Many questions still remain as to why 12 horses were seized from a Critchett Road property on Monday, March 9.

Police have cited shelter and welfare concerns, as well as a lack of health certificates as reasons for the seizure, but the search warrant remains sealed and no charges have been filed in the case.

Candia Police Chief Michael McGillen said the investigation is ongoing as they await reports from veterinarians who examined the horses on scene and reports from others involved.

The property owner, Brian Travis, said the horses were perfectly healthy and alleges they were taken because of a dispute with Steve Sprowl, an investigator with the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In November, Sprowl attempted to search the property to determine if there was adequate shelter, but was denied access because Travis was not home.

Travis’s son Cooper videotaped the exchange and was taken into custody after refusing to stop the recording. No charges were filed and Cooper Travis was released the same day.

Brian Travis said if the situation had been handled differently, he would have worked with Sprowl and shown him the work he was doing to provide the adequate shelter required under state law.

The weekend of March 14, about 25 friends and fellow “Free Staters” joined Travis and his wife, Heidi Fredrick, in building two new shelters at the back of the property. Fredrick said the harsh winter had delayed the project, but was in progress when the horses were taken.

The 12 seized horses, as well as an additional 17 horses remaining on the property are under quarantine because they each lack health certificates and proof of an equine infectious anemia test required by state law.

EIA is a contagious disease that can pass quickly between horses and is “reportable” under state law, according to state veterinarian Dr. Steve Crawford.

Travis said he was not aware of the law, or that he was in violation of it, until he received the search warrant on March 9.

Police said the horses were seized because of shelter and welfare concerns not because of the health certificates.

At least one resident confirmed lodging a complaint with the NHSPCA about a possibly injured horse on the property about three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Colorado authorities confirmed that last fall they investigated concerns regarding malnourished horses at a farm owned by Fredrick but no charges were filed and the case was closed.

Travis and Fredrick moved to New Hampshire from Colorado this past summer.

Travis is a member of the Free State Project, an effort to move 20,000 people to New Hampshire to be active for freedom. Free Staters believe the government’s role should be limited to protecting life, liberty and property.

Fredrick said her primary concern is getting her horses back.

“I don’t know where they are, or if they are OK. I can’t sleep at night,” Fredrick said.