Neglected race horses rescued

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Race horses found in deplorable shape were rescued in South Florida Thursday.

These horses are thoroughbred race horses, as denoted by a telltale tattoo on the inside of their lips. According to Celia Fawkes, of the Florida Track organization, at least one horse once ran at Calder Race Track.

However, over the past year, that horse has been diminished to skin and bones. "Probably hasn't eaten a decent meal in months and months," said Richard Couto of the Animal Recovery Mission.

A total of three horses were rescued Wednesday night from a plot of land off Okeechobee Road in Northwest Miami-Dade. They were believed to have been waiting a death sentence to be illegally slaughtered for what little meat remained on their bones. "You can see his backbone," said Couto. "He's just in rough shape."

A fourth horse was found wandering in Homestead suffering from rain rot. "Rain rot is something that a horse gets from exposure from being out in the elements, from being wet for so long," Couto said.

Cuoto said the horses had been living in what he calls a dump site. "We're actually looking for the property owner now and the owner of the horses," he said. "Once we find that owner, I'm sure he's going to be arrested and prosecuted."

Thursday a veterinarian visited the horses and set a course for what will surely be a long road to recovery. "A good six months before these horses are placed in a situation where they can be adopted," said Fawkes.

Florida Track will take on the task of rehabilitating the horses, so they might be adopted.

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