Man sentenced for letting horse starve to death

The investigation started in August 2021 when a photograph of a horse lying dead in a paddock was provided to SPCA and information that two other horses were thin and without feed.

At the property a six-year-old bay Thoroughbred mare known as Mad About You and a five-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding known as Angeca were found in very poor body condition, without adequate shelter and covers. The two horses, who both had rain scald, were kept on very short pasture contaminated with faeces. An area of freshly excavated land marked the site where a dead horse lay buried.

The defendant said he was aware that his horse Ginger Jane had died and following this he had arranged to have a tonne of carrots and 800kg of sileage delivered. He insisted the other two horses didn’t need covers and would come right in a couple of weeks, telling the Inspector to “back off.”

Veterinarian examinations revealed Angeca was underweight and had festering scabs and a skin infection causing discomfort and irritation. Mad About You was also found to be thin and both horses showed signs of decreased food intake. Insufficient shelter meant the horses were exposed to cold Ohakune winter temperatures with frequent showers and snow.

The vet estimated it would have taken a period of 8 – 12 weeks for the horses to have deteriorated to this state. Both horses were removed from the property by the SPCA Inspector.

SPCA CEO Todd Westwood says this case illustrates a lack of thought for basic animal welfare.

“Horses, like all animals, need food and shelter - they’re the mere basic a responsible animal owner should provide. These horses were left exposed to harsh elements with very little provisions for food, which is simply not good enough.”

When shown a photo of the deceased chestnut Thoroughbred filly known as Ginger Jane, the vet concluded the horse had extremely poor body condition, would have struggled to stand, and most likely died of starvation.

“No animal should experience this kind of unnecessary and heartless suffering,” Mr Westwood says. “Everyone at SPCA is heartbroken over the senseless loss of Ginger Jane, but so grateful that our Inspectors were called before it was too late for the other two horses on the property.”

The defendant said he did not realise the horses were getting rain scald and assumed the feed and trees in the paddock was sufficient for the horses.

SPCA has since rehabilitated and rehomed Angeca and Mad About You.

The man was also ordered to pay reparations of $1,500 and disqualified from owning horses for five years.