Horse Care and Abuse Investigation

Operational Guide

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Terminology ...... 3 Vital Signs ...... 4 Body Temperature ...... 4 Pulse ...... 4 Respiration ...... 4 Mucous Membranes ...... 5 Dietary Needs...... 6 Water ...... 6 Food ...... 7 Feeding the Chronically Malnourished or Starving Horse ...... 10 Housing Requirements ...... 11 Equine Health...... 12 Internal Parasites ...... 12 Teeth ...... 14 Hooves ...... 15 Use Abuses...... 19 Overriding ...... 19 Transporting ...... 19 Soreing ...... 20 Assessing Levels of Abuse/Neglect in a Horse ...... 21 Henneke Body Condition Scoring Chart ...... 22 Common Horse Abuses ...... 25 Abuse Investigation ...... 26 Receiving the Complaint ...... 26 Dispatching the Call ...... 26 Arrival on Scene ...... 27 Animal Documentation ...... 30 Witnesses ...... 31 Expert Witnesses ...... 32 Evidence Collection ...... 32 Interview and Interrogation ...... 33 Report Writing and Courtroom Preparation ...... 36 Resource Guide ...... 37

iv Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation

Introduction Traditionally, people used horses as either experience horses’ unique strengths in a working animals or high-dollar athletes. positive, supportive environment. They most often kept them on rural Examples include western, English, ranches, farms, and other horse operations. jumping, hunt seat, halter, pleasure, side- The growing popularity of horses as saddle, with a carriage or cart, three- wonderful companion animals, however, gaited, or five-gaited events. means increasing numbers of them now live in more typical American households. This popular demand for horses also It’s estimated that 5.1 million horses are creates many problems. Despite their great kept as family pets1 in 4.2 million size, horses can be very fragile animals, households in the United States.2 (This susceptible to a wide variety of serious number doesn’t include the millions of illnesses and injuries. Many new horse commercial horses bred for racing and owners have very little understanding of a other operations.) horse’s care, needs, and limitations. They do not know what is right, what is wrong, At its best, the relationship between people or what is cruel. As a result, horses often and horses celebrates a unique bond. suffer many abuses due to carelessness Indeed, horses historically played an and ignorance. Most of these unintentional integral role in the development of modern abuses could be avoided if people were society. From plowing fields and ferrying better informed. mail, to building rail systems and hauling much-needed supplies, the horse remained With horses’ increased presence in the a true ally. average American home, animal care and control agencies increasingly find While modern machinery replaced many themselves caring for a growing traditional uses of the horse, the human- population of horses. horse relationship continues in different ways. These days, equine-assisted therapy Education remains the greatest means of programs give individuals with disabilities abuse prevention. The more people know a way to experience the wonders of horses. about horses, understand their nature, This therapy also improves muscle tone, necessities, limitations, capabilities, and balance, posture, coordination, motor proper use, the less horse abuse we will development, and emotional well-being.3 see. Trainers now teach miniature horses to serve as guide animals for the blind or Most people want to give their horse the hearing impaired. A variety of show best of treatment, but they simply do not opportunities for professional, amateur, know how. At a minimum, animal care and young riders allow others to professionals should provide the public with information on basic horse care and

1 recognize the most visible signs of abuse U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics or neglect. That is the goal of this guide. Sourcebook, American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002. 2 APPMA’s 2005/2006 National Pet Owners Survey. 3 North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. © 2010 American Humane Association 1 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Note: While ponies, burros, and mules are problem — people often believe that they not specifically referenced, instruction are tougher than a horse and can endure given here is equally applicable to all more. Sometimes, the result is that they three. Quite similar physiologically, they receive less care than a horse. For experience many of the same problems. simplicity sake, this guide references all Burros and mules, however, face an added three as “horse.”

2 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Terminology Animal care professionals need to be Gut sounds - The noises that can be heard familiar with a variety of terms specific to from a horse’s stomach the world of horses. Hand(s) - Common way to measure Bale - A measurement of hay, equal to 10 horses (One hand is four inches, so a horse “flakes” that measures 15 hands is 60 inches tall.)

Brood Mare - Mare used for breeding Mare - A female horse over four years

Colt - A male horse under four years Sire - Father of a horse

Dam - Mother of a horse Sound - Term used to describe a healthy horse Farrier - A blacksmith who shoes horses Stallion/Stud - A male horse that has not Filly - A female horse under four years been castrated

Flake - One tenth of a bale of hay Unsound - A horse with health problems or lameness Foal - A newborn horse, still at mother’s side Yearling - A horse that is one year old

Gelding - A male horse that has been castrated

© 2010 American Humane Association 3 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Vital Signs American Humane thanks the Mane beneath the tail at its bone, or from an area Points, a horse resource on the side of the horse’s foot. However, center www.manepoints.com, and Terry finding the pulse can be extremely Paik, DVM, for contributing to this difficult for the untrained. A stethoscope, section. especially when given direction by a veterinarian, makes listening for a heart Knowing what a healthy horse looks like rate easier. is the first step in identifying signs of horse abuse. Temperature, pulse, and Maximum heart rates can exceed 180 respiration are the most basic indicators of beats per minute, but a resting rate above a horse’s medical condition. Evaluating 60 is reason for concern. Heart rates that these three vital signs provides a good idea stay above 80 in a calm horse signal of a horse’s current health status. serious trouble

Body Temperature The most common reason for an elevated Take a horse’s temperature with a rectal heart rate is colic or intestinal pain. Such thermometer. Normal body temperature pain often causes mild to severe elevations for a horse runs 99.0-100.5 degrees in heart rate. The degree of increase can Fahrenheit, but environmental factors also signal the severity of the pain. affect the readings. For example, horses tend to run higher temperatures in warm Exercise, stress, fear, pain, and excitement weather. Exercise, stress, or excitement will also elevate a horse’s heart rate. significantly raise temperature as well (>105). Temperatures also run slightly Respiration higher, 101.5, in the heat of the day. Horses should spend roughly equal time breathing in and breathing out. Count Temperatures over 102 degrees signal a respiration by watching the horse’s nostrils fever and indicate some type of disease. or torso at the end of the rib cage or by Bacterial infections, such as respiratory listening to the trachea (windpipe). If you colds and infected cuts, usually generate put an ear on a horse’s neck, you can hear temperatures between 102.5-103.5 the air moving through the windpipe or degrees. lungs. (Only do this on a calm horse, exercising special caution to avoid injury.) Occasionally, infections cause biphasic A normal horse at rest breathes eight to 10 fevers, with normal temperatures in the times per minute. morning and spiked, high temperatures in the afternoon. When concerned about High respiratory rates indicate pain, possible illness, record the horse’s excitement, elevated temperature, and a temperature twice a day and look for wide variety of possible infections. Thick patterns and changes. mucous in the windpipe from a head cold will increase respiration and make it Pulse harder for a horse to inhale. Allergies and The heart rate of a normal, resting horse is heaves make it hard for horses to breathe 28-40 beats per minute. The pulse can be out. This level of distress can be easily taken from an area under the jaw, from heard. 4 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Mucous Membranes A very pale or very red, “muddy” Mucous membranes can also tell you a lot appearance indicates a problem. about a horse’s health. Press gently on the gum and record the To check membranes, raise the lip and amount of time it takes for the blood to look at the color of the horse’s gums. They return. This is called capillary refill time. should be a soft pink. It should be between 1-2 seconds. A longer refill time indicates a sick horse in need of veterinary attention.

