38 mini horses rescued from local farm

DEDHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- Thirty eight miniature horses were rescued from a local farm after they were found living in unhealthy conditions.

Andy, a brown and white miniature horse, is one of the many animals that were taken from their owner in West Boylston. Investigators say they are sick, malnourished, and full of parasites and infections.

“The owner got overwhelmed and I think it got way past…the person could handle,” said Alan Borgal of the Animal Rescue League.

The owner agreed to turn over the horses. Now they are being cared for by the MSPCA facility in Methuen, the Animal Rescue League in Dedham and at the Tufts Large Animal Hospital in Grafton.

Investigators said the horses have skin infections from being left outside and some have 30 times a dangerous level of parasites that absorb their food, leaving the animals malnourished.

“To put your hands on them you can see, you can feel the spiny process. Their hip bones are very pronounced. So what they should feel like is a very smooth touch to it and there’s divots everywhere. You can feel their ribs very easily,” said Ashley Arseneau, a livestock expert.

The animals are being nursed back to health, some being fed every four hours. Eventually they will be offered for adoption.

“Picking out the friendliest ones first and working with this,” said Borgal. “This is going to be a daunting task. It’s going to be long term. It’s not something we’re going to be get these adopted -- it’s going to take months.”

Each horse has gotten a new name -- they are being named after the Tufts students that are helping care for the animals.

The owner is not facing any charges because the owner voluntarily agreed to turn the animals over.

(Copyright (c) 2012 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)