Racing New South Wales has suspended three members of a training partnership for failing to provide adequate veterinary treatment to one of their horses.

Canberra trainers Barbara Joseph, Paul Jones and Matt Jones fronted Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday at the continuation of an inquiry that was opened on May 19 this year.

It was in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death of I Am Rocky in February this year and the care the four-year-old entire was afforded in the lead-up to its death.

In addition to one charge under AR103(4), for failing to lodge a stable return for I Am Rocky despite the horse having been in work for approximately nine weeks, the training partners were also issued one charge under AR231(1)(b)(iii).

Among the particulars of that charge were:

* At approximately 4am on Saturday, 23 February 2019, co-trainer Mr M. Jones became aware that I Am Rocky was displaying symptoms of colic.

* At approximately 8:09am on Saturday, 23 February 2019, Mr P. Jones became aware that I Am Rocky was again displaying symptoms of colic.

* That during Saturday, 23 February 2019, stable foreperson Mr S. Jamieson had observed that I Am Rocky had “been lethargic all day”.

* That during Saturday, 23 February 2019, they did fail to provide for veterinary treatment of I Am Rocky when the horse was displaying symptoms of colic and such treatment was necessary for the horse.

* That after observing that I Am Rocky was dull and lethargic in its stable at approximately 7am on Sunday, 24 February 2019, licensed stablehand Ms L. Fehre contacted Mr S. Jamieson soon after and reported to him words to the effect “He looks unwell and he probably needs a vet”.

* That at no time did they, subsequent to Saturday, 23 February 2019 and whilst I Am Rocky remained in their care, control and supervision at their registered racing stables provide for veterinary treatment of the horse, when such treatment was necessary for the horse.

* I Am Rocky was found deceased in its stable at approximately 7:30pm on Sunday, 24 February 2019 by stable foreperson Mr S. Jamieson.

* A post-mortem examination report completed by Dr S. Raidal, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Charles Sturt University), on 26 February 2019, provided a gross diagnosis of right dorsal displacement of the large colon, likely secondary to diffuse typhlocolitis ultimately was the cause of the death of I Am Rocky. The Report also identified and described numerous superficial wounds and subcutaneous haemorrhages, consistent with trauma following an episode of uncontrolled colic pain.

AR231(1) states that it is an offence for any person in charge of a horse to fail to provide veterinary treatment to a horse when necessary.

The four-month suspension under the second charge was reduced from six months owing to a guilty plea from the three training partners, while they were also fined $200 under charge one.

Racing.com Staff

Oorawan - DECEASED. 7 year old mare - last raced 13/7/16 - 5 races $0 prize money - listed as deceased 20/1/20 bred by Mr G Dawson.

Aah - DECEASED. 11 year old mare - no records of being raced - listed as deceased 20/1/20 - bred by Gainsborough Lodge QLD.

Sarah’s Joy - DECEASED. 13 year old mare - 6 races last raced 13/3/10 - listed as retired - $0 prize money - bred by GG Taylor NSW.

Onya Sonya - DECEASED. 12 year old mare - no racing records - listed as active - bred by Palmaday Stud QLD

Miss Voli - DECEASED. 13 year old mare - last raced 24/12/11 5 races - $0 prize money - bred by Mr R Lynch QLD. breeding record - giving birth to Golden Mistress in 2016, after 2 'missed' and a 'foal died at birth'.

as well as Flagflemenco - as previously reported. Still alive, at this stage. 11 year old mare bred by Lyndhurst Stud QLD. Raced 18 times from 2011 - 2013 resulting in $13,940 in prize money for her owners.

Despite public outrage and almost 2000 emails to the Minister of Agriculture, there still appears to be very little action from Biosecurity Queensland, who are claiming they are caring for the horses and making two visits per day. However, very distressed neighbours are watching closely and report they are not seeing them there at all. They also report they have been instructed to stop giving the high quality feed they have been kindly giving themselves so now the only feed will be that being given by the property owner which is one small feed per day of wet straw.

