A pregnant mare and two other wild horses were found shot to death near Sundre, Alberta, Canadian authorities said.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Wednesday the animals were discovered Tuesday night about 550 yards from a mountain road near the Mountain Aire Lodge motel and campground, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

"For the first time in a long time, I actually cried this morning," said Bob Henderson, president of the Wild Horses of Alberta Society. "It hurts your heart when you watch them out there, the way that they are and live out there. They're such a beautiful, magnificent animal, and to see this needless, senseless act just sickens the heart."

More than 22 wild horses have been killed in Alberta in the past four years. The society is offering a reward for information leading to those responsible.

There are about 300 feral horses in the Sundre area. They originated from domestic horses used in logging and mining operations in the early 1900s.