A Jackson County ranch has rescued another seven horses from poor living conditions. One of the animals had to be euthanized because of severe weakness and malnutrition.

These four young horses look fairly healthy, but looks can be deceiving.

Hidden Springs Horse Ranch rescued them and two others from neglect and severe malnutrition.

Director Melanie Higdon says it's a miracle the horses, which were rescued from a Jackson County owner, didn't suffer major injuries.

They were in an environment where there was a lot of rusted metal, trash, old barbed wire rolled up on the ground that they had to navigate their way through to walk around on an everyday basis.

The other two are in quarantine and one had an infected jaw injury that was left untreated until now.

Because they weren't cared for, you can see how difficult it is for Higdon and her staff to control them.

There is no manual that comes with a horse when you take a horse home. They need safe fencing that a horse can't get tangled or injured in.

Physical care and training are two other factors she stresses with horse ownership, and of course there's the financial obligation.

Only 12 out of 40 horses on this ranch belong to her.

In addition to that, the Higdons are also taking care of dogs and two donkeys.

So far they have been able to finance the majority of it on their own but admit they're suffering just like the rest of the economy.

But Higdon says money is still no excuse to neglect your pets.

What people need to understand is that there's a great responsibility that comes with horse ownership. It's a great, wonderful thing for your family to take care of but there's a deep responsibility that comes along with it.

And maintaining that responsibility is what will keep them from having to rescue more animals from bad homes.

For more information about Hidden Springs Horse Ranch, you can call 526-2231.