By Murray Evans
The Associated Press

Dena Lopez watches as trainer Brad Bacon checks one of her five American Saddlebred horses that someone injected with an unknown substance in their left front legs. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

LEXINGTON - The five American Saddlebred horses which had an unknown substance injected into their left front legs will be lucky to live, much less compete again, a representative of the ranch where the horses are stabled said Thursday.

The condition of three of the horses, including former five-gaited world champion Wild Eyed and Wicked, "looks real serious," said Bridget Parker, an associate of Dave and Dena Lopez, owners of the Double D Ranch in Versailles.

Joining Wild Eyed and Wicked, an 11-year-old gelding, on the serious condition list are Cats Don't Dance, a 6-year-old gelding, and Meet Prince Charming, a 2-year-old gelding. Kiss Me, a 4-year-old mare, and Sassational, a 3-year-old mare, are in better condition, "but one little speck of bacteria and you're back to square one," Parker said.

"We're very hopeful that this will all go away, but realistically, they're in very serious condition," Parker said. "It's day to day. The vets are here and will be here all day long. Right now it's wait and see."

Trooper Ronald Turley said the Kentucky State Police's Frankfort post is investigating the Monday incident as a cruelty to animals and third-degree burglary case. Third-degree burglary is a felony. The cruelty charge might be upgraded, though, said Detective Sam Hawkins, the primary investigator on the case.

"I've never had a case like this, and I've been a detective since 1988," Hawkins said.

The horses were stabled in the ranch's only barn, which houses about 30 horses.

Wild Eyed and Wicked, an 11-year-old gelding, is one of the nation's top American saddlebreds - well-trained, muscular horses known for their distinctive walking styles, or gaits. He won the American Saddlebred industry's Triple Crown in 2000 and 2001, taking top honors in the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, the American Royal Saddle Horse Show in Kansas City, Mo., and the World's Championship Horse Show in Louisville.

"For any horse to accomplish being a World's Champion once in a lifetime is an honor, but to be a repetitive World's Champion is phenomenal," said Dede Gatlin, the advertising manager and technical coordinator for the Lexington-based American Saddlebred Horse Association.

The 2003 World's Championship Horse Show will be Aug. 17 through 23 in Louisville. None of the five horses will be able to compete, Parker said.

"It's a career-ending injury unless we're damn lucky," she said.

Parker said the horses showed severe swelling in their legs up to their shoulders when they were checked in their stalls on Monday morning. Carol McLeod, one of the farm's two veterinarians, examined the horses and found nearly identical circular wounds on the backs of their left front pasterns - the short bone located between a horse's hoof and ankle.