Stories from the Barn: When Love Isn’t Enough to Protect a Horse

As a lifelong horse person, this issue cuts deep. We know the relationship we build with a horse isn’t a “livestock” bond—it’s a partnership based on communication, trust, and heart. But the story of what happened recently at Pure Gold Stables in Salem, Ohio is a harsh reminder that our laws haven’t caught up with the reality of modern horsemanship.

This isn’t about blame—it’s about responsibility, reform, and making sure no horse ever suffers in silence again.

The Story from Salem—A Wake-Up Call for Ohio Horse Owners

In October 2025, investigators from the Columbiana County Humane Society and the Sheriff’s Office made a grim discovery at Pure Gold Stables, just outside Salem, Ohio.

Inside a barn once filled with the sound of hoofbeats and nickers, they found four horse skeletons. Reports from WFMJ and The Salem News described horses that appeared to have died months earlier—still wearing their winter coats. Investigators said the animals had chewed on their stalls, searching for food, and buckets in the barn held only straw dust.

The owner, Heather Birkmire, reportedly told authorities she had leased out the property and was unaware of the deaths. The case remains under investigation, but one fact is already clear: these horses died long before anyone with authority could help them.

Why? Because in Ohio, horses are legally considered livestock. That classification makes a world of difference in how neglect cases are handled—and in how fast help can arrive.

Why Classification Matters: Livestock vs. Companion Animal

The Legal Divide

Under Ohio Revised Code 959.131, “companion animals” include dogs, cats, and any animal kept inside a residence. They’re protected by strict cruelty statutes, and serious neglect can lead to felony charges.

But the same law specifically excludes livestock—and horses are listed right alongside cows, goats, and pigs. That means they don’t get those same protections.

What That Means in Practice

For humane agents, this classification is everything. When a call comes in about a dog without food or water, the law is clear—they can act immediately, remove the animal, and press charges.

But if the same report involves a horse, agents often have to go through agricultural channels first. Investigations can take longer. Evidence deteriorates. Horses continue to suffer.

As one humane agent told me, “By the time we get the legal clearance to enter the property, it’s too late.”

Horses Aren’t Livestock—They’re Partners

If you’ve ever spent time in a barn, you know that horses are communicators.They read our energy before we even speak. They mirror our emotions. They forgive our mistakes and teach us patience.

When you start a horse, you don’t dominate them—you build a language together. Every touch of the rein, every soft “whoa,” every quiet moment in the stall is part of that conversation.

Good training relies on trust, not force. And that’s why those of us who’ve devoted our lives to horses know that they’re not livestock. They’re not products or tools—they’re partners.

They don’t just work for us; they work with us.

That partnership is the foundation of relationship-based horsemanship, something many Ohio barns—including the good people who once boarded at Pure Gold—take great pride in. But until the law recognizes that bond, humane agents will keep fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.

When Love Isn’t Enough

At Pure Gold, love wasn’t enough.For years, the barn was home to horses, riders, and families who cared deeply. But caring about horses and being able to protect them are two different things.

When the situation began to spiral, people nearby saw warning signs—thin horses, empty water troughs, irregular feeding. But because of the legal classification, humane agents couldn’t act as swiftly as they would have for a dog or cat.

That delay cost lives.

No one believes this tragedy happened out of hatred. Most neglect cases don’t. They happen because people get overwhelmed, because barns fall on hard times, or because help comes too late.

But when four horses die before anyone can legally step in, that’s not a personal failure—it’s a system failure.

Why Ohio Needs the Equine Partner Protection Act

The Purpose

The Equine Partner Protection Act of 2025 is a proposed amendment to Ohio law that would reclassify horses under a new category: Equine Partners.

This change would:

• Allow humane agents to intervene in equine neglect cases as they would for companion animals.

• Increase penalties for severe neglect and abuse.

• Require training for law enforcement on equine care and emergency response.

• Recognize horses as emotional and sentient partners in sport, therapy, and companionship—not livestock.

Why It’s Needed

The tragedy at Pure Gold Stables isn’t an isolated case. Across Ohio, rescues and humane societies handle dozens of horse neglect calls every year—often from barns that once thrived.

When barns decline, it’s the horses who pay the price. And right now, our laws make it harder to save them.

The Equine Partner Protection Act would bridge that gap—ensuring that humane agents can act when horses are in crisis, not after it’s too late.

