30-plus horses removed from farm

ISLE OF WIGHT, CO., Va. - The bodies of two horses led state and local investigators to a massive case of animal neglect in Isle of Wight County.  Thirty-plus horses were removed from a home on Sand Pit Road in Isle of Wight Wednesday, after authorities say they received a tip of a deceased horse on the property.

"They had good intentions at first to raise the horses and to raise the dogs, but I think everything just got too much, too fast for them," says Bill Richardson.

Richardson helped his neighbors, Jeff and Diana Hansford, build the fences on their property when they moved in about 10 years ago.  He never expected to see state and local veterinarians, the United States Equine Rescue League, and Isle of Wight Sheriff's deputies removing malnourished horses from the Hansford farm.

"I've seen horses in this condition, but not the quantity of horses that are on this premisis," says Chief Ed Sullivan of the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office.

Sullivan of the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office tells WAVY.com, a horse's health is measured on a scale of 1 to 10, one being the worst, 10 being the best.

"The majority of these horses were in the 3, 2, and 1 category."

Sullivan says it was so bad, two horses were dead when investigators arrived, and two were euthanized, but how did it reach this point?

"This is just a situation where good intentions got out of hand. They got into it too deep and due to the economy and recent weather conditions in the area the past year and a half, their pastures have dried up and that created a problem," says Sullivan. "Local hay was substandard, but that was all some of the people could afford at the time."

However, insufficient feed wasn't the only problem.

"According to county code they're required to have one acre per horse. They've only got 40 acres total."

With 40 horses, the Hansfords bordered breaking county code.  Most neighbors say they didn't know about hungry horses, all they ever heard were barking dogs.

"The only problem that we complained about was the barking dogs, because of the noise we couldn't have our windows up at night, we couldn't sit out on the porch, you know, enjoy the night air, anything like that," says Richardson.

"We didn't see any problems with the horses. We know he's lost a couple during the years, but as far as this happening, we didn't know about it until after a farmer had reported it."

Investigators say they found 80 dogs on the property, but unlike the horses, they were in good health.

"This past weekend the Golden Retriever Rescue removed 32 dogs....and they're due to come back this following weekend and pick up anywhere from 10 to possibly 15 more," says Sullivan.

Sullivan says the horses were surrendered to U.S. Equine League members throughout Hampton Roads and North Carolina.  He says they haven't discussed charges yet, but the Hansford family is cooperating with every aspect of the investigation.

What normally happens in a case like this, according to Elaine Litholm, Communications Director for VA State Veterinarians, "The US Equine Rescue League (USERL) genearally finds foster homes while looking for permanent homes.

As for the recouping or rehabbing, with horses with low body condition scores like the horses that were taken from the farm, you can take months to years and some may never recover depending on how much damage was done.

First they put them on a re-feeding program because their digestive system has to be re-introduced to regular feeding. You can't immediately start giving them a new diet and then immediately they are fat and happy.

They have to be de-wormed and get dental care. They may have infected teeth, infected hooves. Besides malnutrition they may have other conditions that require veterinary treatment.

They need specific veterinary care for different conditions and may not be completely successful."

Stay with WAVY.com and WAVY News 10 for more on this developing story.