RADIUM SPRINGS, N.M. -- Dona Ana County investigators say they got a tip call about two extremely thin horses kept in stables just off Interstate 25 at Radium Springs.

There they found the two horses, and learned more about where they came from. Their investigation led them to the 800 block of Outpost, about a mile away. At that property, they found a dead draft horse.

“The horse that was deceased, we took up to Albuquerque Monday for a necropsy,” said Robyn Gojkovich, investigator for the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department.

Gojkovich said the owner of all three horses brought them to Radium Springs a couple months ago for training and sale.

That's how they ended up in the care of the trainer.

Investigators said it's unclear why the trainer brought the two horses to the stables the night before they found the dead horse.

“The people here at this property are being kind enough to keep these horses here and allowing the vet to come on their facility and care for these horses,” said Gojkovich.

One resident who did not want to be identified said she knew something was wrong when she saw investigators at the stables.

She said hours after she first saw them, the number of investigators increased.

“There was about six animal control trucks, a horse trailer and a bunch of people that were out there looking around,” said the Radium Springs resident.

Some residents said they are hurt when they hear about possible animal cruelty cases in their town.

“I really like to see people that enjoy their animals. Most of them do, but there are some out here with no regard at all. They'll just put them down because they're tired of feeding them,” said Tonya Weaver of Radium Springs.

County investigators said they removed other horses that were in the trainers care. Charges could be filed depending on the result of medical examinations.

The two extremely thin horses at the stables are under the care of a vet until their owner arrives from Portales to take them home.