Riders showcase the feral, starved horses, who now have a year of acclimation and training, at Appy Fest, held in April 2019 in Mechanicsville, MD.
When Maryland horse trainer Elizabeth Schneider brought the appaloosa pony Marquis to her Prince Frederick farm in February, he was angry and wild. His distrust of humans ran so deep that he reacted violently to the slightest touch, trying to kick or strike out at anyone who tried to handle him.
Marquis was among the more than 100 horses, most of them appaloosas, removed from a Wicomico County, Md., farm in March 2018.
The horses were all suffering from lack of veterinary care and living in deplorable conditions amid the skeletal remains and decaying carcasses of dozens of their former pasture mates. Four horses were so emaciated and suffering from other related maladies they had to be euthanized. And without any human interaction, most all were feral.
It was the second largest seizure of horses in Maryland in recent memory for which owner Barbara Pilchard was sentenced last month to five years of probation, infuriating many of those who have shouldered the burden of the horses since then.
Rescue groups and individuals have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in vet care and feed for the so-called “Quantico horses,” and logged thousands of hours of training. Stallions have been gelded, pregnant mares have given birth to foals and some of the horses have found adoptive homes. But there is still a long road ahead for many of the equine victims.
Last month 14 members of the “spotted brigade” were put through their paces during “Appy Fest” at the bucolic Eldorado Farm in Mechanicsville, Md., which is owned by Last Chance Animal Rescue. They paraded on lead lines. They circled the ring under saddle at a walk, trot and canter. They navigated tarps and plywood boards and pool noodles in the obstacle class. One even pulled a buggy. It was all part of an effort to demonstrate the distance the horses have come and their achievements since their rescue.
Marquis, who under Schneider’s patient training had slowly come to realize that he no longer had to fear humans, was among those in the ribbons.
“He won all trail classes; it was such a source of pride,” said Schneider. “He went from a horse that didn’t want to be near me, to a horse that would follow me through fire.”
Last Chance Animal Rescue originally took in 29 horses including 13 stallions and pregnant mares, but saw their numbers balloon to 44 with foals and rescue turnovers.
The event in May was the second Appy Fest designed to show off the horses’ progress to potential adopters with trainers coming from as far as Kentucky.
“A lot of old friends greeting each other,” said Cindy Sharpley, Last Chance Animal Rescue’s founder and director, as a chorus of whinnies broke out across the property. “It’s an opportunity for trainers to meet and adoptive families see the horses up close.”
Pilchard Sentenced
Just a week after the show, Barbara Pilchard, 74, received her sentence from a Wicomico County judge after being convicted on 39 of 56 counts of cruelty. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison with all time suspended, and fined $13,000 for the 13 horses which were the subject of cruelty charges.
Pilchard was also ordered not to possess any animals during her five year probationary period, during which time mental health counseling is required, and will be subject to random inspections. She could be sent to jail if violations occur, prosecutors said.
Pilchard is appealing the case.
When word of the sentence reached the Quantico horses Facebook page, it prompted a flurry of angry posts.
“Disgraceful no justice for cruelty and animals that died and were starved to death without medical care. Horrible,” wrote one.
“Shameful! She should have to pay back all the Rescue’s that stepped up to help take all of her starving animals! The Judges on these type of cases need to put some BITE into the Sentencing to make sure their Citizens know they will be punished if they abuse and starve animals!” posted another.
Sharpley had hoped Pilchard would at least be barred for life from owning animals. “I can only hope she is not on this earth when the probation ends,” she said. “She’s proven to be a hoarder and she will hoard again.”
Sharpley, who took in the largest number of horses, said the fine was “a travesty of justice.” She said her group, whose core mission is rescuing dogs and cats, has spent over $200,000 on the care of 44 horses. The Maryland Fund for Horses, which among its objectives is to provide “safety net” services and create innovative solutions for owners and horses in need, pitched in to geld 19 rescued stallions, organized the two Appy Fests and sponsored the trainers’ challenge.
