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Ranches wrangle over rescued horses at Luv Shack
by Barry Cohen

Desert Hills - In most custody battles, the biggest losers are at the center of the conflict-the children. But in Joey Ogburn's legal battle, the objects of contention are horses-and she agonizes over the potential loss of several that have touched her heart.

Joey and her husband Greg, who own and operate Luv Shack Ranch Horse Rescue at 36029 N. 10th St. in Phoenix, are being sued by WildHorse Ranch Rescue, Inc., of Gilbert. WildHorse alleges that the Ogburns withheld corporate records, kept property and horses belonging to WildHorse and misappropriated charity funds. Most of the alleged transgressions occurred between August 2004 and August 2005, when Luv Shack was a sister ranch to WildHorse, enjoying the benefits of the latter's nonprofit status.

The lawsuit probably won't go to trial for six months to a year. Until then, it appears Luv Shack will retain the nine horses WildHorse Ranch and its president, Kim Meagher, want returned. Among them are five steeds Ogburn purchased prior to associating with WildHorse, including Frankie, a nearly two year old bay fillie that she nursed to health from a foal and to whom here entire family has become emotionally attached.
"Kim Meagher is motivated less about the case and the well being of the horses than she is about eliminating a potential rival," said Nick Henthoff, the Ogburns' attorney. "Kim is the queen of the horse rescue community, and she can't stand the thought of sharing the limelight with someone who is creating other programs to rescue horses."

WildHorse Ranch Rescue encourages and mentors other charity startups, Meagher countered in an e mail response. "We have an entire packet that we provide to people interested in starting their own charities," she wrote. "Our motto is that we need more horse rescue ranches in the world."

On its Web site, WildHorse says Ogburn brought three foals to Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert in June of 2004. "As of July of 2004 (30 days later), Joey Ogburn began spending Wildhorse Ranch Rescue funds and grants on the foals," the site says. "It was at that time the foals became part of our herd at Wildhorse Ranch Rescue. From July 2004 up to July 31, 2005, Wildhorse Ranch Rescue spent over $18,000.00 for the food, care, foal lac, supplements, castration and vet care for the horses that were being cared for at Wildhorse Ranch Rescue."

Ogburn replied that she brought the three foals to WildHorse in Gilbert only until her horse facilities were completed three weeks later. During the time the foals were with WildHorse, Ogborn said she personally cared for them and paid for their medical care, feed and other expenses.
A program that brought abused children in touch with the horses at Luv Shack might have precipitated the breakdown in the relationship with WildHorse, according to Ogburn. Meagher asked Ogburn to suspend the program until WildHorse could research and analyze potential liability issues. Ogburn assured Meagher that she had proper insurance coverage, but agreed to put the program on hold.

Meagher said that after receiving three complaints about the kids program at Luv Shack, WildHorse asked all of its sister ranches to shut down their programs until they did a liability assessment. "We wanted to ensure that the children visiting any of our facilities were safe and that the organization was also protected," wrote Meagher. "All of our ranches agreed except for Joey Ogburn. She refused and continued to put the children at risk."

Shortly thereafter Ogburn was told the WildHorse board of directors had voted to discontinue Luv Shack's status as a sister ranch.
The lawsuit and the potential loss of her horses have taken a heavy emotional toll, said Ogburn. "I'm not sleeping well," she explained. "If they take my horses, my whole family is going to be devastated. I believe WildHorse is doing this because they know this is the only way they can get to me."

Ogburn wishes the entire matter would just disappear so both Luv Shack and WildHorse can go back to doing what they do best: saving horses from abuse, neglect, slaughter and premature death, and providing a safe place for them to live for the remainder of their lives. "Just think how much good we could do if the time and money being wasted on this were being spent on rescuing horses instead," she said.
Other than a small initial fee, Henthoff, a sole practitioner in Buckeye, is representing the Ogburns pro bono. "The reason is that I hate bullies, and Meagher and her board are acting just like schoolyard bullies," he explained. "Joey has spent hundreds of hours caring and nurturing these horses, and to take them away would be mean spirited and cruel."

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