JMiller, those are articles before yesterday, there may have been more charges yesterday. As far a legal terminology goes, I believe you can refer to a legal dictionary for definitions, perhaps the library has one? If not, you will be able to get definitions on the web.

To address Walktrot's concerns. It is a fact based statement that I am about to make. A undisclosed party has offered to pay Ron Swift $7,000.00 for the horses. Timberline Vets were asked to provide Mr. Swift with the offer of $7,000.00 for the 6 Bailey horses. Timberline Vets said they would not give the offer to Mr. Swift. Why would these vets not be willing to help in this matter?

In a statement to Gia58, Mr. Swift said he couldn't afford to feed the horses. First I would recommend that he let all the horses graze on the 1600 acre ranch that is filled with lush grass. This would alleviate any food costs as far as hay for Mr. Swift.

If Mr. Swift was concerned about not having the money to pay for feed, he could give the horses up to good homes and end up with $7,000 in his pocket. That could be a very happy ending, especially for the poor hungry little horses.

Kudos to the person making the offer. Perhaps the accused will know know of the offer since it is posted here and take the generous offer. One can always hope.

Respectfully to all reading this thread, moderators included, the factual part of this admonition is a relative term and a bit silly, facts have been and still are sorely lacking. Just because someone says 'this is a fact' doesn't make it so.

An above post contains a fact according to the poster, In A Whisper. If the party making this offer isn't disclosed it isn't a fact as far as I am concerned. It's just someone posting here say. And it has no bearing on the legal outcome. I thought this was about the truth and justice. It still is for me.

I have a few 'facts' as well. One of them being you just can't turn out sick horses on pasture and not have the possibility of digestive problems which can be fatal.

"..too much grass too soon can do them great harm. After a winter diet of hay and concentrates, a horse turned out to graze at will in lush new pasture is at risk for colic as well as laminitis. "

http://voices.yahoo.com/lush-spring-gra ... 43699.html

the above link, just one in a long list of links if you google, goes on to describe other serious physical ailments to horses left to graze at will on new grass. I would propose that already compromised or recovering animals would be more frail and at greater risk to these painful and potentially deadly gastric problems.

Any one who knows horses should have this factual information.

But it is more fitting to the cause to say slanderous damaging things like the horses are being punished and tortured. When in fact it is in the interest of the horses health to not be doing what In A whisper is lamenting is punishment and torture. The fact of the matter is, those statements were made.

Who said that at some point lack of knowledge becomes neglect, I think Ingrid and Joe. So if In A Whisper turned out the horses to graze, regardless of their medical condition, and they fell ill I guess the fact of the matter is you could be sited for misdemeanor cruelty because you acted with lack of knowledge, maybe not malice of intent but possibly reckless, since you should know better...

It seems in this case it is the owner who is acting in a more responsible manner for the well being of these animals.

I am always taken back when I see people who really do know better, and they see irresponsible things posted, but choose to remain silent and therefore infer approval of such things.

Or I can be jumped on for being harsh, but when the other side makes equally or more maligning statements, no one has anything to say. Selective outrage? Bias?

I can also make statements of 'fact' from at least three sources, "undisclosed, at this time" that the horses have been on antibiotics but the parties that wish to destroy the owner never seem to post that because it doesn't coincide with the fact that you want the public to believe he simply starved them and there is nothing else wrong with them.

I can say whatever I please and some people will believe me.
Others can say whatever they please and will be believed.
That doesn't make these posts facts.

Sometimes emotions over ride logic and I am seeing way too much of that going on. I am urging everyone reading these posts to not let emotions take over.

I am asking the public to reserve judgement and wait. Now wait longer.

This isn't black and white and after looking through the Corral forum and seeing posts back into last year about a scarcity of hay, about hay being brought in from out of state, about posts concerning botulism and tainted hay, and other extenuating circumstances, it creates reasonable doubt in my mind.

to walktrot, the person, In A Whisper was at the trial yesterday and said there are four charges each. Is that a fact or not?

I could not be there because I have a busy life and other responsibilities, and I do not simply think you are biased, it is a fact that you are biased. Anyone with eyes can see it in your posts.

I am awaiting a call back from a legal point of view. I don't want to read dictionary definitions of legalese.

There are reasons why charges are stated and applied in the particular way they are and they are unique to each set of circumstances. Sometimes a more egregious situation will have lesser charges prosecuted(misdemeanor/felony) in the hope of proving at least something.
Sometimes it is because the circumstances indicate that something is wrong but there was no malice of intent. Or if extenuating circumstances prohibited appropriate care and illness or harm resulted. That isn't abuse in my mind, but it may be neglect.

This is not black and white. That is a fact.

We can write a check today for those horses and that is a flat out fact. Timberline vets would not present the offer to Swift.

My vet said that “Little Big Man” needs access to all the hay he wants and in addition he can have a flake of alfalfa in the morning and evening. So you can go get your facts straight lady. Maybe you should call Littleton Animal Hospital or Harmony Equine Center and ask what the horses were being fed while in their care.

We all have busy lives but some of us believe that we need to put these poor Bailey horses ahead of the things that we typically do each day in or own lives. We have chosen to give our time and will continue to do so. My husband runs a large company and has made time for these horses. What have you done other than belly ache about this whole situation?

It is a fact that Swift and Hatlee are charged with 4 counts of Animal Abuse. The transcripts of the court are public knowledge……..so instead of your continuing rants why don’t you go get a copy for yourself so you can see the truth and quit complaining.