Two hundred eleven horses found neglected and 74 dead at 3-Strikes Ranch, in Nebraska. Forty horses seized from New Beginnings Horse Rescue, in Virginia. Six hundred animals, including 40 horses, seized from The Haven, in North Carolina.

These were just some of the sobering examples of failed horse rescues that Julia Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine, listed while speaking at the 2016 American Association of Equine Practitioners, held Dec. 3-7 in Orlando, Florida.

When rescues do fail, it’s critical that experienced veterinarians get involved. In her presentation, Wilson described the six entry points by which a veterinarian might become involved as well as the legal considerations when dealing with these cases.

1. You suspect a client You show up for a routine farm call and notice hooves so long they’re curling up like elf shoes. The owner evades your questions about the horses’ care. Or, you notice that only the healthy-looking horses are in the barn when you arrive; the body condition score 2 animals are hidden out of sight in a back field. If you suspect that your client is neglecting his or her horses, said Wilson, first try to have a frank conversation about it. If that conversation fails, find out if you’re legally mandated to report the abuse to the authorities and who is the proper authority. (Find a map of abuse reporting requirements by state at avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/AnimalWelfare/Pages/Abuse-Reporting-requirements-by-State