An Irish trainer treated a thoroughbred racehorse so badly that it had to be humanely put down to stop unnecessary suffering, the Circuit Civil Court heard yesterday.
Prominent trainer Stephen Mahon was ordered by Judge Alison Lindsay to pay more than €34,000 damages to the mare's owner.
Judge Lindsay, who heard that the horse, Pike Bridge, had eaten its forelegs to the bone to consume excruciatingly painful tendons, said the manner in which the racehorse had been treated did not bear thinking about.
Co Derry racehorse owner Patrick Doherty, Silverbrook Park, Newbuildings, sued Mr Mahon, of Doolagh, Stamullen, Co Meath.
Richard Lyons SC, counsel for Mr Doherty, told the court that a claim for damages against stable owner Jim Gough, Hilltop Stables, Westown, Naul, Co Dublin, where Pike Bridge had been stabled, had already been settled.
Mr Lyons said the horse had massive injuries and there had been no prospect of the mare returning to athletic soundness or pasture standing for breeding.
A postmortem examination revealed that Pike Bridge had self-mutilated both its fore flexor tendons, leaving it unable to stand and causing it to lie down for 12 weeks prior to having been shot in its stable.
It had been covered in sores with loss of hair and skin.
Vet Peadar O'Scanaill, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, said following self-mutilation there had been no tendons left in the back of the forelegs from the knee down to the fetlock.
The mare would have eaten away the tendons more because of pain in them rather than an unbearable itch.
The postmortem report showed that by eating parts of its body, Pike Bridge had obliterated painful tendons and ligaments.
Mr O'Scanaill said the horse would have been worth up to €80,000 at its peak.
Judge Lindsay said judgment had already been obtained against Mr Mahon and the court had to assess the level of damages due to Mr Doherty for the maltreatment and loss of his animal. Noreen McCusker, who acted for Mr Doherty, said judgment for the amount assessed by the court would now be sought from Mr Mahon.