Horse death inquiry

Press, 14 January 1982, Page 7

Horse death inquiry

PA Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspec-

tors in Auckland are investigating the death of a wellknown horse at the Kumeu rodeo on Sunday. The director of the society Mr George Bates has said that several complaints had been made about the treatment at the Kumeu event of Ben Casey a bucking horse which travelled the rodeo circuit for 22 years. “We are concerned about rodeos in general," Mr Bates said. “Our policy is to have them prohibited." Spectators at the rodeo said yesterday that they were upset at the way the horses were excited before rides. One man said that he saw Ben Casey rear up in the saddling stalls and hit its

head on an overhead beam as a man excited the horses with a stick.

The horse, aged 26. successfully ridden less than a dozen times in its long career, fell bleeding from the nose, and died soon after.

The horse's owner. Mr Bryan Dimmer, of Kihikihi, said that he was not aware of the S.P.C.A. investigation. In his 40 years of rodeo experience the horses were always well cared for. he said.

He had not seen the horse's death and he did not know who had been exciting the horses.

“The trouble is with young, inexperienced fellows who don't know how to handle horses." he said.

Ben Casey had never needed to be stirred up before an event because it almost always threw its rider.

The horse was buried on Monday at the Kihikihi rodeo grounds, where a plaque will be put up in its memory.