Four horses rescued from a farm in Melrose, New York, are now recovering at Dorset Equine Rescue after enduring years of severe neglect. The animals were found in appalling conditions, with four trapped in stalls buried under years of frozen manure, and others left dehydrated and hungry in a field. The rescue operation involved Dorset Equine Rescue, a local volunteer fire department, and the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who worked together to safely remove all 11 horses from the farm.

The rescued horses are now receiving care and rehabilitation, with some housed at Dorset and others placed in rescue centers in Maine and New York. Staff describe the emotional challenge of the rescue but find it rewarding to see the horses gradually recover and adapt to normal life, especially a six-year-old horse who likely spent his entire life confined to a stall. Once rehabilitated, Dorset Equine Rescue plans to find permanent homes for these horses through adoption.