The owner of horses who suffered “prolonged neglect” has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Barry George Searle, 68, of Clearbrook, Yelverton, Devon received a nine-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Inspector Ryder was joined by police when she attended the field where Seale kept his horses, Tinkerbell and Fudge, on 29 May.
“Tinkerbell came up to us and I noticed there were flies around her eyes,” said RSPCA Inspector Claire Ryder. “You could not see the left eye and the hole appeared infected.
“She also had overgrown hooves and was lame. It was also clear that Fudge’s feet were in need of attention.”
After sharing pictures and video footage with an equine vet, who voiced concerns for the welfare of the horses, they were seized by police and taken to a specialist boarding facility where they were examined by a vet.
The vet discovered that Tinkerbell’s right eye, which was later surgically removed, was shrunken into the orbit, leaving her with swollen eyelids with discharge from her eye.
She was also lame with all four hooves overgrown, suggesting a lack of farrier attention for several months.
Fudge also needed hoof trimming and both horses were found to need treatment for lice and fleas.
Inspector Ryder, commenting after the sentencing, said: “While this was not caused by deliberate harm, this was prolonged neglect which resulted in suffering for Tinkerbell.
“Owners of animals have a duty to provide them with appropriate care and treatment. Mr Seale was aware of the concerns and had numerous offers of support to improve welfare but instead chose to ignore their plight.”
Alongside the suspended prison sentence, he was ordered to pay £600 costs and a £128 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences when he appeared before Plymouth Magistrates’ on 5 November.
Both horses are now doing well in RSPCA foster care after recovering and receiving the treatment they needed.
