Horses found with 3ft long hooves
Three horses with three-feet long hooves have been found at a US farm. Rescuers believe they had been left in their stables for 15 years without farrier or veterinary care.
The horses were discovered in stables piled high with three- to four-feet of manure at a farm in Washington County, Oregon, on Friday (21 August).
A miniature mare was put down at the farm due to ruptured ligaments causing irreparable fetlock dislocation.
The two other horses, 18-year-old stallion Quest and miniature mare Rio, could barely move as their hooves had grown so long.
Quest and Rio were also experiencing severe dental neglect.
“It’s the worst case we’ve seen in our 26-year history,” Caroline Robertson of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) told local press.
“They could barely move without being at risk of getting tangled in their own hooves.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The horses were found during a welfare inspection by the Humane Society of Washington County, which was checking on pet pigeons at the farm. It is standard practice for the society to check on all animals at a property.
DEFHR, which provides rehabilitation and care for 78 horses, aided the rescue of the three horses before taking them into its care.
The horses were sedated at the farm so that portions of their hooves could be removed so they could travel comfortably to the rescue centre.
On Monday (24 August) a vet and farrier took x-rays of Quest and Rio’s hooves. They said that it could take a year to get the horses’ hooves into good condition.
For more information on Days End Farm Horse Rescue visit: www.defhr.org
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.