In 2013, Katherine (Kate) Ostermeier leased 8 mares for breeding to her stallion Cobra One. All of these mares are extremely well bred warmblood mares and would be an incredible asset to any breeding program. All mares came to Ostermeier healthy and in great body condition. She was entrusted with these mares and failed to care for them in the manner a horse should receive, let alone mares during pregnancy. During the year, basic feed, farrier and veterinary care were lacking, but many of the mares remained in okay body condition due to grazing. In the winter these animals were left outside without shelter with only low quality, yellowed grass hay rounds to eat, dirty (and possibly frozen) water, and little to no grass. The horses were disguised in thin and torn blankets so that no one could notice the deteriorating conditions. They were out 24/7 with no shelter from the especially harsh elements experienced in the area during the winter of 2014. The mares in foal did not receive the proper veterinary care nor feed that is required to ensure a healthy pregnancy (no increased food quality or supplementation of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals). The barren mares received even lesser care as they would not be providing Ostermeier with sellable foal in the spring. As a result of this negligent care on Ostermeier's part, these horses became extremely emaciated. When the first set of owners to arrive after the long winter came to check on their mare in late March, they discovered the abysmal conditions. Those owners returned the next weekend to retrieve their mare and were met with a confrontational, irrational and menacing response from Ostermeier. She blatantly refused to let them take their mare off the property. Ostermeier verbally threatened and even physically assaulted one of the owners, before blocking the driveway with her car. As a result, the sheriff's office was called. Upon arrival, the sheriffs deputy quickly assessed the situation and called in Woodford County Animal Control with concerns for the animals' well being. Many of the leased mares had body scores of 2 with a few in the 3-4 range. The remaining horses on the property also had body scores of 4 or lower. The mares were heavy in foal and basically skin and bones - all fat and muscle tone had been deteriorated by their bodies in an effort to protect their foals. Still, Ostermeier refused to give up the remaining horses (after all lease mares were retrieved) and has them in her possession at this time. As a result of the lack of basic care provided by Ostermeier, several horses were directly delivered to local veterinary clinics in Lexington for severe malnutrition and extenuating illness derived from such circumstance. One of mares who was placed in veterinary care had untreated leg conditions that resulted in crippling cellulitis, with accompanying hoof deformities. One gelding was also delivered to a veterinary clinic who was actually a boarded horse in her program. He was so emaciated and plagued with pneumonia that he had to be dragged into the clinic on a stall mat and then placed in a sling in ICU at the veterinary clinic. Luckily he survived. 

In an effort for the owners affected by this situation to put the pieces together, it has been discovered that this is not the first occurance of neglect, abuse and deception by Ostermeier. Ostermeier is known for bad care practices and non-payment in the Lexington, KY area. In addition, it has been discovered that multiple horses in her care have passed away due to questionable circumstances. At the present time, it is rumored that Ostermeier has already found a like-minded individual to pursue further business with and they have possibly relocated together due to Ostermeier being evicted from her residence. This brings a further level of urgency to the situation as future victims are also at stake. 

Please join me and the owners of these horses who have incurred tremendous veterinary costs in the efforts to save these mares and their in-utero foals by supporting this petition to stand up and say this is unacceptable. This is a call to action to ask the Woodford County District Court for zero tolerance in the blatant abuse and neglect of multiple animals. 

Update 4/29/2014: On Saturday, April 26th 2014, one of the horses retrieved from Ostermeier's care, Licorice (Galoubet x Abdullah) lost her battle with life due to complications resulting from neglect. Her official diagnosis was Osteomyelitis. Her foot bones were dissolving from a bacterial infection caused by long untreated cellulitis. Antibiotics could not save her and despite care from the best vets and equine podiatry specialists in the area, her diagnosis was grim. A very stoic mare, she fought hard until the end, even while her hoof was virtually near sloughing off. Her pain was completely unnecessary and could have been prevented with basic preventative care. Thanks to the wonderful care provided by Stoneybrooke Farm, Licorice spent her last weeks being fed, grazed, bathed, groomed, loved and doted on. Rest in peace sweet Licorice.

This just cannot continue.

Picture for identify purposes from February arrest: http://mugshot-catalogs.com/booking/6034028/KATHERINE-OSTERMEIER

Additional pictures of horses previously in Ostermeier's care: http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/Jordan_Elizabeth_Hattaway/library/Horses%20Taken%20or%20Still%20in%20Possession%20of%20KO?sort=3&page=1