One young rescued Morgan Hill horse dies

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- We have a very sad development on a story you've seen only on ABC7 News about a number of starving horses in a field in Morgan Hill. We've learned that one of those horses has died.

Of the 11 horses Monica Hardeman bought and rescued earlier this week, one of them was not originally part of the deal. A colt, about 9 to 12-months old, is one she insisted be included because of his condition. He was emaciated and an estimated 75 pounds underweight and Hardeman's instincts were right - there was much more that was wrong with him.

The horse died at the Equine Rescue Center before the veterinarian could examine the 11 horses. A postmortem procedure shows the young horse had a heavy infestation of parasites and parascaris worms. They compete with the horse for food and eventually spread to the lungs. The condition can be serious for young horses.

Glen Froistad, DVM, is the veterinarian caring for the rescued horses. He told ABC7 News, "This particular worm competes, in part, for nutrition that the horse would be getting if the worms weren't getting it and in the worst case scenario, there are so many of them, that you can get an impaction."

The other horses are also underweight, but not in as serious condition.

As hard as it was for Hardeman to see the one horse die, she believes in her opinion, the death reflects the lack of care the horses were getting.

"I knew we had to get to the bottom of what was really going on and it's senseless. There's no reason for him to have died that way," said Hardeman.

Three other hoses are blind and are being held in a separate pasture for their safety.

"Horses sometimes fight and nobody fought, they just all stood around me. And I was kind of nervous. I was like, 'They've got blind horses and everything round me and are they going to start fighting?' And no, they made a circle around me and everybody just stood there eating," said Hardeman.

The hope is that once the horses' health is restored that they will be adopted by loving people who are committed to their wellbeing.