Blue Ash City Council votes to remove 1 mini-horse from residence, but the other can stay

BLUE ASH, Ohio - Two Blue Ash neighbors were battling over horse manure left in a yard, and city council made a decision on what they're doing about it.

The Blue Ash City Council voted Friday by a 7-0 vote to have one of the miniature horses removed from Ingrid Anderson's home. This means one has to go, but she can keep the second.

At issue was the smell that Anderson's yard would produce due to the manure created by the miniature horses she had at her house being used as therapy for her disabled child, Chloe.

Next door neighbor Dave Switzer said the smell can be unbearable.

"It's been going on a year and a half to two years, and it's progressively getting worse," Switzer said. "I wouldn't have any problem with the horses but they won't clean after them. I haven't been able to open my windows for two years, going on three years, I haven't even been able to grill out. My child can't even come out in her backyard because of the stench."

Switzer wanted to see those horses removed permanently.

But Anderson defended having the horses at her home.

"It's an incredible therapy for Chloe because it's a social contact she wouldn't have otherwise had," Anderson said. "Animals have historically been proven to cut the ice between people who don't have commonalities."

Anderson said the health department investigated her property, and she's never been cited. She stressed that she's keeping the horse manure in her yard for personal reasons.

"I'm a horticulturist retired from the Cincinnati Park Board, and manure is especially an asset when it's broken down," Anderson said.

Switzer felt Anderson was being disrespectful, and just wanted something to be done.

A response from either Anderson or Switzer about the ruling was not immediately available.