Diseased, neglected horses discovered at Linn County, Ore., ranch

MILL CITY, Ore. — A horse breeder faces 31 counts of animal neglect after more than 115 horses were found malnourished and diseased on a Linn County ranch, authorities said.

Investigators seized 31 horses after Friday's search of a ranch in Mill City, about 30 miles outside of Salem, according to The Oregonian newspaper. Authorities said some of the horses are severely diseased and probably will be euthanized.

"There was the stench of manure and urine," Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller said. "It smelled like sickness. It was bad."

Tania Herring, a horse breeder and trainer, was cited with the 31 counts of second-degree animal neglect. She did not return calls from The Oregonian seeking comment.

Herring was cited after a five-week investigation by authorities. Sheriff deputies had warned Herring to take better care of the horses.

Authorities said Herring rented the ranch, which had been a state-of-the art Thoroughbred-training facility that included a horse spa.

Cindy Kingsberry, president and founder of Linn County Animal Rescue, said the rescued horses included one with a severe gash on its neck, another with an abscessed foot and several pregnant mares and foals.

"It's heartbreaking," Kingsberry said. "Two little babies were living in a horse trailer. I've never seen anything like that."

Herring is scheduled to appear in court at the end of next month. Second-degree animal-neglect charges carry sentences of up to one year in jail and a $6,250 fine.

"She doesn't have a criminal record," Mueller said. "She probably won't get jail time. What we're hoping is to bar her from owning another horse."

The horses are being temporarily housed at a rescue center outside of Lebanon, where they will be treated by a veterinarian. The healthy ones will be put in foster homes, and then they will be adopted out.

Mueller said authorities would have taken more horses but were limited by the number of foster homes available in the county.