Hebron horse farm owner on trial for animal cruelty charges

SALISBURY, Md. – A Wicomico county judge is deciding the fate of a woman who allegedly neglected more than 100 horses at her Hebron farm back in March of 2018.

74-year-old Barbara pilchard is facing 56 counts of animal cruelty, neglect and failure to provide adequate food and water.

And after day one in court, there’s been no ruling or decision yet on whether or not Barbara pilchard is responsible for the alleged neglect and cruelty of these horses, but in court on Tuesday, one thing has been made clear, these horses were not in good health.

The judge heard nearly half a dozen testimonies from veterinarians, who were involved in the case. Veterinarians that testified to evaluating many of the horses that they described as extremely emaciated, malnourished and riddled with parasites.

Some were so bad they ended up having to humanely euthanize them, but the defense argues that this evidence doesn’t prove Pilchard is responsible.

The defense reiterating that parasites are common in horses and that Pilchard did in fact get hay delivered from a farmer every 8 to 10 days for the past ten years.

That’s why the defense asked the court to drop the charges, but the judge denied that request. Now the state has rested their case and Pilchard is expected to take the stand Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the Wicomico County Circuit Court.