Neglected horses recovering at Onslow County farm

Seven malnourished and neglected horses are getting some much needed care in Onslow County.

Their owner, Clifton Jacobs, shot himself to death Sunday after Duplin County deputies entered his home with a warrant. This was after the deputies found 13 dead horses on the property Jacobs was renting.
   
The surviving horses were taken to TLC Farms in Richlands. Owner Tim Thomas has been caring for injured horses for the past eight years. He got the call from the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office around on Saturday afternoon and said he was delighted to help.
   
Thomas said when the horses got to him they were in bad shape.

“I’ve seen a lot worse, but they are emaciated,” Thomas said. “They’ve been checked by a vet today and all of them have a fever but one.”

Thomas says he expects almost all of the horses to make a full recovery. The Duplin County Sheriff told Nine On Your Side that the court would decide whether the horses would be adopted out or given back to the Jacobs family.