Horse owner’s trial delayed until May

A Black Forest horse owner accused of neglect won’t see trial until May.

The judge granted her lawyer’s motion to delay the jury trial.

Those horses were discovered last September at Sherri Brunzell’s ranch in Black Forest.

Her attorney wanted more time to collect test results and interview witnesses.

The judge said in a pretrial conference Friday afternoon that the jury trial will only last three days.

Prosecutors also said at Friday’s conference that the horses seized were in good health and continuing their recovery.

El Paso County sheriff’s deputies seized 10 surviving horses at the ranch in September, including Dual Peppy, a famous cutting horse.

Brunzell pleaded not guilty to the 14 counts in December.

But horse advocates say this recent news is discouraging.

“We’re not happy about it,” said Anna Blake, with Colorado Horse Advocates. “The more time that passes, the more people’s interest dims, the more the community loses interest. So we don’t like it put off.”

Brunzell is still financially responsible for the care, paying over $5,000 each month as they remain at an undisclosed location for rehabilitation.