© 2010 American Humane Association 5 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Dietary Needs water the horse normally drinks. In these Water instances, adding water from home to Horses require an abundance of good water at the new location can encourage drinking water for optimum health. Lack water consumption. If this method is not of water intake often results in practical, add a few drops of peppermint to dehydration, intestinal impactions, and the water at the new location to mask colic. In fact, researchers link restricting a unfamiliar tastes. horse from water for even short periods of time to an increase in colic. Therefore, Electrolytes and salt blocks also encourage horses need water to be available in stalls, water consumption. If you suspect pens, and pastures at all times to help them electrolyte loss, make a separate bucket maintain good health. containing electrolytes available. Or, add salt (2 tablespoons) to the grain ration to In an investigation, always ask, “Where increase water intake. is your horse’s water source, and what steps do you take to ensure enough During the summer months, horses require fresh water is available at all times?” a source of clean, cool drinking water. Under drought conditions, pollutants in As a general rule, provide the average water systems sometimes increase in horse at rest a total of 12-15 gallons of concentration, placing horses at greater fresh water each day. This equals risk for disease. Especially in areas where approximately 1-2 liters of water horses get water directly from a natural consumed per hour. source, such as a pond or stream, owners must have backup watering systems in It helps to determine how much water a place. horse regularly drinks so that normal levels for that horse can be established. While the horse’s need for water declines Owners can determine such baselines in winter, researchers have linked big easily by measuring water consumed over drops in consumption to colic. Owners can a 24-hour period. ensure their horses drink at regular intervals by preventing water sources from Provide water to horses being worked or freezing. Using heated, automatic watering ridden hard every two to four hours. Diet, systems or adding warm water to the water exercise, lactation, and ambient source two or three times a day temperature also influence water accomplishes this goal. maintenance needs. Assessing Hydration Water sources should be clean and free of Dehydration falls into three classifications: debris to encourage drinking. If using an automatic watering device, check 1. Mild dehydration - Estimated at frequently for proper function and water 5-7 percent of body weight in temperature (45°-65° F). water loss. Signs of mild dehydration include depression, When traveling or moving to new places, dry mucous membranes (gums), available water may taste differently than

6 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation and prolonged capillary refill time In an investigation, always ask, “What, (>2 seconds). how much, and how often do you feed 2. Moderate dehydration - your horse?” Estimated at 8-10 percent water loss. Signs of moderate Types of Food dehydration include depression, While companies sell several complete weak pulse strength, poor jugular feed products and supplements, hay should vein distension, prolonged be the mainstay of any horse’s diet. Hay is capillary refill time (2-4 seconds), optimum for horse health because it sagging skin, and elevated heart provides fiber for intestinal health and rate. chew time to relieve boredom. Horses are 3. Severe dehydration - Estimated at by nature grazing animals. They need to greater than 10 percent water loss. chew their food to remain content. Horses with signs of severe dehydration feature cold limbs, There are two different classes of feed hay appear near death, and have for horses: persistent tenting of the skin. Severely dehydrated horses may 1. Grass hay, the traditional “safe” suffer from multiple body system horse hay, includes Timothy, organ failure. Brome, and orchard grass. Never confuse grass hay with grass To Test Hydration clippings, which should never be One simple way to assess hydration is to fed to a horse. pinch the skin on the horse’s neck. In a 2. Alfalfa and clover hay, with well-hydrated horse, the skin should higher protein, three times the quickly return to its normal position. In a calcium, and more vitamins than dehydrated horse, the skin will return grass hay, is often fed to young, slowly (>2 seconds). If necessary, a growing horses and lactating brood veterinarian can perform blood tests to mares. accurately determine a horse’s hydration and electrolyte status before beginning Good hay is free of mold, dust, and weeds. appropriate therapies. It features a bright green color and a fresh smell. It is leafy, soft, and dry but not Food brittle. Feeding moldy, dusty hay can Feeding is the number one priority to any cause serious medical problems like colic horse. In fact, a good appetite is the best and respiratory irritations. sign of a happy, healthy horse. Feeding, however, must be managed properly so While most horses will not require that the horse gets its daily dietary additional food sources, hay alone may not requirements and maintains a healthy be sufficient for young horses, older weight. Overly thin horses may lack horses, horses in hard work, pregnant energy, and they may be weak, cold, and mares, and mares with foals. For these less able to ward off illness. On the other animals, owners should supplement the hand, overweight horses place undue diet. However, if a horse is fed a mixed stress on their limbs, making them more diet, feed the hay first, about 15 minutes likely to founder. prior to feeding again.

© 2010 American Humane Association 7 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Some of the most common food Horses should be fed about two pounds of supplements include: hay per day for every 100 pounds of body • Carrots and apples weight. Therefore, a 1,000-pound horse • Cod liver oil (rich in vitamins) should eat 20 pounds split into two, 10- • Molasses pound feedings. (Again, most of this • Corn oil (a rich source of energy) should be hay.) • Trace mineral salt block • Beet pulp (rich in energy and Hay should be fed by weight not flakes. protein) Two flakes of dense alfalfa hay could weigh as much as 14 pounds while two Horse owners often add concentrates, flakes of fluffy, loose grass might only which include grains (whole, rolled, or weigh four pounds. cracked), sweet feed (grain mixed with molasses), and manufactured pellets. Oats, Note: Grain should be fed by weight, not the safest horse grain, provide fiber (from volume, which is inaccurate. A two-pound their hulls) and energy (from the kernel). coffee can holds 1.1 pounds of bran, 2.1 Corn, with its very thin covering, provides pounds of sweet feed, and 2.9 pounds of little fiber but twice the energy content as pellet feed. the same volume of oats. Corn, therefore, can be a good supplement for very active Precautions to take in feeding horses: horses, though corn oil is most often recommended. 1. Make all changes in feed gradually whether it’s a change in type or Commercial feeds come as pellets or grain amount. mixes. Pellets often contain both hay and 2. Don’t feed a horse immediately grain. “Sweet feed” grain mixes feature after hard work, and don’t work a combinations of oats, barley, or corn, horse until at least one hour after a molasses, and a protein pellet. full feed. 3. Feeding at ground level is natural In addition to hay and/or grain, a horse and provides a horse with a good needs free access to a trace mineral salt neck and back stretch. But if a block. Trace mineral salt is regular “table horse eats sand with the feed, it can salt” (sodium chloride) with important accumulate at the bottom of the minerals added. intestine and cause colic. Feeders or rubber mats reduce this type of Amount Required contamination. 4. Horses are herd animals and have Since the horse digestive system is complex social structures. When designed to handle small, frequent meals, feeding in groups, minimize horses need to be fed two to three times competition, fighting, and unequal every day. Horses have a strong biological rations. Ideally, each horse should clock and should be fed at the same time be fed individually. Eating food every day — feeding late or inconsistently too quickly can result in choking, can result in colic as well as unpleasant inadequate chewing, and poor stable vices and bad habits. nutritional absorption.

1. Feeders need to be clean and safe. 2. Moldy or spoiled feed can cause colic. 3. Sharp edges, broken parts, loose wires, or exposed nails can cause injury.

© 2010 American Humane Association 9 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Feeding the Chronically Malnourished or Starving Horse According to some surveys, the most Chronically malnourished horses often do common reason given for equine not respond successfully to refeeding and malnutrition is owner ignorance. Even the may even die due to a complex array of best cared for horses can become physiological disorders. Therefore, it is malnourished due to the effects of serious critical to consult with an equine disease. Whether a horse is malnourished veterinarian who is knowledgeable in from disease or neglect/abuse, you cannot feeding requirements for starving horses simply throw him some hay and a little and who can develop a feeding program to grain and assume everything will be fine. best serve the horse’s nutritional needs.

10 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Housing Requirements By nature, the horse is an outdoor animal. higher incidence of thrush and other hoof In the wild, horses seek canyon walls, problems. banks, trees, and brush for protection from sun, wind, cold, and storms. In captivity, Failure to maintain proper sanitary healthy horses with a full winter coat can conditions can result in a variety of withstand extreme cold weather provided problems, including fly and pest they are dry, out of drafts, and have room infestation, hoof problems, and disease. to move about. Tying horses outside on a cold night or forcing them to stand out in Minimum sanitary measures include: damp conditions puts them at risk. • Removing wet bedding from stalls daily. For optimum protection, owners should • Allowing stall floors to dry before build a three-sided horse shelter. Many rebedding. Departments of Agriculture or farmer’s • Taking care to remove manure, wet supply stores carry plans for a standard hay, unclipped grassy areas, and shelter. Inside the shelter, horses need other moist plant material where clean straw bedding. Owners should avoid stable flies like to lay their eggs. concrete and other hard or irregular floors (Stable flies bite a horse’s skin with too little bedding because they are until it bleeds, then they feed on hard on feet and legs. the blood. Flies favor the lower legs, flanks, belly, under the jaw, A horse can produce up to 50 pounds of and the junction of the neck and manure every day. If left in place, manure chest.) and urine quickly become breeding • Storing feed in vermin-proof grounds for disease. For example, when containers like big garbage cans or manure- and urine-soaked bedding bins. (Disease-carrying mice and decomposes, it releases ammonia that can rats contaminate feed. Trim grass sting eyes and burn lungs. Also, horses around the barn to minimize that stand in wet manure and urine have a nesting sites.)

