ANDERSON — A rural Anderson man has been issued a citation for animal neglect after law enforcement officials removed three horses from a property because of poor health.

Madison County Sheriff Ron Richardson said deputies were called to the 4500 block of East 400 South at about 12:10 p.m. Monday by someone who said there was a horse on the property tangled in a blanket.

When they arrived, they found six horses, one dead and three others in “poor health,” Richardson said. Officials were unsuccessful when they tried contacting a state veterinary agency.

They then contacted Anderson Animal Care and Control.

The three horses in poor health were removed from the property and will be treated by a veterinarian. The exact nature of the horses’ poor health was not immediately available. Officials with Animal Care and Control could not be reached on Monday. Two other horses were left at the scene.

“They appeared healthy enough that (animal control officials) didn’t feel comfortable removing them at this time,” Richardson said.

Richardson said William T. Langley, 61, the horses’ owner, will be cited into Edgewood Town Court on a single count of animal neglect.

There is a home on the property where the horses were found, but the sheriff said Langley does not live there.

A published phone listing for Langley could not be located. He could not be reached for comment.

Contact reporter Shawn McGrath at 640-4883 and shawn.mcgrath@heraldbulletin.com.