A pony who survived the horrors of Spindle Farm has come home, to live out his days with the family who first loved him after his rescue.

Prince Rusty, who was one of 97 horses rescued from appalling conditions at the dealer’s yard in Buckinghamshire in January 2008, was originally rehomed from the RSPCA by Juliet Harbottle.

He has since had different homes and although they were good ones, Juliet did not know where he was. But when by chance she found information about him on social media, she acted instantly and he arrived back with her the next day.

“I can’t tell you how amazing it is to have him home,” Juliet told H&H. “It’s like it was meant to be.”

Juliet said she put her name in the hat once some of the Spindle Farm survivors were ready for rehoming and was successful. So she, her parents and son drove from their Buckinghamshire home to Norfolk to collect him.

“It took us five hours to get there!” she said. “We picked him up, and he was the prettiest little chestnut pony, a Welsh Section B with a flaxen mane and tail, who they’d called Rusty. He came home, and lived with my cob Humbug for many years.

“When we first brought him home, he was absolutely terrified; you couldn’t lead him or pick his feet up or things, so I did everything, getting his confidence, and I used to lead him off my other horse. He was really, really loved.”

When Juliet’s son was big enough, they backed Rusty, and when her son outgrew him, he went to another rider as a companion.

“It was a fabulous family,” Juliet said. “But their circumstances changed, and he moved to a new home with Liz [Richardson]. So he was always quite close, but I didn’t know any of these things had happened. Then Liz lost her land recently, so she put an advert on Facebook saying she had this little pony who needed to be loved, called Prince Rusty. And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I think that’s my pony’.”

Juliet explained that although Rusty had been named when he was in the RSPCA’s care, she found out more about him when she adopted him

“It turns out he was a pony off the mountains; he’d lived with a guy in Wales who called him Prince, then he went to auction, and from auction he went to Spindles Farm,” she said. “When I picked him up, the guy said ‘He’s called Prince’, and I said he’d always been called Rusty. So I renamed him Prince Rusty in his passport. Everyone thought that was super pretentious but that’s why I did it, and when Liz put ‘This is Prince Rusty’, I thought ‘This is too much, this is my pony’. I phoned her and said ‘I’d love him back, if that’s ok’. I phoned her at 8pm on the Wednesday, she came to see me at 10am on Thursday and he was home by 2pm.”

Juliet said when she saw Rusty at Lizzie’s she was not sure if he would recognise her after 10 years apart.

“I went into the field and called him, and he came galloping straight up to me and tucked his head under my arm,” she said. “I’m delighted to have him home, and when he came back, he knew exactly where he was.

“He’s back home. I phoned the vet this morning to add him to the record, and they said ‘We’ll just reactivate him’. It literally was like it was meant to be, the whole thing. He’s come full circle and he’s back with us.”

Juliet said Rusty has chummed up with her Tennessee walking horse Free Spirit, two chestnuts enjoying life together. He may be ridden again or not, but he will not move again.

“He’s very loved, and has clearly been very loved all the time, it’s just been a series of quite unbelievable circumstances,” she said. “It’s the ultimate feel-good story; the pony who’s overcome all the odds and has come home. He’ll have a lovely time; he may be ridden but if he lives out his life just being a happy horse, he deserves it. Liz has been amazing and she’s only half an hour away so she can still see him too. Everyone’s delighted it’s worked out so well.”

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A yearling who was part of “one of the most horrific cases of animal cruelty in the UK” has gone on to become a “one in a million” pony – and last year made his London International Horse Show debut.

In 2008 Dazzle was one of more than 100 equines rescued from Spindles Farm, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. The case was one of the largest equine rescues in the UK, involving a number of welfare charities, who took in animals. There were 32 equines found dead at the scene.

The Horse Trust took in 14 horses and ponies, including yearling Dazzle, who was underweight and suffering from a salmonella infection. He was rehabilitated, and when he was old enough he began his training, during which time he was described by charity staff as “an absolute sweetheart”.

Dazzle found a home with Claire and her son Tom, who “jumped at the chance” to have him. Since then he has gone from “strength to strength”. Now 16, Dazzle has competed at novice level dressage and represented the Old Berkeley Hunt branch of the Pony Club in team competitions with Tom. The pair were second in the Senior Showing and Dressage (SSADL) veteran class at Royal Windsor and at the SSADL championships the pair qualified for the 2022 London International Horse Show, where they finished 12th.

