A 61-year-old Tamworth man has been charged by NSW police with animal cruelty, after he was filmed allegedly abusing a horse in the Kosciuszko National Park on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police alleged the man repeatedly pulled the horse with a rope around its neck, which left the horse struggling to breath and visibly distressed.
Witnesses attempted to intervene, but the man allegedly refused to let go and the horse fell to the ground unconscious.
Police said the horse was lame after the incident and is believed to have suffered injuries.
According to police a group camping in the Kosciuszko National Park noticed the man, also camping in the area at the time, placing a lariat, which is a type of lasso, around the neck of a tame brumby colt.
The man has been charged with committing an act of cruelty and capturing or snaring an animal in a national park.
NSW Police state rural crime co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said police did not tolerate animal cruelty.
"In this incident, a member of the public filmed the alleged cruelty and we were able to identify the man involved," Detective Inspector Whiteside said.
“The footage clearly shows the animal suffered injuries and unfortunately it was not located after the incident so we are not aware of its fate."
The man will appear in Cooma Local Court on February 6.
