Osbaldwick farmer must pay bill for removal of stray horse found dead on his land

Ray Smith has been told it is his responsibility to pay for the removal of the body from the ditch at Osbaldwick, even though he never gave permission for the animal to graze there.

He said the problem of travellers' horses being put in his fields, and in other farmers' fields in the area, had been happening for years, with no attempt to give them water.

However, the problem had worsened in the past year, and there had been several there since before Christmas, although they had now disappeared.

David Shaw, a neighbouring farmer who is the NFU's dairy farming representative for the north-east, said he understood the horse had been found with its own rope wrapped around its neck, and it had got in the ditch and been unable to get out.

He said the horse had been put in the field without Mr Smith's consent, without any care for its welfare, and it seemed completely wrong that he should have to pay the fees for its removal.

Local councillor Mark Warters said the problem of horses being put in farmers' fields without permission had worsened since City of York Council had appointed a bailiff last year to remove horses grazing on roadside verges and putting motorists' lives at risk.

He claimed the council should bear the associated costs of removing the carcase.

But Steve Waddington, assistant director of housing & community Safety at the council, said: “While we’re always sad to learn of an animal’s death, it was not owned by the council and neither is the land it died on, therefore it is the responsibility of the landowner to move it.

"We understand the landowner has agreed to remove the carcass and dispose of it safely.”