Bonham, TX – Three horses were found dead today and several others severely mal-nourished on a horse ranch in Fannin County. Six other horses had to be euthanized because they were in such poor health. The owners say they hadn’t realized the horses were so severely mal-nourished.

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“A worker was out in the area and saw carcasses of horses and then a bunch of skinny horses,” said Deanne Murillo, an investigator at Habitat for Horses.

Owner Kim Dotson said now she just wants the horses to be taken care of.

“Anything that gets them medical attention is what needs to happen,” said Dotson.

Dotson and her husband own 117 acres in Fannin County and they had about 35 horses on that property. They said they figured all that land and a 7 acre lake would be enough to sustain the horses.

Deanne Murillo said the problem is there just wasn’t enough value of feed on the land without supplemental feed. There isn’t much grass on the ranch, but mainly weeds, which horses don’t eat.

“We’re just grabbing who we can and making sure the ones with the most need get transported quicker,” said Murillo as they rounded up the sick horses.

Overall Habitat for Horses took 23 horses from the Dotson’s property. Murillo said tomorrow they will be looked at and treated individually.

“We’ll have the vet out, we’ll doctor them, we’ll start them on food, lots and lots of hay, and then we’ll be looking for new homes for them,” said Murillo.

She believes that all of the horses will find new homes.

But Dotson said she feels bad about the situation, and said she had noticed the horses had a serious hoof disease called Flounders when she visited the ranch last Saturday.

“Terrible… It was bad enough when I came out on Saturday and they had foundered and had to deal with them and then have to deal with it again,” said Dotson.

Murillo told the Dotson’s that they need to come out and check on the horses three to four times a week and check them all out. She explained you need to make sure none of them have scrapes or cuts.

Both Murillo and Dotson said the couple got in over the heads with having so many horses on their land.

“That can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying pretty much to do it by yourself lots of times or with just one other person helping,” said Dotson. “And when you work full time jobs you don’t always have time to get out like you need to.”

Murillo said that three of the horses are already going to a children’s riding group. She said if anyone would like to help by donating hay, money or adopting horse, go to their website www.habitatforhorses.com or call at 1-866-434-5737

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