Owner of emaciated colt fined

The Kaikohe owner of a seriously emaciated horse that was barely able to walk has been sentenced to 80 hours of community work and ordered to pay $300 in costs and veterinary fees.

The Kaikohe District Court heard that David John Peri, a 41-year-old driver, knew little about horses and their needs when he was given a chestnut colt and a mare for his sons.

When examined by Bay of Islands SPCA inspectors on Peri's property in June last year, the tethered colt's bones were clearly showing and it recorded a body condition rating of zero out of six.

SPCA prosecutor Jim Boyd told the court the horse was weak and barely able to walk.

The small property it was kept on contained gorse, no suitable grazing and had no water available to the colt.

The animal was seized and taken to a grazing paddock before being examined by a vet who confirmed the colt's emaciated state.

Peri told the SPCA a neighbour had allowed the mare onto an adjacent property but had not wanted the colt because it was not gelded.

Mr Boyd said that with proper feed, the horse recovered although it took about four months to gain significant body weight and condition.

The defendant admitted a charge laid under the Animal Welfare Act that he failed to ensure the physical, health and behavioural needs of the colt were met in accordance with good practice.

Judge Keith De Ridder said it was unacceptable for the defendant to allow the horse to get into the state it did without giving it supplementary feed or getting advice or treatment.

Mr Boyd said later the colt would have died within a few days.