NIT investigates condition of horse after readers question its treatment; owner arrested (VIDEO)

A horse laying in a corn field Tuesday, perhaps since Sunday, is comforted by another horse.

MASON CITY – After receiving information over the last 2 days from readers alerting us to possible mistreatment of a horse located just out side Mason City city limits, NorthIowatoday.com went to the scene to investigate the matter.

Sources had indicated that a horse appeared to be either injured or sick at a farm located at 14998 300th Street in rural Mason City, owned by Ralph Stricker.

One caller told NIT Tuesday morning that she travels past the location and that she and her co-workers had noticed the “poor shape” of horses at the location. “Several of us have called the sheriff,” the caller indicated.

At the scene – just to the north of County Road B20, about a mile west of Highway 65 – a horse was lying in a corn field surrounded by other horses, with a blue tarp over it. The horse at first appeared to be dead, but then could be seen breathing and moving. Other horses were approaching the animal and nudging it with their noses.

A sheriff’s deputy arrived to assess the situation. She indicated that she did not believe there was any mistreatment of the animal and that the only reason law enforcement had been called to the Stricker farm in the past was to corral animals which had gotten onto the roadway.

According to the deputy, the horse would be euthanized at about 2 PM Tuesday and may have laid in the field since Sunday night.

Mason City police told NIT today that since the property is not in city limits, they had never responded there and had no jurisdiction.

Calls to Stricker Construction went unanswered and a voice message was left and not immediately returned.

Horses-legs-flat-out-behind-her,-struggling-to-move — Sheriff’s deputy indicated that owner of the horse thought the horse was not injured and would get up on its own.

900 am, Tuesday, no shelter, food or water close by to get to — 9 AM Tuesday

Watch video, including interview with sheriff’s deputy:

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UPDATE at 2:15 PM:

NIT has learned that the owner of the injured horse, Ralph Stricker, has been arrested for animal neglect.

Name: Stricker, Ralph Adam
Booking #: 14465
Housed At: SD
Gender: Male
DOB: 04-17-1923 (Age: 89)

Booked on 02-05-2013 at 12:52 for:

SIMM
COURT/PENDING
717B.3

Animal Neglect

In Custody: 0 days.

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(13000656) Animal Reported: 02-04-2013 07:53
Report of horse down. Owner is providing care for the horse. Also received complaints from-Kathy Beck, Cindy Mueller, and Don Friebe.
Addresses Involved
14998 300 St , Mason City, IA 50401
Names Involved
(Arrested) Stricker, Ralph Adam (Age:90)
(Address:) 1419 2 Av S, Clear Lake, IA 50428
Officers Involved
(Primary) Officer Schupanitz, Brent
Officer Shannon, Jo
Officer Koob, Brian
Officer Cavett, Tami———–