LOS ANGELES (AP) — A pair of abused, starving horses are so well trained that they are going to rehab and school to be part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department mounted patrol unit.

Sgt. John Hargraves says his horse is old and has to retire, so he started looking for a replacement. He checked out abused horses recently seized by animal control officers and found two.

At equine shelters in Lancaster and Castaic, he chose a thoroughbred mare and former race horse found starving on a ranch and a Palomino who had been abandoned and gotten stuck under a fence.

He says both responded to cues and were eager to please.

Hargraves says you don’t have to have an expensive horse to have a good horse.

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