NIANTIC, Conn. -- The state is auctioning off more than a dozen horses that were seized in cruelty cases and rehabilitated with the help of prisoners.

The animals were seized by the Department of Agriculture in abuse cases in Griswold, Mansfield and Winsted and nursed back to health at Second Chance Barn at Gates Prison in Niantic.

"A lot of the animals we get here, they're skin and bones, and after a few months here, they're fed, they're watered, they get all their vet care and they have human contact," said Maj. Ray Coggeshall of the Department of Correction.

Officials said that before the program began at the prison three years ago, they had a hard time finding space to board mistreated horses.

"We really had to scramble when we got any kind of cruelty complaint with large animals. We really didn't have any place to put them, and that's what started it. I had a case with 22 horses that we had no place to put, and that's why this barn has 22 stalls," said Maureen Griffin of the Department of Agriculture.

The inmates who work in the program at the low-security prison said that taking care of the animals is a pleasure, a challenge and a learning experience.

"It keeps me out of trouble," said one prisoner. "Actually, working with them, at first I didn't really like animals, but it's a good feeling being around them."

The horses, which include three miniatures, will be sold at auction on Jan. 20 at the UConn Horse Barn in Storrs.

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