On the back of the report from the RSPCA earlier today about the rise in convictions for animal cruelty, we thought you’d be pleased to hear the happy outcome for these horses that were found to be suffering from disgraceful neglect on the Isle of Wight last year. Ed
In March last year the RSPCA was called to a famous historic attraction on the Isle of Wight after the alarm was raised about the treatment of a number of horses being used by a contractor for the organisation that offered horse and carriage rides on the estate.
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Seven horses were found in filthy stables that had not been mucked out for months and two of the horses, Claude and Reilly, had been left starving and covered in mites.
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RSPCA inspector Mark Buggie said:
“These horses had been left to suffer living in awful conditions. One of the horses was even standing on top of a pile of muck so high that his head was in the rafters.
“This case is a reminder that owning animals can be a big responsibility, both financially and otherwise, and owners have to make sure they can provide for the needs of the animals dependent on them.”
A 35-year-old woman from East Cowes on the Isle of Wight pleaded guilty to charges under section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act for neglecting the herd of horses in her care and was banned from keeping horses for life, ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work, and given a suspended eight week custodial sentence.
After a lot of TLC and much-needed veterinary treatment at the RSPCA’s Lockwood equine centre, all horses have now found loving homes across the country, from Scotland to Surrey.
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One of the horses that was found emaciated is now living up to his name and really living the ‘life of Reilly’ in Surrey after landing on his feet with an experience and loving new owner.
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Reilly was one of the one of the Clydesdale horses found starving and covered in mites, but this past is a distant memory as he now spends his days grazing on lush grass in the beautiful Home Counties countryside, with an owner who fell in love with him at first sight.
Claude has found solace up in Scotland, where he is being cared for by a man so experienced with equines, that he runs his own business working with them.
