The rehabilitation effort for 69 horses found in an alleged state of neglect on a Grass Lake, Mich., farm has begun. A rescue group coordinating the effort is requesting assistance from area horse people and farmers.

Laura Steenrod, a northern Jackson County farm owner representing Leelanau Horse Rescue, is coordinating donations.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response from local farmers and horse people contributing hay,” Steenrod said. “Hay is, of course, is going to be our main resource. But as this situation develops and grows and these mares start to foal our wish lists are going to shift and change. We’re asking for people who would like to donate funds would please do that through the Leelanau Horse Rescue.”

Horse owners wishing to donate hay can call Steenrod at 517/937-0526. Monetary donations should be sent to Leelanau Horse Rescue, P.O. Box 859, Leland, MI, 49654, earmarked for the Jackson County Rescue.

Steenrod said the farm was a breeding operation, and 30 of the impounded horses are broodmares nearing parturition. An additional 17 yearlings and several stallions were found locked in a barn on the property.

“We’ve got everything,” Steenrod said. “From I-can’t-believe-they’re-still-on-four-feet-walking-and-breathing to some of them who don’t look too bad. This is survival of the fittest at its rawest form.”

Officials have not yet located the horses’ owners, although warrants are out for their arrest. According to Steenrod, no one is certain how long owners James Henderson Jr. and Matthew Mercier have been absent from the property.

“According to the state veterinarian, who came in and examined the horses upon the retrieval of the Jackson County Animal Control, they think the horses have had little to no nourishment since back in the fall,” Steenrod said.

The horses are now under official state quarantine, and cannot leave the property. They will not be available for fostering, adoption, or sale until a court orders the owners to pay restitution, or the animals are forfeited.

For more information see www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9276.