Warning to Horse Owners - Remove Winter Rugs in Hot Weather

The Blacktown Sun has reported that horse-owners of Blacktown NSW, have been told they can be fined for leaving winter rugs on their animals on warm days.

As summer approaches, everyone across Australia needs to be aware of rugging appropriately or not only will you be fined but you could seriously hurt or even kill your horse. It's hard in spring with weather sometimes changing from cool to hot quickly, but it's probably best to pack the winter rugs away until next year. Understandably, especially in southern States, heavier rugs may still be required if the weather turns unexpectedly cold or rainy but mostly in summer, it's more comfortable for our horses to be in a light weight rug, which can protect against sun bleaching and insects, or no rug at all.

Animal Welfare League NSW inspectors said they received many calls over the past few weeks from residents who were concerned because horses were left in the sun wearing heavy winter rugs.

A spokeswoman for the Animal Welfare League said an owner's failure to remove a winter blanket when the weather was above what would be regarded as comfortable could be considered as having failed "to provide care to an animal".

She said the penalties for this offence started with on-the-spot maximum penalty notices of $500 for minor breaches (it's $1500 for corporations).

She said offenders could also be prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for not taking "reasonable care" and that this could lead to a penalty of $5500 ($27,500 for corporations ), up to six months' jail or both.

The spokeswoman said if an animal died or had to be put down because of severe overheating, this could lead to a more serious case and a prosecution for aggravated cruelty to an animal.

"This has a maximum penalty of $22,000 for an individual ($110,000 for a corporation), a maximum of two years' imprisonment or both in the case of an individual," she said.