About 100 horses are being moved from a Tasmanian stud farm in the Southern Midlands after inspections found the property was overstocked.
The Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner led multi-agency checks of all Weona Park Stud properties from September 22, following complaints about horse welfare and management.
Tasracing, RSPCA and Biosecurity Tasmania joined the inspections after Commissioner Sean Carroll was made aware of several concerns.
“While the issue of overstocking is visibly evident, each of the agencies are satisfied that, following veterinary examinations of all horses at the Weona Park Stud properties, there are no horses that required urgent veterinarian attention,” a joint statement said.
Inspectors also confirmed all horses had “sufficient feed and water” across the properties.
Stud owner Fiona Methorst has cooperated fully with authorities and is working with them to address the welfare concerns.
In the coming days, Tasracing and Carroll will help Methorst move the affected horses into temporary care, while permanent homes through adoption or sale are organised.
Anyone interested in adopting a horse from Weona Park Stud can register through RSPCA Tasmania’s website.
Carroll said animal welfare remained a top priority but urged people to use the proper channels when raising concerns.
He asked the public to contact his office directly and privately so issues could be dealt with in a “constructive and respectful matter”.
Carroll also warned against online harassment of racing participants after photos of some Weona Park horses were circulated on social media last month.
“I must be clear that as an industry, any form of harassment, abuse or anti social behaviour will not be accepted or tolerated, whether that abuse be directed online towards participants, staff or members of the community,” Carroll said.
Methorst previously told the ABC that the posts about her property were distressing.
“[I felt] extremely stressed, violated, harassed and overall concern for ongoing safety of my family and animals,” she said.
She expects the rehoming process to take three to six months and plans to close her breeding stud once all horses are placed.
