Riders Unlimited, Inc. has completed the purchase of a horse facility on Behlman Road near Oak Harbor and is now looking for volunteers to help with repairs.

The non-profit organization based in Fremont purchased the property that had been owned by  Robin Vess, who was convicted of animal cruelty in 2010 after officers from the Humane Society of Ottawa County responded to a call about the poor condition of more than 40 horses on the farm.

“We have a lot of work to do over the next few months,” said Rebekah (Harder) Recker, Riders Unlimited program director. “There are fences that need fixing, pastures and lawns that need mowing, years of manure to remove, a leaking roof to replace, offices to sanitize-deodorize and paint, a burned horse trailer to remove as well as proper disposal of various items left behind.”

The organization is hosting a horse show for riders with disabilities at the facility on Sept. 24.

“It is our hope to have much of the facility clean-up completed by then,” Recker said. “We are seeking the help of anyone that has a tractor with a large front-end loader, a large manure spreader, bush hogs, experience with roofing, and eventually a back-hoe.”

Riders Unlimited offers equine assisted activities and therapies to individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

Organization personnel say the natural movements, personalities, and behaviors of their trained horses provide therapy for those with disabilities.

Recker said the purchase of the facility will help improve the organization’s therapy programs. She said the purchase will also help it meet Americans with Disabilities Act specifications and Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International accreditation standards.

A volunteer training session is scheduled to begin Aug. 31.

For information visit the Riders Unlimited website: www.ridersunlimited.org or call Recker at 419-332-6900 or 419- 307-0222.

The Humane Society quickly decided to remove the horses from the farm in January 2010 after receiving a report of severely dehydrated and malnourished horses at the farm.

Vess pled not guilty to the animal cruelty charges and contended the animals were unlawfully seized without a warrant, but the Sixth District Court of Appeals this past June upheld the conviction.

In an affidavit, Vess said a woman who used to work for her “…snuck onto the property, without my permission” and called Nancy Silva, the county humane officer, who then came to the farm.

According to the Ottawa County Auditor’s website, Riders Unlimited purchased the property from Southpoint Properties, Inc. for $200,000.

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