More than 30 allegedly maltreated horses seized by Utah law enforcement authorities will be sold at auction to recover costs connected to their care.

Utah County Sheriff’s Deputy John O’Hara said the horses are among 80 animals belonging to Trudy and Rory Childs that authorities removed from a ranch in Spanish Fork. O’Hara said that at the time of the seizure, the horses were malnourished.

“The horses at this location were clearly suffering from malnourishment and dehydration,” O’Hara said. “All of the trees in the area had been stripped of all bark and small twigs within reach by the horses in their effort to find food.

“We also found an open pit with horse carcasses in it and evidence of prior pits that Rory Childs admitted burying horses in,” O’Hara said