Dead, 'Emaciated' Horses Found On 'Deplorable' RivCo Property

WINCHESTER, CA –After serving a search warrant Monday at a Winchester property in Riverside County, previously flagged for improper care, animal services found the remains of three dead horses, that appeared to be emaciated, according to authorities.

The property on Van Gaale Lane, east of Winchester Road, is one "familiar with animal services officers," as the owner of the horses reportedly has a record on non-compliance with the agency's recommendations for proper care and nutrition for the horses, Riverside County Animal Services said.

Animal Services Lt. John Stephens and Sgt. Lesley Huennekens served the search warrant Monday morning, a warrant obtained after the woman who owns the land allegedly failed to work with the department, officials said.

The horses' remains, described by Huennekens as "emaciated," will be transported to a state lab for necropsies to determine causes of death, the department said.

Two of horses were a specialized breed called Pony of the Americas, one a mare and the other a gelding. The third horse, a gelding, was an unknown breed, authorities said.

After checking the property for livestock feed, the animal-control officers said no "proper
feed for horses" was found.

"It’s been an ongoing struggle for animal services in trying to work with the owner of the horses," the agency said. "The department’s officers offered many times to assist the woman by transferring the horses to a reputable equine rescue organization. Each offer was declined."

“It’s been more than two years of this,” Huennekens added. “And there were always different horses each time we attempted to visit. The conditions of the horses and the barn where they were being kept were deplorable.”

The property owner reportedly refused entry recently to investigators for inspection, which led to the search warrant, officials said. The investigation is ongoing.

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--Images via Riverside County Department of Animal Services