3 charged after neglected horses removed from Florida farm

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. – Three people have been arrested after more than 50 horses showing signs of neglect were removed from a Florida farm.

Three other horses did not survive.

A Union County Sheriff’s Office news release says the farm’s owners, 67-year-old Cheryl Ervin and 58-year-old Richard Ervin, were arrested Monday. Each faces 37 misdemeanour counts and four felony counts of animal cruelty. Forty-seven-year-old Pablo Rivas, an owner of a horse kept on the property, was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty.

Deputies say they found 54 neglected horses in October at the 40-acre self-proclaimed horse rescue facility in Lake Butler. Two were dead and another was euthanized. The rest have been sent to legitimate horse rescues.

The three suspects are free on bail. Jail records didn’t list attorneys for them.