Skinny horses cost owner $11k
A Gosnells woman was today fined $11,000 for failing to adequately feed three horses in her care.
RSPCA inspectors visited Sharon Richardson's property in September 2012 after receiving information about three skinny horses.
They found a three-year-old bay mare named “Mia” and a chestnut mare named “Sadie” in poor condition. A third horse, known as “Catch a Dream” was in a worse state, the RSPCA said.
A direction notice to provide proper and sufficient food for the animals was issued to Richardson.
During a follow-up visit in October, inspectors were told the horses were getting chaff and hay twice daily.
Inspectors discovered an empty feed shed and seized an emaciated horse. A veterinarian checked the condition of the horses and Richardson was issued with two further direction notices.
RSPCA inspectors again returned to the property with a vet on December 5 to follow up on the orders.
They found the condition of the horses had further deteriorated and noted there was no hay or feed anywhere in the paddock.
The remaining two horses were seized under the Animal Welfare Act and taken back to the RSPCA for examination.
In today's court decision, Richardson was also banned from being in charge of horses for three years and was ordered to pay $4379.50 in costs to the RSPCA.
RSPCA chief inspector Amanda Swift said she was satisfied with the outcome.
“If an RSPCA inspector issues a direction notice to take care of an animal, that must be adhered to and failure to comply can end up in prosecution as happened today,” she said.
