Two horses that were found starving and frostbitten last month in the B.C. mountains will not be returned to the Edmonton man who owns them.

A spokesperson for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in B.C. said Wednesday they have reviewed the case and made the decision to deny Frank MacKay's request earlier this week.

"The facts were reviewed by the general manager of cruelty investigations, and based on those facts, the B.C. SPCA has made the decision not to return the animals to Mr. McKay," Debbie Goodine said.

Snowmobilers found the animals trapped on the side of a mountain in late December. Volunteers spent a week digging a trench in the deep snow to get the horses out.

The animals are now being cared for on a farm, Goodine said.

"They're doing well. They're on the road to recovery," she said.

"You know, of course, with animals being malnourished and losing significant weight, it takes time for them to come back up to an adequate body condition. But at this point in time, they are gaining weight and they're bright and active and alert and on the road to recovery."

MacKay has the right to have a judge review the SPCA's decision.

He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

MacKay told CBC News in late December that he tried to rescue the horses twice on his own since he left them there in the fall.