© 2010 American Humane Association 11 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Equine Health migrate throughout various organs and Internal Parasites eventually back to the intestine. The larvae Internal parasites are a primary cause of can cause extensive damage to the lining colic in horses and can cause or contribute of blood vessels. to many respiratory, digestive, and performance problems. Horses with large strongyle infestations may display weight loss, anemia, or colic. In an investigation, always ask, “When In extreme cases, the blood supply to the was the last time the horse was wormed, intestine may become completely blocked and what was he wormed with?” by the strongyles, resulting in severe (and even fatal) colic. In heavily infested Signs of parasite infection range from horses, blood vessels may become reduced performance in mild cases to distended and may even rupture, leading to death in severe cases. Other signs include sudden death. Frequent deworming is dull hair coat, weight loss, pot-bellied recommended to reduce these serious appearance, tail rubbing, colic, diarrhea, risks. and loss of appetite. Contrary to popular belief, however, some horses with Small Strongyles damaging parasites still appear well Small strongyles differ from large nourished with a shiny coat. strongyles in several ways. First, small strongyles do not migrate through tissues A horse becomes worm-infested by taking as do large strongyles. Second, small either worm eggs or infective larvae into strongyle larvae may become encysted. its mouth. This occurs when grazing on This means that they burrow into the contaminated pasture, eating contaminated intestinal wall and lay dormant waiting for feeds, drinking contaminated water, or the proper conditions to emerge. During licking contaminated hair coats. The this encysted period, unlike adult parasites, opportunity for infection is ever present. small strongyle larvae are not susceptible to most dewormers. The American Veterinary Medical Association publishes a brochure on If large numbers of small strongyles “What You Should Know About Internal emerge from the intestinal wall Parasites in Horses” that provides the simultaneously, severe damage to the following information on common intestinal lining may result. Colic and parasites and parasite prevention. The diarrhea may be seen. Other signs of small brochure is available on their website strongyle infestation include loss of at www.avma.org. condition, weight loss, poor coat condition, and slowed growth. Large Strongyles Large strongyles are a group of internal Diagnosis and Treatment parasites also known as bloodworms or Veterinarians diagnose strongyle infection redworms. Eggs in manure hatch into from microscopic observation of eggs in larvae consumed by the grazing horse. The the feces. Blood tests are often used to larvae mature in the intestinal tract and assess the seriousness of an infestation. burrow out into blood vessels, where they Frequent deworming is recommended to 12 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation reduce the risk of serious problems from infestation is rubbing of the tail and the these parasites. An appropriate prevention anal region causing broken tail hairs and program should be discussed with your bare patches around the tail. veterinarian. Horses acquire the parasite by consuming Ascarids contaminated water, grain, hay, or grass. Ascarids (large roundworms) affect young Young worms mature in the large intestine horses more often than mature horses. The in three to four months, then crawl part 6- to12-inch long worms can number in way out of the anus to deposit their eggs the hundreds in the horse’s small intestine on the adjacent surface. The eggs hatch and can adversely affect its nutrition. outside of the horse’s body and become Colic, coughing, and diarrhea are common infective in a few days, although they can clinical signs associated with ascarid survive unhatched for several months. infestation. In addition, ascarids may cause blockage of the intestine or migrate Pinworms can be treated successfully with through the lungs causing pneumonia. the same drugs that are effective against strongyles and ascarids. Foals acquire infested ascarid eggs from feces that other horses have passed. Tapeworms Infested eggs, swallowed in contaminated Mites living in a horse pasture may hay or water, hatch in the intestinal tract. consume tapeworm eggs from the feces of The young worms burrow through the infested horses. Grazing horses may then intestinal wall, taking about a week to swallow the mites and become infested make their way to the lungs. From there, with tapeworms. Tapeworm infestation in the young worms travel up the trachea to horses may lead to varying degrees of the mouth to be swallowed a second time. colic. Therefore, it is important to include They mature in the intestine in two to treatment for tapeworms in your three months, and then lay eggs that are deworming plan. Because many passed in the feces, and the cycle is deworming agents do not kill tapeworms, repeated. Female ascarids can lay up to a specific product may need to be added to 200,000 eggs per day. your deworming program. Consult a veterinarian for the most effective Control of Ascarids treatment plan. To adequately control ascarids, foals should be first treated at eight weeks of Bots age and then every six to eight weeks until Bots are the larvae (immature flies) of the they are two years old, or as recommended botfly. Since these flies are common in the by your veterinarian. Colic sometimes horse’s environment, it is likely that most results when young foals are dewormed horses will become infested. for the first time. Life Cycle Pinworms During late summer and early fall, adult Though less dangerous than other internal botflies lay eggs on the hair of various parasites, pinworms are annoying to the parts of horses, particularly around the horse because they cause severe anal chest, forelegs, throat, and nose. itching. A characteristic of pinworm Stimulated by the horse’s licking, the

© 2010 American Humane Association 13 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation larvae hatch and enter the horse’s mouth, • Establish a parasite prevention and settling in the tissues of the gums, cheek, monitoring program with your and tongue. After a month, the larvae veterinarian. migrate and attach to the stomach lining causing irritation, interfering with Teeth digestion, and obstructing the opening to A horse’s teeth keep growing throughout the small intestine. After eight to10 its life. As they grow, horse teeth develop months, bot larvae pass in the feces and sharp edges and can become quite uneven, burrow into the ground, eventually making it difficult and painful for a horse maturing into adult flies and beginning the to chew food effectively, resulting in cycle again. weight loss. If a horse’s teeth are not cared for, it can result in abuse or contribute to Treatment the horse losing weight. Since it is likely a horse will become infested, treatment should be scheduled In an investigation, always ask, “When from the time botflies are seen in the was the last time the horse had its teeth environment or nits are observed on the floated?” horse until a month after the first hard frost. A veterinarian can recommend the “Floating” means smoothing and best products and frequency of treatment contouring a horse’s teeth with a file against bots as part of an overall parasite (called a “float”). More specifically, it control program. means removing or smoothing sharp points on the outer edge of upper molars Parasite Prevention and inner edge of lower molars. It’s Environmental measures that break the life something that is routinely done by cycle of internal parasites are as important veterinarians, once or twice a year, or as administering dewormers. Follow good more often if the horse requires it. management practices to control the frequency and spread of internal parasites. Floating is necessary because of the anatomy of the horses’ teeth, where the • Remove manure daily from stalls upper molars set wider apart than the and weekly from pastures. lower molars. Horses have to chew side to • Be sure pastures and paddocks are side to get good contact with upper and well-drained and not lower molars. The horse opens the mouth overpopulated. slightly, moves the jaw to one side. As the • Compost manure rather than mouth closes the chewing surfaces shear spreading it on fields where horses off or mince food. As the jaw returns to graze. the resting position, the chewing surfaces • Use a feeder for hay and grain, separate. rather than ground feeding. • Initiate effective fly control Incisors are designed to bite off forage, programs. after which the tongue moves forage back • Routinely examine horses for to the molars. The molars crush and shear telltale signs of infestation. forage into small pieces, which aids in digestion.

14 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Forage gets only one trip through the • At one year old, all the incisors of mouth, so it must be minced adequately, or the first, or milk, set of teeth are nutrient absorption diminishes. A horse visible. with bad teeth or abnormal teeth can show • Between ages two and three, signs of starvation. Once teeth problems horses shed baby teeth. are corrected, the horse should gain • Before three years old, the weight. permanent incisors have come through. Some Abnormal Teeth Conditions • At four years old, the permanent 1. “Parrot mouth” is a result of the dividers next to the incisors have upper and lower incisors not emerged. meeting because the lower jaw is • At five years old, the mouth is too short. This condition is rather perfect, the second set of teeth common and may seriously having been completed. interfere with grazing and cause • At six, the hollow under the weight loss. incisors, called the hook, has 2. “Monkey mouth” is the opposite of disappeared from the incisors and parrot mouth and is seldom seen in diminished in the dividers. horses. • At seven, the hook has disappeared 3. “Cribbing” is a habit common to from the dividers, and the next stabled horses which damages teeth are level, though showing the incisors by chipping or breaking hook (commonly called the “seven them. year hook”). • At eight, the hook has gone from Assessing the Age of a Horse the corners, and the horse is said to Horses’ teeth are often used to estimate the be “aged.” animal’s age. Hooves At five years of age, a horse has forty “No foot - no horse.” True equestrians teeth: know that the hoof of a horse is the most

