The Ponies Case
A citation over residential ponies. A district attorney who refused to prosecute. A county attorney driving four hours round-trip at taxpayer expense. And one name at the center of it all.
Key Facts on the Record
What This Case Is Really About
The therapy ponies have lived at a residential property in Jasper County since July 2022 — the same month this organization lost its lease on a large ranch nearby. They did not arrive without reason. They are the foundation of an equine-assisted healing program that has served survivors of child sex crimes in this county since 2009.
The effort to remove them is being driven not by public safety concerns, but by a community activist named Mary Patrick, who currently sits on the Jasper County Planning and Zoning Board. The county's own contract attorney — who travels nearly four hours round-trip for every court date — has stated directly that the only reason this case is moving forward is because of Mary Patrick.
The Jasper County District Attorney has refused to prosecute this case. It has been transferred from Magistrate Court to Superior Court, where a jury trial is now scheduled. The trial date has been extended to January 22, 2026.
The Broader Context
This organization has spent 15 years in Jasper County documenting failures by local government agencies and advocating for the most vulnerable victims — children. That work has made enemies.
The ponies are not a zoning problem. They are a pressure point. The county's own attorney has confirmed that the case has no independent momentum — it exists because one person on the Planning and Zoning Board wants it to exist. The District Attorney, the appropriate prosecutorial authority, wants no part of it.
A civil lawsuit for damages is being prepared. The full history of retaliation against this organization — and the public officials and community actors involved — will be part of that record.
Civil Lawsuit in Preparation
Advocates are preparing a civil lawsuit for damages arising from what they describe as a coordinated campaign of retaliation. If you have witnessed relevant events, have documents, or wish to offer support, use the contact page to reach the organization directly.
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