Horse Trader

A man and woman have been jailed for four months after causing unnecessary suffering to seven horses in their care.

Paul Flowers, 43, of Finedon Road, Wellingborough, and Barbara Morrison, 43, of Brooke Close, Wellingborough, pleaded guilty to four charges each and were sentenced at Wellingborough Magistrates Court. World Horse Welfare representatives investigated the farm where the horses were being kept on Station Road, Blisworth, in March last year.

The RPSCA and police were called in a few days later due to concerns over the welfare of the animals. The horses were found to be emaciated as a result of neglect. The bodies of two horses were also discovered during the investigation. Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Kevin McCole said that each of the horses was rated as “poor” or “very poor” on a scale used by vets.

The horses’ teeth were also in poor condition due to lack of grazing. However, David Smithet said that the RSPCA had discovered food and water at the site and said that finances were a problem. “Clearly it was not the right sort of food or the right amount given the condition of the ponies’ body score,” he said. The horses are now at a healthy weight and are in the process of being re-homed.

However, the RSPCA has spent £18,000 for the cost of caring for them. In addition to a four month jail sentence, the pair was also given a ten-year ban on keeping horses. RSPCA inspector, Sue Haywood, said that the charity is satisfied with the sentence. “We are satisfied with the sentence, given that this was such a serious act of cruelty against seven horses,” she said. “These horses were left to suffer for a long period of time, but had the defendants taken action sooner then this neglect could have been avoided.”