• 24 molars or jaw teeth. important body part. The conditions of the • 12 incisors or front teeth. feet are of prime importance to the health • 4 tusks or canine teeth between the and comfort of a horse. Like tires on a car, molars and incisors. the hoof stands between the horse and the • Some horses also have wolf teeth. road. Just as you wouldn’t drive a car Wolf teeth lie in front of the upper without tires, you should never ride a cheek teeth and sometimes in front horse with problem feet. of the lower check teeth as well. These teeth are very sharp. If In an investigation, always ask, “How present, they can cause problems in often do you or a farrier check and placing a bit in horse’s mouth as maintain your horse’s hooves?” they sit where the bit normally inserts. The hoof is quite different from a human • At birth (or within six days), only foot or a dog’s paw. A hoof has unique the two middle incisors appear. parts and features that require special care. Look at the bottom of the hoof, and you © 2010 American Humane Association 15 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation will see the outer layer of the hoof, called A horse’s hoof should be cleaned before the “hoof wall.” The hoof wall is visible and after riding. If the horse isn’t ridden when the horse stands with feet on the very often, then ideally the hoof should be ground. This hard surface, sort of like a cleaned once a day. However, once a week fingernail, braves the elements. The horse will do, if there are no problems. shoe nails into this layer. Just inside the Many horses have shoes left on much too wall is the white line. The sole of the foot long. Horses that wear shoes too long can is the area between the white line and the overgrow the shoe at the heel and walk triangle shaped form, known as the frog over the outer branches. This causes (in the center of the foot). pressure to the sole, leading to bruising. It also can wedge the wall from the sole, The Parts of the Hoof causing separation.

How often should a farrier shoe or trim the horse’s feet? There is no easy answer. The amount of hoof growth versus hoof wear determines how often trimming is needed, so there is no single formula that can be applied. Younger horses, for example, experience quicker hoof growth than older animals. Also, the amount of exercise the horse gets greatly affects hoof growth. Whether or not a horse wears shoes also affects growth: When a horse has shoes on, the hooves do not wear and will need to be re-shod more often. Some owners give horses a break from shoes during Maintaining the Hoof winter months when they are ridden less It is important that the horse lives in a often. clean dry stall and dry pasture. Wet areas breed bacteria that result in a disease As a rule, a farrier should check the known as thrush. You will know if a horse hooves and trim the feet every six to eight has thrush because of the offensive smell weeks, regardless of whether a horse coming from the hoof. The frog may also wears shoes or is barefoot. appear dark and overly soft. Consult a farrier if you feel this exists and see what Look for these signs of hoof trouble: he or she recommends. 1. The horse stumbles due to A balanced diet is important to hoof excessive toe length. health. Too much lush grass in the spring 2. The hoof wall is cracking, and/or or too much grain with little work can the shoe is loose. result in laminitis (also known as founder), 3. The hoof wall is hanging over the which is a swelling and fever in the feet. shoe. Either at the toe or heels. Ponies are particularly susceptible to 4. The shoe is wearing through at the laminitis and should receive limited toe. amounts of grain for that reason. Consult a veterinarian if you think laminitis exists. 16 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation 5. The hoof is out of balance, either dirt. This will reduce the incidence of side to side (heels uneven) or toe to thrush. heel (usually long toe and low heel). Uneven shoe wear is also a The shoe should be shaped to fit the hoof, sign of this. not the hoof shaped to fit the shoe. With a 6. The shoe is loose. Signs of this can properly fitted shoe, only a small amount be raised clinches, heels over the of wall at the toe should be rasped off. shoe, a clattering sound when This amount should be less than one-eight moving across a hard surface, or of an inch wide. The heels of the shoe clinches or nails pulled through or should extend past the wall both in length down the hoof wall. and width. Also, the last nail should be at the widest part of the hoof. Placement any A Properly Shod Foot farther back restricts the action of the The alignment of the hoof needs to be hoof, which increases concussion. correct. Alignment is actually the balance of the hoof from front to back. To estimate proper alignment, view the horse from the side. Draw an imaginary straight line through the center of the long pastern bone. It should be parallel to the front of the hoof.

The nail clinches should be evenly spaced and in a level straight line.

The frog is a traction device as well as a cushion and the heart of the foot. Since the frog sloughs off or exfoliates by use and Common Hoof Problems growth, it should be trimmed sparingly. The trimming should be mainly at the Thrush and Canker edges to expedite removal of manure and Thrush, the more common of the two, is an infection of the frog. Canker (hoof rot) © 2010 American Humane Association 17 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation is an infection of the whole foot. You’ll recognize both from a foul odor and Cracks that start at the top of the foot are discharge from the disintegrating frog. due to disturbances in hoof growth Both are caused by keeping a horse in wet, resulting from coronet injuries such as dirty conditions. wire cuts. Cracks that start at the bottom of the foot are caused by dry or thin hoof If you find that the horse is just starting a walls or improper trimming. Serious thrush infection, you can treat it with cracks may require corrective shoeing. brush-on medications available in tack stores. For more advanced cases, consult a Seedy Toe veterinarian or farrier. Seedy toe is a separation of the hoof wall from the white line in the toe region Corns and Bruised Sole causing a hole between the hoof wall and Corns are caused by constant, small the sensitive laminae. The outside of the repeated pressures to a part of the foot as a hoof wall looks sound, but the inside result of poor shoeing job or shoes that are becomes crumbly. Poor foot care is the left on too long. most common cause. Seedy toe is easily caused when the hoof wall is allowed to Bruises are caused by a single, traumatic grow too long. It also commonly occurs blow to the foot, such as stepping on a with chronic laminitis. piece of gravel. Bruising is more likely to happen if the horse has naturally flat soles, Laminitis or Founder or if the sole and frog have been pared too Laminitis, commonly called founder, is an thin in trimming. If the bruise or corn has acutely painful inflammation of the foot. It not abscessed, removing the cause of the occurs most often in the front feet problem is usually the only treatment although it can affect the hind feet as well. required. Horses that bruise easily may need protective shoes and pads. Because of the progression of laminitis, it should be considered a genuine threat to Abscesses the horse’s life. If the condition is caught If the horse suddenly goes dead lame on in time, there is hope that the progression one foot, an abscess is the most probable can be stopped and the horse saved. So, if cause. It could be caused by a puncture you suspect laminitis, consult a wound or by a corn or bruise. A veterinarian immediately. veterinarian will drain the abscess, prescribe follow-up treatment, and Navicular Disease probably also give the horse a tetanus shot. This is caused by degeneration of the navicular bone, a small bone inside the Cracks foot, and the rubbing of the tendon which Cracks in the hoof wall can start at the passes over it. Symptoms include pointing; bottom and go up or start at the top and go a short stubby, painful stride; and down. The seriousness of a crack depends lameness. This disease is incurable once on how deep it goes and where it is bone changes develop, but it may be located. If the crack is deep enough that it helped by therapeutic shoeing or bleeds after the horse has exercised, medication. infection is likely.

Overriding Transporting Riding horses too far or too fast or longer Another common abuse is the transporting than they are physically fit to perform is a of horses for too long without feed, water, common form of abuse. Contrary to or rest. Riding in a trailer or truck for most impressions created by movies and TV, horses is as tiring as being ridden under horses cannot race or gallop indefinitely. saddle, and they should be handled Many a willing horse has been killed accordingly. Long hauls further because an ignorant rider forced her to complicated by too much or too little gallop beyond her capability. Generally, ventilation, forced inhalation of motor 200-300 yards is a normal maximum exhaust fumes, and chilling from rain or galloping distance without distress, unless cold can severely stress a horse. Many the horse is in excellent working become ill, even die, from easily avoided condition. Even then, few horses can stresses. safely reach a half-mile at full speed. Another transportation problem is faulty The walk and the trot are the usual ground equipment: trucks and trailers with covering gaits of the horse. These were the unpadded, slick floors; deteriorating, weak gaits used by the Army. Properly floors or walls that a horse’s foot can regulated, cavalry horses averaged break through; a back end gate or door that between five and six miles per hour going does not securely fasten or someone 30 to 40 miles day after day and did it with forgets to fasten; and sharp objects on, in, little stress – but they received the best and around vehicles. All are unnecessary feed, care, and attention. hazards that cause numerous avoidable injuries. There are many other less obvious abuses: • Riding a lame horse Pad the floor of any horse transport • Riding a horse with a sore back vehicle in some manner and place • Sloppy, careless posture in the additional bedding to assure firm footing saddle causing a sore back for the horse while loading and in transit. • Whipping Good ventilation is essential, but avoid • Jerking on the bridle reins chilling drafts and motor fumes. Make a • Forcing horses to do things they do stop for water and a brief rest every three not understand or cannot do or four hours. Unload horses and give them time exercise and relax every seven Another is mounting a horse and riding off or eight hours. Feed lightly, but water at a gallop with no opportunity for the liberally. Boots and rest bandages will hose to warm up and relax. Equally bad is prevent foot and leg injuries. dismounting from a horse that is very warm or wet with sweat and allowing him Most importantly, drivers must maintain a to stand still, until the muscles chill and consistent, not jerky, speed, and they must cramp. never start, stop, or turn the vehicle abruptly.

