Inspection of Weona Park horse stud found several serious animal welfare issues, just weeks before public outcry.

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Documents obtained under right to information laws have revealed conditions at a thoroughbred horse breeder operating in Tasmania’s southern midlands failed to meet basic animal welfare standards. Horses at the property were found emaciated and partially blind with body and muscle weakness. The documents also reveal complaints were made to the RSPCA over more than 14 years

Transcript

00:00Weona Park's stud is located in Tasmania's southern Midlands.

00:07It made headlines in September after photos of horses were posted online.

00:12The ABC can now reveal just weeks before the public outcry,

00:16Biosecurity Tasmania was worried about the horse stud.

00:19After an inspection, an email was sent on September 2nd

00:23from Biosecurity Tasmania to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

00:28It said this property is likely to be the next welfare issue hitting the news

00:32and it was severely overstocked with horses.

00:35The inspection found serious animal welfare issues including inadequate nutrition,

00:40no exercise, no shelter, no rugging and high levels of manure.

00:45The documents also show animal welfare complaints had been made to the RSPCA over 14 years

00:51about stocking levels and a lack of access to food, water and shelter.

00:56In a statement, the RSPCA says it triages all complaints

01:00and forwards them to the relevant authority.

01:03The documents have also revealed a vet in Tasmania's north reported

01:07serious animal welfare concerns to the RSPCA on September 19.

01:12They said conditions failed to meet basic animal welfare standards

01:16and called for a formal assessment of the properties.

01:19Most people in the community would be horrified by animals being in this sort of state

01:24and they want to have confidence that there are systems and resources

01:28and organisations well resourced in place to respond to these situations.

01:32In late September, a multi-agency investigation was launched.

01:37As a result, Wiona Park Stud manager Fiona Methorst agreed the property was overstocked

01:42and said she would re-home around 100 horses.

01:46So far, more than 40 horses have been re-homed.

01:49In a statement, Ms Methorst said all horses have access to food and fresh water

01:55and while some paddocks don't have shelters, the horses are given rugs instead.

02:00She says new shelters and exercise areas are being developed.

02:04There will always be a case for continuous improvement

02:07and such an example would highlight that.

02:11What is important, of course, is that animal welfare, irrespective of industry sector

02:18or the domestic level, is of highest importance.

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