Horse breeder from Market Weighton banned for life from keeping horses
It follows a prosecution by the RSPCA
An East Yorkshire Horse breeder has received a lifetime ban from keeping horses and a suspended jail term.
66-year-old Jane Moore of Jemoon Stud Farm, Long Lane, Market Weighton, pleaded guilty to 10 offences of causing unnecessary suffering to 17 horses, and one charge of failing to meet the needs of 36 equines, all under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It follows a prosecution by the RSPCA.
The animal charity investigated reports of welfare concerns last February - one horse was in such a poor state of health a vet had to put him to sleep straight away.
At Hull Magistrates’ Court Moore was handed a 20-week prison sentence, which the magistrates suspended for two years.
Inspector Hill said in a statement presented to the court:
“All the horses were living in extremely dirty stables with little food or water. They all had overgrown hooves and they were in poor body condition. Within one stable block there was a very strong smell of urine and the horses’ rugs were found to be very dirty and extremely heavy. It appeared to me that all the horse stables had not been cleaned in some time and on some horses their feet were very long and overgrown.”
The court heard that at the time of the visit, the defendant was in hospital and had left the horses to be cared for by some friends. But when it became clear they would be unable to meet the needs of the remaining horses on site, all the equines were removed from the farm by February 22.
A vet’s expert report presented to the court concluded that Moore had failed to ensure a suitable environment for her equines, failed to provide adequate veterinary care and failed to ensure they were kept in a healthy body condition. Of the 36 horses, 22 were underweight and most were suffering from dental issues and overgrown hooves, while three had lice and mite infections.
Six more horses were put to sleep in the months after the RSPCA’s visit to Moore’s farm because their health was so poor.
In mitigation, the court was told Moore was “no longer up to the task of looking after such a large number of horses”. The court was told she was isolated and lonely after a marriage break-up and the loss of her parents and her pride had prevented her from asking for help.
The chairman of the magistrates told Moore: “This was a case where these animals were so obviously struggling that intervention was obvious and necessary. The fact that it was not forthcoming was down in large part to your own pride and your refusal to ask for help.”
Speaking after the hearing, inspector Hill said:
“These horses were found in dreadful conditions with multiple health problems. They were being kept confined to their stables for long periods and it appeared they were rarely exercised.
“One sadly had to be put to sleep on the day we first visited, although that course of action had been recommended by a vet several months before. There were several other horses in very poor health too, including one whose teeth had grown through his cheek and was in a lot of pain and discomfort.
“In all 10 of the 36 horses have had to be put to sleep and the others have got long-term health issues from being neglected for such a long time, such as ligament and joint problems, that only a small number will be able to be rehomed.”
Moore was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and court costs of £13,099.27.