© 2010 American Humane Association 19 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Soreing include such an application, infliction, In the past, “soreing” was a common injection, use, or practice in connection practice seen most frequently with with the therapeutic treatment of a horse Tennessee Walking Horses and racking by or under the supervision of a person horses. Soreing involves inflicting pain to licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the horse’s limbs to affect and accentuate the State in which such treatment was the gait. given.

Sore (as defined in the Horse Protection Since the passage of the Federal Horse Act) when used to describe a horse means: Protection Act of 1970, (Pub. L. 91-540) (1) An irritating or blistering agent has the practice has steadily declined. Under been applied, internally or externally by a the Horse Protection Act, “no chain, boot, person to any limb of a horse, (2) Any roller, collar, action device, nor any other burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted device, method, practice, or substance by a person on any limb of a horse, (3) shall be used with respect to any horse at Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse has been injected by a person into or used sale or auction if such use causes or can by a person on any limb of a horse, or (4) reasonably be expected to cause such Any other substance or device has been horse to be sore.” used by a person on any limb of a horse or a person has engaged in a practice Representatives of the Animal and Plant involving a horse, and, as a result of such Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have application, infliction, injection, use, or responsibility of enforcement. practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical While enactment of the Horse Protection pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness Act has largely stopped this cruelty, when walking, trotting, or otherwise investigators should still be aware of the moving, except that such term does not practice.

20 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Assessing Levels of Abuse/Neglect in a Horse All investigators assigned to horse cruelty this field will refer to the horse as being a complaints at a minimum need to be “1 on the Henneke” or a “3 on the familiar with the Henneke System. Henneke.” The Henneke Chart allows for Developed in 1983 by Don R. Henneke, a standardized scoring system, whereas the Ph.D., it is based on both visual appraisal terms, “skinny,” “thin,” “emaciated,” or and palpable fat cover of the six major “fat” are all subjective terms that have points of the horse that are most different meanings to different people. responsive to changes in body fat. The chart covers six major parts of the The Henneke Body Condition Scoring is horse: neck, withers (where the neck ends the chief tool used by law enforcement and the back begins), the shoulder area, nation wide to determine the condition a ribs, loins, and the tail head area. horse at any given time. People working in

The chart rates the horses on a scale of 1 Trained observers visually inspect the to 9. A score of 1 is considered poor or horse and also to palpate each part of the emaciated — no body fat — whereas a horse with their hands to feel for body fat. nine is extremely fat or obese. Horse The observer then assigns each area of the veterinarians consider a body score of body the numerical score that corresponds between 4 and 7 acceptable. A 5 is with the horse’s condition. The scores considered ideal. from each area are then totaled and divided by six. The resulting number is the A horse that is rated a 1 on the Henneke horse’s rating on the Henneke Body Chart is often described as a “walking Scoring Condition Chart. skeleton” and is in real danger of dying. Courts in the United States have upheld Note: When a horse has a long hair coat, it the seizure of such horses by law is imperative that the person scoring the enforcement citing exigent circumstances, horse use his hands to feel the horse. meaning there was a very strong Except in the most extreme cases, the possibility the horse would die unless horse’s long hair coat will hide the immediate action was taken. protrusion of bones.

Henneke Body Condition Scoring Chart CONDITION NECK WITHERS LOIN TAIL HEAD RIBS SHOULDER Tail head (pin Bone Bone Spinous bones) & hook 1 structure structure processes Ribs projecting bones Bone structure easily noticeable POOR easily easily project prominently projecting noticeable noticeable prominently prominently Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes. Transverse 2 Faintly Faintly Tail head processes of Ribs prominent Faintly discernible VERY THIN discernible discernible prominent lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent. Tail head prominent, but Fat buildup individual halfway on vertebrae spinous cannot be processes, visually Slight fat cover 3 Neck Withers but easily identified. over ribs. Ribs Shoulder accentuated THIN accentuated accentuated discernible. Hook bones easily Transverse appear discernible processes rounded, but cannot be are still easily felt. discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable Prominence depends on conformation; Slight fat cover 4 Neck not Withers not Negative fat can be felt over ribs. Ribs MODERATELY obviously obviously creases along Shoulder accentuated around it. easily THIN thin thin back Hook bones discernible not discernible. Withers Ribs cannot be Neck blends rounded Fat around tail visually 5 Shoulder blends smoothly into smoothly over Back level head beginning distinguished, MODERATE body into body spinous to feel spongy but can be processes easily felt.

22 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation CONDITION NECK WITHERS LOIN TAIL HEAD RIBS SHOULDER May have Fat 6 Fat slight beginning Fat around tail Fat over ribs MODERATELY beginning to positive Fat beginning to be deposited to be head feels soft feels spongy FLESHY be deposited crease down deposited back Individual ribs Fat May have Fat can be felt, but 7 deposited positive Fat around tail deposited noticeable Fat deposited behind shoulder FLESHY along crease down head is soft. along neck filling between withers back ribs with fat Area along Noticeable Positive 8 withers Tail head fat Difficult to feel Area behind shoulder filled in thickening crease down FAT filed with very soft ribs flush with body of neck back fat Obvious 9 Bulging fat Patchy fat positive EXTREMELY Bulging fat Bulging fat around tail appearing over Bulging fat crease down FAT head ribs back

Description of the Score System 1. Poor: Emaciated. Prominent 4. Moderately Thin: Negative crease spinous processes, ribs, tail head, along back. Faint outline of ribs and hooks and pins. Noticeable discernible. Tail head prominence bone structure on withers, depends on conformation; fat can shoulders, and neck. No fatty be felt around it. Hook bones not tissues can be palpated. discernible. Withers, shoulders, 2. Very Thin: Emaciated. Slight fat and neck not obviously thin. covering over base of spinous 5. Moderate: Back is level. Ribs processes. Transverse processes of cannot be visually distinguished, lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. but can be easily felt. Fat around Prominent spinous processes, ribs, tail head beginning to feel spongy. tail head, and hooks and pins. Withers appear rounded over Withers, shoulders, and neck spinous processes. Shoulders and structures faintly discernible. neck blend smoothly into body. 3. Thin: Fat built up about halfway 6. Moderate to Fleshy: May have on spinous processes. Transverse slight crease down back. Fat over processes cannot be felt. Slight fat ribs feels spongy. Fat around tail cover over ribs. Spinous processes head feels soft. Fat beginning to be and ribs easily discernible. Tail deposited along the sides of the head prominent, but individual withers, behind the shoulders, and vertebrae cannot be visually along the sides of the neck. identified. Hook bones appear 7. Fleshy: May have crease down rounded, but easily discernible. Pin back. Individual ribs can be felt, bones not distinguishable. Withers, but noticeable filling between ribs shoulders, and neck accentuated. with fat. Fat around tail head is soft. Fat deposits along withers, © 2010 American Humane Association 23 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation behind shoulders, and along the neck. 8. Fat: Crease down back. Difficult to palpate ribs. Fat around tail head very soft. Area along withers filled with fat. Area behind shoulder filled in flush. Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along inner buttocks. 9. Extremely Fat: Obvious crease down back. Patchy fat appearing over ribs. Bulging fat around tail head, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck. Fat along inner buttocks may rub together. Flank filled in flush.

