Ten undernourished horses were taken by Animal Services on Sunday after their owner allegedly abandoned them in Ramona.
The property these horses came from is registered to Lori Patton, the owner of at least 30 horses.
Ten of horses were found near the roadway along highway 78, when firefighters were called to the scene.
Officials said the ranch had no water or food available for the horses.
“There were some that appeared to be thinner than they should have been. And it appeared that they hadn't been groomed in a while,” said Capt. Adam Pollock with the Intermountain Fire Department.
The owner also told investigators one horse had died recently.
The shelter in Bonita is nursing the horses back to health, while investigators are considering neglect charges against their owner.
