Horses Seized in Morton Co. 24 in Worst Condition Now at Rescue - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

96 horses are found dead in Morton County, 3 more in Buleigh County.

119 horses that were still living North of New Salem are now in the custody of the Morton County Sheriff's Department and are being cared for on scene.

While 38 other horses in Burleigh County have also been taken into custody. 

The roughly 250 horses all belonged to the same owner.

24 of the horses in the worst condition were taken to the Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue south of Mandan.

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin has details on this heart breaking story.

It's a sound these horses aren't used to hearing.

Starved, neglected, hanging on for dear life.

(Alison Smith / Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue) "It's hips and spines and ribs. And it's a full time job because some keep going down."

These horses' body condition scores is a 1.

(Alison Smith / Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue) "9 is severely obese, 1 is starving, 0 is dead. So they are pretty bad."

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin@kxnet.com) "It's hard to tell just how thin these horses are with these coats on. But, for an idea of just how weak these animals are. Smith says this horse went down sometime last night and she still hasn't been able to get up."

(Alison Smith / Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue) "After speaking to the vet, electrolyte issues, they are extremely weak. With this one I think she laid down here in the barn to sun and I think she just can't get up right now. "

Smith says a seizure of this size has impacted the entire community.

(Alison Smith / Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue)"I think when something horrendous like this happens with 96 deaths, I think it effects the that the whole community, and I think the whole community is grieving these deaths. People are calling from everywhere that probably aren't horse people and they want to help. Whether it's a bag of feed or a halter or sending an old halter that they found in their tack room. It has affected the whole community."

But how long these horses will be able to hold on--remains unknown.

(Alison Smith / Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue)"I think the majority of them out there will make it if we can get some decent weather and some blankets on them. They've got the hay, they have water for sure. I really don't know about these." 

Triple H is asking for hay donations for both the horses at their ranch and those being taken care of on scene.

If you would like to help in any way

You can contact the rescue at 220-4449.

The owner of the horses has not been identified because he has not been arrested. 

Both sheriff's departments are submitting reports to the states attorneys office.