24 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Common Horse Abuses Unfortunately, the number of ways to abuse a horse is only limited by the human imagination. Listed below are the most common ways people intentionally or unintentionally abuse horses: • Soring, the driving of nails into the horse’s frog making it painful for the horse to bear much weight on its foot, to alter the horse’s gait • Wearing chains, wires, or beads on the hoof to alter the horse’s gait • Trussing horses in restrictive harnessing to change the horse’s gait. • Hanging heavy weights on a horse’s neck to lower the head for competition (Western Pleasure classes) • Tail blocking, injecting rubbing alcohol in the tail or surgically altering the tail, to keep the horse’s tail down • Beastiality, sex with animals • Mule Diving, forcing animals to jump off high planks into small pools of water • Abuse by neglect • Intentional abuse

© 2010 American Humane Association 25 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Abuse Investigation • What happened? The goal of the operational guide is to • How did it happen? specifically address horse care and abuse • When did it happen? in a thorough, but brief document. • How do you know it happened? Realizing that the material could easily • Are there any other witnesses? occupy a textbook, the author assumes that • Were there any actions taken to investigators have training, have done protect the animal or resolve the research, and have a thorough problem and by whom? understanding and knowledge of: • Were there any weapons involved, • Jurisdiction or are there any officer safety • Your level as a Peace Officer and considerations? the authority and restrictions of • Does the suspect have any criminal that level history? • Your jurisdictional and state laws • Animal guardian’s Constitutional Dispatching the Call rights Once the call-taker gathers all the • What is “right” vs. what is “legal” preliminary information, it is the • Laws of search, seizure, warrants, dispatcher’s job to provide the warrant exceptions, custodial investigating officer with all of the interviews, and non-custodial important facts. Place special emphasis on interviews any officer safety information such as • Legal and civil repercussions of known weapons, threats towards officers, violating someone’s civil rights and a violent criminal history. The • Evidence collection and the rules dispatcher, then, assigns an appropriate of evidence protection case number and provides the necessary resources for the officer to perform his Please read this entire manual before duty. For example, if the officer embarking on an investigation. investigating is a humane officer and there is a known weapon on scene, the dispatch- Receiving the Complaint er should request police assistance before Getting accurate, detailed information sending the humane officer to investigate. from the onset is critical to any good investigation. Train the dispatcher or call- The officer must be able to accurately taker to gather as much detail from the navigate to the scene and develop a plan to informant as possible, including: safely approach the location. The officer must also evaluate the urgency of the call. • The informant’s name, address, Is the horse in immediate danger? If not, phone number, and relationship to would it be better to do the investigation the suspect during the day rather than at night? What • The suspect’s name, address, resources are needed? Will a supervisor, a phone number, and place of veterinarian, the State Board of Agricul- employment ture, a team of rescuers, a horse trailer, a • The location of the incident water truck, or feed truck be needed for • The current location of the animal this call? Some of these questions may • The animal’s description, age, and only be answered after the officer has name responded. 26 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Arrival on Scene enforcement agency to assist you in Approach the location in a safe manner. writing and executing the warrant. On initial approach, make notes of first impressions. What do you see, smell, The Horse’s Environment hear? Is the horse in plain view, in a When investigating a horse abuse case, pasture, or in a stall? What will be the obtain an overall picture of the horse’s warrant considerations? Is the owner, environment. If prosecution is required, caretaker, informant, or suspect in the the judge or jury is going to look at the area? Is the horse in immediate danger? Is “totality of the circumstances.” The abuse the animal injured or does it have labored case must be an impartial finding of facts breathing? Is it standing or lying down? only. The officer’s job is to gather all the What is the overall condition of the horse? facts, present them to the district attorney. Can you see if there is food, water, or trace The district attorney, then, decides if there mineral block immediately accessible to is enough evidence to pursue the case. the horse? What is the fencing like? All of this information is vital to obtain a warrant Pasture or to use in court testimony, if necessary. In a pasture environment, focus on five areas: To determine if the horse is in immediate • Food sources danger, check the animal’s vital signs. • Water sources This includes body temperature, pulse, • Terrain respiration, mucous membranes, • Fencing dehydration, blood loss, serious injuries, • Shelter shock, or inability or unwillingness to move. If horse requires first aid, begin to Food Sources administer first aid right away. Also call a A horse’s digestive system is very veterinarian familiar with treating abused complicated. Because of this, the horse has horses immediately. You may also need to very special dietary needs. If the horse is make arrangement for transportation. Do given too much grain, for example, he not attempt transportation without the could become very ill or die. Furthermore, recommendation and supervision of a the horse’s teeth will continue to grow veterinarian. throughout its life. Horses require special attention to their teeth to keep them filed If the horse is not in immediate danger, down and working properly so that they investigation may begin. can properly chew their food. Become familiar with a horse’s digestive system Once emergency care is administered, because starving horses is one of the most decide if a warrant is needed for further common abuses seen. investigation. Does this situation require a warrant? Can you get written consent for a What the horse eats, how much the horse search and seizure from the owner or eats, and the quality of the food are all property manager in lieu of a warrant? factors in the weight of the horse. Where Know the legal ramifications of your does the horse’s food supply come from? decisions. If you are unfamiliar with Is the pasture the only source of food? writing a warrant, ask your local law What type of food is in that pasture? Is it alfalfa hay, grass hay, weeds, or dirt? The © 2010 American Humane Association 27 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation officer should collect samples of the food How much does the horse get fed? How supply in the pasture for nutritional quality often does the horse get fed? Ask the analysis. guardian what exercise the horse gets every day. If the horse is an event horse, Is the horse being fed hay that has been its nutritional requirements and food purchased? If so, do they have a receipt of intake will differ drastically from a horse that purchase? The officer will want to that walks back and forth in a paddock all collect the receipt and samples of that feed day. Is the horse eating properly or has the for evidence. Is the horse being fed grass guardian noticed any changes in the hay, alfalfa hay, pellets, sweet feed, grain, horse’s eating behavior? Has the horse or a combination of feeds? What is that been defecating normally or has he had combination? What classes or education diarrhea? has the guardian had on feeding horses? Are there any additives included with the Some weight issues with horses may be horse’s feed like vegetables, molasses, cod due to medical problems. When was the liver oil, beet pulp, or vitamin mixtures? horse’s last veterinary check up? Who is Having this information helps the the horse’s veterinarian? Is the guardian veterinarian, if there is a toxicity problem willing to sign a release of medical records in the horse. for the horse’s veterinary records? Will the officer have to get a warrant for this What is the visual quality of the hay? It is information? Does the guardian have any leafy, which indicates more nutritional, or receipts from the veterinary visits? When all stems? Is it dusty and moldy? These are were the horse’s teeth last floated (filed harmful to the horse’s health. How is the down)? The ability to chew the feed may hay stored? Is it left out in the open, is it in have a dramatic impact on the animal’s a barn, or is it covered with a tarp? How ability to maintain weight. When was the much hay is present? All of these horse last vaccinated or wormed? Does the questions help the officer develop a horse have a legitimate illness that would picture of how often and the quality of cause him to be skinny? Is that horse being food the horse is fed. treated for this illness?

From what type of container is the horse Water Sources being fed? Is the hay being tossed on the As a general rule, a resting horse ground for the horse to eat? Is that in a consumes about 12-15 gallons of water a clean stall or a feces covered floor? Is the day. Because of this, the horse must have horse eating all the feces in the stall access to large amounts of fresh water at because he isn’t getting enough food? Is all times. Factors affecting water intake the horse fed in a trough, an old tire, a include illness, air temperature, amount of metal stand, or a bucket? Are there nails or exercise, availability of shelter, amount of sharp objects that could hurt the horse or water, and the quality of water. prevent it from being able to get to the food? How and where is the grain stored? Illness may cause dehydration, or Does the horse have easy access to the dehydration may be a factor in a horse grain? Is there a chance the horse will get becoming ill. To see if the horse is in to the grain and founder? Is there a trace hydrated, part the horse’s lips so that the mineral block available to the horse? gums are exposed. Press gently on the

28 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation upper jaw gum to make that part of the location? Could this problem be solved gum go white or “blanching” the gum. The easily or will the horse need to be moved? gum should return to its normal color in less than 2 seconds. If it takes longer than Sometimes there are very easy solutions to that, the horse may be dehydrated or have solving watering issues. Many people a circulatory problem. If dehydration is a install automatic waters and heaters to concern, contact an equine veterinarian allow the horse access to fresh, unfrozen immediately. water at all times. Sometimes water has to be trucked in from long distances to Air temperature and exercise affect horses’ provide fresh water. There are many water intake. As the temperature goes up, solutions to many problems if the guardian there is a need for more water to keep the is committed to providing good care for horse hydrated. The same is true for the horse. exercise. The more the horse exercises, the more water he needs. Furthermore, it takes Terrain horses more calories to metabolize cold The pasture terrain can have a large impact water than it does tepid water. Therefore, on the horse’s safety. Pastures that are snow does not constitute a good water very wet and have standing water frequ- source for horses. Shelter also is a factor. ently, can lead to horse hoof and leg If the horse is able to find cool shelter damage. Open wells and old mines can from the hot sun, less water is required. mean a death sentence to horses if they get caught or hurt in one. Large holes in the When investigating horse abuse the terrain can lead to leg injuries. Swiftly amount and the quality of the water supply moving rivers can cause a horse to loose is a critical factor. What is the source of its footing and perhaps drown. Is the the water? Is the water in a bucket, a pasture a dumping yard? Is there trash, trough, a natural stream, an automatic debris, old cars stored in the pasture that waterer, or a stagnant pond? How much could hurt the horse? A good investigator was water was available to the horse when will take the time to walk the pasture and the investigator arrived? Was the water note any potential hazards that exist. container empty or full? Was the water frozen? What does the guardian do in Fencing order to keep the water from freezing Good fencing is a necessity for any horse when he/she is not around? Does it look enclosure. Thousands of horses each year like the water container is cleaned are injured due to poor fencing. Some of regularly? The officer should collect a these injuries my not require any medical water sample as evidence and to have it attention, but some may be serious enough examined for quality and contamination. to require euthanasia. The issues with fencing range from fencing being made of Sometimes accessibility of water limits the wrong material, to aging fencing, to holes guardian’s ability to provide adequate in the fencing. water to the horse. Does it look like the guardian has easy access to provide water Choosing proper fencing material can be for that horse? Is there a hose nearby? the difference between life and death to a Does the water have to be delivered by horse. What is the fencing material? Is the truck? How long has the horse been in that fence made of wood, barbed wire, regular

