KIPU, Kaua'i — A lost mother horse, nicknamed Whinny, whose foal was born in a Kaua'i Humane Society pasture, was to go back to her home pasture with the colt late yesterday.

Humane Society director Becky Rhoades said the adult horse's owner, who said the animal was lost when his gate was accidentally left open, has agreed to pay the Humane Society's costs and to allow regular checks on the progress of the mother and foal.

"He claims the pasture gate was left open by some surveyors and that he has been riding the coffee fields for over a month looking for her," Rhoades said.

The story about a starving pregnant horse generated a great deal of attention from horse lovers throughout the Islands, she said.

"I must have gotten 50 calls from all over the state," she said. Many offered to adopt the horses.

Humane Society officials recovered the horse June 22, two weeks after receiving a report that there was a skinny horse wandering the coffee fields near Kalaheo. When found, the animal weighed at least 200 pounds below its normal weight; she was described as severely malnourished and dehydrated. Three weeks later, the mare surprised shelter officials by giving birth to a healthy light chestnut male, which was named B.K.

Rhoades said the animal's owner appeared at the shelter Friday morning after reading about the horse in The Advertiser, and was able to produce registration papers for the 18-year-old mare. He said he also owns the stallion that is the colt's sire.

Rhoades had intended to file cruelty and abandonment charges against the owner, but the shelter's attorney said that given the circumstances, it would be hard to prove he intentionally abandoned the horse.

The owner, who was not identified, said he looked for the horse but did not report the animal missing because he has had several horses stolen over the years. He told Rhoades he had not known the Humane Society had a horse sheltering program.

"We told him, 'If you're missing a horse, we're the people to call,' " she said.

The horse's owner has agreed to compensate the society $1,000 to cover veterinary and other costs, and will allow the society unlimited access to monitor the horses and ensure they are adequately cared for. He must provide immediate care to the mare's sore front hooves, and to her dental disease.

Rhoades said the shelter's staff will check on the horses at least weekly for a month "and will visit regularly following that to monitor their condition."

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.