WELD COUNTY, Colo. -- A horse owner in Weld County faces 22 felony counts of animal cruelty after animal control officers found the animals in poor health and living conditions.

Authorities said 39-year-old Troy Beattie faces felony charges in the case as opposed to misdemeanor charges because of the very poor conditions the 22 horses were in. Another emaciated horse was found on the property Monday morning, the sheriff's office said. An additional felony charge may be added to the current 22 charges.

"Several of the horses were not being taken care of and several were emaciated," said Shane Scofield of the Weld County Sheriff's Office. "Due to other conditions they were living in, they were not in good health. They have hoof problems and open wounds and things like that."

Investigators said the incident was like nothing they had seen before.

"To have this many counts of felony cruelty is fairly unprecedented for Weld County," Scofield said.

Horse breeder Willard Nordick lives up the road from Beattie and said his blood boiled when he heard of the alleged abuse.

"You want to cry. You really do," Nordick said. "You just feel so sad for them, for the animals naturally, because we love them. That's why we are in the business. If we didn't love them, we wouldn't be here."

Nordick said owners who can't care for their animals have options.

"If you can't take care of them, get rid of them," he said. "I really feel strongly about that."

Nordick said if owners can't sell them, they can always put them down. He said that is better than abuse.

All 22 horses are in the care of either family or associates of Beattie.

Beattie bonded out of the Weld County jail and is expected to appear in court on March 15.