A herd of more than 40 Arabian horses belonging to a deceased breeder in West Virginia are now in the care of an Arabian horse rescue organization and awaiting adoption into new homes.

Arabian Rescue Mission founder Terry Figueroa said that the horses’ owner, Fazal A. Kahn, left his Marshall County, W.V., farm in 2008 for his native India. A caretaker and longtime friend of Kahn had been looking after the horses ever since, Figueroa said. After Kahn died in December, a member of his family contacted Figueroa for help in rehoming the horses. On Feb. 20 Arabian Rescue Mission took custody of the animals, she said. The animals will be relocated to the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Greensburg, Pa., for veterinary care and to be prepared for adoption.

"The herd consists of mares, foals, and geldings," Figueroa said. "They in pretty decent shape, but they need deworming and their feet need care."

Figueroa credits the animals’ long time caretaker for the herd’s survival