Papar: The Veterinary Services Department has cleared the Melinsung ranch of rumours that its horse were in urgent need of care.

Its Directory, Datuk Awang Sahak Salleh, said reports over the Internet on the matter were untrue.

"I have received more than 200 emails from all over the world about the matter. It is shocking. We have been monitoring the horses at the ranch on a weekly basis and were satisfied with the living conditions."

"As far as I am concerned, the problem has been solved. I even took an officer from the World Society for the Protection of Animals in Bangkok to observe conditions at the ranch."

Awang Sahak was commenting on online allegations that horses at the ranch were poorly looked after.

Ranch owner Col Datuk Abdul Ghani Rashid denied rumours that his horses had been confiscated and that he had been banned from rearing horses.

"I am reducing the numbers of horses at my ranch. It is a natural practice as I breed horses and cannot keep them all. I am selling 30 of them and will keep about 20 to 30," he said.

The ranch has been subject of controversy after rumours surfaced that the department had ordered the confiscation of 30 horses and banned Abdul Ghani from rearing them for sale.

A letter is also believed to have been sent to Tourism Minister Datuk Azalina Othman on the matter.

Tourists who had come to the ranch earlier had reported maltreatment of 70 horses.

This led to an investigation by the department which then stated that the horses were in good condition.

Meanwhile, stable manager Anthony Lamak, who has been working with horses for over a decade, said the rumours were ludicrous.

"We have to look after our horse. After all, it is our business to breed and sell them."

"Some of the pictures taken may have been of our old and ailing horses."

"Someone may been exploited them and distorted the scenario here."

The ranch sold 30 horses this year for between RM15,000 to RM25,000 each.

- Daily Express, 3 April, 2008

Posted by webmaster on 16 May 2008, Fri