Two Hawke’s Bay residents will be serving community time for crimes against horses in their care.
The pair were sentenced in Hastings District Court last week, for failing to provide protection against injury or disease for four horses and failing to provide sufficient water for three more horses.
Having both pleaded guilty to multiple charges, one offender was sentenced to 200 hours community work and the other to 100 hours community work. Both were disqualified from owning equids (horses, asses and donkeys et al) for a period of five years.
“The state of these horses brings tears to the eyes,” SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said. “The pain will have been constant and inescapable.”
After a call from a concerned member of the public an SPCA inspector visited a property on January 6, 2023 and found seven miniature horses grazing in a paddock with overgrown grass, tall thistles and shrubs.
There was no water provided for the horses.
The inspector gave water to the horses which they drank rapidly and to excess. The inspector also noted four of the seven horses had severely overgrown hooves curled upwards at the toes. The horses were reluctant to move and their ability to walk normally was compromised.
The inspector then removed the four horses from the address for veterinarian examinations.
It was found that all horses showed symptoms of dehydration and were lame from chronic laminitis. Some of their hooves were split, adding to their intense and unnecessary pain.
The vet concluded that the horses suffered from severe and chronic neglect.
Over the ensuing five months, 12 re-inspections at the address revealed the three remaining horses did not have enough water.
On May 30, 2023, the three horses were removed from the property.
The offenders were also ordered to pay reparations of $4,761.07 and $800 towards legal costs.
