Sources:  Various

A trial is underway in  Langley, BC, against one of the Veterinarians charged with animal cruelty for failing to provide proper care for a total of six horses in 2008.  

Authorities had been attempting to make contact with the couple, Dr.  Mark Marohn and his wife, Carol Shoyen-Marohn, regarding the condition of horses on their property.  

On December 10, 2008, the pair had tried to use one of the horses to pull an automobile out of a deep ditch.  Instead of hauling the car out, the emaciated horse collapsed and was unable to get out of the ditch himself.  

The BCSPCA, RCMP, and Fire Department responded to bystander's emergency calls and worked for over 45 minutes with a sling hooked to a tow truck to finally pull the distressed animal from the ditch.

Back at the couple's home, authorities found more horses, also emaciated.  The horses were seized; one older animal was euthanized and the others were fostered back into good condition.

Mark Marohn's trial started today, January 11, 2011.  His estranged wife, who suffered a stroke, had her trial postponed, but may testify against her husband.

Here is a link to the video of the horse rescue performed in 2008:  Warning, the horse is under sedation while being hauled out of the ditch.  The horse then makes and fails in several attempts to stand with help from the crew that rescued him.  Later, the horse was deemed to be in acute medical stress and was euthanized.