Christine Weisheit banned from owning horses, to pay $100,000 after multi-year legal battle

The RSPCA found up to 30 dead horses and many more in poor health at the property of a woman said to have an “addiction” to owning large numbers of animals.

Christine Weisheit has been sentenced over more than 50 animal cruelty charges. Picture: Oscar's Law

A Victorian woman has been ordered to surrender scores of horses and pay $100,000 after a seven-year-long legal affair about her mistreatment of more than 100 animals at a property near Ararat.

In January 2016, RSPCA investigators found up to 30 dead horses and many others among a herd of 100 to 150 in poor health at Christine Weisheit’s home.

The case was first listed in April 2018.

After 39 mentions, it was listed for a four-day hearing in September 2021, when the court heard a “graveyard” of horses in various “stages of decay” was located at the rear of the property.

At the time, Weisheit, 66, pleaded not guilty to 65 animal cruelty charges.

The court heard there was a “graveyard” of horses at Weisheit’s property. Photo: RSCPA

A decomposing horse carcass at the property. Photo: RSCPA

The hearing concluded in June this year after some two-dozen sessions.

Defence lawyer Luke Howson and RSPCA prosecutor Amelia Beech then argued on several more occasions whether a permanent stay should be put on the matter.

Ms Beech told the court that Weisheit had been prosecuted in 2008 in NSW over 12 counts of failing to provide proper and sufficient food and two counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal; in 2016 in Ararat for conducting an unregistered domestic animal business and failing to register cats; and in 2019 in Ballarat for 33 counts of animal cruelty, including one count of aggravated cruelty.

“This is a woman with multiple relevant prior convictions,” Ms Beech said, citing an “escalation” in Weisheit’s offending over the years.

She called the current offending “grave”.

“We’re talking about over 100 horses who experienced unnecessary suffering as a result of the accused’s acts or omissions,” she said.

Emaciated horses. Photo: RSCPA

Ms Beech said the matter was prolonged partly due to Weisheit’s conduct and the few concessions she made about the accusations.

The court heard Weisheit also began a private prosecution against the informant in the matter, alleging charges of trespass, but the case was discontinued.

Mr Howson agreed with Magistrate Rod Crisp’s finding that Weisheit’s predicament was due to an “explosion of population” in the horses at her property from 40 to more than 100.

He said it was “impossible for one person to care for that many animals” and said Weisheit had not been intentionally cruel, but simply “unable to cope”.

“It’s not a calculated set of offending,” Mr Howson said.

“Rather [it’s] one where the real sin, if I can put it that way, is more a lack of wisdom than malice.”

Weisheit was born in Adelaide, had “significant social difficulties” at school, and later qualified as a teacher.

“Her first prevailing love, your Honour, has been with horses,” Mr Howson said.

“She was one of the top riders in her younger years and she has been taking care of horses for many, many years.”

The majority of charges against Weisheit had to do with her horses’ malnutrition. Photo: RSCPA

He said his client owned horses as a hobby, with 45 still in her possession — 55 in total at the property — and that she had a gelding program planned.

Mr Howson said Weisheit received hate mail and threats as a result of her court case’s publicisation, and had had the matters hanging over her head since 2016.

Weisheit herself added that when her cats were taken away around 2014, she “lost it”.

“People don’t understand how much it hurt,” she told the court, audibly emotional.

The RSPCA sought Weisheit’s permanent disqualification from owning horses and $87,635.50 to cover fees, despite that figure being a “fraction” of the total prosecuting costs.

Magistrate Crisp refused to grant a stay on the matter.

He found 54 charges against Weisheit proven, 27 of which had to do with individual horses, and two of which related to the same 82 horses.

The charges mainly had to do with malnutrition and insufficient vet care, but others involved insufficient drink and the improper confining of animals.

Mr Crisp said Weisheit appeared to have something of an “addiction” to owning large numbers of animals and an aversion to contraception.

Another horse. Photo: RSCPA

He ordered she be permanently prohibited from owning horses and pay costs of $80,000 and an aggregate fine of $20,000.

Mr Crisp said the case was “to put an end to endless encouragement of overbreeding”.

He wished Ms Beech luck if she should have to prosecute a similar matter in the future.

RSPCA Victoria’s Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said the scale of the offending was “appalling”.

“It’s great to see the severity of these offences recognised through the permanent disqualification and fine,” he said.

“This sends a strong message that RSPCA Victoria and the Victorian community do not and will not accept cruelty to animals.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate has done in this case to ensure these animals are no longer subjected to this type of cruelty, and this person has been held to account.”