A veteran horse trainer in Jefferson County, W.Va., has pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty.

Dennis Danley, 54, also agreed to give up his horses and stay out of the breeding business for at least five years.


Danley was initially charged in March with 10 counts of cruelty to animals. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, acting on complaints, had found mares with exposed rib cages and spines at the Blakely Farm near Charles Town.


A few of the horses also were suffering from a skin infection.


In exchange for his plea yesterday, Danley received a 90-day suspended jail sentence with a 1-year probational period

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