Image: Eight-year-old mare Ahilla when seized by RSPCA SA Inspectors – August 2022

A woman from South Australia’s Murraylands region who allowed three horses to starve has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended on a 15-month good behaviour bond.

One of the horses, named Ahilla, was humanely euthanased under veterinary advice. The eight-year-old stockhorse mare suffered a stomach rupture during urgent vet treatment for sand accumulation, a consequence of the emaciated animal’s attempts to find food in barren paddocks.

Responding to a cruelty report on 1 August 2022, an RSPCA SA Inspector attended at the Copeville property belonging to the defendant’s father where the horses were being agisted. The Inspector reported that the animals’ bones were clearly visible through the rugs they had on at the time.

Due to ongoing concerns for the horses’ welfare, an RSPCA SA inspector returned to the property accompanied by an external equine vet, an SA Police officer and an animal transport driver. The defendant’s father was present at the time and showed the Inspector the animals on the property.

Upon entering the property, the Inspector observed a small lean Kelpie tethered to a tree with no access to water or shelter and a pony that was lean but in an acceptable body condition. Another dog was located at the back of the house tethered in a yard with no shelter and only a small amount of dirty water and several sheep were sighted in poor body condition.

The defendant’s father told the Inspector that the horses seen earlier that month at the property had been transported to a nearby property in an effort to address their emaciated state. The defendant then arrived at the property and told the Inspector that she was struggling financially.

The defendant confirmed that three horses named Ahilla, Dreamer and Rain were taken to a nearby property on the 2 August 2022 and another two horses named Ibra and Anastasia were taken to the same property on 8 August 2022.

The Inspector issued the defendant with two Animal Welfare Notices, directing her to ensure that all animals always had access to clean fresh water, were fed twice daily with good quality food and had access to shelter. The notice informed the defendant and her father that RSPCA Inspectors would be checking for compliance later that month.

The team then attended at the other agistment property. The owner of that property stated that she had allowed the horses on to her property because they were dying at the defendant’s property, but that they still belonged to defendant as she would not part with them. The horses were inspected and photographed. The Inspector decided to seize Ahilla, Dreamer and Ibra as they were in the poorest condition and the horses were transported to Roseworthy Equine Health and Performance Centre for veterinarian treatment.

Ahilla had a body condition of 1/9 and weighed only 268 kg on admission. While under veterinary care, the mare suffered a gastric (stomach) rupture and was euthanased on humane grounds. She was diagnosed with severe weight loss due to malnutrition, sand enteropathy, gastric impaction, and spontaneous rupture. The necropsy revealed no underlying chronic disease, indicating the horse’s extreme poor condition was solely due to prolonged starvation.

Dreamer, an eight-year old Quarter Horse, had a body condition score of 1/9 and weighed just 246kg. Within three weeks the gelding had gained 30kg and was rehomed. The third horse – Ibra – was also given a body condition score of 1/9. The 15-year-old Arab made a full recovery with proper feeding and was also rehomed.

In the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court yesterday, Magistrate Brian Nitschke ordered the defendant compensate RSPCA SA $15,668 for veterinary costs and an additional $358 for legal costs.

His Honour told the defendant that her decision to transfer the horses to the other property should have been made much earlier.

“These animals are defenceless and rely upon human beings for their welfare,” His Honour said.

“You fell beneath that standard.”

The defendant was prohibited from owning any horses until further order.

Under SA’s Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or two years’ imprisonment. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is $50,000 or four years’ imprisonment.

RSPCA South Australia is the state’s only animal welfare charity with inspectors empowered to prosecute animal cruelty under SA’s Animal Welfare Act.

Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722.

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