THE OWNERS of two neglected horses in Worcester who were found underweight and suffering unnecessarily have been disqualified from keeping equines for ten years.
The two fillies known as Foxy and Rain had poor bodily conditions, a worms, lice infestations and overgrown hooves.
Jane and Peter Hope of The Orchard, Powick, pleaded guilty to seven joint offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Worcester Magistrates’ Court including causing unnecessary suffering to Foxy and Rain by failing to adequately investigate or address the causes of their poor or underweight bodily conditions.
They also failed to meet their need for a suitable diet, provide effective parasitic worm control programme, provide professional farriery care attention for the hooves of their feet or provide an effective treatment for their lice infestations.
They were sentenced to 12 weeks custody – suspended for 12 months for the first suffering offence – and for each of the other offences they were handed four weeks custody suspended for 12 months to run concurrently.
The couple were also ordered to each pay £350 and a victim surcharge of £154 and were disqualified from keeping equines for 10 years.
The court heard in mitigation that both were very sorry and it wasn’t deliberate cruelty but incompetent care while Mrs Hope was dealing with a debilitating illness.
In a witness statement provided to the court from RSPCA Inspector Suzi Smith she said she was on duty on April 29 2024, when she was informed about a report regarding concerns about horses in a field in Martley.
On attending the field, she found six equines on a part of the field which was fenced off. There was no grazing left available to them and two of the horses were painfully underweight.
A vet attended the site and examined the horses and supported “unnecessary suffering” for Foxy and Rain. Both horses were removed from the site by the RSPCA.
The court was told that the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare had previous contact with Mr and Mrs Hope and provided advice and guidance.
Following sentencing Inspector Smith said: “It’s awful when horses are caused to suffer at all, but in this case it is even more frustrating when advice was given to the owners previously to improve matters. Sadly this was not acted upon, resulting in unnecessary suffering being caused to Rain and Foxy.
“I implore owners to be realistic about the care they can provide, both physically and financially for any animal in their care. If they are unable to meet their needs, they need to take action, rather than leave them to suffer.”
Foxy is now thriving in a new home but Rain had to be put to sleep.
