Three people have been charged with animal cruelty after a four-year-old retired racehorse was found to be severely underweight and neglected at a property west of Brisbane.

A member of the public concerned about the thoroughbred mare had alerted authorities, leading to an investigation by the Racing Crime Squad and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.

Three people have been charged over the treatment of this retired racehorse. Credit:QPS

Detectives visited the Pine Mountain property and found the thoroughbred mare to be “severely underweight and neglected”.

Three people - a 20-year woman, a 48-year old man and a 51-year old woman – were charged with one count each of animal cruelty.