Renewed concern over the care of horses in a Pembroke paddock has highlighted `grey areas' in the law governing the care of the animals.

The Royal Gazette, the SPCA and the Department of Agriculture were all contacted by a member of the public who took issue with the treatment horses on the Island and in particular those housed along Canal Street.

The letter writer - who withheld their name and contact information - said the horses at the facility were tethered very closely to trees and could not move and that they were not receiving adequate shelter.

"Surely it is a basic right of any living being to have some freedom of movement," the horse lover wrote.

"The most basic need to water was not being satisfied when I passed by. The horses could not move their heads below their knees (although as far as I could see there were no buckets of water close to any of the animals, even if they could have moved that far."

But yesterday, Government Veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Nisbett said Bermuda's horses are reasonably well protected by current laws. Dr. Nisbett said his office receives many complaints with regard to the property the letter writer highlighted, primarily because it is very close to the road and easily viewed by passing traffic.

While the Department of Agriculture has had concerns with the property in the past, he said, these were with regard to the shelter provided for the horses rather than their overall treatment.

"To his credit," Dr. Nisbett said of the owner of the horses, "the horses have always been found to be healthy and well attended to."

And the department has worked closely with the owner to improve the paddock facilities, Dr. Nisbett added.

In fact a new building to house the animals has been built and it is a hoped a "certificate of occupancy" for it will be issued soon.

"It is a lot better that what used to be there," he said.

Proper treatment of horses can be very subjective as well, Dr. Nisbett added. The length of tether, for example, can be a problem if it is too long as well as too short, he said.

And while the horses may not have had buckets of water nearby where they were tied, Dr. Nisbett said a number of people work at the property and attend to the horses throughout the day.

While the complainant suggested licences for horse owners - particularly those that are used for carriage operators - should be revoked if facilities do not pass inspections, Dr. Nisbett said the approach generally taken has been to work with owners.

He also pointed out that the Canal Street owner had made many positive improvements including purchasing a walking device so that the horses, primarily used for carriage work, get exercise even in the off season.

The department does have the power to revoke licences and to prosecute where necessary, he added.

"But there is much grey area in the treatment of horses," Dr. Nisbett said. "In the absence of extreme circumstances of neglect or abuse, proper treatment of horses can be very subjective."

Veterinarians, stable owners and horse lovers continue to debate about many issues, he said, and current laws have difficulty covering the specifics of horse treatment because the law covers a number of animal species with one piece of legislation.

The letter writer urged the public to continue to be vigilant, however, saying: "There are many instances of dreadful treatment of animals on Bermuda and people should not close their eyes.

"It has been going on for years and it has to be put to a stop. The Department of Agriculture and the SPCA have been given the powers and resources to stop these dreadful practices," the letter writer said. "Every person who sees an animal being badly treated has to speak out.

"These are living beings who deserve a good quality of life and it is our responsibility to see that they get one."