Volunteers seek to save seized Gage County horses from the auction block

CRETE, Neb. (KLKN) – The fate of more than three dozen horses will be decided at an upcoming auction.

Epona Horse Rescue is raising money to buy each of the horses involved in an animal neglect case in Gage County to ensure their safety.

“These horses and the 17 to 19 that died deserve justice,” said Lin Guyton, the owner of Epona.

She and all of the volunteers are hoping to give the horses a second chance after they were dropped off in poor condition last summer.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office seized more than three dozen horses from vet clinics in Beatrice and Pickrell.

Deputies also cited veterinarian Dr. Jennafer Glaesemann with 37 counts of animal neglect.

The sheriff’s office said at least 17 horses died while under Glaesemann’s care.

The case drew immediate attention.

“You don’t expect a vet to treat animals like that,” said Epona volunteer Nancy Fleck. “Not just that she’s a vet, but a human being.”

The Gage County attorney has not yet charged Glaesemann.

On Monday, Channel 8 reached out to his office, which said he wasn’t available to comment.

Glaesemann previously blamed toxic hay and diseases for the deaths.

Since the horses have been at Epona, Guyton said they’ve fully recovered.

“They’re healthy, they’re happy,” she said. “Horses that wouldn’t let us go near them in the beginning are following us around, chewing on our shirts.”

Last Friday, Guyton and the volunteers found out that 37 horses are headed to an auction in Palmyra on Saturday.

“Honestly, I burst into tears,” said Tanya Martin-Dick, a volunteer at Epona. “We have spent six months trying to rehab them. So for that to be their fate is just unimaginable.”

Immediately, Martin-Dick knew the rescue had to do something.

She created a GoFundMe page so Epona can buy each of the horses back and keep them at the rescue until they find their forever homes.

Guyton fears that if Epona doesn’t buy them, the horses could end up in a slaughterhouse or a backyard breeder.

“It’s horrifying to think what the end result for this sale could be, which is why we’re doing the fundraising,” she said.