'Horse illegally grazing in St Albans field is not being neglected' (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

'Horse illegally grazing in St Albans field is not being neglected'

3:34pm Wednesday 1st April 2009

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CLAIMS that a horse has been abandoned and left to starve in a field next to a St Albans health club have been refuted by an animal welfare charity.

St Albans resident Sandra James contacted the Review after becoming concerned about the well-being of a horse, which she feared had been dumped in a field next to Nuffield Sports Centre in Highfield Park Drive.

But the RSPCA, who has received numerous calls about the animal, has insisted the horse is in 'fine body condition', adding that it is likely it had been had been left illegally by travellers on the land, which is owned by the health centre.

Sophie Wilkinson, RSPCA spokeswoman, said: "There's always horses in there. That one is in fine body cndition and it was supplied with water yesterday.

"Horses are often left on land where its owners don't own the land.

"When people are concerned about aniamls they expect the RSPCA to remove them but we can't do that. It's someone's property and we don't have the power to remove them unless it was in an unsuitable condition."

Mark Johnsohn, centre manager, said animals had been illegally left to graze on the land before.

The health centre have displayed a notice warning the horse's owners that they have 14 days to retrieve the animal.

He said: "We have taken steps to advise who ever's horse it is that they have 14 days to remove the animal.

"This has happened before and this course of action has worked before."

"In the short term we are doing all we can to ensure the animal's welfare is maintained."

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