SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Starved and neglected horses were saved from Franklin County, Kentucky, after they were found living in terrible conditions.

The horses were rescued by the Kentucky Humane Society. 

Photos of the horses show they were so neglected, you can see their bones. KHS said they got a call about a dozen horses that were not taken care of.

When they got to the farm, there were 13 of them, some standing in knee-deep mud.

The wire fencing was pushed down, because the horses were trying to reach over it to get grass. Several of them were in a pasture that didn't have any grass. The horses were so hungry, they were eating the bark off the trees.

Their owner signed them over so KHS could help. The horses were taken to the humane society's Willow Hope Farm in Simpsonville Wednesday afternoon, where they will be rehabilitated. 

The equine care team said because some of them are so severely malnourished, feeding them too much too soon could actually kill them.

It's a slow process to bring them back to health, which could take up to eight months.

"I just feel really bad for the horses that, all they've seen of humans so far is not good, and that they don't know that their life could be a lot better," Olivia Dixon, equine manager for KHS, said. "It's a little discouraging when you see ones that are in bad shape and not taken care of, but when we're able to get them here to our facility, we know that their life is just going to get better from there."

The equine team said if you or someone you know is struggling to take care of their horses, to reach out. Dixon said you won't get in trouble for asking for help. 

If you'd like to help or donate toward the work being done at KHS' Willow Hope Farm, click here. To learn more about Equine C.A.R.E., click here. 

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