The owners of an Ocala horse rescue and sanctuary have been ordered by a local judge to pay over $90,000 to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for costs associated with the care of over 70 emaciated horses that were seized in November.
Marion County Court records show that on February 6, 2026, a civil case was settled between the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and two individuals, Janine Chaux and David Palcio, who are the owners of the non-profit organization Happy Valley Horse Rescue, Inc.
MCSO had previously filed an emergency petition on November 13, 2025, for a hearing to determine the fitness of Chaux, Palacio, and Happy Valley Horse Rescue to care for animals. Less than two weeks earlier, the agency had seized dozens of horses from the non-profit after receiving reports of “malnourished horses on the property.”…