SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP)--A Grant County refuge for abused and neglected horses is shutting down.

Becky Ferranti and Larry Hyde, owners of nonprofit Serenity Acres, estimated they've spent nearly $100,000 to get the rescue organization up and running in the past three years.

But they said they have not been successful in their efforts to obtain lodgers' tax funds, grants for special programs and community support.

"I feel let down," Hyde said. "We tried to do something in conjunction with Grant County and now we have to do it alone."

Hyde and Ferranti now are selling their property, the wagons and the horses they have left.

The refuge had rescued nearly 50 horses from slaughterhouses in North Dakota and rehabilitated them at Serenity Acres until homes could be found.

The nonprofit organized hay rides through historic Silver City with the help of the Silver City Museum and the community's MainStreet Project. However, they never drew much attendance despite including a guided horse-drawn ride through downtown with a volunteer museum docent pointing out landmarks.

"No one ever knew we were there," Ferranti said.

Frank Milan, director of Silver City MainStreet, said the hay rides will be missed.

"We were very pleased to work with them, with their hay wagon and downtown historic tours," Milan said. "It was a big plus to have the wagon and horses on the days of special events."