Graham Thornton: RSPCA acts on Dubbo man’s horse cruelty

A Dubbo man has told a court he couldn’t afford to properly feed his horses because of the drought. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

A horse found on Graham Thornton’s property. Picture: RSPCA

A man has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and fined more than $10,000 after the RSPCA discovered piles of dead horses on his Dubbo property.

Graham Joseph Thornton, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of failing to provide veterinary treatment when he faced Dubbo Local Court on Monday.

Dubbo man Graham Thornton after he was convicted of aggravated animal cruelty. Picture: Ryan Young

According to court documents, an RSPCA inspector attended Thornton’s property on December 6, 2019, after a complaint was made by a member of the public.

The inspector found five dead horses decomposing in various paddocks, the youngest of which was a foal who got caught in a wire fence.

There was no evidence to show the horses had been euthanised humanely.

A further eight horses were found alive, but in poor condition and standing on bare dirt without any access to feed.

More dead horses found on Graham Thornton’s property. Picture: RSPCA

Although he had a full time job, Thornton told inspectors he had no money to feed the horses and was aware there were dead horses in a paddock.

Thornton admitted he made no attempt to get assistance to feed the horses, court documents revealed.

When veterinarian, Dr Petrea Wait, visited Thornton’s property, she saw 15 horses who appeared lethargic and dull, with very poor or emaciated body conditions.

One horse, a chestnut paint filly, had to be euthanised because of a limb deformity Thornton left untreated.

A total of two piles of dead horses, which consisted of 10 adults and two foals, ended up being discovered on Thornton’s property.

None had been euthanised humanely. After the RSPCA intervened, Thornton started to feed the horses properly, however in December 2019, eight of the horses were surrendered.

A tree the horses had tried to eat. Picture: RSPCA

In court, defence lawyer Jai Silkman said Thornton was “incredibly distressed” by the situation

“He’s handled it poorly, he could have done more and he certainly should have done more,” Mr Silkman said.

“About 12 months before this occurred, his wife lost her employment … he tells me feed prices went through the roof, he was unable to afford to feed them horses.”

At the height of the drought, Mr Silkman said Thornton tried to give the horses away and thought he wasn’t entitled to any government support to feed them because he was employed full-time at Fletcher International Exports.

“He didn’t believe there was help available to him,” Mr Silkman said.

“He’s been through droughts in the past and on this occasion, it all got too much for him.”

The surviving horses after the RSPCA intervened. Picture: RSPCA

Magistrate Gary Wilson said what Thornton did was “unforgivable”.

“I accept there was a significant drought and the prices of feed did go up and everyone had to bear that,” Magistrate Wilson told Thornton.

“You kept eating, your wife kept eating … but these poor horses that couldn’t fend for themselves were forgotten about.”

Magistrate Wilson convicted Thornton and sentenced him to a 12-month term of imprisonment to be served in community as an intensive corrections order.

Thornton was also fined $10,500 and banned from owning animal for five years.