By Erica Larson and Pat Raia

A Montana rancher charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty in December 2010 for allegedly failing to provide food, water, and veterinary care to his herd of 450 horses was charged two additional counts March 2 after two more horses died on his property near Billings.

The herd was residing on 9,400 acres of deeded land and 30,000 acres of leased Crow Tribal land southeast of Billings, Mont., with scant forage and no water source.

On Dec. 30, veterinarian Jeff Peila, DVM, evaluated the horses at the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department’s request. At that time, the horses’ condition was beginning to deteriorate, Peila said. Three weeks later the animals’ condition continued to decline, Peila said