Horses in poor condition stopped from competing at Pretoria event

Four horses described as being in poor body condition were brought to compete at an equine event in Pretoria East, where NSPCA inspectors intervened over concerns about their welfare.

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) said its inspectors attended the event on 12 September alongside the Tshwane SPCA and the Tshwane SAPS K9 Unit after concerns were raised about the conditions in which horses were being used. Around 35 horses were taking part in timed challenges involving motorbikes.

According to the NSPCA, there was no physical partition separating the animals from the motorcycles. The organisation said four horses were stopped from competing after inspectors found them to be in poor physical condition. The NSPCA said its team faced resistance when it arrived and ultimately had to conduct the inspection under warrant.

There was also no veterinarian at the event to assess whether the horses were fit to compete.

Throughout the day, inspectors monitored the horses while they were being ridden, tacked and kept between events. They reported several concerns, including what they described as excessive rein pressure. Some horses were seen fighting against the bit and opening their mouths, which the NSPCA said indicated distress.

In one case, a bridle was fitted so tightly that the rider was instructed to loosen or adjust it immediately. The heat was another concern. Five horses were reportedly left standing fully saddled in direct sunlight without shade or shelter. Inspectors also observed horses sweating underneath their saddles during the day.

The NSPCA said the contraventions identified during the inspection were formally addressed with the organisers through a warning.

NSPCA says horse welfare cannot be secondary

The organisation stressed that holding a horse event is not, in itself, unlawful. However, it said the Animals Protection Act prohibits working an animal that is not physically fit for the activity or handling an animal in a way that causes unnecessary suffering.

That distinction is central to the NSPCA’s intervention.

‘Using a horse who is in no physical condition to be worked, or handling a horse in a way that causes unnecessary suffering, is an offence under the Animals Protection Act,’

– NSPCA

The NSPCA added that its inspectors would continue attending events involving animals where intervention is necessary to enforce animal welfare laws.

Event was not affiliated with mounted games association

The event featured horses and motorbikes competing in timed challenges, with organisers presenting it as a combination of riding skills, horse training and motorcycle challenges.

However, the NSPCA said it had subsequently been informed that the event was not registered with, sanctioned by, or affiliated to the South African Western Mounted Games Association (SAWMGA). The organisation also made clear that it does not endorse the use of animals in sport, competition or entertainment.

For the horses involved, the bigger issue was therefore not the spectacle of horses competing alongside motorcycles, but whether the animals were physically fit, appropriately handled and protected from unnecessary suffering while taking part.

The NSPCA said: ‘Where animals are used, our Inspectors will continue to attend to enforce the law.’

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Featured Image: NSPCA – National Council of SPCAs / Facebook