A MAN who admitted causing a pony to suffer was banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

Isaac Hall, aged 35, of Watery Lane, Stourport, was also ordered to do 120 hours of community service and to pay costs of £1,000 at Kidderminster Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering. He failed to adequately explore and address the pony’s weight loss. the court was told.

Dora, a 12hh skewbald yearling, was found by a World Horse Welfare officer in February last year on common land near to the defendant’s address. The officer contacted the RSPCA and inspector Mark Lewis visited with a vet and the police as no one nearby was claiming ownership of the horse.

When the defendant arrived he admitted he was Dora’s owner and re-released her, leaving the officers to catch her again so she could be examined. Dora was underweight and a vet said that she would be likely to suffer if her circumstances did not change.

Inspector Lewis said: “We try to work with owners where possible to improve the condition of their animals. We would have preferred to have done this had the defendant been willing to work with us at the outset. As he wasn’t we had to arrange for Dora to be removed for her own safety.”

Dora was transferred into the care of World Horse Welfare. If you would like to help the RSPCA, you can give £3 now by texting HELP to 78866 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).