Shocking Case of Animal Abuse Discovered in Maryland

A shocking discovery was made at a farm in Maryland as three underweight horses with overgrown hooves were found abandoned.

The horses were discovered in a stable and may have been living there for at least 15 years. According to the Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), one horse had to be euthanized, while one full-sized stallion and one miniature were removed from a stall piled high with three to four feet of manure. Officials suspect that the horses were locked up for at least 15 years without necessary farrier or medical care. One miniature had to be euthanized on the property due to ruptured ligaments causing irreparable fetlock dislocation.

The other two horses are in critical condition, with the worst hoof neglect the DEFHR veterinarian has ever seen.

“The hooves on two of the horses were so long, over three feet, that the horses could barely move without being at risk of getting tangled in their own hooves,” said DEFHR in a statement. “In order to transport them safely to DEFHR’s rehabilitative care facility, the vet and farrier worked together to sedate the horses and lay them down so they could remove portions of their hooves.”

The horses were discovered after a Good Samaritan called the Humane Society of Washington County with concerns about the welfare of pet pigeons. It is standard practice during welfare checks to inspect all animals on the property, which is how the horses were discovered. The investigation is ongoing and cruelty charges could be pending.

Of the over 3,000 horses DEFHR has rescued in its 26-year history, these are the worst, most extreme cases of hoof neglect the organization has ever seen. On scene at the impoundment, Erin Ochoa, DEFHR’s Executive Director, told the gray stallion, “Today your life changes.”

The average cost for critical rehabilitative care for horses is $1,900 to $2,400 per horse per month. These horses will be on the higher end of this cost scale.