Horse neglect woman banned from keeping animals for life

By Justine Thompson

General news

04 May 2010 14:28

A Surrey woman has been banned from keeping all animals for life after neglecting a horse to such an extent that he had to be put to sleep.

Jane Henry, 68, of Kings Bungalows, Dormansland in Lingfield, appeared before Reigate Magistrates Court on April 6 2010 accused of three counts under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of failing to meet the needs of her 33-year-old horse ‘Marballs’.

Mr Justice T.J Hine took just ten minutes to find her guilty on all three counts. She re-appeared before Reigate Magistrates Court on April 27 for sentencing, where she was also given a 12 month community order, 250 hours unpaid work and court costs totalling £7,786.26.

The case goes back to May 30 2008 when World Horse Welfare Field Officer Ted Barnes was sent to investigate reports of an emaciated horse on land at Castle Square in Bletchingly.

Ted visited the scene and found 16.2hh bay gelding Marballs collapsed on the ground. He had no fat or muscle coverage whatsoever and was completely exhausted.

Ted called for the assistance of RSPCA Inspector Liz Wheeler and an independent veterinary surgeon, who immediately advised that Marballs be put to sleep to avoid further suffering.

“Marballs is one of the thinnest horses I have ever seen and I find it very difficult to understand how Mrs Henry was able to turn a blind eye to his deteriorating condition,” says Ted. “This is a very strong sentence but nothing can compare to the unimaginable suffering that her horse was subjected to.”