An Ashburton man has been banned from owning horses and ordered to do 300 hours community work after his 12 horses were found to be underfed and living in poor conditions.

Barry Alexander Hill (55) was sentenced today (26 August) in the Ashburton District Court on eight charges under the Animal Welfare Act, after a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries. He was also placed on nine months’ supervision by the court and ordered to pay $5314.80 in reparations to MPI for veterinarian costs.

“Animal Welfare Inspectors visited this property numerous times and tried to get Mr Hill to take responsibility for his horses. He was directed to euthanise two horses to end their pain and suffering,” says Richard Notley, MPI District Manager Animal Welfare and NAIT Compliance Canterbury.

The 1.2-hectare (three-acre) lifestyle property had 12 horses but had the capacity to hold only two horses.

Animal Welfare Inspectors visited the property and found it was rundown with horses living in hazardous conditions, including among rubbish around the paddocks.

“There was no grass cover to graze, and a lack of decent supplementary feed and water. Some horses were living in their own faeces, were underweight, ill or injured.

“Not only did Mr Hill fail to address any of the animal welfare concerns we identified, but he ignored a Temporary Enforcement Order issued by the court that required him to remove all horses from the property within seven days.

“We again intervened and rehomed seven horses still on his property.

“The horses’ suffering could have been avoided if Mr Hill had taken the action we earlier directed. When we find evidence of deliberate animal neglect, we take action,” Mr Notley said.

More information on the Code of Welfare for Horses and Donkeys can be found here.

Animal welfare is everyone's responsibility and MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333.

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