It's been a month since 21 horses were rescued from deplorable and inhumane conditions at a Davie ranch. Now, many of them are healthier, happier and ready to be adopted.
Peaceful Ridge Rescue, where the horses were brought back to health, held a Hearts for Horses Adopt-A-Thon Saturday and up to 100 people showed up to check out the new and improved horses.
"He just got all cleaned up, really shiny like a diamond," said Reiko Andes, who adopted a 4-year-old stallion that she will name Diamond. "I never believed it, but they always say that a horse picks you and that's pretty much what happened. I had no choice."
Andes said she just followed her heart in choosing this specific horse.
"Oh my God! I'm so in love with him. I'm so in love with him," Andes said.
When the horses were found they were injured, filthy and emaciated. They were also very skiddish -- warry even of their rescuers.
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But when the horses were taken to Peaceful Ridge Rescue, Victor Cutino and his volunteers took good care of them.
"They're getting a little more friendly," Cutino said.
The horses went from standing in two to three feet of feces and urine to living in clean stalls and being around loving caretakers.
"Now they've been bathed and groomed practically every other day," Cutino said.
Police said a man named Benjamin Mantilla, 54, was arrested and charged with five counts of animal cruelty in the investigation.
Nine of the horses from the rescue have been adopted so far. The horses adopted are all pending because of legal matters to be resolved soon by a judge. For more information on what you can do to help visit these horses and what you can do to help visit www.peacefulridgerescue.com.
