Rescued horses healing for March 29 auction

The 10 neglected horses recently taken in by a local rescue program have all been nursed back to health, according to a co-founder of the program, Triple R Ranch.

"We have had outstanding support from various local Rotary Clubs which have contributed $2,500 to care for the horses," said Christine Taylor. "We are now hoping the equine community will come out and offer them good homes."

Taylor said that money has been used to trim all the mares' feet, pay for veterinarian bills and deworming, and buy hay for food.

Although the young horse has since made a full recovery, Taylor said, the weanling in the group was infested with worms and developed colic.

"If you don't catch it in time, it can develop into twisted intestines, which can be fatal," Taylor said.

On March 5, at about 10 p.m., an emergency call was made to Dr. Ernesto Sandigo, who came to the ranch and treated the horse.

Taylor said she believes all the horses to be of an Andalusian mix, one of which being a thoroughbred. The horses are five adult mares, one weanling, two yearlings, a 2-year-old filly and a 3-year-old stallion colt.

On Feb. 27, deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence in the 6700 block of Hope Avenue in reference to a neglected animal case.

Deputies found 11 horses on the property, located off 8th Street near Somerton Avenue. One of the horses had to be euthanized, while the other 10 animals were turned over to the ranch.

The horses did not have any water or hay available when deputies arrived. Subsequent interviews by YCSO personnel with neighbors led them to discover the horses' reported owner, Roberto Robles, was an illegal immigrant who had recently been deported to Mexico.

"Their water tanks were dry and dusty. Once we filled them with water, the horses came right over," Taylor said. "There also wasn't a hay source on the property. For 10 horses you need a stack of hay because they go through about two bales a day."

The Triple R Ranch is holding an auction March 29 at the Yuma County Sheriff's Posse Grounds, located on Avenue A near County 14-1/4 Street to sell the horses, according to Taylor.

The auction is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and the horses can be previewed from 8 to 9:45 a.m., Taylor said. The bidding will start at $100.

Originally, the horses had been turned over to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, which was going to sell them at an auction in Phoenix. However, state Sen. Amanda Aguirre of Yuma convinced state officials to allow the animals to be auctioned locally.

"By law, state-seized animals have to be sold by auction," Taylor said. "This is a good option because they remain in Yuma County and they have a better chance of finding a home here."

Triple R Ranch is a contracted holding pen for the department, and as such, took in the horses until they were to be transported to Phoenix.

Taylor said the ranch was able to set up a public auction in Yuma that satisfied the state law by purchasing insurance, hiring an auctioneer and opening it to the public.

"Opening the auction to the public is something we don't like, but we have to follow the law," Taylor said. "It opens the auction to people we would rather not sell to, but there is a better chance of them finding a home here."

All participants must register before the start of the auction and show a valid state identification. Bidders must also be at least 18 years old.

All proceeds will be sent to the state animal service division.

"We are just the facilitators," Taylor said.

Taylor added that all winning bids are to be paid in full, in the form of cash or check, immediately after the close of auction. No sealed or prebidding will be accepted.

Checks are to be made payable to Arizona Department of Agriculture. All sold animals are to be picked up by 3 p.m. that day.

Triple R is the only horse rescue agency in Yuma County.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.