Neglected New Harmony colt is on the mend at rescue sanctuary

A horse that was found malnourished and injured in New Harmony is introduced to the Dust Devil Horse Ranch Sanctuary for Horses in Cedar City, Utah, circa February, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Ginger Grimes, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — After finding three horses dead due to alleged neglect by their owners on a New Harmony property Feb. 19, there was a silver lining when authorities discovered a colt still alive, although badly malnourished and injured.

A horse found in New Harmony shows signs of severe neglect, Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary for Horses in Cedar City, Utah, circa February, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Ginger Grimes, St. George News

The young horse was transported for treatment and recovery at Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary for Horses in Cedar City.

The colt’s rescue came when Washington County Sheriff’s deputies found three dead horses that had reportedly starved to death, according to statements by three suspects who were arrested and jailed on four counts of animal cruelty.

“He’s in good spirits,” Ginger Grimes said of the surviving colt she renamed Chance upon his arrival at the sanctuary.

Grimes runs the nonprofit Dust Devil Ranch and regularly takes in horses in similar predicaments. However, this was among the worst cases in her five years treating horses at the sanctuary, she said, only topped by such cases as Elsa, the frozen horse.

Grimes scores the colt at 2 out of 5 on the horse body condition scoring system, indicating emaciation with visible vertebrae, ribs and sunken cheeks.

Chance arrived severely anemic and was placed on antibiotics due to an infection causing a high fever. He also was in pain due to a serious injury to one of his hooves.

A horse that was found malnourished and injured in New Harmony is treated for an absces in the hoof at Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary for Horses in Cedar City, Utah, circa February, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Ginger Grimes, St. George News

“When we picked him up, his back right leg was wrapped,” Grimes said. “So, we unwrapped it and we’re looking all over his leg, and he had manure up to his knees almost. We kept peeling it off and then we got down to his hoof. The outside wall of his hoof was loose. He has an abscess inside, and that’s where it broke.”

If the horse had been properly treated at the time of the injury, Grimes estimated it would have healed by now. Because of the neglect, she said, the recovery time for the injury is likely to last 10 months.

“This little horse has been in pain for at least a month, maybe even longer,” she said.

Chance’s injury will also set back his training by another year, which would usually begin at his current age.

“Now that he’s eating he’s starting to feel good,” Grimes said.

Grimes works with various agencies within Washington and Iron counties, including the sheriff’s offices, veterinarians, animal control divisions, the Humane Society and Bureau of Land Management to retrieve surrendered horses. She also leaves a few spots open for private surrender.

Most of the horses that end up at Dust Devil Ranch are rehomed to new owners, though a few will remain on the ranch as lifers.

“My main goal is to take them in, get them healthy and find them their forever homes,” Grimes said.

Chance, a colt that was found malnourished and injured in New Harmony is introduced to the Dust Devil Horse Sanctuary in Cedar City, Utah, circa February 2017 | Photo courtesy of Ginger Grimes, St. George News

Dust Devil conducts thorough background checks on potential forever home candidates in order to ensure the horses do not suffer similarly again.

The sanctuary has an extensive waiting list for private surrender, but Grimes still works with anyone who calls for help to find care for their horse.

“It’s always better to reach out to somebody because we network between ourselves, and I have a great network of friends,” Grimes said. “I’ll find somebody that can eventually take that horse; 98 percent of the time that horse finds a home and never even touches my ranch.”

However, Grimes encourages people to call the authorities when a horse’s owner is unwilling to seek help or relinquish the animal when they are incapable of caring for it.

“Even if you don’t want to be a nosy neighbor,” Grimes said, “sometimes if you see a horse in that condition, you really need to tell somebody.”

Such calls may be placed to the local sheriff’s office anonymously.

Dust Devil Ranch Sanctuary for Horses relies entirely on donations, which can be made through the sanctuary’s website.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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