A man who beat his pony in a supermarket car park has been banned from keeping animals for five years.
John Reid, 31, of Bartholomew Road, Morecambe, was sentenced at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on 3 November after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences.
A member of the public filmed Reid hitting his yearling filly, named Pebbles, multiple times with a pole (view video below). The footage showed the pony being struck at least 15 times and Reid saying, “It’s gotta learn”.
*Warning – some viewers may find this video upsetting*
Pebbles’ stable was covered in faeces
RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping launched an investigation and found Pebbles was underweight with prominent shoulders, backbone and ribs. He described how the stable she was kept in was covered in faeces.
“The stable had no bedding in whatsoever,” said a vet in court. “The floor was deep in wet and faeces, with a number of plastic bags also being present mixed into the faeces.
“There was nowhere clean or dry for the horse to rest in comfort, or to protect it from the cold, hard stone floor”.
Pebbles was taken into possession by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
Reid transferred ownership of Pebbles to the charity who will now be able to continue her rehabilitation and find her a loving new home.
‘The offences were serious’
“Reid’s actions caused Pebbles, pain, fear and both physical and psychological suffering,” said Inspector Lamping. “She was very young and as a yearling she required teaching to educate her rather than being reprimanded in such a way. By beating a pony in a way that causes fear and pain can ultimately affect how she learns and interacts with humans going forward.”
Pebbles will eventually be rehomed
Mitigation was given in court that the conditions Pebbles was being kept in were only temporary and Reid was intending to sell her on.
In sentencing Reid, magistrates commented the offences were serious.
In addition to the five-year ban, which he cannot apply to terminate for three years, Reid was sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and £128 victim surcharge.
