A man has been disqualified from owning or keeping horses after he was found guilty of overworking his horse to exhaustion at last year’s Appleby fair.
Joseph Lee Mansell (23), of Chestnut Road, Walsall, West Midlands, pleaded not guilty at North Cumbria Magistrates Court and after a trial was found guilty of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in a case brought by the RSPCA.
The court heard that Mansell had attended the annual event last June, with his trotter mare known as Classic Lady.
RSPCA inspectors and welfare officers from a number of other animal welfare organisations were made aware on 10th June of concerns for the welfare of Classic Lady, who was reported to have collapsed at the event.
RSPCA inspector Carl Larsson said in his witness statement he had been called by police to Battlebarrow, where “an overworked horse had been witnessed falling down multiple times”.
“We responded to the call and … several members of the public told us the horse had been going up and down the hill non-stop and had fallen over several times.”
The welfare team discovered the horse very sweaty, breathing heavily and unsteady on her feet. She had fresh wounds to her skin from the fall, some of which were still bleeding, and when members of the public offered her water, she quickly drank.
Two specialist equine vets certified Classic Lady to be suffering, and Cumbria police took her and placed her in the care of the RSPCA.
In their witness statement the vet said: “The horse was extremely sick at the time of being removed from the owner and required intravenous fluid therapy and medical care to return her to normal metabolic status.
“The horse was ataxic and very lethargic when she moved because she was so weak from the exhaustion. A responsible horse owner would have ensured this horse was provided with adequate rest. The day was extremely hot and this should have alerted the owner to the fact that water and rest were even more vital to this horse.
“The horse had a wound on her leg, and sustained further injuries from the harness rubbing on it, and sustained further injuries when she collapsed on to the road. The horse was pregnant at the time of this event.”
Mansell was found guilty following a trial, and disqualified from owning or keeping equines for 10 years, which he cannot appeal for five years.
Magistrates sentenced him to 12 weeks’ custody, which will be suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to complete a 12-month community order including attending five rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £500.
RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben, who carried out the investigation, said after sentencing: “This poor horse was overworked in the heat until she collapsed, suffering needlessly. We along with other equine welfare organisations and Cumbria police attend Appleby horse fair every year and see lots of wonderful horses who are their owner’s pride and joy, but sadly, there are those who treat their horses poorly and in this case, completely disregard their welfare.
“My colleagues and I are delighted that Classic Lady is thriving under the care of World Horse Welfare and although she sadly lost her foal, she has bounced back to full health.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the other organisations who helped this investigation such as Cumbria police, and Blue Cross and World Horse Welfare for the transport and ongoing care of Classic Lady.”
Adam Cummins, farm manager at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, said: “When Lady first came into Penny Farm, it was clear just how exhausted she was.
She was lame, very underweight and had horrific rubs and open wounds from her harness.
Because she was nervous of people, it took a lot of time for her to relax and trust our grooms.
“With good nutrition, compassionate handling and being turned out in a settled herd, Lady grew in confidence and has a bright future ahead of her.”
He added: “She has recently been advertised on our rehoming website pages and is ready to find a loving new home.”
In mitigation, the court heard that Mansell had no prior convictions.
