by Lisa Mayor

An additional seven horses have been taken from an Arabian farm near East Bethel, Minnesota, the Pioneer Press said yesterday.

     In late August, ten horses were seized from this farm because of what is supposed neglect.

     Neighbours reported to the humane society that the horses were wasting away on 72 year old Lowell Friday's Arabian horse farm.

     Animal humane society agents, as well as a licensed veterinarian and deputies from the Anoka County Sheriff's Department entered Friday's farm with a search and seizure warrant on November 16.

     Each of the horses in question had a body score of one to three as determined by the Henneke System. This is a nine-point scale that rates a horse's body condition regardless of breed, age, body type or sex. A six or seven is the standard that a healthy horse should rank at. One is the lowest possible body score an animal can receive.

      "One of the horses was in such poor condition that she collapsed as we tried to get her in the transport trailer," Animal Humane Society Agent Keith Streff told Horsetalk. "A great deal of effort was put into getting her back on her feet...[and] as the euthanasia option was being discussed the horse made a final effort to get back [up] and was successful."

     Streff told Horsetalk that around 30 horses remained on the property following this week's seizure.

     Because 17 horses have been taken from Friday's property in just under three months, his farm has become a target for an animal rights investigation.

     Friday said the horses were fine and the attention was from city slickers and animals rights groups, the Pioneer Press reported.

     The horses are under the care of veterinary students and veterinarians at the University of Minnesota's Large Animal Clinic at their St. Paul Campus. The horses are being monitored and are on very strict feed schedules, being fed hay every other hour.

      Following the incidents, the case was forwarded on to the Anoka County Attorney's Office by the Humane Society. The Attorney's Office is currently reviewing it for possible criminal charges.