RSPCA Queensland has labelled 2016 a “horror year” for horses, with 169 cruelty complaints made from residents in the Logan area.
An additional 181 cruelty reports were also filed, fielded by the RSPCA, throughout the Scenic Rim.
These reports were among 1000 horse complaints made throughout Queensland; prompting the organisation’s chief inspector, Daniel Young, to describe 2016 as “a horror year for reports of horse neglect”.
“Some people seem to think horses can survive on little more than thin air,” he said.
“(There are) some (who) are also genuinely trying to do the right thing, but often they have had little or no experience with horses.”
Mr Young urged horse owners to live up to their responsibilities in the New Year.
“We really don’t need another year like 2016,” he said.
“They’ll take a horse from a sale yard that is already in poor condition and then expect its condition to improve when it’s put in a paddock with very little grass.
“Others buy or rent a small acreage property and want to put horses on it, but they’ve given no thought to the cost of supplementary feed needed during the dry.
“A lot of them have little or no knowledge about worming and teeth and hoof maintenance.
“Owning a horse can be a very costly business and people have to realise they have a duty of care to that animal.”
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said horse owners would be taken to court if people did not comply with animal welfare directions from the RSPCA.
The directions could include instructions to have the animal seen by a veterinarian or farrier.
“A lot of it is ignorance; in extreme cases it amounts to actual cruelty,” he said.
Veterinarian David Bartholomeusz said feed levels and age awareness, as well as oral and hoof care, were some of the most common neglect problems.
“There are people who do the wrong thing by treating them incorrectly – a majority of people are unaware that they are mistreating their animal,” he said.
“It is important to get information from somebody who knows.”
Mr Bartholomeusz said buying the horse could sometimes be the cheapest aspect to owning one, as the price of vaccinations, farrier care and dentistry bills could far exceed the initial cost.
He also advised horse lovers, of any level, to get in contact with their nearest equine veterinarian if they were unsure of the current well-being of their animal.
“People have egos and often don’t want to ask for help, but once we get to the horses – they are often way down the track,” he said.
“If you can get to us early, the less it costs to get the horse back to normal.
“Sometimes vets are the cheapest investment.”
