THIS IS JUST A STORY ABOUT ONE HORSE WHO IS GETTING ALONG IN YEARS

Spring Bo is getting up there in years. Spring Bo is a twenty eight year old horse and he is at the center of a controversy over his health and his treatment. This old horse is wasting away in front-yard pasture at James Martin's Penn Valley home where he was moved after "taking ill." Neighbors were concerned at his... conditions and called authorities who speculated Mr. Martin just didn't have the money necessary to take care of the horse. Of course, whatever money Mr. Martin has or doesn't have isn't Spring Bo's fault and a horse rescue group is on the scene hoping to save the old horse.

Mr. Martin, insists the protesters are out of line, and sure, Spring Bo is sick and old, but says, "He's not on his death bed."

According to Wikipeida ,depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. It is uncommon, but a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, beyond.

Spring Bo may just be one old horse, but he deserves a life in his golden years, doesn't he...and don't you have a feeling there are a lot of Spring Bo's out there we don't know about. I mean, did you know about Spring Bo before I told you.

The following is from The Union.

Old, ill horse at center of corral-side protest
By Kyle Magin
Staff Writer

That's Spring Bo behind the fence

A sickly horse touched off a debate this week over who knows best about his health.

Spring Bo, a 28-year-old horse, was moved to the front-yard pasture at James Martin's Penn Valley home early this week after the animal took ill with diarrhea.

The horse's thin look drew attention, and neighbors called Nevada County's Animal Control and eventually Oroville-based NorCal Equine Rescue.

The attention generated good news for Spring Bo. Veterinarian Dr. Sarah McCarthy accompanied Animal Control officers to Martin's land Wednesday to see the horse.

Spring Bo was unacceptably thin, McCarthy said, adding many of Martin's problems in caring for the animal stemmed from his finances: He couldn't afford the more expensive senior horse feed Spring Bo needed, though Martin was supplying him with what would be adequate feed for a younger animal.

Getting the animal proper medical care has been tough, said Martin, who said Thursday he lives on Social Security payments while caring for his sick wife, who came home from the hospital this week after surgery.

A Grass Valley nonprofit, Sammie's Friends, has stepped in to help out with feed expenses, and McCarthy said she's cautiously optimistic the elderly equine will recover.

“He doesn't have a lot of problems older horses have, like having no teeth,” McCarthy said. “It's not an out-and-out case of neglect, but (Martin) should have noticed it sooner.”

Calls to representatives at animal control familiar with the situation were not returned Thursday.

Norcal Equine showed up at Martin's home Thursday with a handful of protesters and a Chico television news crew to complain about the animal's treatment.

The group's founder, Tawnee Preisner, said Martin is letting Spring Bo waste away. The horse is simply ill, Martin said, and despite that, still gets around well.

“We want him to surrender the horse,” said Preisner, who added she has traveled as far as Nebraska to participate in wild horse roundups.

She first visited Martin's home Monday to see Spring Bo.

“It's impossible for the horse to stay warm right now because it's got no body fat,” Preisner said.

Martin acknowledged the horse isn't healthy now and isn't eating much, but said Spring Bo would come around when the weather turns warmer. After owning horses for close to 50 years, Martin said he knows the animals.

“He is underweight, but he's sick and he's pushing 30 years old,” Martin said. “He's a ranch horse and a range horse, and he's been running around all winter. I think they're way out of line. He's not on his death bed.”

To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.