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Razberry pushed at a bucket of grain, the empty plastic shuffling along the dirt.

The 12-year-old mare, one of 26 horses impounded in May and brought to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, stared for a moment, huffed, then raised her head, impatiently nuzzling at Sue Mitchell, director of development for the farm.

The horse followed Mitchell as she walked around a pasture pointing out details of the other horses, taking her attention off Razberry. She was knocked from behind by Razberry nudging, begging for attention. Mitchell said she assumes Razberry might have at one time had a lot of attention from a doting owner, something she is seeking again in her new life.

She said Razberry's demands for attention are a good sign.

"We like it when they show spirit," she said.

Although the rescue never will know the details of Razberry's past, the goal is to give horses a happy future, something done for thousands of horses that have passed through the nonprofit's gates in the past 21 years.

The organization takes in neglected horses seized by authorities in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. When a horse arrives at the farm, a vet is called to assess the animal's needs.

Walking up to a pasture where Razberry and other horses roamed Friday, Mitchell said they were "the worst of the worst," the first trailer to come from the impound in Garrett County. On May 13, the farm was called in to assist the Garrett County Humane Society, a volunteer-run organization, with gathering horses that were trapped on a five-acre lot with 18 cows and six goats — with no food or water.

Upon the humane society's arrival, the scene was devastating: Trees on the lot were stripped of bark where the animals could reach to eat, carcasses and body parts in various stages of decomposition littered the area and nearby two stallions were locked in a barn, said investigator Dee Dee Lohr.

"They were actually nailed into their stalls," Lohr said. "They were standing on 37 inches of manure."

Lohr said she was waiting on some reports before deciding if to file animal cruelty charges against the owner. She said she thinks there will be about 50 counts of animal cruelty, each a misdemeanor that can carry a jail term up to 90 days and/or a fine of $1,000 per count.

Lohr said she is unable to release the name of the owner until charges are filed.

Last week, 10 of the group were sent to two other Mount Airy rescues — Horsenet Horse Rescue and Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue — while the more severe cases stay at Days End, Mitchell said.

Rehabilitation to make a horse healthy can take six months to one year, but Mitchell said horses such as Razberry are not guaranteed success.

"She's doing really well, but with that said she's nowhere near out of the woods," Mitchell said, running her hand down the gaunt horse's back. "She's actually in more danger now of not thriving because of all the things we need to introduce her to — it's a different kind of stress."

When healthier, horses are evaluated in the saddle and placed for adoption. Many of the farm's horses will be spotlighted at Days End's spring carnival on Saturday, one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the organization.

"We need about a million [dollars] a year to run this," Mitchell said. "We fundraise for about $800,000 of that, and the majority of that comes from individuals."

Money is raised through letters, wine tasting and silent auctions, grant writing and some corporate support, as well as two yearly carnivals.

Sue Rosenberg, office administrator at the farm, said about 130 volunteers run games, pony rides, a petting zoo, run horse demonstrations and admission. All proceeds to go right to the horses and programs.

Mitchell said when the most recent 26 horses came to rescue, staff put out a plea to the public and got an extra response.

"Thousands and thousands of dollars from people who never heard of us before, and they just wanted to help the horses," she said, estimating about $50,000 was donated.

Mitchell said the rescue has not had fewer than 60 horses this year, and the Garrett County bunch put them at an all-time high.

Despite the crowded quarters, the rescue tries to help all the horses it can.

"We always have to have the door open," Mitchell said. "Whether we have 50 horses or 70 horses, we're going to find room."

E-mail Angie Cochrun at acochrun@gazette.net.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue 21st annual Spring Carnival

-11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

-1372 Woodbine Road, Woodbine

-Rain or shine

-For more information call 301-854-5037 or visit www.defhr.org.