Man says owner of seized horses paid more than $1.5 million for animals

A man who helped sell a stalliion to the woman whose horses were seized Monday said she paid more than $1.5 million for them.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office seized 10 horses from Sherri Brunzell from a barn in Black Forest. Some horses were seemingly starving. There were 14 horse corpses found in the barn.

Brunzell told El Paso County sheriff’s deputies she had 14 horses die of colic during the past year and a half.

She said she and her husband did not hire a veterinarian because of the expense and “unsatisfactory results.” She said the money was better spent on feed.

Pete Bowling helped with sell a prized stallion named Dual Peppy to when Brunzell in Texas.

“At that point they did not have or did not seem to have a financial problem,” said Bowling.

Dual Peppy was the runner-up in an equestrian world championship. Bowling said Brunzell paid $650,000 for the horse.

“When they first came to Texas, they were throwing money around like they were printing it,” said Bowling.

Bowling also knew about the deal between Brunzell and Texas horse owner Kay Floyd. Bowling said Brunzell paid Floyd $1.5 million for horses.

“I mean, I know what’s going on and I can’t believe it, but it’s just too emotional for me,” said Floyd. “I don’t want to answer any questions about it.”

In addition to Dual Peppy, Brunzell had two other champion horses in the barn. One stallion was named Playin’ in Style and had won money in equestrian competitions. Another horse was named Playboys Madera and was a three-time world champion in an equestrian event.

Horse trainer Carrie Terroux-Barrett said the cheapest horse Brunzell owned was still $25,000.

Terroux-Barrettestimates there are $2 million worth of dead horses in the Black Forest barn.