The article exposes the dire conditions at a horse property in Mount Eliza, Victoria, owned by former trainer Maxine Galpin, where dozens of horses suffered from neglect, injuries, and starvation. Despite multiple inspections and warnings over more than a decade, the property remained in a dilapidated state with horses living in unsafe, unsanitary conditions, leading to a major RSPCA seizure of 35 horses in September 2024. Activists, led by Carly Wines, campaigned for months to bring attention to the suffering animals, documenting horrific incidents including fatal fights among stallions and the death of a newborn foal. The case highlights significant gaps in Victoria’s animal welfare laws, which currently limit authorities’ ability to intervene before animals reach a critical state of neglect.

The ongoing investigation and public outcry have intensified calls for urgent legislative reform, specifically the long-delayed Animal Care and Protection Bill, which would impose a positive duty of care standard to prevent neglect rather than only punish cruelty after the fact. Despite the mounting evidence and pressure, the Victorian government has yet to commit to a timeline for introducing the bill. Meanwhile, activists continue to monitor the remaining animals on the property, advocating for systemic change to prevent future cases like this and improve animal welfare enforcement across the state.