MADISON COUNTY, Montana — When more than 80 rescued Morgan horses were scheduled for a sheriff’s auction in Montana, a rescue group from Riverton, Wyoming, joined forces with others to make sure the animals were rehomed and not sold off for slaughter.
In a case that’s drawn national attention and triggered a rapid response from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), a Morgan breeder faces criminal charges while an investigation continues, and a grassroots campaign tries to keep the 86 horses involved well cared for and fed.
The unfolding saga in rural Madison County reveals the significant costs of properly caring for horses, and the dedication of Morgan horse fans in particular who rallied when a whole herd of Morgans was slated for the auction block.
Malnourished Morgans
The Morgan breed is one of the earliest developed in the United States, with a lineage going back to the late 1700s. Morgans are known for their compact muscular bodies, and the star horse Westwind Otto made a name for itself in recent years by winning competitions and attracting a following online.
That’s how Emmalie Krueger of Absaroka Morgans first encountered Westwind Otto, a remarkable competitive show horse owned by Morgan breeder Bryan Blatt in Montana.
“They had great successes with Westwind Otto,” Krueger told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday. “He is a palomino horse. Beautiful. And that was like a big thing because there's this little Morgan going around doing phenomenal at these events that are not really segmented for the Morgans.”
Blatt enjoyed a good reputation as a breeder, said Krueger, but then — according to conversation on social media — suffered a stroke. After that, his breeding operation appeared to decline to the point that a couple of Blatt’s ranch hands decided to call the authorities.
On Dec. 5, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office executed a warrant at Blatt’s ranch property. With the help of two veterinarians, authorities determined 86 horses were “not being held in a healthy environment,” according to court documents charging Blatt with aggravated animal cruelty.
The ranch hands, according to court documents, told Blatt his horses needed food and veterinary care, but Blatt allegedly did not step up to provide this care.
Sad Downfall
Krueger described it all as a “hoarding situation,” and wondered if the health challenges Blatt is facing personally contributed to the downfall of his breeding operation.
“He’s a great and phenomenal man, so I really hope that it's just because there's some hardship with his health and his life,” Krueger said of Blatt. “And that's how the horses came to be the way they are.”
Some are so far gone, euthanasia is probably in order. Most will recover, said Krueger, who rallied fans of the Morgan breed in a fundraising effort to prevent the whole herd from getting auctioned off.
A sheriff’s auction was planned Jan. 9 in Madison County, and Krueger started raising money to cover at least part of a $9,966 lien on the horses. But then Blatt stepped in and paid off the lien himself before the auction.
Had the auction gone forward, Krueger said she and her supporters were prepared to save some of the herd by preventing them from falling into hands of buyers looking to harvest the animals.
“The sheriff's office over there kept telling us, ‘Oh no, no, no. We promise we won't let any glue buyers buy them,’” Krueger said. “And we were like, ‘Well, how can you promise that?’”
Emmalie Krueger, owner of Absaroka Morgans in Riverton, rallied to the aid of a herd of Morgans in Montana, hoping to keep the horses away from international meat buyers. (Courtesy Emmalie Krueger) 
Some of the 86 seized horses being kept at a Montana ranch. (Courtesy Christian Heidorf via Facebook)
Holding Pattern
The 86 Morgan horses seized in Montana are now under the care of an ASPCA team. Its goal is “finding appropriate, safe, and loving homes for them, taking into consideration the genetic importance of this population as well as their individual needs,” ASPCA says in a Tuesday statement.
“I think the best case scenario would be to have somebody very involved in the Morgan world go out, look at all the horses, figure out what is happening for them, and decide what the dispersal should be,” said Krueger. “I personally feel like they need to be dispersed so that they can have the best case scenario for their life. Nobody's going to be able to purchase 80 horses and be able to keep them going themselves.”
Krueger, who cares for 10 horses on her property in Riverton, said, “I estimated the amount, and I think it was like for 80 horses, it would be $35,000 a month to properly care for all those horses.”
Cowboy State Daily reached out to Blatt and left a phone message for his attorney Judd Jensen, but did not hear back before deadline.
In a flattering profile of Blatt published by the American Morgan Horse Association in 2023, Blatt declared, “Believe in the breed!”
Rescue Team Swoops In
When the Madison County Sheriff’s Office seized Blatt’s horses, they put out a call on social media asking for hay donations. Then the sheriff’s office partnered with the ASPCA, which dispatched its seven-person rapid response team.
Alexandra Garza, senior communications manager with ASPCA, told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday, “We have a pretty substantial team on the ground right now. We have veterinary staff, behaviorists, and then folks keeping it all logistically moving.”
“We deploy nationwide to support these types of cases and investigations,” said Garza, who sent Cowboy State Daily some background on the ASPCA rapid response teams.
“Every case is a distinct logistical puzzle and requires a diverse array of supplies, vehicles and responders,” according to ASPCA materials.
In this case, according to the ASPCA statement, “Some of the horses appeared to be underweight and suffering from untreated medical conditions, injuries, and hoof issues.”
Thanks to the Humane Society of Western Montana and the “generous support of two community members,” stated the release, the horses now have basic care and hay.
Krueger, whose business Absaroka Morgans is located off Eight Mile Road near Riverton, said the process of rehoming these horses is complicated by the ongoing investigation into Blatt’s alleged neglect.
“Now they are evidence,” Krueger said.
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
