Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com

NYC Carriage Horse Dies in Accident - Lancaster County Owner is Convicted Horse
Abuser


Lorenzo Riccobono is no stranger to the Equine Protection Network. We have been
reporting on the cruelty charges filed against him since 1999. We have sent out
press releases to print and television media urging them, sometimes begging
them, to cover Riccobono's hearings to no avail. Paper Horse readers are
familiar with Riccobono as that publication has run several articles on his
convictions. The EPN has had Riccobono stories & photos on our website since
1999.

After six year of trying the news media in America's largest city is shining the
spotlight on this convicted horse abuser. It took a tragedy for the news media
to finally pay attention, but finally millions of Americans will know the fate
of discarded horses that fell into the hands of one abuser in Lancaster County.
Many of these horses were already in trouble when Riccobono purchased them,
probably in violation of PA law which prohibits the sale of sick, lame, and
debilitated horses.


New York City - Lorenzo Riccobono, Gap, PA is listed by the New York City
Consumer Affairs Department, the agency that regulates the NYC carriage trade,
as the owner of the carriage involved in an accident on Monday January 2, 2006
that critically injured 36 year old carriage driver Carmello Vargas.


The black and white carraige horse known as Spotty was trapped under the car
with a broken leg and was later euthanized Monday. Vargas was thrown ten feet
from the carriage when Spotty spooked. The frightened horse raced several blocks
through Midtown Manhattan before running into a Nissan Maxima station wagon at
W. 50th St. and Ninth Ave in New York City at 9:30 PM. The two people in the car
were trapped in the car were also injured.

The EPN appreciates the New York Post for reporting the cruelty convictions in
the New York Post on January 5, 2006.

Links to news stories are listed on our website. Pictures are posted on the EPN
website & links to LAPS website has more convictions & photos.

www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/cruelty/riccobono.html


Lancaster County Man Pays Miniscule Fine For Cruelty to Three Horses

Gap, PA- On December 8, 1999, Lorenzo Riccobono, Paradise Township, Lancaster
County, PA was found guilty of one count of cruelty to animals, Section 5511 (c)
regarding failure to provide food, water and shelter to 2 horses and a pony
after a hearing before District Justice Stoltzfus. Mr. Riccobono was ordered to
pay $125.00 in fines and court costs. The minimum fine under PA law is $50.00.
Court costs are generally $50.00 to $60.00.

The PA State Police, Troop J, Lancaster brought the charge against Mr.
Riccobono. The Humane League of Lancaster County informed Mr. Riccobono that he
is required under the law to provide shelter for the remaining horses and other
animals on his property.
It is not known at this time if he has complied.

Mr. Riccobono signed the 2 horses & pony over to the Humane League of Lancaster
County. A York County horse rescue provided housing, transportation and
contacted an equine veterinarian. One of the horses and the pony both had to be
euthanised due to their conditions.

PA State Police Convict Lancaster County, PA Man of Horse Cruelty- Again


Gap, PA - District Justice Isaac Stoltzfus, Gap District Court found Lorenzo
Riccobono, Gap, PA guilty of cruelty to horses and fined $300.00 plus court
costs of $117.00 on March 18, 2003. PA State Police investigated a complaint in
February 2003 of cruelty to horses due to a down draft horse that was suffering
from dehydration and starvation. The horse was euthanised. The veterinarian told
investigators that he had previously euthanised another draft horse in January
2003 due to the same conditions.


In September 2002 the Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, investigated a
cruelty complaint involving an injured draft horse. The horse was found to be
suffering from a broken hip and was euthanised.


Ricobono told investigators that he loves these horses and had been treating it
with penicillin. Ricobono also told investigators that his brother owns a
carriage business in New York City. Ricobono stated he purchases horses for his
brother and also provided rest for the horses. This is not Ricobono's first time
in court.
PA State Police filed charges against Ricobono in 1999 and on December 8, 1999,
District Justice Stoltzfus found Ricobono guilty after a hearing of one count of
cruelty to animals, Title 18, Section 5511 (c) regarding failure to provide
food, water and shelter to 2 horses and a pony. Mr. Riccobono was ordered to pay
$125.00 in fines and court costs.


The minimum fine under PA law is $50.00. Court costs are generally $50.00 to
$60.00. The draft horse and the pony both had to be euthanised due to their
conditions. State Police have also investigated a horse that was killed by a car
in front of his property on Route 30 in July 2002.
LAPS Case Files
-
PA Cruelty Statutes
Title 18, Section 5511
PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES AND CONSOLIDATED STATUTES PURDON'S PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES TITLE 18. CRIMES AND OFFENSES PART II. DEFINITION OF
SPECIFIC OFFENSES ARTICLE F. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY CHAPTER
55. RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES
-
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals

(c) Cruelty to animals.--A person commits a summary offense if he wantonly or
cruelly illtreats, overloads, beats, otherwise abuses any animal, or neglects
any animal as to which he has a duty of care, whether belonging to himself or
otherwise, or abandons any animal, or deprives any animal of necessary
sustenance, drink, shelter or veterinary care, or access to clean and sanitary
shelter which will protect the animal against inclement weather and preserve the
animal's body heat and keep it dry. This subsection shall not apply to activity
undertaken in normal agricultural operation.


(d) Selling or using disabled horse.--A person commits a summary offense if he
offers for sale or sells any horse, which by reason of debility, disease or
lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked or used without violating the
laws against cruelty to animals, or leads, rides, drives or transports any such
horse for any purpose, except that of conveying the horse to the nearest
available appropriate facility for its humane keeping or destruction or for
medical or surgical treatment.



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