The first shipment of donated hay made its way to a Yellowstone County ranch to help save hundreds of starving horses in what could be one of the largest animal abuse cases in Montana history.
Hay — 100 tons — was donated by the Valley M Ranch in Red Lodge and hauled to the Home Place Ranch where investigators say horses were left without food, water or veterinary care by the ranch's former owner.
Manager Justin Mills, manager for the NILE Foundation, said offers to help the horses were pouring in from around the world. "We've had people shoot emails from Australia wanting to know what's going on. We find that people from outside the local, immediate region, it's a cash donation that's coming in."
Some have offered to take and care for several of the animals. Others have volunteered to take feed and water troughs out to the land. NILE Rodeo managers and the Department of Livestock have also stepped forward and offered help.
Mills said the donated hay should last the horses for a couple of weeks.
Yellowstone County residents and ranchers have rallied since learning of the dire situation.
Five horses have died and at least 400 more were in danger of dying, and Billings-area rancher James Leachman is being charged with five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
"This is a case where a rancher isn't caring for his horses," Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said. "The investigation showed that there are a number of horses out there that are threatened they don't have adequate food or water to survive."
KULR-8 tried to contact Leachman, but his phone appeared to have been disconnected.
Twito said 500 horses were roaming across land stretching from Home Place Ranch east of Billings into Big Horn County.
"I've been consulting with Sheriff Mike Linder and we've been discussing basically trying to bring every interested entity we can to the table to help alleviate this terrible situation," he said.
"I know that the situation is dire so we are really considering options and how to act to facilitate the security of these horses to the extent we can," Twito said.
In earlier developments, veterinarian Jeff Peila called the horses "strong animals" that can live through harsh conditions. He said many of the animals lived off ice and the little bit of grass they were able to find.
That wouldn't be enough to sustain them for very long, but if they were nursed back to health soon, many could live full lives, he said.