The 2023 season is off to a “flying start”, with Tom and Dazzle qualifying for the Pony Club spring festival (11-12 February).

“If I had £1 for every time someone asked if they could have him, I would be a millionaire!” said Claire.

“He’s such a saint; he never puts a foot wrong, he’s so safe to hack and foot-perfect. Dazzle is truly a one in a million horse and considering his extremely neglected start, it’s amazing how much he gives.”

A Horse Trust spokesman said prior to joining Claire and Tom, Dazzle was in the care of another family and was particularly loved by his “dad” Jerry.

“When Jerry unfortunately became extremely poorly, he had one last wish to see his old friend Dazzle. Claire, knowing what a special horse Dazzle is and fully aware of the therapeutic benefits horses have on people, decided the right and best thing to do would be to hack the two hours to this gentleman’s home to grant him this final wish,” he said.

“They rode through the garden to the window where Jerry was waiting. They didn’t know then, but this would be the last time he was able to stand, he put that final burst of energy into saying goodbye to this truly special horse that has given so much to so many.”

The spokesman added the charity is “honoured” to have been part of Dazzle’s journey.

“It has been amazing to see Dazzle continue to spread his wings with Claire and Tom. It goes to show what dedicated time, specialist care, love and patience can really do for rescue ponies,” he said.

“Dazzle is a shining example of why we work so hard and do what we do. We couldn’t do it without donations from our incredible supporters.”

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Three rescue ponies, including a Spindles Farm survivor, who found their “fairytale endings” have joined television host and gardener Alan Titchmarsh on screen to help spread the world about the importance of rehoming.

Miniature Shetlands Tinkerbell and her “best friend” Miss Muffet from Redwings’ Ada Cole visitor centre featured in an episode of ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on 19 December. They were joined by former Redwings resident Puck, who was rehomed by Victoria Gange-Parry six years ago.

Alan can be seen meeting the ponies as he discusses the charity’s work with Redwings’ staff Jude and Hollie, and finds out more about the importance of rehoming equines.

Tinkerbell was born at the charity in 2008 when her mum Elsie was rescued from “appalling neglect” at Spindle Farm, Amersham. Elsie was part of a rescue involving more than 100 other equines, including Miss Muffett, where they had been left without basic care, food and water. Puck was rescued from the Welsh commons in 2003 when he was discovered in poor condition and “struggling to survive”. Puck now competes in showjumping and dressage with Victoria.

“It was wonderful to meet Alan and have the opportunity to introduce him to some of our rescued ponies,” said Ada Cole yard manager Hollie.

“While it was a fun day, we really appreciated his interest in what Redwings does to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome horses and donkeys that have suffered neglect or abuse, and for his help in bringing that to a national audience. Without the support of the public, Tinkerbell, Miss Muffet and Puck would not be enjoying the fairytale endings they do today, so we hope their stories have inspired others to make a donation or sponsor one of our rescued residents this Christmas so we can help more horses in need, now and in the future.”

Tinkerbell is one of the charity’s “adoption stars” and is available to sponsor through Redwings’ adoption scheme, which helps to support the care of all the residents living at the sanctuary.

The full episode can be viewed on catch-up on the ITV Hub or STV Player.

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Some of the first people on the scene at Spindles Farm have looked back on the horrific events 10 years since the crisis.

On 4 January 2008, the RSPCA, police and trading standards entered the now infamous farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and started one of the largest ever equine rescues in the UK.

Katie Robinson was the first vet on site.

“It was a Friday afternoon and the RSCPA had reported that there was a dead horse there and they needed a vet,” Katie told H&H.

She added that the police and RSPCA were already there when she arrived.

“As I drove up the lane, there were police in the driveway, they flagged me down and said ‘it is much worse than anybody thought’.”

Katie was joined by two more vets and between them and the RSPCA the team identified between 17 and 20 horses who needed to be removed immediately.

As evening drew in, the Horse Trust was contacted and agreed to take these horses.

“We knew we had to get them out that night because they were in such a terrible state,” she said.

Katie added when she arrived the “job took over” and it was only afterwards that she was able to process the magnitude of the situation.

