A woman from County Durham has been disqualified from keeping equines for three years after a horse in her care was so malnourished that he was too weak to trot.
Samantha Rush from Bishop Auckland failed to address the cause of her bay colt Marvel’s poor body condition, which a vet said had been going on for many weeks. The horse was lethargic, fighting an infection caused by rain scald and had painful mouth ulcers.
The 55-year-old woman was handed the ban at a sentencing hearing at Peterlee Magistrates Court on 2 September after pleading guilty to causing the horse unnecessary suffering, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Magistrates were told that an RSPCA Inspector had met her at the entrance to a field in Leadgate, Consett, on 28 February this year after the charity had been sent photographs of a bay horse who looked very underweight.
The colt was malnourished, riddled with worms, and had mouth ulcers
“Rush told me she knew he was in poor body condition but she had not taken his rug off as she was worried what was underneath,” said the RSPCA Inspector.
“She told me she had been giving him haylage and feeding him three times a day. I asked if she had had a vet out and she said no, but she had booked an equine dentist to go out on Saturday and I was shown a text message confirming the appointment.
“I was shown a bay pony, rising three years old. I could see he was in poor body condition even though he was wearing two rugs.
“His spine and hip bones were clearly visible and the rug was angular over them,” the inspector continued.
“When it was taken off I saw he was in very poor body condition and covered in patches of fur loss along his back and over his face. He was very lethargic and withdrawn in his demeanour.”
In a suffering state
The Inspector informed the horse’s owner that she wanted to get a vet out to look at the colt, and this was agreed. The vet who examined him confirmed that Marvel was in a suffering state.
According to a statement from the RSPCA, a bath in the field for water was “bone dry” and “didn’t look like it had been used for some time”.
The owner said it was filled daily with water canisters, but she told the Inspector she didn’t have them with her at the time.
She agreed to sign Marvel over into the care of the charity.
Blood analysis showed the colt had low red blood cells, calcium and protein, and high white blood cells that were consistent with a horse that was malnourished and fighting infection.
Vets say the colt had been suffering for a month
The court also heard how he had ulcers on his jaw teeth, which would have caused pain and discomfort and left him less inclined to chew food.
It was also stated that sharp enamel points and ulcers in equine mouths develop over a period of several months, but probably more than six.
Chronic conditions
“In my opinion, based on the above evidence, Marvel was suffering at the time of presentation, as a result of the keeper’s failure to address the skin infection and poor body condition,” said a vet.
“I was unable to ascertain whether the unwillingness to trot was due to lameness or lack of energy. Both the skin infection and poor body condition are chronic conditions, most likely developing over a period of weeks.
“Overall for Marvel’s body condition score, the combination of contributing factors — worms, lack of nutrition, dental pain, exposure, infection — are likely to have been significant for around two months, with Marvel suffering for approximately one month.
“The needs of Marvel have not been met in terms of protection from weather, causing the skin infection, nor in terms of proper husbandry, nutrition or investigation of his poor body condition.”
Full recovery
Marvel has fully recovered
An examination of Marvel several days later by another vet at a private boarding yard found he was still thin and unable to lock his left hind leg because of weak and underdeveloped muscles.
At a further consultation on 15 May, while still fragile, the colt’s condition had improved and he was eating well, able to trot and going outside.
During the investigation Rush claimed that someone else was responsible for caring for Marvel. Enquiries by the RSPCA revealed that others had provided food at times because they were so concerned about his poor condition.
In addition to the three-year ban, which Rush will not be able to contest for the duration, magistrates also imposed a fine of £576, a victim surcharge of £230 and a contribution towards costs of £300.
Marvel was cared for by the RSPCA’s Felledge Equine Centre where he made a full recovery and he has since been rehomed.
Rush has transferred the care of other horses she owns to someone else.