Communication, Trust, and the Heart of Horsemanship

A Relationship Like No Other

I’ve worked with horses my entire life, from reining to rehab rescues. The thing that’s always amazed me is how much they want to understand us.

When a horse balks, it’s not defiance—it’s confusion. When they trust you enough to follow, it’s not obedience—it’s belief.

That bond isn’t something that fits in a statute book, but it’s real. It’s why therapy programs change lives, why veterans find healing in equine-assisted care, and why a child’s confidence blooms after their first canter.

We communicate through energy, timing, and touch. We teach with consistency. We correct with kindness.

That’s not livestock work. That’s partnership.

What the Law Should Reflect

If the law understood horses the way horse people do, it would never call them livestock. It would see them as living, breathing individuals—capable of trust, fear, love, and learning.

We owe them more than basic sustenance; we owe them dignity and protection.

The Ripple Effect of Weak Protection Laws

When Enforcement Is Limited

When equine cruelty is treated as an agricultural matter, it sends the wrong message: that horses are property, not living partners. That mindset trickles down through law enforcement, courts, and even the public.

When a dog is found neglected, people are outraged. When a horse is found in the same condition, too often the reaction is, “That’s a farm issue.”

That double standard hurts all of us—horse owners, trainers, and rescues who devote their lives to doing things the right way.

Impact on the Equine Community

Every time a neglect story hits the news, good barns feel it. Boarding facilities lose clients. Trainers face scrutiny. The entire community gets painted with the same brush.

That’s why reclassification isn’t just about punishment—it’s about prevention. Stronger laws protect not only the horses but also the reputation of responsible horse owners who uphold high standards of care.

Learning from Pure Gold Stables

The Pure Gold case should never have happened—but it’s also an opportunity to demand change.

The reports said those horses had their winter coats, meaning they likely suffered through months of cold before dying. They were trapped in wooden pens they tried to chew through. Their buckets were dry.

No animal should endure that, and no humane officer should have to stand outside a barn knowing they can’t act because of a classification written generations ago.

Ohio’s horse community is strong, compassionate, and ready to lead. This tragedy has galvanized barns across the state—from small lesson programs to big show facilities—to demand that horses be given the same basic legal protection as every other companion animal.

What We Can Do—Together

Support the Equine Partner Protection Act

Reach out to your state representative and tell them you support this legislation. Use your voice, your barn’s voice, your students’ voices.

Educate Others

Talk about what the Pure Gold case revealed. Share articles. Post on social media using hashtags like #ProtectOhioHorses and #EquinePartnerProtection.

Help Local Rescues

Most rescues are volunteer-run and stretched thin. They need hay, feed, blankets, and donations to keep going. Supporting them means giving horses a second chance.

Advocate for Training

Ask your county humane society or sheriff’s office what equine training their officers receive. If the answer is “none,” offer to help connect them with resources.

The more people understand horses, the faster we can prevent another tragedy.

FAQ: Protecting Horses in Ohio

Q: Why are horses still classified as livestock?A: Because Ohio law hasn’t been updated in decades. Horses were once primarily farm animals. Today, most are kept for sport, therapy, or companionship—but the law hasn’t evolved with that reality.

Q: How would reclassifying horses help?A: It would allow humane agents to act faster, increase penalties for neglect, and recognize the horse’s role as a partner rather than a commodity.

Q: Would this affect farmers?A: No. Horses used in legitimate agricultural work would still fall under livestock protections. The change targets horses kept for recreation, therapy, or companionship.

Q: What can I do right now?A: Contact your Ohio state legislator, share your story online, and support the Equine Partner Protection Act of 2025.

Q: How does this connect to the Pure Gold Stables case?A: That tragedy shows how current law limits humane response. If those horses had been classified as companion animals, agents could’ve intervened earlier—and they might still be alive today.

In the End, It Comes Down to This

We build our lives around horses. We wake up before dawn to feed them. We stand in icy barns waiting for the vet. We build trust, lose tempers, apologize, and try again. We don’t do it for money—we do it because these animals give us something no other creature can: honesty.

They don’t lie. They don’t judge. They give us everything if we earn it.

The least we can do is make sure the law protects them as fiercely as they’ve protected our hearts.

It’s time for Ohio to stand up, learn from Salem, and make sure “Stories from the Barn” never have to sound like this again.