More than 20 horses are receiving rehabilitative care after their owner was accused of maltreating the herd.

Terri Merryman, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, said the agency received a report about a herd of allegedly maltreated horses in Henderson County on Sept. 19. The following day, investigators found 20 Miniature Horses and four full-sized horses residing on a dirt pasture without adequate access to food or water. Investigators also found the carcass of one horse.

“We think it was a young full-sized horse,” Merryman said.

On further investigation it was determined that the horses were all malnourished