Ranch A Given Two Weeks to Clean up

No hoof care. Standing on cement in own urine and droppings.

We wanted to purchase to save this shetland too.

and this but they wanted RM 15K for each

Skin was just hanging off him

The little flecks are not mud. They are actually sores



The left and middle was one that we wanted to buy to start immediate treatment but the owner wanted RM 10K for him

another one we wanted to purchase to save

Bag of bones field. Dropping were everywhere no sign of field maintenance

This fellow was weaving endlessly in the stable. I have having trouble uploadin the video of him but will keep trying

Proud flesh wound. Stable covered in shit and urine

On Monday 28 Jan. 2008, a vet and I flew across to Sabah to assess the situation in Sabah. The meeting with the DVS HQ and Sabah was a closed meeting so we were unable to attend however we were told on an unofficial basis (they are still to firm it up in a letter outlining their action plan and proposed time line) Ranch A has two weeks to turn the situation around if not the DVS are going to get a police order to seize the horses and ponies and close the place down if needs be. It is unfortunate but the situation in Malaysia is that the only authority with the power of seizure is the Dept. of Vet Services. SPCA unlike in the UK does not have the power of seizure and we can only generally encourage lobby and offer assistance. We would also like to lobby for licensing of owners / riding establishments but that is another issue that can be dealt with another time. On our visit to Ranch A on that same day, we noted as outstanding:

• None of the horses and ponies had any bedding. Those that were not wondering around freely and without control were standing in stables in their own urine and droppings on cement flooring. The Shetland ponies looked miserable and at least two we noted (of the five) had long hooves and very likely fungal infections and thrush as they could barely walk. One in particular had skin hanging off him and the grey one with the maggot wound which we received pictures of last week is presumed dead (though apparently the owner of Ranch A does have a farm somewhere where it is likely he could have taken the worse horses and ponies to. We have been unable to locate the farm.
• Many of the them were under fed as can be noted from the photos.
• The yard itself was in a bad condition with sacks and sacks of droppings. The dead chestnut horse in the earlier picture was left on the yard apparently for days before being removed and there was a horse tethered near it that was eating grass next to it.
• The horses and ponies are being fed cattle feed that is primarily made up of palm kernels. This is of course better than just grass but it is still not great due to the high urea content which will eventually affect the liver.
• There were only 2 staff to run the entire yard of 30 horses.

The DVS report is going to demand, amongst others,

• proper bedding for every stable,
• more staff,
• clean up of the yard and
• more feed for the horses.

We did try to purchase the worse 4/5 horses from the owners so that we could immediately treat them but were told that they wanted RM 8 - 15K per horse / pony which is ludicrous. This must have been a first. A group of people making enquries at a yard to purchase the worst horses!! We were hesitant to treat the horses and ponies then and there as should they and it was likely die we may be unwittingly be caught up in harm of private property law suit from the owners whom I haven't met but are rumoured to be vindictive. I hope the DVS stick to their word and after two weeks WILL act appropriately. We have spoken with the DVS and should they need assistance in two weeks time we are more than happy to help them in anyway possible. I am presuming time starts to run from the day I got the phone call and not when the official report is out!! That cld take forever!