Published: July 02, 2009 04:09 pm      

Last horse found dead on fly-over

11 horses dehydrate at 3,000 acre ranch

Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

DICEY — The number of horses found dead on a 3,000-acre piece of property near Weatherford Lake climbed to 10 Thursday when authorities discovered the body of the final unaccounted-for animal during a helicopter flight over the property.

Of 40 horses originally present, 29 are reportedly receiving treatment, 10 were found dead and one was euthanized by Parker County Animal Control officials, according to Deputy Danie Huffman, a spokesperson for the Parker County Sheriff’s Office.

An investigation was launched Wednesday after a passing motorist reported witnessing a horse struggling to get up at the property, located in the 4500 block of FM 730 near the community of Dicey.

A veterinarian advising animal control officers was unable to determine exactly how long the horses had been without water but told investigators the animals had not been fed adequately, according to the release.

Investigators are unsure how long a water well on the property has been non-functional.

A ranch hand was reportedly hired to care for 40 horses on the property.

Seven of the dead horses were buried Wednesday, said Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a good idea today what the total facts of this situation are, and then our findings, as soon as our investigation is complete, will be forwarded to John Forrest, our county attorney,” Fowler said. “I was a horse owner and rodeoed a lot of years and I can assure you I’m very upset about this.”