GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A variety of Goochland horse homeowners are upset just after the proprietor of a horse retirement facility was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty next an ongoing investigation into the situation of horses in her treatment.
Amanda Myers told 8Information she experienced dropped her 29-yr-old horse, Scarlett, off at Byrd’s Nest Farm, a horse retirement facility in western Goochland, in November. She explained she was shocked when she picked Scarlett up a couple of months back and located her horse in an harmful condition.
“It was unfortunate to see the lack of spark in her eyes. She had unquestionably useless eyes,” Myers explained. “She was not satisfied to be residence. She was not joyful to see any person. She did not get in touch with out for other horses.”
Myers wasn’t the only a person to be caught off guard. Quite a few horse house owners 8News spoke with mentioned the owner of the farm, Byrd Rareshide, had a powerful standing for having care of retired horses. Several in Goochland felt her skills would be a purely natural match. Nevertheless, individuals hopes were promptly soured following several identified their beloved horses experienced been neglected.
Sarah Hatfield, a close by farm owner, told 8News she experienced been weary of the farm since 2018.
“We would push by all the time. And I generally believed the horses were way far too skinny,” Hatfield said. “And any time I voiced considerations, it would slide on deaf ears.”
Having said that, Goochland County Animal Protection suggests they did not acquire their animal neglect first grievance about Byrd’s Nest Farm right until Feb. 3, 2023. It was shortly following this grievance was designed that Animal Protection Officers contacted the facility and opened an investigation. Officers and community equine veterinarians also contacted the homeowners of the horses that were being housed at the facility to hold them knowledgeable about the ongoing investigation.
Myers shared Scarlett’s veterinarian data with 8News, which showed that she was in superior issue very last drop. In evaluation notes from Feb. 10, on the other hand, the data point out that “many horses on this distinct farm have been emaciated.”
On Friday, Feb. 17, results of the County’s investigation were turned over to the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Legal professional Workplace. And on Saturday, Feb. 18, Goochland County Animal Care, Adoption, and Protection charged Rareshide with 10 counts of animal cruelty.
“I consider she need to be charged with a felony, but there is of class, no authority for the Commonwealth’s Legal professional to cost her with that,” Myers stated. “You’ve obtained to have the legislation to do that.”
In accordance to Goochland Animal Protection, this continues to be an energetic and ongoing investigation.
