Emily Rain White faces court after pleading guilty to the ill treatment of five horses at Kudla in 2021
A single mother who could not afford to feed her horses blamed her daughter for their deteriorating condition after the RSPCA discovered the neglect.
Barossa, Clare & Gawler
Don't miss out on the headlines from Barossa, Clare & Gawler. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A single mother who could not afford to feed five horses and left them to suffer has blamed her daughter for their deteriorating condition.
When the RSPCA discovered the mistreatment, Emily Rain White told investigators the daughter was also responsible as she had not given them water, the Elizabeth Magistrates court heard on Tuesday.
Appearing before Magistrate Ian White, the Kudla woman faced ten counts of ill treatment of an animal.
White pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to the ill treatment of the horses between January 14 and February 21 last year with the five horses being well underweight.
The RSPCA prosecutor said two horses, Alice and Bucky, were also suffering from chronic scouring (diarrhoea) and White had failed to mitigate this harm.
“After the property was visited by investigators it’s my submission that there was very little improvement in the two week period afterwards,” the prosecutor said.
“Your honour this is a case of underfeeding and under attention.
“The fact is that Ms White simply had too many horses.
‘There were a total of eight horses, five of which are the subject of these charges.
“In addition to this the horse ‘Bucky’, a clydesdale horse required hospitalisation.”
Mr White said he read a report stating White blamed her daughter for not providing water to the horses.
“One of the principal reasons she gave for the situation was a lack of funds,” Mr White said.
“Therein lies a problem, sometimes is that to keep animals one must have adequate financial ability to keep them well.
“She saw the horses daily, one would think you’d have some appreciation of their deteriorating condition.”
Mr White said the defendant was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the time of the offending according to a psychologist’s report.
The prosecutor said they would seek a conviction, $42,000 in veterinary, agistment, feed and general care costs as well as $3000 in legal fees.
White will face court again in June.
‘He can finally find peace’: Family’s relief at murder verdict
He was murdered and buried, but never forgotten by his family and friends. Now, Stephen Murphy’s loved ones have welcomed a jury’s verdict on his killer.
Meet SA’s future leaders captaining the class of 2025
They are the South Australian teens dreaming of careers as politicians, doctors and chefs but first these 25+ school captains share why they wanted the top job.