09/17/2025
GUILTY! 📣 We have not been able to speak of this until today’s trial, but are delighted to share that Madisonrose and Jabin Sprinkle have been found guilty on four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. In April, Madisonrose Sprinkle surrendered four miniature horses to Polk County Animal Control, who then asked us to take them in.
When they arrived, our staff wept. These miniature horses had been left to starve. They were emaciated; body conditions of 2-3 on the Hennecke Scale of 1 to 9, 1 being skeletal, resulting in heart murmurs in two of them. When Dr. Setlakwe conducted their intake exam, we discovered they were infested with biting lice. Lice that had sucked so much blood from them that they were all anemic. All of their hooves were overgrown, some even starting to curl and with deep holes in the soles. Poor Quinn, the pinto, was in the worst shape of the four and was our greatest concern. Her front teeth are jagged and malformed; clearly needing dental intervention. In fact, our vet is recommending surgery followed by braces. X-rays revealed that she was literally packed with sand from stomach to re**um. She had literally resorted to eating sand to try and survive. This is life threatening because the sand can cause a gastrointestinal blockage. Quinn has already had to be rushed to Tryon Equine Hospital twice for sand colic and once again for extensive treatments for sand mitigation.
In their first month here, they each gained 20 pounds or more. This was simply by slowly trickle feeding small amounts of hay every few hours and following the UC Davis Refeeding Protocol. It does not take much to provide adequate nutrition to a miniature horse. Five months later, they are almost unrecognizable, but are still recovering from their neglect.
Today, the heinous people that inflicted this neglect on the four minis went to trial and were found guilty on four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. We would like to thank Polk County Animal Control, Dr. Emilie Setlakwe, Andy Painter, Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance, Polk County District Attorney’s Office, our Red Bell Run staff and volunteers. However, now we need our community’s help to fully bring Quinn and her friends justice.
We have already spent more than $22,000 on their hospitalizations, specialized treatments, medications, feed, and hoof and dental care…and their needs are not finished. Quinn still requires dental surgery and Griffin must be gelded, which will add at least another $2,000.
If you believe, as we do, that justice for Opal, Quinn, Griffin, and Butterscotch means giving them the life they were denied, we ask you to help. Please consider making a gift to support their care and rehabilitation today at www.redbellrun.org/donate and note Quinn + Friends.
