In what the San Diego Humane Society calls one of its largest animal rescues in history, the organization has now moved 54 horses from an animal sanctuary in Julian, where more than 700 neglected animals were found. The horses were carefully transferred from the defunct Villa Chardonnay Horses wi th Wings to Willow Glen Equestrian Centre in El Cajon, the SDHS said. Due to the need for behavioural and medical care, four additional horses were relocated to the organization’s SDHS’s Escondido Campus. This rescue is part of a larger-scale operation after 728 animals were found neglected on the Villa Chardonnay property on May 1, 2026,  with the horses being part of them. Among these animals were more than 350 cats, 30 dogs, around 165 horses, and several other animals — all crowded in one sanctuary. During the investigation, officers discovered several animals in need of emergency medical care, with some requiring euthanasia, the SDHS said.   The horse transfer happened over the course of three days earlier this week in order for rescuers to prioritize the safety and well-being of every horse, the SDHS said. Local non-profit H.E.R.O. Grounds played a key role in acquiring the new space where dozens of horses are residing in the Humane Society’s care, the organization said. San Diego Humane Society May 8 446 cats, about 165 horses, 30 dogs, other animals removed from Julian property San Diego Humane Society May 4 Neglect investigation unfolds at Julian animal sanctuary “Moving these horses is an important step forward in their recovery,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “This new location allows us to continue providing the individualized care they need in a safer, more efficient setting while also making it easier for our teams to support them, and potential adopters to give them the new lives they deserve. We’re grateful to H.E.R.O. Grounds for helping us secure this space as well as Willow Glen’s desire to support these animals in need.” The future for these animals looks promising as individuals have already inquired with SDHS about the adoption of these rescued horses. While these horses are not yet available for community showing, anyone interested in adopting should email [email protected] to learn more about the process. The Humane Farming Association, a nonprofit focused on protecting farm animals, said it conducted a yearlong investigation into Villa Chardonnay Horses with Wings for alleged “operational concerns and animal neglect,” which led to this month’s rescues. After receiving court approval to conduct a veterinary inspection of the animals, HFA says it found “sick and injured animals who appeared to be neglected and were left to suffer in an ammonia-filled `hospice barn,’ with an apparent lack of adequate clean shelter or true palliative care. Many of the farm animals were kept in small, substandard pens without access to the outdoors, and harsh conditions caused some animals to attack each other and/or self-mutilate.” On its website, the 23-year-old sanctuary is described as a shelter where animals who have been “abandoned, neglected or abused … find love, safety and a second chance at life” and “live out their days in peace and comfort.” Heidi Redman, a spokeswoman for the sanctuary, defended the work of Villa Chardonnay founder Monika Kerber. “There is no neglect, no abuse of any of these animals. They were well taken care of,” Redman told City News Service earlier this month. “There is definitely another side to this story and it should be told. They’re (Kerber and her partner, Mercedes Flores) devastated. These animals were like their children. They (investigators) even took their house dogs, their personal dogs.” ...read more read less