Their hooves had curled in on themselves so that the horses could barely walk.
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The two remaining horses, a full-size horse and a miniature, both stallions, were kept inside on a manure “mountain” that had compressed and grown to over four feet high in 15 mindboggling years.
The horse rescue noted the animals were found standing in an estimated “10+ years worth” of manure.
The horse rescue organisation named the surviving horses Quest and Rio.
Officials with the farm said they will assist the humane society when charges are filed in the case.
The third horse, named Piper, was suffering from “ruptured ligaments causing irreparable fetlock dislocation” and could not be saved, according to a statement.
A vet and farrier sedated the horses so that they could safely remove portions of their hooves before transporting them to the rehabilitative care facility, authorities said.
“The condition of the horses on the property was discovered when a Good Samaritan called the Humane Society of Washington County with concerns about the welfare of pet pigeons”, a press released from DEFHR states. Because the authorities have a standard procedure to also inspect other animals on the property, the three horses were discovered.
Evidence from the investigation has been turned over to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.
ThorSport Farm is well-known and highly regarded within the Big Lick show world, but its trainers Chad Williams, Aaron Self and Robert Cortner, have histories of being cited for violating the law by presenting sored horses at shows.
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Photos courtesy of Days End Farm Horse Rescue. The costs associated with the two new horses are expected to be steep due to the critical rehabilitation care necessary.
