A herd of 41 allegedly maltreated horses is receiving rehabilitative care being removed by California law enforcement authorities.

In a written statement, Nevada County, California, Sheriff Keith Royal, said sheriff’s department personnel responded to a call requesting a welfare check on the herd of horses, residing on a property in that county on Jan 14. The investigators discovered the 41 horses were allegedly without access to adequate food, he said. The investigators notified the horses’ owner that he must provide the animals with appropriate feed and other care, Royal said.

“During discussions with the horse owner we determined he could not afford to care for the animals and he agreed to allow us to assist with their welfare,” Royal’s statement said.

The owner later relinquished the horses to Sammie’s Friends, an animal rescue in Grass Valley, Royal’s statement said. That organization subsequently placed the animals with a horse rescue organization