Palm Beach County and Lee County sheriff’s deputies shut down three illegal slaughter facilities in Loxahatchee, Fla., on Oct. 13 as a response to mounting evidence acquired by the Animal Recovery Mission, a non-profit investigative organization dedicated to fighting animal cruelty. 

In what Local 10 News said authorities are calling the “largest raid against animal cruelty in the history of the United States,” more than 750 animals were rescued from G.A. Paso Fino Farm, Rancho Garcia and Medina Farm and placed in the care of the Palm Beach County Animal Care And Control in West Palm Beach. 

Richard Couto, the founder of ARM, spent six months gathering evidence to present to authorities concerning illegal acts of animal slaughter and abuse. In a statement made to several media outlets, he said ARM’s investigation found evidence that former show horses were slaughtered at these farms—one of which, G.A. Paso Fino, is located just five miles from the Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival showgrounds—along with cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and other horses, such as off-track Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The horse meat was allegedly sold on the black market in the area and in Miami. 

“We discovered during a deep investigation that illegal slaughterhouses were getting their horses from the town of Wellington, and that those slaughtered included ex-show horses,” Couto told Local 10 News. “This is the first time we now know that, just like in the Thoroughbred industry, that show horses are also going to slaughter. The show horse community has often said that because their horses are worth so much money that they’re not going to slaughter.”

Authorities have made at least six arrests and are still investigating. 

ARM is offering a $15,000 reward for any information that leads to additional arrests and convictions of individuals involved in black market horse meat sales in Palm Beach or Dade counties.