Fifty-eight horses said to be in poor condition have been seized from a North Texas property by two horse rescue groups, backed by police.
True Blue Animal Rescue and the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society arrived at the property with support from the Hopkins County Sheriffs Department and the Sulphur Springs Police Department.
True Blue Animal Rescue president Melanie DeAeth received a neglect complaint concerning the Hopkins County horse owner earlier in the year.
Upon discovering the condition of the horses, she contacted Jennifer Williams, of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society.
DeAeth and Williams agreed the horses showed signs of neglect. It appeared they lacked proper food, access to drinkable water and necessary medical attention.
On Saturday, volunteers from both groups arrived at the owner's property accompanied by officers from both law enforcement departments.
The officers served the owner with a warrant to remove all horses from the property.
Volunteers documented 57 horses on the property in what they described as unsanitary conditions. One horse was dead. All living horses were removed and relocated to safe holding facilities.
They are currently being seen by veterinarians and farriers and are being started on re-feeding programmes.
The case is scheduled to go to court on May 19 in Sulphur Springs.
At that time, evidence on the horses' condition will be presented, and the owner will have a chance to present evidence.
The Justice of the Peace who presides over the case will then determine whether the horses were neglected. If the finding is that the horses were neglected, they can be can be handed over to the rescues for rehabilitation and eventual rehoming.
Rehabilitation of the animals will take several months and is expected to cost thousands of dollars.
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