CRUELTY TO A HORSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 6

CRUELTY TO A HORSE

CONTRACTOR PINED HIS NAME SUPPRESSED Charges of cruel ill-treatment of horses used in his business wore preferred against a contractor in the Police Court to-day, before Messrs. A. G. Beero and I. Alirfiold, J's.P. Tho substance of the charges was that defendant worked a gelding when its legs were cut and chafed by tracechains, and a mare with its hooves unshod. Defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges. Evidence was given by Constable Allen, of Patutahi, regarding tho condition of tho horses. He gave it as his opinion that neither horse was lit to be worked. In reply to a question from defendant, witness stated that certain of tho cuts on the gelding’s legs wore cut by the chains, but others were in positions that precluded their having been made by the chains.

Defendant gave evidence that tho gelding was an outlaw that ho had been asked to work. Tho gelding wms very flighty, and practically unbroken, and required continuous work to bring him into proper condition. Witness stated that the cuts were caused by the horse getting into ft wire fence, and the trace-chains’ chafing was due to the horse being young and green. Witness claimed 20 years’’experience in contracting, and stated that he had never worked a horse in a scoop with shoes on, owing to the likelihood of shoes cutting the coronets of the other legs when turning. The road was not metalled, and no trouble would arise from tho horses being unshod.

Cross-examined, witness stated that Constable Allen’s evidence as to the injuries was correct. Ho stated that the horse had been tried on a log. to teach him to pull, but it was impossible to hold the horse on a log, and it was necessary to put him in a scoop-team with other horses to make him useful. He was au exceptional liorso to handle, and had given a lot of trouble, but if he was worked a day or two longer, Ills trace-sores would dry up and he would be quite all right, and a useful horse.

Tho bench gave it as its opinion that a certain amount of cruelty had been inflicted, and defendant would bo convicted and fined £1 on tho first charge. The second charge would bo dismissed.

Defendant asked that his name bo suppressed, as ho had never had any Complaint against him before. Air. I. Alirfield, J.P., remarked that evidently defendant had worked the horse while it was sore.

Defendant: Well what am I to do with tho brute?

Air. Alirlield: If he is pn outlaw, turn him out and lot him go. . The bench, after considering the application, granted the suppression of defendant name,