A woman has been disqualified from keeping horses for five years after admitting neglecting her horse.
Jodie Lee Gearing of Fayre Road, Fareham, Hampshire, was handed the disqualification by magistrates in Portsmouth on 15 March, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
The offence related to failing to take steps to investigate and address the cause of poor bodily condition and weight loss of a horse named Olivia.
A vet discovered that Olivia was dehydrated, and that she was in a poor body condition after she was found on land with insufficient grazing due to poor grass cover and no supplementary feed.
Olivia also had inadequate water, with the only water present in the field green and contaminated with debris.
“Caring for horses is a huge responsibility,” said RSPCA Inspector Maia Corbett, who investigated the case for the animal welfare charity.
“Those caring for animals also have a legal responsibility to seek veterinary treatment for animals when they require it. It is never acceptable to leave an animal to suffer.”
Gearing was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and 80 rehabilitation activity days. She was also fined £100 and ordered to pay £300 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.
