Man to Go to Jail Rather Than Give Up His Horses in Animal Cruelty Case

A Glendale man chose to go to jail for six months Friday for cruel treatment of a thoroughbred horse rather than accept a sentence of probation that would have left him free but required him to sell all his other horses.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Jessica Perrin Silvers was prepared to sentence Robert Clayton Buick, 53, to three years probation, but Buick, who owns 12 horses including the former racehorse he was convicted of mistreating, said through his attorney that he would take the jail time instead.

In an interview after his conviction May 6, Buick had said, “I’d rather do the time than let them take my horses away.”

A jury found Buick, who is also a real estate salesman, guilty of misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal and permitting an animal to go without proper care at the ranch he leased in Sun Valley. The crimes are punishable by a maximum sentence of six months.

The charges were filed in June, 1990, after an animal regulation officer setting traps for wild dogs near Buick’s stables saw a horse that was grossly underweight from malnourishment.

Deputy City Atty. Holly Beckner said the horse, Handsome Lad, a descendant of racing champions Seabiscuit and Man o’ War, had lost nearly 400 pounds through starvation.

Handsome Lad and 11 other horses, which were in much better health than Handsome Lad, were impounded by animal control officers and remain in the agency’s care. Handsome Lad has regained its health, Beckner said.

Silvers ordered Buick to forfeit ownership of Handsome Lad. But by taking the jail sentence over his freedom, Buick can now claim the other 11 horses.

Beckner said she was disappointed in the sentence because she thought safeguarding the horses was more important than placing Buick in jail.

“I would have preferred that the horses . . . be placed in good homes,” Beckner said. “Mr. Buick treats horses as a business. If they weren’t making money . . . the animals suffered.”

Buick had claimed that Handsome Lad lost weight because of a chewing disorder and that he took good care of the other horses. He has alleged that the horses were mistreated by animal regulation officers when they were seized, but Beckner denied that claim Friday.