Demand that Biosecurity Queensland take action TODAY - https://alq.org.au/horse-cruelty-toowoomba?fbclid=IwAR3oH8JpWoV1cDHGTZTZJ43PSQx6974tAgge0sEwpMBGs873olFvWXi1wrQ" rel="nofollow - https://alq.org.au/horse-cruelty-toowoomba and take our pledge to never bet on or attend a horse race again here https://horseracingkills.com/2019/10/17/the-racing-industrys-darkest-secret-exposed/?fbclid=IwAR3ke3yKCsl7C41NU3sx0gPaLFNdbhmFZdKcB8bO9eCLNqJ7s1CwVLG72_M" rel="nofollow - https://horseracingkills.com/…/the-racing-industrys-darkes…/

A major investigation is underway after 35 horses were found shot dead in "horrific" scenes on a property in western Queensland.

Readers are advised this story has distressing content.

The animals, discovered on Yanburra station about 60km north of Longreach, included pregnant mares and foals.

Police said they expected to find more carcasses on the 2,000-hectare property today.

Detective Sergeant Allan Cook said the horses died from multiple gunshot wounds in a brazen shooting along the side of a major road.

"Absolutely horrendous," Detective Sergeant Cook said.

"It's tourist season at the moment, anyone driving past that road would have seen those carcasses, so absolutely horrendous.

"You've got stallions, colts, pregnant mares, aborted foals, they've shot the foals at the foot, it's horrific."

A neighbour raised the alarm about 4:00pm on Thursday when she discovered the horses on Yanburra. 

They were believed to have been killed between Tuesday and Wednesday.

The owner of the property was not home at the time of the incident. 

The Longreach Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad returned to the scene on Friday morning.

RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty, who has worked with the animal welfare organisation for 17 years, said it was very uncommon for such a high number of horses to be executed. 

"In fact, in all of the time I've been with the RSPCA I don't think I've ever heard numbers of this proportion," Mr Beatty said. 

"Obviously you do have situations where there is a cull where large numbers of animals are put down, but not on a private property where you are not talking about feral brumbies.

"I've never heard of anything like [this]."

Detective Sergeant Cook said incidents of this nature can have a devastating impact on rural communities.

�That is why the Queensland Police Service is working extremely closely with partner agencies to identify the person or people responsible,� he said. 

The joint investigation involves forensic officers, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and council rangers. The RSPCA does not have an inspector in the region. 

Police are urging anybody with information to contact them at the Longreach Police Station � 07 4652 5200.

"Anyone who saw any suspicious activity on the Cramsie Muttaburra Rd at Longreach, please call us," Detective Sergeant Cook said.


RACENET


The owner of a large station where police found at least 35 horses shot dead is understood to have been left devastated by news of the mass slaughter.

At least 35 horses � including pregnant mares and foals � were found with multiple gunshot wounds on a property 60km north of Longreach on Thursday afternoon.

Detective Sergeant Allan Cooke, Officer in Charge of the Major and Organised Crime Squad Rural Longreach, said officers were met with �confronting and devastating scenes� after discovering the horses lying on Yanburra Station.

The elderly property owner, who has not been at home for some time because he is in hospital, was reportedly shattered to learn what had happened.

�When we got there at 4pm yesterday you could see from the road all the carcasses lying in the paddock,� Det Sgt Cook said.

�Once we went in and had a closer look, there were 36 thus far. We�re still counting.�

Det Sgt Cook said among the dead were stillborn foals and mares with their foals still at foot.

�A lot of these animals haven�t died instantly,� he said.

�I�ve been a copper for 30 years and it�s certainly one of the most horrendous sights I�ve seen.�

Det Sgt Cook said it was devastating to the community who fought tirelessly during the drought to keep their animals alive.

At this stage, police believe the horses were shot on the property off Cramsie Muttaburra Rd between Tuesday and Wednesday.

This morning Det Sgt Cook was heading back out to the property to continue searching for any additional wounded or dead horses on the large property.

Police are still investigating if the shootings were random or targeted but said they were �definitely intentional�.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity on this road over the past few days is urged to come forward.

Racenet understands the horrific incident is not related to racing and none of the horses are registered thoroughbreds.