Katie called the knacker man to put down two horses whose suffering was too great to help and he also took away some of the bodies of horses that had already died.

The rescuers were on site until midnight and many of the same people were back the next morning to continue.

“Because I didn’t know what I was going to, I didn’t have time to get worried about it,” said Katie, adding the RSPCA was “amazing”.

‘Haunted by the memories’

Kirsty Withnall was the first RSPCA inspector on site.

“What I remember most about those first moments after I walked into the farmyard was the complete silence,” she said.

“Reports stated that there were almost 100 horses being kept there, but we could hear nothing.

“No neighing or whinnying or ‘chaos’ that you’d expect with so many horses altogether in one place — the silence was very unsettling.

“Peering over broken gates and fences in the dingy barn, we had no idea what awful sights we’d be seeing next.

“Frightened ponies crammed together into tiny stables was shocking enough, but in one pen, I could even see the bodies of two horses sinking knee-deep into the filthy ground underneath all the clambering hooves.”

She added the smell was the next thing to hit them.

“Decomposing bodies of horses, stables that hadn’t been mucked out in months and months, and the smell of infection coming from so many of the ponies who were still alive,” added Kirsty.

“Among the dead horses and the pile of bones we had to step over, we could see so many faces looking back at us.

“[These were] horses who were still hanging on and just about surviving, so we knew we would have to plough on through the horror and focus on getting to every single one of these poor ponies, and bring them to safety.”

A total of 111 horses, ponies and donkeys were taken from the farm over the following four days in a joint rescue operation involving many charities.

“It still makes me incredibly sad to think of those 32 horses who weren’t so lucky and didn’t survive long enough to see the day of the rescue,” said Kirsty.

“I’m haunted by the memories of that day, 10 years ago, but the stories of those ponies who survived and are today living the lives they deserve and are very loved and appreciated, are what helps me overcome the horror I saw and makes my job so worthwhile.”

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‘Unprecedented scale’

The team at the Horse Trust worked “around the clock” to care for the sick animals it had taken in at a moment’s notice and the others it took over the following days.

“The horror and unprecedented scale of the neglect and suffering at Spindles Farm was a dark day but from it came a something of a new dawn,” said a Horse Trust spokesman.

“The joint operation between the agencies and charities involved heralded a new level of co-operation.

“[It also] paved the way for a national equine health and welfare strategy, an Equine Sector Council for health and welfare and very soon, a combined, cross-sector group that brings together equine related industries, elite sport, racing and breeding as well as vets, leisure riding, teaching, enforcement agencies and of course, welfare charities.”

Horse Trust chief executive Jeanette Allen added the charity is still home to five of the rescued horses, and has three others out on loan.

“Sadly, whilst this was the biggest equine rescue seen in the UK there are still thousands of horses, ponies and donkeys suffering or in danger of suffering, due to irresponsible owning and breeding,” said Jeanette.

“There is still more work to be done and the Horse Trust will continue to play its part along with colleague charities across the country.”

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When more than 100 horses and donkeys were found at Spindles Farm in Amersham, Bucks in January 2008, it was hard to imagine that so many of them would be thriving 10 years on.

Of the 60 equines taken in by Redwings Horse Sanctuary, as well as six foals born to rescued mares, an incredible 58 are still enjoying happy and healthy lives a decade on. Of these, 46 remain in the care of the sanctuary, while 12 have found new homes.

We meet some of the remarkable survivors — and see the incredible transformation they’ve made…

When Aladdin was rescued from Spindle Farm in 2008, he was terrified of people and incredibly thin

Aladdin is now training to be a schoolmaster at Redwings

Tom Thumb was so emaciated his muscles had begun to waste away when he was found at Spindle Farm

Tom Thumb is now a happy and lovable chap

Rumpel was so frightened after the rescue that he flinched at human touch

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Pinocchio was covered in lice when he was rescued

Pinocchio now loves to play a spot football

Martha was suffering from a severe lack of hoof care when she was rescued

Martha and Esther now live at Redwings Caldecott in Norfolk

Jemima was incredibly frightened when she was rescued

She now adores fuss at her home at Redwings Caldecott in Norfolk

Elsie was in foal when rescued from Amersham

Elsie gave birth to Tinkerbell in the safety of the Sanctuary two months after her rescue

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Redwings is sending 250 special horses out into the world to help support survivors of the Spindles Farm crisis.