© 2010 American Humane Association 29 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation wire, electric wire, PVC, other piping, pastures. However, paddocks and stalls plastic, or some other material? If it is an have some unique traits that require electrical fence, where is the power special investigative attention. These traits source? Was that power source turned on? are bedding, roofing, stall stability, size, Is it properly grounded? Are there signs of and overpopulation. cribbing on the fence? Are there rusty nails or wire sticking out of the fencing Evaluate the stall bedding, roofing, and that could injure the horse? Is it sturdy stability in your investigation. What is the enough to keep the horses contained? Will bedding made of? Does it look like the the horse be able to run through the wire stall has been mucked daily or is the feces and tear up its chest or get entangled? packed down so far the horse has to lower his head to avoid hitting the roof of the Aging fencing is also a problem. At one stall? Does it look like the roof is in good time, the fence may have been strong and shape, just been re-roofed, or could it fall adequate to properly house a horse, but on the horse at any time? What conditions over time, the fence may have are the stalls and paddocks in? Are there deteriorated. Are the wooden boards still holes in the sides where horses have in good shape? Are the posts still upright kicked through them? Are the gates falling or is it leaning in places? Is the PVC brittle off the hinges or secured tightly? Could a and broken in places or still in good horse get injured by rough edges, holes, shape? Walk the fence and see if there are metal, or nails protruding from the stalls? any gaping holes in the fence due to boards falling down. Be sure to document Some jurisdictions keep strict laws on the the fencing in your report and take legal requirements for the size of stalls and pictures. the number of animals housed in those stalls. Be very familiar with those laws Shelters and be prepared to enforce them. Again, Shelters for horses in pastured areas may most of the time, the horse guardian is or may not be mandated by law in a given unaware of these laws and just needs to be jurisdiction. If a shelter is provided for the educated in order to update the facility. horse, the investigator must note the condition of the shelter, the material of Animal Documentation which it is made, what direction the shelter The reason animal cruelty investigators do faces, the size of the shelter, if that shelter the work they do is for their love of the provides adequate protection for the horse animals. The animals, in addition to being from the sun, rain, and snow, and any our source of inspiration, are also one of hazardous items that may injure the horse our greatest sources of evidence in cruelty as a result of the shelter. cases. Therefore, you must properly identify, document, and photograph each animal in an investigation. It is ideal to Paddock and Stalls photograph them where they were when Paddocks and stalls have similar you found them before taking them out of environmental issues as pastures. Good their stall for more detailed photographs. fencing, adequate food and water sources, and good terrain are as important in Photograph horses from a distance, paddocks and stalls as it was in the showing all sides of the horse, and then

30 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation closer in, showing the horse’s unique cause extreme pain. Most of these ailments markings. Take close up photos of injuries need to be treated by a veterinarian and a or problems due to neglect. good farrier.

Each animal identification must include Witnesses the following: In addition to the horses, witnesses are a • Species of animal great source of evidence. Witnesses can • Breed of animal provide great first-hand accounts of cruel • Sex acts or be the informant that alerted you to • Color the suffering animal. Witness accounts of • Size (how many hands, if known) the incidents will be only as accurate as • Markings on face and legs (i.e., their perception of the incident. For stars, blazes) instance, if a witness sees a man shoot a • Age horse in the head after hearing loud • Name screaming, the witness may think the man • Scars/tattoos/brands is being very cruel by shooting that horse for no reason. What if the man’s 10 year Include these minimum notations in the old daughter was walking near a field by veterinary report: her house, a vicious horse broke through a fence, started attacking the child, and • Henneke Body Condition score attempted to maul her to death? The man • Vital signs saw this from his kitchen window, ran out • Body temperature of the house, and shot the horse. Was the • Pulse witness’s statement inaccurate? The • Respiration rate witness said she saw the man shoot the • Mucous membranes horse for no reason. It was accurate • Hydration level because she never saw the horse mauling • Condition of teeth, coat, hooves, the girl because there was a fence blocking legs, ears, tail, mane, and any her view of the child. obvious injuries • Animal’s behavior (e.g., lethargic, Informants and witnesses may have afraid, calm, quiet, energetic, personal reasons for reporting the abuse. aggressive) They may not be completely truthful in • Overall examination of the horse their statements to you. They make report • Any medical diagnosis of any in retaliation for a variety of reasons (i.e., diseases or parasites bad divorce situation, ongoing a neighbor • Documentation on any injuries to dispute). Always check to see what the the horse complaint history is on the property, • Detailed necropsy, if warranted animal, or suspect. Furthermore, during the initial screening of the call, make sure Hooves are of special concern to the the call-taker asks if there is any investigator. Horses that have been relationship between the informant and the neglected may not have had their hooves suspect. If you find that the informant is trimmed or shoes fitted for years. They being untruthful in reporting the may have thrush, founder, navicular complaint, you may be able to charge that disease, or many other feet problems that person with false reporting.

© 2010 American Humane Association 31 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation witnesses in cases like this, so they rely on If you find that the complaint is a valid, the officer’s contact list of experts. and you have multiple witnesses, try to keep the witnesses separated. The reason Evidence Collection for this is to get each story from each The transfer of evidence rule states that person as they saw it. The information will whenever two surfaces or substances come be much more factual and less tainted by in to contact with each other, there is a other people’s perspectives. It is highly partial transfer of material from one to the recommended that you thoroughly other. Because of this, it is absolutely interview all witness before you interview critical that you protect your crime scene. the suspect. This gives you a larger, more You want to keep the scene in the condi- accurate picture of the account. tion it was found originally, and thus minimize the exposure to contamination. Video taping all interviews is preferred, One way to do this is to minimize the but not always practical. A transcribed number of people going in and out of the audio tape is helpful in court as well. Most crime scene and to use the same routes. district attorney’s want at least a well Keep an accurate log of who enters the written witness statement from each scene, the dates, and the times. This will witness included in the case file. This also be used in court. refreshes the witness’s memory if the case goes to trial at a later date. The officer Photography needs to make sure he has proper contact Use photography as the first form of information for the witness in case evidence collection, assuming that the prosecution goes to court. scene is stable and that there is no immediate threat of loosing the evidence due Expert Witnesses to weather conditions. Photograph every- It is critical for a good horse abuse thing in its original state before you start investigator to develop a strong collecting the evidence. Do not want to relationships and network with people move or touch anything without first from all aspects of the horse business. photographing it. If something does get These people need to include people who moved accidentally, do not guess where it board, train, rescue, and transport horses. was and photograph it. Photograph it as Veterinarians and farriers will also be you found it and document in your report important in your network. that it had been moved from its original location. These people can become good informants, educators, mentors. They can Create a photo log of what you photo- also provide expert testimony in abuse graph, with the picture location and time cases. Oftentimes, courts require these of day taken. Document the F-stop and people to testify based on their specific ASA if you know it. Do not use telephoto expertise about what is standard for the lenses, wide angle lenses, or filters. This horse industry. For example, veterinary distorts the reality of the picture and testimony will almost always be used in a makes it inadmissible in court. Start by horse abuse case. Often, district attorneys photographing the large picture, then do not know who to call as expert move to more detailed evidence. Be sure to include address identifiers such as the

32 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation address on a building in the photographs. evidence. Become familiar with the proper Maintain the chain of custody at all times way to collect fingerprints, footprints, for the film and the camera. In other hairs and fibers, blood evidence, and the words, document the times, dates, and like. There are many good classes and persons involved with handling books on the market about the subject. photographic evidence so that you can You must always follow proper collection limit chances of tampering or loss. and safety protocols.

