In early April, IDA received an email from a Colorado resident describing the horrific neglect of a group of 15 horses in Boulder County. After seeing a photo of an emaciated horse in a filthy stall, IDA's Rita Anderson immediately went out to the farm to investigate.

What she found was shocking. For at least three years, seven stallions had been living in a dark barn, day in and day out, with no fresh air and little exercise. The floors of their small cinderblock stalls were layered with manure and urine in which the horses were forced to lie when they needed rest. Based on their prominent ribs and hipbones, it was immediately clear they were malnourished.

The stallions' hooves were in desperate need of trimming, while the eight mares lived outside, their only source of food being bits of sparse grass and weeds in a dry field. During Colorado's brutal winters and intensely hot summers, they had no shelter from the elements.

Although the horses' guardian, Mike Murphy, had been arrested and later placed on unsupervised probation for improper care of animals, authorities had failed to adequately follow up on this case. Completely disregarding the law, Murphy made virtually no change in his lack of care for the animals.

While IDA doesn't condone the purchase of animals, we ultimately decided to pay an adoption fee for these horses, as it was the only way to save them without the support of the Boulder County authorities. We received assistance from compassionate citizens who generously donated money for the adoption of 11 of the horses and provided unlimited quantities of free hay. Dr. Pat Haight, of the Conquistador Equine Advocacy and Rescue Program in Arizona, worked diligently to secure a grant from PetSmart Charities and Best Friends to pay for supplies, veterinary care, and a portion of transportation costs to their new homes.

Rita and several dedicated volunteers spent the next five weeks working at the barn daily to care for the horses. The most difficult task was cleaning the filth from the stalls. It was so intense that the volunteers were forced to wear facemasks for protection, but the putrid smell still penetrated their masks and brought tears to their eyes. IDA sincerely thanks the volunteers who worked so tirelessly on this unpleasant but necessary work, as it would have been impossible for Rita to do it alone.

Murphy was ordered to return to court after Rita complained several times to authorities that he had violated his probation by moving the four remaining horses to another county and by continually failing to provide proper care. IDA is asking the court to permanently remove the four remaining horses from Murphy's possession and to prohibit him from having any animals during the remainder of his probation. The 11 horses have arrived safely at their new homes in Arizona, and we are prepared to take the remaining horses, should the court see fit to award them to us.