Oh my gosh. I've been reading about Ernie and his little niche of Hell, but hearing it from someone who's worked with his horses puts it more in perspective. He needs to have every single one of his animals taken away and never be allowed to have any again. I don't think he'll ever stop. That's the kind of person he is. Good on you and your barn for taking some horses in.
Our barn took in five neglected horses after a dead horse was found on the same property. Two fillies, a really old mare, a mini mare, and a jenny. The two-year-olds had what looked like faint saddle marks, so we think they were being ridden in their condition (and at that early age). The twenty-something mare was the worst off. She had abscesses on her feet and her hindquarters were really weak and she couldn't walk very far. They have all made full recoveries and have been adopted since then, so it was an overall success. The bastard who almost starved them to death barely got a slap on the wrist, though. That still infuriates me to this day.