Horse owner defends his treatment and care (From The Advertiser Series)

Horse owner defends his treatment and care

12:15pm Thursday 4th March 2010

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COMPLAINTS have been made to the RSPCA about horses living on a derelict industrial site.

Six horses, including a foal, have been on the former Torrington site on Yarm Road, Darlington, since at least November.

The complainants claim the horses are not fed, are without shelter and that it is inappropriate for them to live on the land. But their owner says the animals are well fed and are checked on daily.

One man, who asked not to be named, said he first reported it to the RSPCA in December when he was concerned over their welfare during the cold winter months.

He said that RSPCA officers had told him they would contact the owners and ensure the horses were off the land within two weeks – but the horses are still there.

He added that he had spoken to the RSPCA about the issue a total of ten times.

“I am absolutely disgusted.

There is no shelter for them, no food for them, no hay for them and nowhere to lie down for them,” he added.

“They can’t even hide under a tree.”

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: “We never confirm or deny whether or not we’ve had complaints about particular people or animals until it gets to the point that we’re prosecuting.”

The horses have been on the land since early November, when complaints were first made.

Later in the month, horses escaped from the site and caused chaos for motorists and pedestrians on Yarm Road.

Alfred Adams, who owns the horses, said his family owned the land. He goes up daily to check on the horses as do other members of the family.

He added: “Those people are talking ridiculous.

“The RSPCA keeps an eye on them and I am also registered with the horse association.

“We are going up tonight to catch the foal to put a bridle on.

“I feed them more than 50 kilos of corn a week. They get a tonne of hay every 10 days.”

Mr Adams added he had 25 horses across the country, including in Morecambe and Stafford.

The Torrington Engineering site closed in 2003. Commercial Development Projects, based in Elland, West Yorkshire, has had two planning applications for the site turned down.

The company, whose appeal was rejected last month, is expected to resubmit plans.

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