Charges dropped in horse cruelty case

Charges against a Boston, Va., woman alleging cruelty to horses have been dropped, court records show.

Beth Taylor Blanch, 37, of the 8000 block of Cedar Lane, had faced nine misdemeanor charges of general cruelty to animals.

A judge accepted a motion to drop the case following a hearing Thursday afternoon.

According to warrants filed in General District Court by animal control officer Kim Seibert, the charges stem from incidents that occurred on or about May 19. The court documents identify nine horses by name, but they do not explain the circumstances of the case in detail.