Showjumper charged with cruelty

2003-06-05 21:08

Johannesburg - A well-known international showjumper and one of his employees are accused of beating a thoroughbred horse on its genitals so severely the swelling was still visible a week later, an animal welfare inspector said on Thursday.

Bev Seabourne-Bauer said although the incident was reported to the National Horse Trust's Highveld horse care unit in Meyerton in May, investigations into the allegations had to be completed before the organisation could open a police docket.

This had now been done, she said, and the two would be charged with cruelty to animals under the Animal Protection Act.

She said the eight-year-old horse had been stabled in Muldersdrift where the beating is alleged to have occurred - but had now been moved to other stables by its owner.

She said they were alerted to the animal's plight when they received a complaint about the beating from a member of the public.

"We went out immediately and found the horse had indeed been injured and so we called a vet."

She described the horse's beating as severe and said the incident had taken place while the horse was being schooled. She said she was waiting for an investigating officer from the police to be appointed to handle the case.

- SAPA