According to a report in The Daily Mail, an equestrian author and authority on horses has been banned from keeping horses after four of her horses were found in extremely squalid conditions with three of them having to be euthanized.
A case of horse neglect
British author and horse expert banned from keeping horses after causing unnecessary suffering leading to euthanasia of three horses.
Lesley Skipper, 61, is the author of several books on equine care including Understanding the Arabian Horse and Realize Your Horses’ True Potential. She and her husband Brian, 56, appeared in Darlington Magistrates’ Court charged with four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to their horses and two charges of failing to ensure the animals’ welfare.
Back in June 2011, RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer visited the couple’s stables after The British Horse Society raised the alarm.
The investigation found that two of the horses at the stables were suffering from the foot disease laminitis, while another had severe dental problems. An accumulation of dirty bedding and manure meant the horses’ heads were almost touching the roof of their stables.
A grey stallion, called Nivalis, had to be put down at the scene. Two other horses were signed over to the RSPCA - an Arab cross mare and a grey mare - and both were put down on veterinary advice.
A fourth horse, an Arab cross stallion named Jaz, hasn’t been signed over by the couple but is currently in RSPCA care. It has had to undergo six months of treatment on its hooves.
The Skippers pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an adult female Arab cross by failing to seek professional veterinary attention for chronic laminitis, and to causing unnecessary suffering to a grey stallion by failing to seek professional veterinary attention for chronic laminitis.
They were also charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an Arab cross stallion by failing to seek professional veterinary attention for overgrown hooves, and with causing unnecessary suffering to a grey mare by failing to seek appropriate veterinary care to address dental problems.
The couple also pleaded not guilty to failing to meet the needs of the four horses by not ensuring their need for a suitable environment and failing to meet their needs by failing to protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The Skippers were found guilty of all the charges following a four day trial.
Presiding magistrate Les Abbott banned them from keeping horses indefinitely and imposed a deprivation order in favour of the RSPCA, meaning that a fourth horse will stay under the charity’s care.
The couple were also ordered to pay 250 lbs each towards court costs.
Speaking after the sentence, RSPCA inspector Ruth Coxon said: "We are really pleased with the sentencing, we strove for a ban, that is what we took them to court for and that is what we have got. 'The fact that it is an indefinite ban is really good news to protect animals from suffering in their hands in future.?
RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer said: "These are people who are supposed to know how to care for horses, so it is even more unacceptable that they left these animals in such poor conditions.
"By banning the defendants from keeping horses the court has recognized how important it is that no other animals are made to endure the same fate.?
Information from Daily Mail Article by William Cook