March 20th

This is what Jackson County Animal Control and Michigan Dept of Agriculture found on 3/20/07.  The day of seizure.  Remember, it was reported in the media many times that skeletons of horses were found living in a garbage dump.  It was asked how the owners could sleep at night while the horses starved to death!

Here are the underweight horses separated from the herd.  ALL veterinarians who testified, even for the prosecution, said it is appropriate and good management to separate horses who have additional requirements from the rest of the herd to resolve any "pecking order" issues.  Per Dept of Ag reports the horses were found with "good quality alfalfa hay and water".  This food did not magically appear, Mr. Mercier fed them just as he had done all along!

Water found 3/20/07.  If it had not been filled that morning it would've been a frozen ice block!  You can clearly see the horses had drank from it recently given the where the water level is and where it was!

The following are the condition of the horses as found on 3/20/07