Officials with

the Georgia Department of Agriculture confiscated six horses from a pasture

in central Fayette County Tuesday morning after determining the animals

had been neglected.

During a Saturday

visit to the location off Sandy Creek Road near Sams Drive, officials

found one horse dead and the others in rough shape nutrition-wise, said

Fayette County Animal Control Director Bill Newman. It was not clear Tuesday

what the cause of death was for the horse found Saturday.

Of the six

horses evaluated by veterinarians Tuesday morning, two were near death,

said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

"All of

them were in very poor condition," Irvin said.

The horses'

owner, John Johnson of College Park, was charged with six misdemeanor

counts of cruelty to animals. Officials indicated the charges could possibly

be upgraded to felony status depending on the investigation.

The horses

will be nursed