Allan Power charged after failing to provide treatment for horses: court

Several horses were left starved and laced with parasites after a north west Sydney man neglected them, landing him in court.

Allan Power leaving Windsor Court.

A former stablehand faced court after horses left severely neglected were discovered at a North Richmond property.

Allan Power, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to provide vet treatment while being in charge of an animal while a charge of failing to provide proper and sufficient food to animals was withdrawn.

Power represented himself at Windsor Local Court on May 4.

He told the court he worked as a stablehand for over 15 years but the recent Windsor floods impacted his ability to care for the horses.

Facts state the RSPCA inspected Power’s property following reports of a deceased horse on the North Richmond property on May 9 last year.

The inspector discovered a tarp in the paddock covering a dead, malnourished horse, which was decomposing and multiple underweight horses.

RSPCA inspectors reported the horses left in a "very poor condition" on several occasions before the animals were seized. Picture: RSPCA NSW

Power agreed to have the horses surrendered and was advised to contact Racing NSW to assist with their transport, facts state.

One horse needed sedation and was taken to Hawbsury Enquine for urgent treatment.

On July 28, inspectors returned to Power’s property and found that six out of eight horses were underweight and sick.

One horse was pregnant and described as “dragging its feet slowly”, according to facts.

The report states a hay bale was left unspread on Power’s property, which meant “the larger horses were feeding while the poorest did not approach”.

On August 3, six inspectors reattended the property with police to seize the neglected horses.

Power told RSPCA he hadn’t wormed the horses due to a knee injury and was still yet to contact Racing NSW.

A form was signed by Power and the horses were finally surrendered.

Each horse was reported as having “very poor body condition”, with ‘strongyles” – an intestinal parasite.

One horse had a body condition score of 1.5/5 – zero being “very poor” and five being “fat” – while each horse had abnormally high egg counts, facts state.

Power told the court the fence on his property was wrecked by floods.

“I lost control when the fence went, they separated and I couldn’t handle them,” Power said.

Power said on one occasion, a horse struck him after attempting worming.

“I did my best for the horses – I got food for them all the time, but I couldn’t catch them to worm them,” he said.

Windsor courthouse.

Magistrate Leanne Robinson said Power was clearly capable of looking after horses, having owned them for many years.

“The obligation to care for them doesn’t stop if your circumstances change, such as fence damage or an injury,” Ms Robinson said.

RSPCA argued a conviction was warranted due to the sheer neglect and to ensure Power cannot care for new animals.

Power was convicted and sentenced to a six month community correction order.

He was banned from owning or being involved with the care of another animal for five years under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.