Dozens of horses adopted after seizure in Madison County neglect case

Dozens of horses seized in an animal cruelty case in Madison County earlier this year have found new homes, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), with more soon to become eligible for adoption.

The national organization has worked with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society of Western Montana to provide emergency care to 85 horses who were being allegedly neglected by a horse breeder. The update on the horses’ status was provided in a press release noting that May marks the group’s “Adopt a Horse Month.”

"We are thrilled to have found a soft landing for the dozens of horses rescued earlier this year in Montana,” stated Christie Schulte Kappert, the ASPCA’s vice president of equine welfare. "This Adopt a Horse Month, we are thrilled to find even more homes for equines across the country and urge all animal lovers to advocate for equine adoption in their communities and support their local shelters and rescues who work tirelessly to save lives."

Meanwhile the Montana horse breeder at the center of the allegations appears poised to plead no contest to a charge of aggravated animal cruelty related to the January raid on his ranch.

Bryan Blatt, 75, previously pleaded not guilty in Madison County District Court with the single felony count, and was released without needing to post bail, according to court records. A December search of Blatt’s ranch confirmed that 86 of the horses were in need of veterinary care due to neglect, according to an affidavit filed by Madison County Attorney David Buchler.

Under the plea agreement, filed Tuesday with the court, Blatt would enter a no contest plea, meaning he accepts the conviction while not explicitly admitting guilt. In exchange, the parties would agree to jointly recommend a two-year sentence with the Department of Corrections, deferred for five years. In the event no restitution is required by the judge, the deferral would be for three years.

A deferred sentence allows a convicted person to remain law-abiding and complete certain conditions of a sentence during a period of time, after which the sentence is not imposed.

The plea agreement will allow both the prosecution and the defense to argue for whatever restitution they feel is appropriate.

County prosecutors have also moved to recover the costs of caring for the 85 horses since they were seized from Blatt. That request, which under Montana law is filed as a separate civil proceeding, was granted by Judge Berger, who ordered Blatt to pay a $34,000 bond plus additional $23,000 bonds each month thereafter.

Those amounts were granted over the objections of Blatt’s defense counsel, who argued Montana’s cost-of-care law is unconstitutional. By requiring such large payments prior to any finding of guilt, the defense argued the law violated Blatt’s due process. The defense initially sought to challenge the law in the Montana Supreme Court, but withdrew the appeal once the plea agreement was reached.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of all 85 horses and granted prosecutors’ request to give them to the ASPCA.

The criminal case against Blatt originated with a tip from a local rancher, according to the affidavit, which prompted a visit from a Madison County sheriff’s deputy. Blatt had hired two ranch hands who said that “on their first day of work it was apparent that the horses had not been provided sufficient food, water or other necessities.”

A deputy who responded to the property “noticed almost every rail on the fences had been chewed down,” saw horses with emaciated bodies and observed other evidence they were not being cared for, according to court documents.

A ranch hand hired by Blatt also testified to the lack of care, noting that manure had built up in the corrals and he didn’t have sufficient tools to remove it, horses would go days without being fed, the pastures “were grazed down to nothing” and there was insufficient power to keep ice off the water troughs during the coldest winter days.

Anika Ward, a local veterinarian who examined the animals, also testified that “every horse had at least one concerning medical issue” and some horses had multiple issues.

No change-of-plea hearing had been scheduled as of Thursday. A pre-trial conference had previously been scheduled for June 16.

Phone calls to Blatt’s phone number listed for his business, Westwind Morgans, went straight to a full voicemail box. His attorney, Judd Jensen, did not respond to a phone message requesting comment Wednesday.

Madison County Attorney David Buchler declined to comment on the case, but did offer a statement thanking those who have helped out.

“My office was assisted by the ASPCA, the Humane Society of Western Montana and Madison County veterinarians — doctors Anika Ward and Tori Wilson,” Buchler said. “Those two organizations and the two vets provided tremendous assistance in the case.”

The ASPCA also stated that those interested in adopting horses from the animal welfare group can visit its adoption website, myrighthorse.org. Some of the animals seized from Blatt’s ranch are still receiving treatment, but the group plans to make them available soon.