HORSE-CARE SHOCKER

RSPCA hits out at negligent Far North owners ignoring advice

THE RSPCA has revealed shocking cases of horse neglect across the Far North in a bid to warn owners to understand their responsibility.

Graphic images show severely underfed and neglected horses by owners who repeatedly ignored direction by RSPCA inspectors.

“It is frustrating for inspectors when advice, education and even formal written directions are ignored,” RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said.

SICKENING cases of horse mistreatment across the Far North have prompted the RSPCA to issue a warning to anyone considering horse ownership.

The RSPCA say a common denominator is owners taking on horses without fully appreciating the time, effort and money involved.

In the first six months of this year 31 complaints were made about horse negligence in the Far North.

Inspectors have also recalled four serious incidents over the last three years where owners ignored advice and direction resulting in thousands of dollars in vet and boarding bills and even prosecution.

Last year, the Mossman Magistrates Court placed Chelsea Dita, then 25, on a $5000 good behaviour bond, ordered her to pay $965 in costs and banned her from owning horses for two years after she repeatedly failed to feed, water and seek medical care for a chestnut stallion called Nelly Boy.

And in 2015, the owner of Bana Bama Horse Rides, Tammy Solomon, was also prosecuted after nine of the 19 horses under her care were found to be in very poor condition, with a number of them needing to be euthanised.

The court heard she also misled RSPCA inspectors about their treatment.

She was fined $5000 for animal negligence and banned from owning horses for two years. Convictions were not recorded.

“Quite often, inspectors will attend a job with concerns for the welfare of a horse and they direct the owner to provide veterinary treatment, which results in euthanasia,” RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said.

“The most common reason horses need to be euthanised is for a failure to treat serious injuries, or for a long-term failure to feed and the horse had gone down and is unable to recover.

“It is frustrating for inspectors when advice, education and even formal written directions are ignored.”

Mr Beatty said horse rescue, like horse ownership, could be “fraught with danger”.

“Many rescue organisations operate as ‘one man bands’ and while they have all the best intentions, they underestimate the time and money that is required to properly care for horses, particularly those in poor conditions,” he said.

He added that the situation could very quickly turn critical for the horses and often a “head in the sand attitude by rescuers, who don’t seek help or wait until it’s too late”.

Mr Beatty said it was also important not to leave animals alive when they’re beyond help.

“RSPCA inspectors know only too well there are some things worse than a humane death for animals,” he said.