After a three-hour hearing, an Independent Hearing Officer ruled on Jan. 14 that the Marin Humane Society was justified in seizing two horses from Gray Fox Farm on Dec. 27.

The horses, under the care of Jill and Alex Burnell, were the stallion Romantic Star and a mare known as Pookie. The mare was listed on the MHS report as Devils Miss, but a person familiar with the mare identified the photo attached with the MHS press release as Devil’s Sis.

 “The emaciation of the seized mare was a terrible display of chronic neglect; I shudder to think how that horse suffered while she was deteriorating to the condition she was in at the time of seizure,” said Bruce Wagman of the Schiff Hardin law firm, who is representing the MHS. “As for the stallion, even a week later his open wounds and painful condition were plain evidence of great trauma. Also, in several trips to the property, the Officers found almost no adequate food and no adequate shelter for the horses on the property.”

In the statement, the MHS also identified the two mares that were seized on Jan. 4 as Nutsie and Blackie. Both were reportedly emaciated and are receiving rehabilitative care.