Starving horses seized from Mornington Peninsula property

ALMOST 20 starving horses have been seized from a property on the Mornington Peninsula, with the RSPCA saying not all the animals would survive the next week.

ALMOST 20 starving horses have been seized from a property on the Mornington Peninsula.

The horses, which were in a “dire condition,” have been taken by RSPCA Victoria after a member of the community reported concerns for their welfare.

RSPCA inspector Kerrie Gregory said the 17 horses seized were in “very poor to poor condition”.

“These horses are very thin, which is deeply concerning when pasture levels in Victoria are reasonable, and feed prices are the lowest they’ve been in over two years,” she said.

“Feed prices are expected to rise as we move into winter as the good ground cover we’ve had this summer disappears.

One of the starving horses seized from a Mornington Peninsula property also appeared to be covered in sores.

“We’re asking owners to be realistic and assess their ability to feed and care for their horses. If it’s tough to make ends meet now, it’s only going to get harder through the winter months.”

Ms Gregory said RSPCA Victoria would continue to monitor the welfare of the remaining horses on the property, while the 17 which were seized would be nursed back to good health.

She said some of the horses may not survive the next week.

“The next few days will be critical. Horses in low body condition need to be fed carefully and monitored to ensure that they do not contract colic or other conditions associated with a sudden change in diet,” she said.

Ms Gregory said RSPCA Victoria was encouraging owners who are struggling to care for their horses to consider other options including buying and storing feed now while prices were lower and seeking help from family or friend.