Tea Tree horse trainer fined $10,000 for animal cruelty after six animals euthanised

A Tea Tree horse trainer has been fined $10,000 for animal cruelty after six of his animals were euthanised with painful, untreated wounds. IN COURT >>

A TEA Tree horse racing industry trainer and owner has been fined $10,000 fine for animal cruelty after six of his thoroughbreds had to be euthanised.

James Thomas Scott, 77, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday after Biosecurity Tasmania attended his property in November 2018 following a welfare tip-off.

Magistrate Chris Webster heard officers found 47 horses on the property, which was in disrepair and had fences either partially or fully down.

Scott was not present at the time as he was in hospital receiving cancer treatment, with his grandson then caring for the property.

Twenty-two of the horses were examined after some appeared “clinically abnormal from a distance”, with some suffering overgrown hooves, split wounds or lesions requiring treatment.

One horse had a wound measuring 40cm by 40cm.

“All of the wounds had been in place for a period of many weeks or months,” a prosecutor told the court.

“There was no evidence that the wounds had been treated.”

One horse was observed getting its hind leg caught in the broken fence and needing to free itself.

Three horses were euthanised during the visit “on welfare grounds due to the horses experiencing unreasonable pain or suffering”.

A vet attended the property later that month and recommended a further three horses be euthanised.

In December, some of the horses were treated and a number of instructions issued to Scott that all horses must have their feet attended to by a qualified person or farrier, and that he must clear away hazards from his property such as loose wire, tin, scrap, rubbish piles and fallen steel pickets.

Biosecurity officers returned several times in early 2019 to discover Scott hadn’t cleared all the hazards or had all his horses treated.

During a police interview, Scott said his neighbours had started shooting at night, which “spooked” his horses who had run through fences and torn their legs.

But he said he was unable to attend to the situation because of his own health condition.

Scott’s defence lawyer said it cost Scott $125,000 to repair his fences, and that he had “considerable experience” with and love for horses.

“This is not a case where there has been any intent, any malice or any wickedness,” she said.

“Despite his best intentions, it got somehow out of hand.”

Scott pleaded guilty to four counts of animal cruelty, three counts of aggravated cruelty likely to result in death, deformity or serious disablement, using a management method likely to cause unreasonable pain or suffering, and three counts of failing to comply with an officer’s instruction.

On top of his fine, Mr Webster also ordered Scott be disqualified from owning or having direct control over more than 24 horses for the coming 10 years.

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