Hundreds of dead horses found on Wagga Wagga property

Hundreds of dead horses including brumbies and thoroughbreds have been found on a rural NSW property in an alleged illegal knackery operation, with an investigation underway and calls for a parliamentary inquiry.

The horses were found on a property near Wagga Wagga.

Hundreds of dead horses including brumbies and thoroughbreds have been found on a rural NSW property in an alleged illegal knackery operation, with an investigation under way and calls for a parliamentary inquiry.

It comes after 2GB’s Ray Hadley revealed more than 500 butchered horse carcasses were discovered in a creek bed on the property near Wagga Wagga by council staff, police and government officials including the Environmental Protection Authority several weeks ago.

On Thursday, Hadley told listeners the RSPCA were aware of the horse carcasses and said the organisation had attended the property in January and had not referred or charged anyone after that visit.

“Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has come to me and confirmed at least 260 brumbies were given to this Talbot character at this illegal knackery, and we believe they were all slaughtered.”

Ray Hadley alleged the RSPCA had attended the Wagga Wagga property in January. Picture: Tim Hunter

Minister Sharp called for an urgent review of the Wild Horse Rehoming program and those associated with it.

The RSPCA have been contacted for comment.

Of the approximate 500 dead horses, 300 are believed to be rehomed brumbies, which is a program overlooked by the RSPCA .

Sources close to the investigation have claimed hundreds of brumbies were found at the site, the operator of which, Adrian Talbot, was sanctioned to take horses as part of a rehoming program. The remains of two thoroughbreds registered in Victoria were found on the property, but none from NSW.

Carcasses were also found in a cool room at the site, with sources claiming Mr Talbot was selling the meat.

It is understood Racing NSW officials spoke to Mr Talbot at the property in 2022 as part of an investigation. He was then placed on the Racing NSW “excluded persons list’’ in February last year, banning him from having thoroughbred horses or any involvement in the thoroughbred racing industry in this state.

Wagga Wagga Council is now investigating the matter alongside police and state authorities, with the council’s general manager Peter Thompson calling the piles of carcasses a “confronting sight”.

No charges have been laid.

Wagga Wagga Council general manager Peter Thompson.

“An attempt had been made to cover up those horses with soil,” Mr Thompson claimed.

“Some of these carcasses were no more than skeletal remains while others were killed relatively recently…. the inspection discovered the slaughtering of horses had been occurring for a long period of time.”

It is understood the council was first made aware of the matter after reports Mr Talbot was operating a knackery without approval, before the position of the carcasses in the creek bed raised environmental contamination concerns.

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described the discovery as “absolutely shocking” and called for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst. Picture: Annie Lewis

“A lot of questions need to be answered about how this has occurred or possibly allowed to occur, it is devastating to think what has happened to these horses,” Ms Hurst said.

“The community needs full transparency from authorities about what has been found at this site.

“Incidents like this need a parliamentary inquiry process when such a large number of animals are involved.”

She urged authorities to fully investigate the matter.

“We would like to see the RSPCA involved if any animal cruelty is exposed,’’ she said.

A full investigation is needed, particularly into whether there was more than one individual or if anyone knew of this.

“If (300 of the carcasses) are found to be brumbies, the question must be asked how did 300 get rehomed to one person in the first place?”

A statement from the EPA said the agency had “assisted” Wagga Wagga Council with advice to investigate “potential pollution and waste offences” regarding the carcasses.

Mr Talbot was contacted for comment.