Story by Brad Carl of Billings’ KULR8.com
Graphic Images Shock the Courtroom
BILLINGS – James Leachman, who operated a ranch on the Crow Reservation, has been charged with multiple accounts of animal abuse for five horses that he owned on his property. On Wednesday, the prosecution called in witnesses to the abuse and an equine veterinarian who said the horses were indeed suffering.
Testimony from Dr. Jenifer Gold, an experienced equine veterinarian, showed that the horses had tight, zip-tie like, bands tightly attached to their legs. These identification bands are most commonly used for cows, but almost never for horses, according to Gold because horses have little in the way of muscle tissue in their lower legs and can become easily injured. In this case, many of the animals endured a slow and agonizing death because the bands rubbed their legs raw to the bone, which according to Gold took only took a few months.
“From the skin down to the bone is a very short amount of time. So if you have a band on that leg, you are more likely to cause damage because there is not muscle around that leg to try to keep it from getting constricted,” explained Gold.
The five horses involved in the case all suffered from swollen limbs, were not eating because of their injuries, and most could hardly even move around due to the pain and inability to walk.
Gold says of the five horses in question, she would have recommended euthanasia for all of them because their injuries were not recoverable and the horses were very clearly in a great deal of pain.
If convicted on all charges, Leachman could face up to 16 years in prison.
The testimony from additional witnesses will continue Thursday.
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Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
This guy will probably get probation too.. This is anither example of the difference between a cow and a horse.. Zip ties..REALLY???
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This is a despicable person and should spend more than 16 years in prison. AND, he should be on a chain gang doing strenuous and tedious work with no rest periods. This is necessary to show what happens to people that, intentionally or otherwise, abuse our beautiful horses and burros. There is no forgiving an act like this and he deserves more than hell when his time comes. What a horrible person and he deserves the greatest punishment and pain that one can offer. Otherwise, there is no justice for these poor, once beautiful, horses that experienced excruciating pain. What happened to the five horses.? Above Dr. Gold said she would have put the horses down to stop their pain, but what happened to them. Were they euthanized to stop the pain or again left to die in this excruciating pain? This man has no soul and deserves the greatest of pain and whatever else can be legally given to him. Did I say legally?
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Something is really wrong with the little black that was limping through.. Something seemed to be hanging of its right front leg? Really hope that wasn’t part of the leg.
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Like Lynne said, “There is no forgiving an act like this.”
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Sadly…the judicial system will find a way to let this cretin off easy.
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I am so outraged. This man should never be able to have animals again. Oh, this my my blood boil. I am sick of the abuse towards our beloved animals. This is nonsense. Convict this man and make him pay for the abused he has committed now. Torture and abuse have no place in this society and horses and other animals are so prone to man’s abuse. Shame on this man. Make him pay for he crime. OH those poor horses. So sorry to hear about this abuse. Convict this ruthless, cold hearted man. Stop animal abuse, stop horse transport, stop wild horse roundups now.
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AMEN I’m with you!!
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He deserves every kind of punishment available & then start the list over . My god!!..why..what on earth did he do this for?? Terrible..they should take him & hang him!
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16 years in prison and have a zip tie put around his %#%#% you get it can’t say it on here
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Are the horses still alive & suffering? Is it necessary for them to wait until the trial is over to be put down? I agree with sylvia! What in the world would anyone put a ziptie on a horse FOR????
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I was wondering the same thing…what happened to the horses? I won’t go to the link to read further for many reasons.
And zip ties?!?!!!!!! Another proslaughter advocate that thinks equines are bovines…just sick.
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Thank you for what you are doing to raise public awareness of these urgent situations. There are more heroes than villians, but the heroes must band together and influence higher levels of consciousness to the need of protecting the welfare of the animal spirits. I am following your blog and your posts will be on my radar. ~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits
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