The charity is releasing the knitted and crocheted equines in aid of its Amersham10 fund.

Redwings helped to rescue almost 100 horses, ponies and donkeys from the farm in 2008.

Staff from the RSPCA, Blue Cross, Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare also took part in the operation.

The case was the first high-profile use of powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to remove the other equines from the farm.

Redwings’ centres became home to 60 of the equines rescued from the horrific conditions, as well as six foals born to rescued mares.

The charity still has 58 of those equines living in its care today.

“To support our work we asked for nifty knitters and crafty crocheters to dig out their knitting needles and get creative for Redwings,” Redwings’ gifts in kind manager Anne Galloway told H&H.

“We received over 250 wonderful knitted horses and donkeys in all shapes and sizes, and we are now selling them via our ebay shop to help support our #Amersham10 fund.

“By buying these adorable knitted creations, you’ll be helping us to care for our survivors at the sanctuary for the next 10 years.”

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“I could hardly keep up with the requests for patterns and found I was still sending these out at 2am

The knitted ponies are part of a series of initiatives by the charity to remember the equines who lost their lives and celebrate the survivors.

The charity is still accepting knitted and crocheted creations to sell in aid of the Amersham10 fund, which will be spent on caring for equine survivors of the crisis for the next decade.

Redwings’ chief executive Lynn Cutress said the case has left a mark on the public’s memory.

“Never before had people’s eyes been so opened to the suffering of equines in this country,” said Ms Cutress.

“The use of the new powers under the Animal Welfare Act was a real ground-breaking moment for the animal welfare community and has gone on to revolutionise how we save horses in need ever since.”

Visit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/redwingshs

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An equine welfare charity is holding commemorative events throughout 2018 to mark 10 years since the harrowing Spindles Farm crisis.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is running activities and fundraisers in memory of the horses who died and to honour the survivors of the horrific case.

On 9 January 2008, 32 Redwings staff responded to an urgent call for help from the RSPCA to help rescue more than 100 horses and donkeys at a farm in Amersham, Bucks.

Staff from the Blue Cross, the Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare also took part in the operation.

The animals were found in varying states of emaciation, suffering from overgrown feet, covered in lice, and surrounded by bodies of more than 30 others.

The case was the first high-profile use of powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to remove the other equines from the farm.

“I remember seeing the horses and donkeys as they arrived at Redwings and it wasn’t just their appalling physical state that shocked me, but their eerie quietness and sheer sadness,” said Redwings’ chief executive Lynn Cutress.

“It wasn’t until weeks later when we heard the donkeys sing for their breakfast for the first time that we knew we had turned a corner in their recovery and they finally felt safe.

“It’s a testament to the hard work and love of our veterinary, rehabilitation and care teams that, despite their horrific neglect, so many of the horses and donkeys rescued from that terrible place are still enjoying happy lives 10 years on.”

She added the rescue has left a mark on the public’s memory.

“Never before had people’s eyes been so opened to the suffering of equines in this country,” said Ms Cutress.

“The use of the new powers under the Animal Welfare Act was a real ground-breaking moment for the animal welfare community and has gone on to revolutionise how we save horses in need ever since.”

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The landmark case will be remembered through events throughout 2018, including the launch of a new fund to help care for the surviving horses and donkeys for the next decade.

The charity initially took 21 of the most vulnerable equines to its Norfolk headquarters for immediate treatment.

It has since offered a home to 60 equines and six foals born to mares rescued from Spindles Farm.

A total of 58 survivors remain in Redwings’ care, 46 still at its bases and 12 living in private yards through the charity’s guardianship scheme.

James Gray, who owned Spindles Farm at the time, was ordered to pay £600,000 following a lengthy legal process — involving an appeal by Mr Gray and his co-defendants — and served 12 weeks of his eight-month prison sentence behind bars. He was given a lifetime ban from keeping horses.

His son, James Jr, was sentenced to an 18-month supervision order, while James Gray’s wife, Julie, and two daughters Jodie and Cordelia, were each found guilty of two counts of failing to protect animals with each ordered to undertake 150 hours of community service. The family was banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

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Esther, the donkey rescued from Britain’s worst recorded case of equine neglect – Spindles Farm in Buckinghamshire – has played a starring role in a children’s television programme.

