SAN ANTONIO -- Three horses, hidden from street view, were rescued by a horse rescue group and China Grove officials after an alert neighbor contacted authorities.

China Grove officials said horses were rescued at this same facility about two years ago and are looking to see if today’s rescue involved the same owner.

“We are sure it’s the same property,” China Grove Councilwoman Linda Gillespie said. “Two years ago, at that time, the animals died. One was saved and two died, and they died in that backyard and I’m shocked to see this happen again.”

A doctor with the rescue group said the horses were in bad shape. Dr. Lloyd Wells said the older horse is about 26 years old and near death. He said the mare is about 12 to 14 years old and is in fair condition, while the youngest, a mare, is about 18 months and in poor condition.

“It’s just neglect,” Wells said. “People, for some reason, get these horses and they just don’t take care of them. They need to feed and water them every day, because there’s nothing in that pasture out there for them.”

Darla Cherry with the Meadow Haven Horse Rescue in Nixon said this is happening more often. She said they are taking the horses and hoped to rehabilitate them and adopt them out if they can get custody from the courts. Gillespie said she credits a neighbor for alerting them.

“We drive around on a regular basis,” Gillespie said. “But in this instance, with that big van there, we just could not see anything. They were completely hidden.”

The property owner and the owner of the horses, who lives next door, face animal cruelty charges, investigators said, and that they would forward their findings to the Bexar County District Attorney’s office.

Horse Owner Responds To Claims

Lloyd Jordan feels like he's been robbed.

"Right now, as far as I know, my horses have been stolen," he said.

Tuesday afternoon, China Grove police, along with Meadow Haven Horse Rescue, showed up at his neighbor's home and seized his three horses, which were being kept at the neighbor's barn.

"They served him a warrant after they came back and started seizing the horses," said Jordan.

Jordan said he bought the three horses between four and six months ago, and they were all a bit malnourished when he brought them home.

"They look better now than what they ever have," he said.

Inside the stalls where the horses lived were several used bags of food along with many that were still being used. He said Bexar County deputies stopped by on Sunday and left on good terms.

"They said there's no reason for us to take the horses. Just keep feeding them," said Jordan. "You've only had them a short period. Keep feeding them the way you're doing. Get a vet out here which I had a vet on the way today and they took my horses."

He said he plans to talk with an attorney on Wednesday to see what he can do to get them back. Meanwhile, he could face animal cruelty charges.

Charles Gonzalez and Brian Mylar contributed to this report.