Thirteen horses were removed from a Levy County, Florida, property after deputies responded to an anonymous tip about malnourished animals.
The case unfolded off Northeast 62nd Court in northern Levy County. According to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived and found multiple horses and other livestock on the property, with several horses needing immediate intervention.
The sheriff’s office said the animal owner will be formally charged with several criminal violations. The owner’s name had not been released in the sheriff’s office update.
A horse can have water in reach and still be in serious trouble if there is no hay, no shelter, no hoof care, and no one checking its condition closely.
Deputies Said The Horses Were Seriously Malnourished
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Agricultural Detective Garboski responded to the scene and began the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. His report said multiple mares had body condition scores of 1.5 to 2.
The agency said the horses had highly visible bone structure and very little fat covering. They were being kept in an area made of cattle panels with no grass, no hay, and no shelter from the elements, though the sheriff’s office said the horse areas did have access to water.
Body condition scoring is a standard way to assess fat cover on a horse. Ohio State University Extension says regular body condition checks can help owners spot feeding or health problems before they get worse.
Overgrown Hooves Added To The Concern
The sheriff’s office said all of the horses had extremely overgrown hooves and needed farrier care.
Officials said untrimmed hooves can lead to structural imbalance, painful overgrowth, hoof deformity, permanent lameness, joint strain, and extreme discomfort.
University of Florida IFAS guidance says regular trimming helps prevent overgrowth, cracking, and imbalance, and most horses need farrier care every five to eight weeks, depending on the animal and conditions.
The Horses Are Now Under Veterinary Care
The sheriff’s office said Eugene Carter, a local horseman contracted by the agency to help recover abused large animals, removed 13 horses from the property at Detective Garboski’s direction.
The horses will begin rehabilitation at Carter’s property under the care and direction of a large-animal veterinarian.
Anyone with information about abused animals was asked to contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Office or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.