Sheriff's deputies say many of the horses were malnourished and some were in confined spaces. Deputies say they had to use machinery to pry the gate off one of the stalls, because it was blocked by so much manure.
The News On 6's Steve Berg reports Roberta Christian pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty Monday, and gets a four-year deferred sentence.
Christian avoided our camera at the Tulsa County Courthouse after she entered her plea on Monday. She was originally charged with two-dozen counts of animal cruelty, although all but one of those were dropped. As part of her sentence, she will be supervised and the judge ruled she can not own or possess any more animals.
The animals she did own are still at Tom Giles Ranch in Pryor, where he's cared for them for the past three months.
"Some of them were pretty thin, and some of them I guess had been in such a small place, a few of the mares, they couldn't hardly walk, they just staggered when they walked," said rancher Tom Giles. "Y'know, if you sat for two months and then got up, you'd almost have to learn to walk again."
Giles says all but one of the horses, a stallion who had serious problems with his front feet, have recovered.
"They run and played and you could tell they were glad to be out, and they could kick up their heels and play a little bit," Giles said.
Giles says he was told by the sheriff's office that the horses will go up for sale on Saturday, September 8th, except for the stallion, which they're hoping someone will adopt, because they say he will need special medical attention.
"And the vet said that he thinks he'll get okay, but it's going to take him about a year," said Giles.
Roberta Christian's husband Darrell Christian pleaded guilty to six counts of animal cruelty. He also received a four year (suspended) deferred sentence.
The horses will be auctioned off on Saturday, September 8th at the Collinsville Stockyards. The stockyards are located just off U.S. Highway 169 at 36th Street North. The 21 horses will be auctioned during the horse portion of the auction. That portion of the auction will get underway at 12:30 p.m. on September 8th. For more information call Collinsville Livestock Sales at 918-371-4422.
(NewsOn6 - Aug 31, 2007)
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