Olds College staff and students are devastated over the deliberate “deviant behaviour” last week by an unknown culprit who systematically put a group of stallions together to watch them engage in a violent fight until one died by a traumatic kick in the head.
“I can't understand the mentality of this. I consider this to be deviant behaviour, done presumably when intoxicated,” said Marion Anderson, program coordinator of the equine science department. “It was a deliberate attempt to put the stallions together, presumably to watch them fight. Stallions will fight to establish dominance.
“When stallions fight it is not pretty,” she added. “It is violent, traumatic and loud.”
The violent death of the 15-year-old stallion has shocked the college. Anderson said it is the first time in her 16 years at the college an incident of this type has occurred at the institution.
Olds RCMP has launched an investigation. The college initially put up a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identity of the culprit or culprits responsible. Last Friday, Pengrowth Energy Corporation, a longtime supporter of the college, has since doubled the reward by adding another $1,000.
College officials and RCMP believe the crime occurred some time between 10 p.m. on Sept. 8 and 7:45 a.m. on Sept. 9.
Avery Thiessen, 20, a second-year student in the college's two-year equine science program, observed a group of horses – four stallions and two geldings - outside their pens in the feed alley at around 7:45 a.m. on Sept. 9. On that morning she was the chore leader for her class and was gathering hay.
When Thiessen took a closer look she saw that the end gates to the feed alley were closed, locking the horses into the alley. She also saw that all pens, normally double secured with chains, were open.
Thiessen saw one stallion, Mac, injured with swollen, bloody legs.
“He was moving very stiffly. He could hardly walk,” said Thiessen.
After putting Mac and the other stallions back in their pens Thiessen then observed another horse lying motionless in Mac's pen. The stallion was dead.
“I saw blood from his nose and head. I knew it was bad. It was quite a shock. I hope I never have to go through it ever again,” said Thiessen, adding the gruesome discovery has made her days since difficult. “It has been emotional. It has been very hard. It is like a loss to a family.”
Anderson said the college has about 80 to 90 horses at any given time for their courses. She said most of the horses have been at the college for 10 years or more and students and staff have come to love the animals.
The deceased stallion, who Anderson would not name as he was on loan to the college, was particularly special for many people at the institution.
“He made everyone laugh. He was a real clown and fun to be with,” said Anderson, adding that while the horse may not have had a high monetary value his contribution to the college as a teaching animal was “invaluable.”
“We depend on these stallions to support our teaching program. This left us without two stallions. It negatively impacts our teaching program.”
Anderson said it appears that the horse died from a blow or kick to the head. As for Mac, he is recovering from the cuts, bruises and swelling he endured. Last Friday he was mobile in his pen with his back legs bandaged.
Meanwhile, as the RCMP probe into the horrific incident continues the college has increased security with the installation of locks at each pen.
Olds RCMP have no suspects and have received no tips in the case a week into its investigation.
“At this point in time we don't have anything specific to say who it is or whether they're affiliated with the college, or whether it was someone local who went onto the college property,” said Olds RCMP Cpl. Troy Byrt.
The animal cruelty and mischief investigation began Sunday after police received a call for assistance from college staff.
“We attended because they believe someone deliberately opened the gates which in turn led to the death of the horse,” said Byrt.
He said there is no video surveillance where the incident took place.
Campus security has already been spoken to and Byrt said he suspects officers will begin talking with students in an effort to further the investigation.
“At this time, if there's any persons out there who had seen something or heard something while this was going on, we'd ask that they contact the detachment or call CrimeStoppers...” Byrt said.
Regional CrimeStoppers officials in Red Deer have been briefed on the case, he said.
A future re-enactment of the incident is not out of the question, he said, but not an avenue police are following up on right away.
Byrt said he supports the college's decision to offer a reward in the hopes that someone will come forward with information.
