A group of at least five horse owners is looking to pursue legal action against Lane County. Their horses are part of the 61 horses that were seized from a Creswell property last week.
About six months ago, Stephanie Judeen left her three horses under the care of Gwyneth Davies. Davies owns DeLeonaro Training Center, a horse training facility in Crewell. Davies was arrested and cited for felony animal neglect in the second degree after locals complained about possible neglect on Oct. 30.
The Register-Guard reports at least 3 dead horses were found on the property. A few of the horses were seen eating their own feces and wooden posts.
Judeen said she left her horses with Davies while she moved from California to Montana. Davies had participated in a few of the same horse shows as Judeen, and Judeen said Davies always took good care of her horses. She didn’t see a reason not to leave her horses with Davies.
Since the seizure of the horses by the Lane County District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office, Judeen said she doesn’t know where her horses are.
“I would like to know that my horses are in good condition. I would like to know what a licensed veterinarian has deemed their condition to be, and if they will continue to refuse to allow us to see them,” Judeen said.
She added that her biggest concern isn’t whether Davies is guilty or not. That’s for a jury to decide, she said, she just wants her horses back.
The horse rescue currently sheltering the animals, Sound Equine Options (SEO), told KLCC they’re unable to share information on location and condition because these horses are considered evidence. They’re now part of an ongoing criminal investigation involving Davies. SEO could only confirm the horses were being sheltered in the Portland metro area at multiple locations.
SEO has partnered with law enforcement in previous neglect cases, including one case in Linn County where 34 horses were seized.