Esther is not unfamiliar with fame. In the aftermath of the infamous rescue in January 2008, H&H readers chose her as the image of their campaign to help charities with donations of feed and rugs — Operation Esther.

The donkey, who lives at Redwings Caldecott Centre in Norfolk, featured in Furry Friends. The programme, made by Disney, explores the special relationships humans have with animals.

In the episode, which aired on 3 June, Esther was filmed alongside a young member of the Redwings Adoption Club called Faye.

As part of the filming, Faye helped with the day-to-day care of Esther, which involved everything from poo-picking her field, to making a hay net and grooming her.

Esther was 2 months old when she was found alongside her mother, Martha. She was one of more than 100 equines removed from the farm after 30 horses were found dead and many more were suffering from severe neglect. Both mother and daughter were shy of humans and Martha was so thin that she could not produce milk. Esther had to be carried onto a horsebox as was too weak to walk by herself.

Redwings’ Nicola Markwell, said: “The programme is a great testimony to the deep friendships that can be formed between children and animals and we are delighted that Disney has highlighted the special bond between Esther and Faye. Esther is a natural star; she behaved beautifully for the film crew and we are so proud of her.”

For more information on Redwings and the charity’s adoption club visit www.redwings.org.uk

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Miniature Shetland Tinkerbell is not much bigger than your average Labrador — and, like a dog, she is particularly partial to having her tummy tickled.

The 6-year-old bundle, who measures in at just 78cm, is the daughter of Elsie, who was rescued from the horrors of Spindles Farm in Amersham in 2008. She has joined the Redwings Adoption Club and is hoping to meet visitors at the charity’s Essex visitor centre.

Tinkerbell might be tiny, but according to her carers she has a larger-than-life personality.

When she was first born Tinkerbell had several health problems, which led to her spending time in the charity’s horse hospital. She learnt that if she laid down for her examinations she got a belly tickle — something that she still loves to this day.

“We all love dinky Tinkerbell, with her tiny frame and huge personality,” explained fundraising manager Gemma Walpole. “As she is such a ‘people pony’ we wanted to add her to the scheme so our supporters are able to be-friend her through adoption and visits. People coming to her paddock and giving her lots of fuss is this little pony’s idea of bliss!”

The Redwings Adoption Club offers a year’s adoption of a Redwings horse, pony, donkey or mule at £12.50, which goes directly towards daily care. Adopters receive updates on their new friend’s horsey life including a birthday party invitation.

The Redwings Ada Cole Visitor Centre near Nazeing in Essex is open Friday to Monday 10am-4pm until 22 March, when it opens 7 days a week. Entry is free.

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A 6-year-old thoroughbred who was rescued from Spindles Farm in 2008 has won his first dressage competition.

Duke, a 16hh black gelding, was removed from the Amersham premises and taken to The Horse Trust along with 13 of the 115 horses that survived one of the worst equine welfare cases ever seen in the UK.

He began to recover, but developed sarcoids on his left eye and had to travel to the University of Liverpool’s Equine Hospital to undergo specialist treatment. He then went on to suffer recurring bouts of colic and had to undergo life-saving surgery at The Royal Veterinary College.

Despite these set-backs, Duke was nursed back to health and is now enjoying active work.

He took part in his first ever dressage competition at Widner Equestrian Centre last month, with the Trust’s resident trainer, Jane Calvert. He won his class on a score of 59%. He also took part in the clear round jumping.

Jeanette Allen, chief executive of The Horse Trust, said: “We are so proud of all that Duke has achieved despite his tough start in life. We hope that this will be the start of a promising career for him and that he will go on to represent The Horse Trust in many more shows.

“Duke’s health problems mean that he can’t be rehomed, but he is assured a happy and secure home at The Horse Trust for the rest of his life.”

To find out more and support the charity, visit: www.horsetrust.org.uk.

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Horse trader James Gray, who was jailed after being found guilty of Britain’s worst recorded case of equine neglect, faces financial ruin after judges rejected his appeal against a £600,000 legal bill.

Gray, 49, was prosecuted in January 2008 when police and welfare agencies raided his Buckinghamshire farm.

They found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys and removed a further 115 that were alive, but in poor condition.

After a 52-day trial, Gray was convicted of 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in May 2009.