Crime Scene Sketching It is absolutely critical to maintain chain of A crime scene sketch gives an aerial view custody so that the evidence collected of the scene. It is a small map of the scene. cannot be disputed by the defense. Know Document important evidence in the what type of evidence is placed into what sketch, including animal placement, view kind of packaging. For example, biode- of the barn, paddock, and pasture. Ideally, gradable material should be placed in the sketch is measured and drawn to scale. paper sacks, not plastic sacks. If a soda There are manufactured templates for can is being collected for possible these drawings at most police supply fingerprints, the fingerprints are biode- stores. In these drawings, north is always gradable. This needs to be put in a paper at the top. Do the sketch in ink and include sack. If you put the can into a plastic sack, it in the case file. Place a key on the sketch the “sweat” from that material could ruin that includes the case number, your name, all chances of collecting the print. the date, the time, the location, the scale (if used), and the suspect’s name. Properly label all packages with the following information: Crime Scene Notes • Your name Crime scene notes can be called in to • Date evidence. Because of this, be careful what • Case number you include in your notes or how you • Where found organize your notes. There are two • Suspect’s name methods accepted by the court. If you decide to keep your notes, you must have Also initial and date the tape seams. ALL your notes from all your cases. If courts call the case into question and you The evidence must be kept in a secure have all of your notes, but the notes place like a police evidence locker to needed, the court will be very suspicious maintain proper chain of custody. of you and may not allow your testimony. Interview and Interrogation The other method for organizing your Ideally, after you have investigated the notes is to destroy them after your report is crime scene properly and interviewed the complete. Again, you want to make sure witnesses thoroughly, you are ready to all of your notes are destroyed after your interview your suspect. Safety must report is filed. always be the officer’s first consideration.

Protecting Evidence Pre-interview There are so many different types of You should have as many details about the evidence and many ways to collect that crime as possible before you start the © 2010 American Humane Association 33 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation interview. Knowing the suspect’s criminal the suspect’s untruthfulness. Basic starting history will be a big advantage to you if questions include: you have access to that information as • Name well. Decide where the interview will take • Age place. Do you want the suspect at the • Date of birth police station for a video taped interview? • Place of birth Or, do you want to avoid a custodial • Marital status interview? Will you have them sign a • Occupation waiver of rights? • Place of employment

• Business address and phone If possible, prepare your location so that number you will be uninterrupted. Have two chairs Residential address and phone facing each other, with no table in • number between. You can use the space between you and suspect to your advantage in the • Driver’s license number interrogation. Have the case file and any evidence that you want to question the Ask the suspect to tell you what happened suspect readily accessible. Also, have a chronologically. Look for changes in body notebook handy for note taking. language to determine what information he may be leaving out or lying about. Try not The first few minutes of the interview are to interrupt. If the suspect does not want to the most important. It is critical that you talk, start by asking open ended, non- develop a rapport with the suspect if you judgmental questions. Once he completes are going to get him to confess. You may his story, you may go back and ask not agree with his crime, but you at least clarifying questions. must be able to empathize with him and make him feel like you understand and We recommend asking these two care. Offer the suspect a beverage and ask questions: if there is anything that could make him 1. Do you know who would do this to feel more comfortable. Is the temperature this horse? to hot or cold? Appropriate humor is 2. Why would someone do this to an always a good ice breaker. Thank the animal? suspect for agreeing to come down for taking the time out of their day to come If the suspect names someone else in down and assist by answering your answer to the first question, it is usually a questions. Explain why you asked them to sign of guilt. In answering the second come visit with you on this day. question, you may get an idea for his reasoning behind the abuse. For instance, Begin the interview with some very basic he may say that someone wouldn’t questions. The important part of this intentionally do it, but just didn’t have the exercise is to obtain information, but more financial resources to care for the animal. importantly, observe the person’s body Focus your questions on areas the suspect language. This will be critical in you skipped over in his narration. If he is evaluating what is normal body language detailed about most of the story, then he for the suspect and what is not. It is the leaves out large parts of another story, he unusual body language that will indicate is being deceptive or at least withholding. If he has been sitting back in the chair for 34 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation the whole story with his legs crossed, then only words you want out of your suspect uncrosses them and sits forward when you are a confession. ask a difficult question, it is a sign of deception. Pay attention to these details You go with a theme and build on that along with what is said. Even if the them. For example, in a case with a suspect insists on lying to you, if you lock financial theme, you’d say something like, him into a story and later can disprove the “I understand things have been really hard story, it looks great in front of a jury. Of on you financially lately with losing your course, a confession is ideal. job. It is perfectly understandable that you need to make some very hard choices. Do There are many different interview and you feed your family or your horse? Most interrogation schools that teach proper people in that situation would have to interview and interrogation techniques. make the same decision that you made. I One good one is Reid Method of Interview mean, you can’t let your kids starve and Interrogation (www.reid.com). right?”

Once you are done with the interview, Watch the suspect’s body language again. give the suspect a short break by leaving Is the suspect relating to your story, or are the room for a few minutes. This gives you you going to have to move on to another time to decide your interrogation themes. theme? If he is, now is the time to ask him Some examples of themes include: the question to give him a respectable way • Being financially unable to care for to explain the abusive behavior. Compare the horse the respectable excuse of your theme to a • Having too many horses and not vicious reason for the crime. “So, John, it being able to keep up with the care was because you had to choose between • Being very competitive, having to feeding your horse and your kids that you win the competition by training chose not to feed your horse for the last harder (i.e., put weights on horse’s two months, wasn’t it, John? I just don’t feet, neck) think it was because you are a heartless • Facing an aging horse that’s person who wants to watch animals suffer getting old (or maybe on the verge by starving to death. Which is it, John? of death), put it out to pasture to Are you a father that chooses feeding his die peacefully children over feeding his horse or a • Inheriting an unwanted horse, just heartless person who enjoys the suffering didn’t know how to care for it of animals?” properly Hopefully, at that point, your suspect Interrogation chooses the first choice to save his dignity. Your next step is to interrogate the Once the initial confession is made, ask suspect. Tell the suspect when you walk for details of the crime. Most people at this back in that you believe he has been point feel guilty and want to relieve their untruthful to you (if you believe so). If he guilt and stress by being honest about the is being honest, expect a very strong crime. Keep reinforcing that truthful denial. If he has been untruthful, the denial behavior by telling the suspect he is doing will be weak. From here, you do all the the right thing. A suspect will sometimes talking. Do not let the suspect speak. The ask for confirmation that he is not a bad

© 2010 American Humane Association 35 Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation person. Keep reassuring him that you concise, clear, and logical. Work hard to understand the situation he was in and that ensure they contain only facts, not you only want what is best for all parties opinions. The complete report includes involved. Do not negotiate any deals with pictures, sketches, and all officer, witness, the suspect without prior district attorney informant, and suspect statements. It approval. should also contain the evidence and the chain of evidence in the case. Include all Report Writing and Courtroom detailed veterinary and necropsy reports as Preparation well. See the American Humane Accurate reports make or break abuse and Association’s Operational Guide on cruelty cases. Write your reports in a Investigations for a more thorough chronological narration of the who, what, discussion of report writing, courtroom when, where, why, and how of the case. preparation, and strategies. Strive to make reports accurate, complete,

36 © 2010 American Humane Association Operational Guide for Animal Care and Control Agencies: Horse Care and Abuse Investigation Resource Guide American Veterinary Medical Association Southern States Cooperative, Inc. 1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100 P.O. Box 26234 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360 Richmond, VA 23260-6234 847-925-8070 www.avma.org The Mane Points, Horse Resource Center www.manepoints.com American Horse Council 1616 H Street NW 7th Floor The Horse: Washington, DC 20006 Your Guide to Equine Health Care 202-296-4031 PO Box 919003 www.horsecouncil.org Lexington, KY 40591-9003 www.thehorse.com American Horse Rider www.AmericanHorseRider.com American Farrier’s Association www.Horses-and-Horse-Information.com 4059 Iron Works Pkwy. Suite 1 Lexington, KY 40511 Acreage Equines 859-233-7411 www.acreageequines.com/index.html Fax 859-231-7862 Email: [email protected] North American Riding for the www.americanfarriers.org/index.asp Handicapped Association, Inc. PO Box 33150 Denver, Colorado 80233 800-369-RIDE www.narha.org