They should be made to carry saddles and heavy packs out in the mountains for 2 months then left out there tied up to a downed tree.Without any water.

Ignorant idiots!!!

They better hope I never get the chance to get even!  An overdose of their own medicine would be the best they could expect.

Marla

It is absolutely amazing to me that people can see an animal every day and never really see it.  I have neighbors who have goats and sheep for lawnmowers. 
When the lawn runs out, too bad.  They never think to feed to poor critters.  The only reason they survive is because I can't feed my animals and leave their animals to beg for a bite to eat.  We have no local authorities to settle the issue.  No humane society or aspca.  Just a livestock inspector.  He has to deal with a judge wo thinks that as  long as a animal is still breathing it is fine! 

Marla

I didn't want to look at the pictures because I knew they would break my heart and then make me madder then ****  and I was right.  I am so thankful for animal rescue groups and all they do for all abandoned, abused and neglected animals albeit horses, dogs or other critters. 

How is it this type of horse abuse doesn't get the same press as the race horses and TN Walking Horses?  There was nothing subjective or open to debate over "training methods" with this abuse.  I just don't understand people sometimes.

I don't think they deserve to have ANY slack cut for them.  They didn't cut those horses any slack.  Sorry if they lost a family member (if there's even any truth to that) but if you are able to have enough wits about you to plan and execute a plan for a pack trip, then you should have enough wits to be at least a little humane in the treatment of some living breathing beasts.

Heck, if I'd have been them, at the VERY least why didn't they pull the tack off and set them free.  Yeah, it would have been difficult for them to try and forage, but maybe they could have gotten some and at least some water or have happened across someone to help them a little sooner, instead of having to wait to be found.  Tying a half dead horse to a tree just tells me that you had absolutely NO empathy for that horse what-so-ever and wanted no way for that poor animal to even try to survive.

And as for payment of their medical care, yeah they should be held responsible for all charges incurred, but put them in charge of the care for them.... HECK no!  Those poor horses suffered enough at their hands.  Besides, I doubt that those low-life blockheads would ever, EVER see the err of their ways.  If the gaping wound on that horse's withers would not make you feel any sympathy for that horse, NOTHING will.

I have personally cared for (rescued) some horribly abused and neglected horses.  Most of them can and should be rehabilitated.  It takes some time, and some money, but the outcome, in most cases is very gratifying.  I currently have a blind gelding who is very comfortable in his new quarters.  He has a shetland pony as a companion.  We put a bell on the shetland, and the gelding soon learned to follow the bell to water and grazing.  They are both geriatric citizens, and share a bond that is heartwarming to witness.  They don't work for a living like most other horses, but they give me much pleasure just watching them.  That alone is worth the feed bill to me.

Marla

I believe it is a personal decision of any individual as to how much money they wish to donate or spend on an endeavor such as this.Who is to decide what is "worth" what? If it's worth it to the folks that are making an effort for these horses,then,it's worth it to THEM.You spend your money on whatever you want,don't you?

criminal??

I have a mare that was left for dead on the side of the road.  She was emaciated and unable to stand for more than a few minutes at a time.  The sheriffs department wanted nothing to do with her, she couldn't be sold in that shape so they told the vet to put her down.  He thought she might have a chance so I took her home.  For the first two months I had to carry food and water to her and she developed pnemonia.  I treated it and pampered that mare and we worked through a fear of being touched, tied and abandoned.  We have had her for 6 years now, both of my girls have learned to ride on her and my 7yr old is competing in gymkhanas on her.  She will never be a great barrel/pole horse and she will probally never be "round" again (shes in her 20's has lost most of her teeth due to malnutrition and has too much muscle loss and parasite damage) but she is the best kids horse I've seen.  I don't regret a single dollar or minute of my time that I've spent to save her. 

If that's your rationale,that's OK,but,there is a lot of CRAP that tax dollars are spent on that I'd rather they not, be but starving and abused horses aren't one of them.

I personally don't like my tax dollars spent on LOTS of things that I consider immoral and wrong.I think this is a good thing,myself.From the sound of it,no tax dollars are involved.Sounds like all donations.