A man has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years after World Horse Welfare discovered eight horses in his care with horrific burns on their faces, muzzles and bodies.
The herd had been left to fly graze on public land contaminated by poisonous plants. This caused the horses’ lesions, which are believed to have been caused by a combination of direct UV sunlight and exposure to St John’s Wort.
World Horse Welfare contacted the RSPCA to assist with removing the horses urgently due to their suffering.
“This was a truly horrific case. I do not think I have ever seen ponies with so much crocodile-like skin around their muzzles. They must have been in excruciating pain,” said field officer Penny Baker.
“Keeping a horse or pony well is about much more than just food and water — it’s also making sure they do not have access to poisonous plants, can be protected from the elements and of course get prompt veterinary treatment when they need it.
“We are very grateful to the member of the public who alerted us to these ponies, and we were pleased to have been able to work with the RSPCA to remove them from this appalling state of neglect.”
Raised, crusting lesions
The horses were grazing a patch of council-owned conservation land in Farlington, Portsmouth, without permission. The area was heavily contaminated with dangerous weeds, with no evidence of additional hay or feed and no shelter.
Three of the ponies had extensive facial lesions which were thick, raised, brown and crusting. They covered the muzzle, including the nostrils, lips and chin, and extended along both sides of the face, encircling both eyes.
There were also raised, crusting, lesions over their bodies and the horses had a depressed and dull demeanour.
Veterinary tests revealed all eight ponies were not in good health with evidence of inflammation and a chronic infection.
In the report the vet went on to explain how the lesions occur:
“Certain weeds, like St John’s Wort, contain photodynamic agents that when the horse has contact with or ingests there is an exacerbated reaction to sunlight causing burns to the skin,” said a vet.
“This would be termed a primary photosensitisation. Other weeds, such as ragwort, can cause damage to organs.
“The resulting damage prevents the filtering of photosensitive waste products, so they are retained in other areas of the body, such as the skin, which cause what is known as a secondary photosensitisation.”
‘Animals are completely reliant on their owners’
Horses suffering from photosensitisation should be removed from direct sunlight and prevented from having further contact with the photodynamic agent.
They must be protected from the sun with shade and shelter and any burn injuries must be treated.
Burns on a horse’s muzzle are particularly painful as it is a naturally sensitive area.
“We’re so grateful to World Horse Welfare for helping these horses,” said Hampshire’s RSPCA chief inspector Paul Williams.
“Thankfully they’ve now recovered. Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment when they need it.
“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.”
Ten year ban
Alongside the 10-year ban on keeping horses, the man was ordered to pay £750 costs, a victim surcharge, and carry out 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days when he was sentenced at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court in August.
