animals being moved to El Dorado ranch.
By Ed Fletcher - Bee Staff Writer Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, November 11, 2006
Beth DeCaprio isn't so much a horse whisperer as she is a horse dancer.
Upon her arrival at Sacramento County's animal shelter at midmorning Friday, the first order of business for DeCaprio and her team from the Grace Foundation was getting halters and lead ropes on the horses.
But that was no easy task with these horses, which are in the county's care after being seized late last month from a Wilton doctor who the county says malnourished them.
In hushed tones, with baby steps and food in hand, DeCaprio sashays toward these untrained geldings and mares. With patience, she employs a variety of techniques to halter and then lead them into a trailer.
Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the Grace Foundation on Friday was able to move seven horses from the cramped county facility to its 600-acre ranch near El Dorado Hills.
More than 200 volunteers descended on the ranch during a recent weekend to help build new fences and tear down old ones.
The nonprofit was eager to take the horses but needed more fenced areas to separate horses.
That work is ongoing.
The seized stallions will have to remain at the county animal shelter until an area is ready for them at the foundation's ranch, DeCaprio said.
In their work with mistreated animals, DeCaprio said, she and the others often see the worst of humanity. The huge volunteer turnout and corporate generosity for the fence-building party allowed them to see the best.
"It was just a boost for everyone," said DeCaprio. "The amount of work that got done was incredible."
The foundation serves as a refuge for horses and a handful of other large animals from around the region that are taken from their owners or otherwise rescued.
The horses then serve as therapy pets and teaching tools for children from various backgrounds -- including some with special needs.
Authorities said they raided the Wilton ranch of Dr. Roscoe Martin first in July and again in October, removing horses that were in danger of starvation, riddled with parasites and showing visible wounds and scarring.
After each seizure, the animals in the most dire condition went immediately to the El Dorado Hills ranch, which has been given use of land owned by AKT Development, where they receive more attention than they could get at the county's stressed facilities.
