OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Russ Van Renterghem, the Mahaska County sheriff, said that the sheriff’s office has had to coral escaped horses from one owners property 27 times since the start of this year.

“We’re coming up on nearly 30 times since the first of the year, these horses have been out on Galeston and in the neighbor’s yards there,” Van Renterghem said.

Sheriff Renterghem said the Board of County Supervisors will be able to take action against the property owner.

“The Board of Supervisors under the civil portion of the law if they deem these horses as habitual livestock, trespassers, then some other steps can be taken,” Renterghem said.

Deb Carlson is the owner of the property that the horses were escaping from. Carlson said that she recently rehomed the horse that escaped the most after witnessing the horse jumping her fence.

“I did it, pros and cons, and whether they keeping what’s the best route to go here because I almost feel like a failure because I couldn’t keep it but it’s, he’s got to be safe and going across that road is not safe.”

Carlson hopes that after fixing her fence and rehoming one of her horses, the County Board of Supervisors wont take action.

“If I have to get on my knees and beg, I will, you know, whatever it takes to save them. Like I said, I gave Smokie up to a new home and that I had to prove to them that I’m trying,” Carlson said.

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