Texas: 168 horses seized (Blum, Hill County)
What’s becoming a sickeningly familiar story…
Authorities Seize Hundreds Of Animals From Central Texas Ranch [link]
Dallas Cook | March 6, 2009HILL COUNTY — Hundreds of animals were seized Thursday and Friday afternoon at a ranch just outside of Blum in Hill County.
Hill County Sheriff Deputies showed up Thursday after reports from neighbors and passers-by that a man claiming to run a program to nurse sick horses back to health was neglecting the animals.
What began as a routine seizure turned momentarily dangerous when the ranch owner, 50 year old Greg Brinkley, suddenly appeared from the woods armed with a pistol grip shotgun, deputies said.
They reacted by grabbing their own guns and tackling Brinkley, who was arrested.
Hill County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyon said the 86-acre ranch is too small for the more than 200 animals, including horses, cows and llamas that were kept there.
“The condition of the animals was deplorable…horrendous and terrible. I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire career of law enforcement,” said Lyon.
Brinkley’s girlfriend, Rilla Craven, said the horses weren’t neglected.
She said many had a deadly disease.
“When the horses go down with the Strangles that has gone to their lungs and turned into pneumonia, it kills ‘em,” she said.
Brinkley is now charged with 25 counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The comments on this article lead the reader in many directions. Very hard to say what the truth of the matter might be.
Was this the story of a man trying to rescue and rehab sick horses he’d bought cheap (and possibly without knowing of a strangles threat) at auction, who found himself in over his head when the disease began to take its toll?
No one buys horses with the intent of letting them die, and lay where they fall. Something happened here… but was it criminal?
Will watch for updates.
Some comments posted to the article above:
“He makes a living caring for sick animals not being cruel to them. He has spent thousands of dollars trying to help them. If you seen him with these animals you would understand what has happened is a misunderstanding!”
“He saw an opportunity to take advantage of the inexpensive horses at the horse sales to build a large enough heard to take to the kill plant in Mexico. His greedy plan came back to bite him when he could not provide a proper environment, medical treatment for the sick and injured, and food for all of the animals.”
“I know Greg Brinkley personally and he took care of those animals. This case is not over. Watch the video and look at those horses doesn’t look like they missed a meal… He has 26 round bales of hay delivered every 3 to 4 days. Right now especially in Hill County there is no grass mainly because of the drought. We are stepping up and taking action we the RANCHERS are tired of being pushed around.”
“Greg Brinkley is a sick sick man. NEVER was he planning to take proper care of these poor animals, that would just cost too much money for him. He was just finding a way to make money off of them in the long run. He needs to never ever be let out of prison.”
“He bought all 80 some odd horses from Cleburne Sale Barn in December 2008. All have been vaccinated and cared for a vet but some were to far gone… Slaughter houses closing down is a big factor in this. These sick horses have no where to go, and a man like him takes them in and gives them a second chance on life and you stupid people take them away.”
Your thoughts?
Update on this case… things not looking good for the owner. The photo posted with this article shows a horse that is obviously emaciated, even with a thick coat. This would be a Henneke score of 1, folks. There are few legitimate reasons to have one horse on your property in this condition — if there are a number of them that poor, perhaps your need to own horses would be better accommodated by a plastic model horse collection.
Related:
- Largest rescue of horses and livestock in Texas Examiner.com (3/16/09)
I know Greg Brinkley personally as well. I can’t believe you people would honestly think that he would do something like that to these horses. I know he was trying to help them. I have been out there many weekends with Greg and his family feeding and watering and caring for these horses. The part about the horses having a deadly disease is a fact. I know first hand that there were tests done to try to find out what was wrong with theses horses. It is illegal for you to bury horses on your property what did they expect him to do with them? The rumor of Greg taking the horses to a kill plant is an out right lie. He would never ever think of doing that. The neighbors that started all of these are probably one of the biggest reasons these horses were sick. They would sneak over and try to coax the horses to come over to them, when Greg and his family tried to confront them about what they were doing they would run off sounds kind of fishy if you ask me. North Texas Humane Society and Hill County are the inhuman ones in all of this what kind of dumb person would put steers, horned bulls, cows, studs, and mares all mixed in together in trailers. That is why many of the horses and cows didn’t make it off the trailer after being picked up. As the trailers left there were horses with horns stuck in them, studs fighting with each other, and fillies getting stepped on and knocked over. That sounds inhuman to me. Hill County just wanted the money that they could make off of all the horses. That is something that Greg will be able to hold over Hill County forever, the fact that they got rich off of him and his livestock. Go to bed knowing that tonight.
the facts of this case did not confuse the Judge who ruled. You may know Mr. Brinkley personally, but I doubt you could have tolerated the smell of decaying carcasses that permeated the entire Blum property. There is NO excuse. He was, as his ranch name states, in too deep to properly provide for his stock. The facts are indisputable. Animals suffered as a result. Animal suffering is against Texas law.
Greg has brainwashed the fools who say he is a caring man. I wanched him kick a puppy because it was whining untill its leg bone was sticking out of its body, then he shot it to “take it out of its missery” you know, the missery he put it in. What a GREAT CARING MAN. Yeah right. This is nothing compared to what I have seen this man do.
Yes I know Greg Binkley personally also and I agree that he has brainwashed the people who think he is innocent. I believe the post that says he kicked a poor innocent puppy and then shot it.Probably not the only one……Many more that that I imagine. He is a sick sick person who deserves whatever they give him . IT is about time! not only is he a cruel man but he is also a theif and if if they could ever find out all the things he has gotten away with …….he would be locked up for a long long time. I am glad that the animals and humans that he has put thru misery will be at peace for now
Greg Brinkley for president
Ranchers buy cheap livestock at market to make money greg brinkley did nothing 100s of other ranchers dont do daily. If you dont know that go to any sale and watch . If you want to see livestock suffering look out back of Clyde Boyds sale.Horses and cattle in knee deep mudd standing on bones . It is one big legal horse theft ring with many crooked cops and ranchers who stole greg brinkley animals he may be alot of things but he love those horses. Please weekend cowboys dont write.Greg brinkley is the real thing maybe the last one left watch the video I saw lots of hay
The Georgia Department Of Agriculture is impounding horses without probable cause. I know of one incident of a friend where the body scores were 4.75 to a 5 but yet they impounded the animals because they did not meet their standards and no anything the state requires. After a year I went to a horse sale at Berry College and was assaulted by one inspector supervisor and another made a false statement to a police officer. They are now awaiting a warrant hearing for these incidents. If you read alot you will understand this happens all over the United States. It is all about power and papers. The more you seize and get in the newspapers the better they look to their department. They sold one of these horses at a PUBIC auction that was 22 years old as a 12 year old. Wish I could find that fountain of youth. This person I wish I could find paid ten thousand dollars on May 16th, 2009 for a horse she thinks is 12 years old in which he is 22 years. I was gracious enough to receive the actual registar papers on this horse so I know the age. What happened to consumer protection laws in government agencies sticking their nose in people’s business.