Horse cruelty alert

A SHOCKING case of neglect has sparked animal cruelty workers to remind horse owners that horses’ hooves need to be trimmed properly and regularly.
The RSPCA is investigating the circumstances in which ponies were found to have severely overgrown hooves in Melbourne’s north-east.
Barrie Tapp, from the Animal Cruelty Hotline, said he wanted to ensure that further cases were prevented. Mr Tapp reminded horse owners and agisters that hooves should be trimmed by a qualified farrier every six to eight weeks.
“Fortunately, we may still be able to save these ponies with a lot of TLC and work, but it was through sheer neglect and laziness that these poor ponies have had to suffer pain throughout the long period that it took these hooves to grow,” Mr Tapp said.
Hooves grew at the rate of about one centimetre a month, Mr Tapp said. The Animal Cruelty Hotline hoped horse owners would take heed after the release of the images.
“We hope that a lesson has been learnt and that you do not let your equine friends suffer the same fate,” he said.
Mr Tapp said he hoped the RSPCA would prosecute those responsible for the ponies’ neglect.