Animal Control Seized Retired Polo Horses
Thursday, September 3, 2009

This information was submitted to PoloZONE in an effort to get the word out and try and help these retired polo horses. Please share this on your Facebook pages and blogs.

A polo pony retirement organization was neglecting the retired polo horses they had and animal control has stepped in and seized some of the horses. Those horses that were in okay condition were not seized, but given to a third party and the guy is trying to sell them. Those polo players who donated horses to this particular organization can try and get their donated horses back. If they are part of the 20 that were given to this third party, there is a class action lawsuit building in an effort to get the horses back from the guy who is trying to sell them.

Details are described below.

Submitted by Lindsey Hays

Below is some information that I’ve been attempting to spread the word in the polo community about a situation that needs urgent attention. Sarah Greenhalgh is investigating it now and has gotten a lot of useful information… However, we are trying to let everyone know that if they donated a polo pony to the Polo Pony Retirement Foundation, they need to contact Animal Control (Officer Patricia Dahl, number of AC is 540-672-9725) IMMEDIATELY as the only way to get the ponies back from this Mulford guy is to ID them all and file a class action lawsuit… But we’re afraid that he will get rid of them, sell them off (especially to a kill buyer) immediately, so IDing the horses ASAP is imperative. Can you help me get the word out?

By Hannah Wever Staff Writer Published: August 20, 2009

Orange County authorities have seized a herd of horses and three dogs from the property of Mine Run resident Nancy Sorrell Mackall after being alerted that the horses were malnourished, and that a number of horses had died and their carcasses were lying in the field.

According to Orange County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Murphy, after a neighbor reported concern for animals on Mackall’s property, animal control officers arrived at the farm to discover a grisly scene. Murphy said there were a total of 20 horses on the farm. While 10 of those horses were “in fair condition,“ turned out on pasture with access to water and adequate grazing, another 10 “were in dire need of assistance.“In addition, Murphy said animal control officers discovered dogs which had been confined to crates without care, and a horse that had been confined inside a gooseneck trailer.“The evidence was that he’d been in there quite a while,“ Murphy said.

Disturbingly, Murphy said authorities found 20 dead horses on Mackall’s property in “various states of decomposition.“ Mackall was in Orange County General District Court Aug. 12 for a civil proceeding related to the animals seized from her property. In court Wednesday, Orange County Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler said animal control officers seized 10 horses and three dogs from the property.

Mackall also faces 20 counts of failing to bury or cremate animals, and 10 counts of animal cruelty. Both offenses are misdemeanors. If found guilty, Nancy Mackall could face steep fines and even jail time. She is due in court Aug. 21 for a hearing.

Mackall, who is being represented by her uncle, Fairfax attorney Douglas Mackall, told General District Court Judge Edward Carpenter that as part of his client’s agreement with the commonwealth’s attorney, ownership of all of the horses and likewise two of the three dogs, would be permanently surrendered. Per the agreement, custody must be relinquished within 45 days and Mackall is forbidden to own animals-apart from one of the dogs-for two years.

“We’re just going to get rid of those horses except for one,“ Douglas Mackall said in court. Douglas Mackall will become legal owner of one of the horses that belonged to his niece prior to the seizure. Nancy Mackall is responsible for reimbursing the sheriff’s office for veterinary, transportation and boarding expenses on the seized animals.

“The horses that were seized will remain in our custody,“ Orange County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Patricia Dahl explained.

Currently, one horse is being cared for at the Orange County Animal Shelter; the rest of those seized by animal control are in foster homes, until permanent suitable homes can be found.

The info below is copied from Lindsey Hays’ Facebook page (if you friend me on Facebook, you can see it all):

William Tyler Tankard My mother gave two horses to this lady. Do you know of any way to track them down?

Joseph Muldoon stupip idiot should never be allowed around horses. Sarah she may have still had one of my Dad’s mares. How can I find out?

Liv Stringer The gelding I knew that was sent there was a plain chestnut thoroughbred, the mare a very aged bay with a prominent white star. Keeping up hope for them!!

Destination Polo Apparently
10 of the horses that were picked up and in better shape were taken by Gardiner Mulford of Culpeper VA. When contacted by former owners as to the possibility of picking up the horses that they had supposedly retired, he said that he wouldn’t “give” any horses back, but they were all available for sale between $1500 and $3500. If anyone wants to contact his numbers are Cell-703-303-2090 Office-540-423-9607

Sarah Greenhalgh Okay… here is the deal. I have talked to both the HS and AC. The unfortunate thing is it is now a Civl matter, not a criminal matter. The horses were given to this man by the then owner Mackall to this third party.

But because it is a breach of contract, because the original owners gave the horses in good faith to the Foundation, not expecting them to EVER be on the market again… a class action lawsuit against Gardiner Mulford could work. But they need to get together and ID all the horses before he dumps them or sells them off, especially since he could sell them to a killer buyer quick.

Animal Control would like ALL parties involved to contact them with complete description of their horses because this is still a criminal case against Mackall.

Sarah Greenhalgh Most importantly they need to be ID so the criminal animal abuse charges will stick with Mackall. Excellent descriptions will help in the matter, that is markings, tattoos, scars, and natural markings. Officer Patricia Dahl needs your help with id-ing all the horses and may know what the dead ones looked like.

Horses were given to Mulford (by Mackall) so technically they are in his possession and AC cannot seize them back. But taking him to civil court and getting a court order right now, making sure he does not sell them are why Ids are made, is crucial.

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If you wouldn’t mind, can you post for people to email me (lindsey@nantuafarm.com) with information about their donated horses, especially their names (registered names, barn names, etc.) as well as descriptions, markings, tattoos and whether they were chipped. They have also seized her records and there are no descriptions, but there are names, so that would help tremendously. I’m in contact with the animal control officer and she is working very hard to help. Also there is a stallion who is about 10 years old that they are desperately trying to place. He was also seized and was a 1 on the body scale. Only weighed 600 lbs when seized. He’s a chestnut, about 15-15.1 hh with a star and snip on his nose, 2 white socks and a coronet on his left hind foot. Obviously, because he’s a stallion, it’s way harder to place him. They are unsure whether he was donated or part of her breeding program. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done.
Lindsey