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Illegal "do it yourself" castration of horses is endemic in the Far North and the practice is totally unacceptable, the SPCA says.
Bay of Islands and Kaitaia SPCA inspector and prosecutor Jim Boyd estimates that close to 80 per cent of colts and stallions in the area are castrated by DIY amateurs.
His estimate is based on conversations with local veterinarians who might typically charge between $200 and $250 to perform the operation on a single horse, depending on travel involved.
It is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act for anyone other than a qualified veterinarian to castrate horses.
Mr Boyd says the rate of amateur horse castration in the Far North area is totally unacceptable given that local vets who are aware of DIY operations are conducting the process for horse owners at virtually cost prices.
Castration costs can be significantly reduced if a vet is able to perform the process on many animals during one visit.
Expert evidence has shown that castration without any pain relief or anaesthetic causes enormous and uncontrollable pain to a horse, Mr Boyd says.
His comments come after the prosecution and recent conviction of a Mitimiti man who was sentenced to a total of 225 hours of community work on three charges of illegally castrating horses.
In the Kaitaia District Court, tour operator Rodney Allen Penney, 45, admitted knowing it was illegal for anyone other than a vet to castrate horses when he performed the operation on a colt and two stallions in October last year.
He used a Stanley-type knife and an emasculator but did not administer any pain relief or anaesthetic to the horses before, during or after the procedure.
The horses did not need veterinary treatment after the operations and all had recovered.
The defendant told the court he had castrated about 40 or more horses over several years after being taught by his father who, in turn, had been taught by his father how to perform the procedure.
Mr Boyd said Penney's horses were usually the best kept in the area.
Judge John McDonald said he accepted the defendant had castrated the three horses because of economic reasons and that Penney's horses were generally well cared for.
Penney was sentenced to 75 hours' community work on each of the three charges.
