BY ROBIN KNEPPER
The woman charged with multiple counts of cruelty to retired polo ponies on her Orange County farm has died.
Nancy Sorrell Mackall died Nov. 3 at Capital Hospice in Arlington. She was buried Nov. 7 in McLean.
Mackall, 55, had been charged with 10 criminal misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 20 counts of failure to bury or cremate dead animals. Ten emaciated horses and three dogs were removed from Mackall's Langley Farm in Mine Run on Aug. 6. They were treated and placed in foster care.
She transferred the ownership of 10 other horses to a Culpeper County farm owner.
Mackall had established the Polo Pony Retirement Foundation at one time and had taken in donated horses. According to acquaintances, she concurrently ran a breeding operation but stopped all operations a few years ago.
Her trial was scheduled for Nov. 20 in Orange County General District Court.
Diana Wheeler, the county's commonwealth's attorney, said that the charges against Mackall will be dismissed.
"There's nothing criminally left to do," she said. "Ms. Mackall transferred ownership of 10 of the horses and made restitution to the county for veterinary care
Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net