County seizes emaciated horses at Rancho Santa Fe ranch under scrutiny for years

County seizes emaciated horses at Rancho Santa Fe ranch under scrutiny for years

San Diego County seized two emaciated horses last week from a Rancho Santa Fe ranch that has been the subject of three animal welfare investigations since 2022. Sightings of emaciated horses and poor conditions at the ranch have prompted longstanding complaints to the county by neighbors. Animal rights activists have complained, too, saying what’s happened there amounts to neglect. The ranch and its owner, Debra Barkley, had not faced enforcemen…