Photo copyrighted KHOU TV. Houston, TX

Group rescues more and more horses - Facility in need of expansion.
HITCHCOCK (KHOU) -- Five starving horses remain in S.P.C.A. custody, one day after being rescued in northwest Houston. And their situation is all too familiar to the people who run Habitat for Horses in Hitchcock.

Jerry Finch believes that if his horses could talk they'd tell heartwarming stories about people they've helped through a unique form a psychotherapy. "Out of the five horses here, we have just one that is really rideable," says Finch.

But Finch also believes the horses would reveal how they themselves needed healing. Habitat For Horses rescued each one from an abusive owner. And the pictures of Thursday's seizure were enough to break his horse lover's heart. The S.P.C.A. says some of the animals were as much as 400 pounds underweight.

Finch retrieved one dangerously thin horse last week, from a backyard in La Marquee. He says time has taught him this type of abuse can result from ignorance or a lack of money. But sometimes, it's more sinister. "The people that think they need to have control over animals, that's all this is, an exhibition of power," says Finch. "'I have control of your food, so I can starve you if I want.'"

Finch is taking in more and more abused horses. He's up to 38, and will probably need to expand soon. "Donations are always down. We get little money for what we do, " he says.

But, he'll spend what he has to, to lend a protective voice to those who can't speak for themselves.

Authorities say they are still trying to identify the owner of the horses seized Thursday.

For information on how to adopt a horse or make a donation just click onto Habitat for Horses.

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