Boyce — Mac and Pilgrim are no ordinary horses.

Holly Tomlinson of the U.S. Equine Rescue League enjoys some face time with Mac on Wednesday at the Briar Lodge Farm in Boyce. Mac is one of eight neglected horses that were seized from a farm off Wickliffe Road in November. The mare is now being cared for by Tomlinson. (Rick Foster)

The well-fed duo may have looked like an everyday pair of happy animals on Wednesday — their glossy coats gleaming in the afternoon sun at Briar Lodge Farm in Boyce.

But about six months ago, the two horses were in very different condition.

They were two of the eight neglected horses seized in November by Clarke County officials from a farm off Wickliffe Road.

The eight animals were in various states of emaciation, which prompted a Clarke County General District Court judge to give custody of seven of them to the U.S. Equine Rescue League in late November.

The remaining horse was returned to its owner, who was boarding to animal on Wickliffe Road and claimed he had no knowledge of how his horse was being treated.

The horses were apparently racehorses or intended for racing, veterinarian Dr. Mitchell K. Rode has said.

Rode, his staff, and the Regional Equine Associates Central Hospital (REACH) at Long Branch in Millwood provided care for the horses after their seizure.

Rode and his staff provided excellent care for the horses, and also put the word out to clients about the need for homes for the animals, Holly Tomlinson, field cruelty investigator for the Northern Virginia Region of the U.S. Equine Rescue League, said on Wednesday.

The owners of Briar Lodge Farm are among those clients.

Mac and Pilgrim have been fostered at Briar Lodge since the day after Christmas, according to Simon Russell, who owns the farm with Gillian Russell.

"I just about cried when I saw them," Simon said on Wednesday as he recalled the horses’ previous state.

The horses share their lives with Gillian’s own two horses on a farm that Simon said includes 18-1/2 acres, mostly in paddock. It also features a riding arena.

When Dr. Mitchell K. Rode examined Mac in November, she was covered with bite marks from other horses who had been fighting for food. (Scott Mason)

Simon said he and Gillian decided to foster the horses after learning about them through news reports and Rode.

All seven horses now look as healthy as Mac and Pilgrim, and all have been fostered out, Tomlinson said. Three are in Frederick County and four are in Clarke.

Four of the seven still need to be adopted, Tomlinson said.

Mac and Pilgrim are spoken for — Tomlinson is adopting Mac, while Simon is adopting Pilgrim. Mac is a mare, Pilgrim a gelding.

"Pilgrim will be my first horse," Simon said.

The U.S. Equine Rescue League has an open-lease adoption policy, in which it maintains official ownership of an adopted horse.

The adopter essentially owns the horse, but he or she cannot breed or sell it, Tomlinson said.

Pilgrim (left) and Mac hang out together on Wednesday at the Briar Lodge Farm in Boyce. The once-neglected horses have made a remarkable recovery since being rescued six months ago from a farm off Wickliffe Road in Clarke County. (Rick Foster)

Adopters also cannot give away or race the horses, or relocate them from an originally approved facility without the league’s permission, according to the organization’s Web site at www.userl.org.

If an adopter’s circumstances change, he or she can contact the league, which will take the horse back into its custody, Tomlinson said.

The league and other reputable rescue organizations are devoted to finding homes for all horses in need, Tomlinson said.

"There’s plenty of room at the inn for horses people don’t want," she said.

Successfully caring for a horse requires a significant effort, Simon said. "You have to devote yourself to them."

It costs about $2,000 to $2,500 a year to care for just one, he said.

Tomlinson said that figure does not include boarding, which is needed if an owner does not keep their horse on their property.

Board usually runs about $350 a month, she said.

People interested in adopting horses can look at available animals on the Equine Rescue League’s Web site, Tomlinson said.

Through the Web site, supporters can also donate money toward the outstanding balance on the veterinary bills that accumulated during the neglected horses’ treatment, she said. About $3,000 still remains to be paid.

The adoption fees for the rescued horses are being used to pay down the bill as well, she said.

Additionally, donations can be made at the Berryville Farm Supply store at 402 E. Main St.

Tomlinson said she’s very happy with the recovery of the seized horses, and thankful to the people who stepped up to help them.

"I just want people to know that there are places for these horses," she said.

Tomlinson, who is in the process of moving to the Berryville area, is still considering whether she will take Mac to her new home, or allow her to stay at Briar Lodge with Pilgrim.

Tomlinson said Mac, who was covered in bites from other horses when she was seized, "is very sweet."

As for Pilgrim, he and Simon have become fast friends.

On Wednesday, Tomlinson looked over at Pilgrim, affectionately noting, "He’s an ornery one."

"Yes, he is," Simon responded in a jovial tone. "We go very well together."