Another horse rescued from Floyd Co. herd shooting

SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) — A Floyd County horse rescue has saved another horse from the strip mine where 20 horses were shot and killed in mid-December.

Still, sheriff’s deputies haven’t made any arrests. Deputies say they’re following up on credible tips that should hopefully lead to an arrest.

20 horses shot and killed and somehow six survived.

“We don’t really know how they escaped that because for somebody to have shot 20 horses it wasn’t just a quick, random situation,” says Kentucky Humane Society’s president Lori Redmon.

The Kentucky Humane Society has now taken in three of the six remaining horses from the herd. We told you two weeks ago the first two – a pregnant mare and her colt – had safely arrived.

The third, a filly, was rescued this weekend.

Three more are still left vulnerable at the strip mine where their herd mates were shot.

It’s been very hard to rescue them. Dumas Rescue has to use a tractor to pull the trailer up there and if the ground is wet, it’s nearly impossible.

They were getting close when someone fired an automatic rifle in the distance spooking them.

“We get the positive side of a very horrific situation,” says Redmon.

She applauds Floyd County officials and Dumas Rescue for all their hard work.

The three rescued horses are named Hope (the pregnant mare), Knox (Hope’s colt) and Diamond (the yearling).

Saturday, came a sweet reunion.  Diamond isn’t just Hope’s herd mate but also her baby.
Now, mom, brother, and sister wait together safely for the next foal.

“It saddens me greatly to see what somebody did to these horses but it also gives me hope that horses are so resilient that these horses can thrive after going through something like that,” says Redmon.

Something like that and still, they trust strangers, allowing them to feed and pet them.

“I don’t know if we as human beings would be quite as forgiving if we went through something like that and these guys are ready to carry on. They’re ready to get on with their life and that part makes me happy and hopeful for a brighter future for them,” says Redmon.

Caring for these horses are very expensive.

To donate to the KY Humane Society, click here.

To donate to Dumas Rescue out of Floyd County, click here.