Blacksmiths donate time to dozens of horses abandoned in Mercer County

A familiar horse trainer has left the state. Maria Borell is wanted on 43 counts of animal cruelty.

Investigators say they found 43 horses abandoned on a farm leased by the Borell family.

Borell's father has already been arrested on 43 counts of animal cruelty. Police have issued a warrant for Maria Borrell, but since it is a misdemeanor warrant officials say it can not be served outside of Kentucky.

Meanwhile, the horses are still here recovering. Tuesday was a busy day at the Mercer County farm, the dozens of horses receiving much needed attention to their feet.

"I joked with the horses and told them they were getting peduicures some liked it some did not," said volunteer, Mary Ann Kelley. Kelley has seen the horses at their worst ... now seeing them with life back in their eyes getting plenty of love and care.

Duane Raglin, one of the farriers donating his time to the horses, has been shoeing horses for 22 years.

"There is a saying live by the foot, die by the foot, no foot no horse. The feet are basically what they live by. I refer to them as a heart, so to me they have five hearts," explained Raglin.

Raglin and the two other farriers going from horse to horse making sure their feet are filed and trimmed.

The once abandoned horses getting worked on by the same hands that work on the biggest names in the industry.

"I've been lucky enough to work with some of the best horses in the business. That doesn't matter .... every horse counts and we try to do as much as we can for every horse," said Raglin.

A veterinarian also spent time with the horses on Tuesday, giving them their much needed vaccinations.