Prosecutors Disappointed
Deputy State’s Attorney Billy McDermott said he understood the outrage from the horse community over the sentence, but defended his office’s prosecution, saying they had sought 13-month jail sentence - one month for each of the horses - and tried hard to give voice to the voiceless animals who suffered.
“We thought jail was appropriate, said McDermott. “I understand she’s an elderly woman but other than punishment we needed to send a message to the community that law enforcement is taking this seriously and that she was being held accountable.”
He said they are seeking restitution as well.
McDermott said the publicity surrounding the case has raised awareness locally and in other states about the need to report animal abuse and the importance of enforcing the law. “On the plus side, everyone in Wicomico County is more sensitive now,” he said. “The sheriff’s department will have it in the back their minds and be more responsive about the needs in these cases.”
Christine Whaley, of Bridgeville, Del., who with her trainer husband and REACT rescue took in 10 of the Quantico horses, praised the work of prosecutors, but said the case is an example of why Maryland’s laws need to be strengthened.
“They fought so that we could speak on behalf of the horses,” said Whaley. “What the judge did say was that if she thought putting [Pilchard] in jail for one day would make her understand that she did something wrong, she would.”
The resilience of the horses who emerged from the worst suffering surprised even veteran trainers.
When Maryland trainer Jimmy Wagner first met the chestnut appaloosa last year, he would not allow Wagner to touch him.
At eight years old he had never been handled, Wagner said. It took all day working quietly in the round pen, but finally the frightened horse let Wagner stroke him, lead him and convince him to get on his trailer to travel back to his farm in Frederick.
“That’s when I named him Courage. He was so brave that day,” said Wagner, 23, a professional trainer who has worked with horses who have experienced trauma since he was a youngster.
Two months later Wagner entered Courage in the 2018 Appy Fest trainers’ challenge and he cleaned up. Courage is now in training as a 10-year-old boy’s barrel racing horse.
In March Wagner took another difficult but promising Quantico horse to the Horse World Expo Rescued to Stardom Challenge in Harrisburg. Mr. Natural too, did not want to be touched at first, his deep trust issues took weeks to overcome. In the freestyle demo before a crowd of 1,000, Wagner crawled between Mr. Natural’s legs, hauled a tarp in tandem with an ATV and had an assistant cover he and Mr. Natural under a tarp as they cuddled on the ground. For their hard work they took home fifth place in a competitive contest.
Mr. Natural was among the adoptable horses showing their stuff to more than 100 spectators at Appy Fest last month.
Teenagers Christian (14) and DJ (13) Embrey under the guidance of trainer Shea Sparks took on the training four Quantico horses at their Morgantown, KY facility. Guiding their mounts around the ring, over obstacles and even driving a cart, the boys won a championship and reserve championship at the show. After an emotional goodbye, they left the horses they started behind to be placed for adoption and headed back to Kentucky with two new Quantico horses to train.
DJ Embry said his training secret is using kindness and rewarding good behavior. “Never ask a horse a question he cannot answer,” he said.
Within a week Last Chance Animal Rescue had placed six horses, including Mr. Natural aka Alvin, and had 15 other pending applications.
“They are good quality horses who just needed groceries, medical care and good training,” said Sharpley, as she surveyed the once wild horses greeting new friends and standing calmly awaiting their classes. “They are really blossoming.”
Many organizations throughout the region are still providing care and training for the Quantico horses as they await adoption and would appreciate donations.
For information about adoption through Last Chance Animal Rescue visit www.lastchanceanimalrescue.org
A Facebook page has been set up for rescues that have taken horses from Quantico, MD. Rescues that are 501(c) (3):
Rescue Equine Adoptions Caring & Training (REACT), 5 horses, reactrescue.com
Last Chance Animal Rescue, 29 horses, lastchanceanimalrescue.org
Turning Point Animal Rescue’s Arline Acres -- two mares and a foal, turningpointdonkeyrescue.com
Days End Farm Horse Rescue, 12 horses, defhr.org
In addition a number of individuals have taken in horses. Their contact information can be found on the Rescue Page