A herd of neglected horses was rescued from a cockfighting farm with hundreds of roosters in Thurston County, officials said.
The horses and other livestock, including more than 500 roosters, were rescued Feb. 13 from a farm in Yelm, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said on Facebook. Photos show hordes of chickens roaming the property.
The date of the raid on the farm inspired rescuers to start calling the horses the “Valentine Herd,” according to Save A Forgotten Equine (SAFE), one of the organizations that helped rescue and provide care and foster homes for eight of the 15 horses.
After three weeks of care, the horses have new names and will be ready to go to new homes soon, the rescue said. During that time one mare gave birth and rescuers discovered a couple more are expecting.
However, many of the horses struggled and some died, SAFE said.
“Two of the stallions couldn’t be saved due to the severe neglect and abuse they suffered while being trained to ‘dance,’” rescuers said.
In another post, rescuers said three horses died in total. “The horses came in on the thin side, suffering from rain rot of the skin, lice and parasites,” KCPQ reported.
But they’ve been making incredible strides toward recovery, the station reported.
“What’s in a name? For the horses who come to SAFE, it signifies a new beginning,” the rescue organization said March 18 on Facebook. “While their names may change as they find new homes and families, each one marks the start of their journey to safety, care, and a brighter future.”
The organization shared photos of the horses along with their new names and a description of what they mean. For instance, a silvery-gray mare was dubbed Arionna Rosita — Silver Rose.
“For the Valentine Herd horses we welcomed into our care, we wanted to give them names as special as they are — names that would symbolize their lasting safety and new beginnings,” the organization said. “That’s why each of these horses has been given a beautiful Spanish-style name, including the family name Caballo de Seguro — which translates to ‘Horse of SAFE’.”
Photos show the horses looking less thin and neglected after weeks of care.
“This is just beautiful,” someone commented under the post.
