The investigation continues into who is responsible for the death of one horse and the unhealthy conditions of dozens more at a rural ranch in unincorporated Morgan Hill. Meanwhile, last week the same horse rancher was linked to a second property in Gilroy, where another sickly horse was rushed to a Salinas equine hospital.
Supervising South Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney refused to talk about details of the case, only to say his office is “right in the middle of an investigation with animal control.” District 1 County Supervisor Mike Wasserman said that his office was notified and they are aware of the situation.
Details of the latest incident were divulged in an Oct. 15 Facebook post by the creators of “Morgan Hill Horses In Need,” which stated that the Gilroy ranch on Center Avenue was crawling with officers from county Animal Control and the Sheriff’s Office as well as investigators from the D.A.’s office after a report of a dying horse.
Along with one helpless horse that was unable to stand up, citizens were also concerned about barrels used to hold drinking water that had toxic waste warning labels on them.
“The toxic water barrels have been dumped,” a post to the MHHIN Facebook page continued.
Along with that statement, MHHIN contributors posted an image of one horse lying on the ground while others approached it. Morgan Hill resident Trina Hinesar said that the ill horse was taken to the Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic in Salinas at the request of authorities. Workers at the Salinas facility would not confirm that report when contacted by the Times.
“I think action should be taken now for the benefit of the horses,” Hinesar said. “These horse are continually being placed in harm’s way by the person caring for them and there’s no reason for that.”
Sheriff’s deputies have been out to the Center Avenue property twice this month, according to Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup. However, Stenderup said animal control is the lead investigating agency.
“We are kind of shadowing animal control so that we can learn more about it, because we obviously aren’t the experts in these type of investigations with malnourished animals,” Stenderup said.
Before last week Hinesar, as well as other area residents, repeatedly contacted authorities about the poor condition of horses being kept on a Maple Avenue ranch in unincorporated Morgan Hill dating back to 2012. A call to action was taken by Paicines-based Equine Rescue Center founder Monica Hardeman, who purchased 10 emaciated horses from owner Humberto Rivas for $11,000. One of those horses died the next day.
In that case, Rivas said he received the horses in bad shape from another horse rancher he had done business with over the years because they could not take care of the animals. He was trying to nurse them back to health before selling them. Rivas leases both the Morgan Hill and Gilroy properties, where he keeps dozens of horses, according to neighbors.
Meanwhile, residents such as Hinesar and Morgan Hill’s Debra Kenyon are frustrated with county animal control and want something done now. Kenyon said several residents saw the same emaciated Morgan Hill horses at the Gilroy ranch and believe that the same scenario is taking place there.
“All he’s doing is moving them around,” Kenyon said. “I would like to see all those horses given to homes where they can afford to take care of them and that he would not be allowed to have them anymore.”
