Woman mistreated mare in foal - court

10:29am Thursday 13th March 2008

A WOMAN who failed to provide adequate food for her horse has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

The mare, who was in foal, was in a very poor condition when she was found.

She was extremely thin, suffering from anaemia, lice, worms, conjunctivitis, and blood tests indicated infection and inflammation.

Owner 49-year-old Rose Jay had denied the charge but failed to turn up for her trial at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.

After hearing evidence from witnesses about the environment in which the horse was kept and the condition in which she was found, magistrates found the case proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Concerns over the six-year-old mare, named Sunshine, were first raised by Julia Sly, a representative from the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH).

"I was horrified and very shocked," she told the court.

"I had been an RSPCA inspector for 13 years and I am not usually shocked. She looked awful, she was skin and bone, there was no fat and no muscle to be found anywhere on her body."

The court was told Sunshine was found with other horses in a Christmas tree plantation near Jay's farm in Monksfield Lane, Newlands, between Powick and Malvern, in March last year.

There was no grass or hay for the horses, and the only food was straw and tree bark.

One water butt was entirely empty, and another was nearly empty.

After seeing Sunshine, Miss Sly reported the animal to the RSPCA, who attended the farm the next day.

RSPCA inspector Mark Lewis cautioned Jay, who agreed to sign the horse over to the charity. In an interview which was read out in court, Jay told Mr Lewis she had money troubles and could not afford to buy horse feed.

"I have not provided fully for them or me," she said.

"I have to carry the horse feed on the bus, it is a nightmare," she added.

Veterinary surgeon Jessica Rees, who assessed Sunshine's condition, said on a scale of zero to five, zero being very emaciated and five being very over weight, she rated the mare one out of five.

"It is likely to have been months for her to have got to that state," she said.

"I would not expect that from a reasonable and competent horse owner."

The mare, who has since had her foal, is now in Somerset at an ILPH centre, where she has been putting on weight. Magistrates issued a warrant with bail for Jay's arrest.