Pat Raia
Pat Raia is a professional journalist who has covered horse industry and equestrian topics for a number of publications. Her background includes riding, showing, and training Saddlebred horses.
Articles by Pat Raia
California Horse Abuse Case Concludes After Three Years
September 03, 2008
Nearly three years after his 35 horses were seized by county authorities, James DeNoyer is on track to get four of the horses back after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of improper disposal of a dead animal during proceedings in Read More
National Humane Group Files Brief in Michigan Horse Abuse Case
August 26, 2008
The American Humane Association (AHA) has filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Court of Appeals in connection with a controversial animal cruelty case involving Matt Mercier and James Henderson Jr., of Grass Lake, a move that is designed to Read More
Wild Horse Euthanasia Decision Postponed by BLM
August 23, 2008
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) isn't likely to make a decision regarding the use of euthanasia in wild horse herd management until the end of the year, a spokesman said. The euthanasia option decision was originally Read More
Rescue Operator Pleads Guilty to Cruelty Charge
August 18, 2008
Alesha Matchett, the woman accused of starving 16 horses at the Colorado animal rescue she once operated, has plead guilty to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty under a plea agreement entered in Larimer County District court last week. Read More
Forensic Study Reveals Some Trexler Horses Starved to Death
August 15, 2008
Three horses exhumed from Richland, S.C., properties once belonging to the Trexler family died from starvation, according to a preliminary report issued by Melinda D. Merck, DVM, senior director of veterinary forensics for the American Read More
Attorney Seeks Dismissal, Evidence Suppression in 'Quincy' Euthanasia Case
August 14, 2008
The attorney representing Elliott Saffran, the Massachusetts man accused of animal cruelty for refusing to euthanize Quincy, his aged, infirm horse, has filed motions to either dismiss the case against Saffran or suppress evidence pertinent Read More
New Soring Inspections Beef Up Celebration Plan
August 13, 2008
Exhibitors at the 70th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be scrutinized more closely than ever before. Officials and organizers have adopted new inspection measures to send the message that Horse Protection Act (HPA) Read More
Petition Calls for End to Soring
August 12, 2008
An Illinois-based equine welfare organization has launched a Web-based petition campaign aimed at creating pressure to abolish the practice of soring in the gaited horse industry.
"Our goal is to submit the petition to government Read More
Cruelty Stats Bill Draws Mixed Reaction
August 11, 2008
A measure aimed at collecting and making animal cruelty crime data public is drawing praise from animal welfare advocates as a means to raise awareness of animal cruelty crime.
"For one thing, it would legitimize the data, so law Read More
Horse at Center of Controversial Abuse Case Dies
August 11, 2008
Quincy, the aged mare at the center of a Massachusetts cruelty case, died Aug. 10, just two days before her owner is to appear in a Massachusetts court to face animal cruelty charges.
"She's gone, but we want the case Read More
AAEP's Walking Horse Directives Labeled Costly, Unrealistic
August 09, 2008
The American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) Tennessee Walking Horse Task (TWH) Force recommendations to eradicate the practice of soring drew strong reaction from Walking Horse industry members who label the directives costly and Read More
Equine Rabies Case Confirmed in Kentucky
August 05, 2008
Kentucky Public Health officials have confirmed a case of rabies in a horse in Pulaski County. According to Michael Auslander, DVM, MSPH, state public health veterinarian with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the infected Read More
Effort to Identify Horses in Seized Herd Continues
August 04, 2008
Last February, the seizure of 45 allegedly malnourished Arabian horses from a South Carolina family made national headlines. As court proceedings against defendants Hazelene, James, and Terry Trexler about to move forward, the effort Read More
Veterinary Group Opposes New Slaughter Legislation
July 30, 2008
U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearings on new anti-slaughter legislation will begin July 31, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has gone on Read More
Horse Tripping Ban a Tough Sell in Some States
July 29, 2008
Nebraska's ban on horse tripping for sport went into effect July 18, but even as that state's authorities gear up to enforce the measure, similar legislation died on Arizona's Senate floor .
"We had nearly unanimous support all the way Read More
National Fundraiser Designed to Help Equine Rescues
July 25, 2008
On Sunday, Oct. 19, riders and walkers will take to trails across the country for the National Rescue Ride, a nationwide effort to help horse rescues. For at least one rescue, Read More
New Federal Horse Slaughter Bill Introduced
July 25, 2008
Legislation introduced July 23 to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee addresses the horse slaughter issue by linking the practice to animal cruelty and leaving enforcement to federal authorities. Read More
Federal Ban on Equine Transport via Double-Decker Introduced
July 18, 2008
The use of double-decker trailers to transport horses for any purpose would be banned nationwide if a new bill recently introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law. But some equine welfare advocates say the bill is flawed. Read More
Hazards Could be Hidden in Hay
July 16, 2008
Just 24 hours after Betsy Bueno of Santa Rosa, Calif., began feeding her horses a new batch of hay, one colicked and began to show neurologic signs. Within days, two of her 12 horses required euthanasia and seven were showing similar clinical Read More
Weekend Search for Lost Horse Unsuccessful
July 14, 2008
Charlz, the 17-year-old Arabian horse that became separated from his rider on May 25, continued to elude searchers this weekend.
Eight mounted volunteers from a local stable combed the Freetown Massachusetts State Forest on Sunday. Read More
Stallion Reported Stolen is Focus of Ownership Dispute
July 14, 2008
Capone 1, the Holsteiner show jumping stallion reported as stolen in Washington State, is the focal point of a civil lawsuit concerning his ownership, according to attorneys representing both sides of the dispute.
According to terms of Read More
Search Continues for Horse Lost in State Forest
July 11, 2008
This Sunday, volunteers will once again comb Massachusetts' Freetown State Forest in search of Charlz, a horse who was separated from his rider six weeks ago.
"We know he's out there because we've seen his tracks, and he's been spotted Read More
Walking Horse Exhibitors Withdraw from Show
July 10, 2008
Hundreds of trainers withdrew their horses from competition at a major Tennessee Walking Horse show last weekend after USDA inspectors arrived on the scene to examine horses for violations of the Horse Protection Act.
According to Earl Read More
California Horse Sanctuary Manager Convicted of Cruelty
July 08, 2008
The manager of a horse sanctuary shut down last month by Los Angeles County, Calif., authorities will spend more than two years in prison after being convicted on animal cruelty Read More
Wild Horses: Euthanasia, Changes to Adoption Policy Considered
July 03, 2008
Bonnie Matton, president of the Wild Horse Preservation League, wasn't happy when the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it might consider euthanasia as a means to manage wild horse herds, but she wasn't surprised, either. Read More
