55 malnourished horses found on Ventura County ranch; owners charged with animal cruelty

The owners of a family-run horse ranch near Frazier Park were taken into custody this week after investigators allegedly found 55 malnourished horses on their property.

Joan Bor, 65, her son Ernie Bor, 30, and his wife, Cecilia Bor, 35, were arrested on multiple felony counts of animal cruelty after a search warrant was served at Cochema Ranch, Ventura County authorities said. The three were booked into Ventura County Jail on Wednesday on $10,000 bail each, said Capt. Ross Bonfiglio of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

The Bors stabled more than 100 horses on the 21-acre ranch, located in the 16000 block of Curtis Trail in Lockwood Valley.

Investigators were called in when a neighbor reported that some of the animals appeared emaciated.

Thirty-eight horses were removed on Wednesday and taken to a Humane Society shelter in Ojai, Bonfiglio said. An additional 13 horses had already been removed Sept. 24 to another Ventura County shelter, he said. The remaining horses will remain at the ranch under the supervision of the Ventura County Animal Regulation Department.

An agent with the U.S. Forest Service was seriously injured during Wednesday’s confiscation when a horse reared up and struck her in the torso while another horse trampled her, Bonfiglio said. Heather Campbell was airlifted to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment and was in stable condition Thursday, officials said.

-- Catherine Saillant