He was jailed for 24 weeks and banned indefinitely from keeping or owning equines.

Two of his convictions were overturned in 2010 at Aylesbury Crown Court, but Gray was ordered to pay £600,000 towards the RSPCA’s legal costs.

Last week (12 March), at the High Court, in London, Lord Justice Toulson and Mr Justice Silber dismissed Gray’s pleas that his prosecution was blighted by procedural errors and that the legal costs bill was “grossly disproportionate”.

Gray’s wife Julie, 46, was also prosecuted in 2008 and given a community order. Her legal bills totalled £200,000 but the High Court ruled that was wrong and sent the issue back to the Crown Court to be reconsidered.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (21 March 2013)

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A Dartmoor pony rescued from a former judge and breeder and a cob from Spindles Farm stood champion and reserve at the first RSPCA and PRP Rescue Services rescue horse/pony of the year class, held at Equifest (18 August).

Bay gelding Little Ted was found collapsed and emaciated in Kiplingcotes, East Yorks, in March 2010. He had to be placed on a drip at the scene and was taken away from his owner by RSPCA inspectors.

His former owner was banned from keeping horses in September 2011 after admitting causing the pony to suffer.

Cheshire-based Sharon Harris adopted him in July.

Reserve at Equifest was Sundae, a chestnut mare who was among more than 100 horses rescued from Spindles Farm, Amersham, in 2008.

Sundae is now a schoolmistress at the RSPCA’s Felledge Equine Centre in Co Durham.

“I was surprised by the

[[ strong.amazing condition the ponies and horses were in ]] after they had all had such bad starts in life,” said judge John Bourne.

“The standards were far higher than I expected.”

Co-judge Clare Frost added: “This was one of the most heart-wrenching but fulfilling experiences I have had as a judge.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (30 August 2012)

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A horse rescued from Britain’s worst recorded case of equine neglect – Spindles Farm in Buckinghamshire – has been successfully rehomed thanks to World Horse Welfare.

Wilma arrived at the charity’s Hall Farm rescue and rehoming centre in 2008, emaciated, covered in lice and suffering from strangles.

The mare was one of more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys removed from Spindles Farm after 30 horses were found dead and many more were suffering from severe neglect.

Eight-year-old Wilma was backed last year and has found a home with Jan Cooper who visited Hall Farm in Norfolk after hearing about the charity’s rehoming campaign.

“I did a google search and up popped World Horse Welfare ‘Rehome a horse month’,” Ms Cooper said.

“I was looking for something around 14hh and Wilma was there – it seemed like fate.”

The charity declared last July “Rehome a horse” month to highlight the need to create more space in its centres by rehoming animals.

And due to the success of last year’s campaign it has dedicated March as the “Rehome a horse” month for 2012.

World Horse Welfare’s Tony Tyler said: “The case of Wilma just goes to show how we can give a horse who has suffered a second chance in life.

“You wouldn’t have believed how much of a transformation [the horses rescued from Spindles Farm] could make.”

Volunteers who rehome a horse are offered continual advice and support from World Horse Welfare’s staff and the opportunity to return the horse if circumstances change or for example, their child outgrows it.

In September 2010, James Gray – who owned Spindles Farm – was released from prison after serving just over 12 weeks of an eight-month sentence.

For more information visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming

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A horse rescued from Spindles Farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire – Britain’s worst recorded case of equine neglect – will soon be out on the beat in Norfolk.

Six-year-old Bert was rescued in 2008 when more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys were removed from the site after 30 horses were found dead and many more were suffering from severe neglect.

Bert was offered a home at Redwings in Norfolk where he was able to recover before being rehomed with staff member Nicola Rix.

And he will now patrol South Norfolk’s streets with Nicola Rix, who is a special constable, as part of Norfolk Constabulary’s Operation Randall.

Nicola said: “I am so proud of Bert. His turnaround is remarkable and to be able to serve the community as a special constable – and to have Bert with me – is fantastic.”

The pilot scheme to tackle rural crime in the area follows the success of a similar project in Hertfordshire.

Temporary chief superintendent Nick Dean who leads the operation said: “The specials on horseback will offer a visible and reassuring presence in the local communities where they will be patrolling.”

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Equine charity Redwings is taking in 23 neglected ponies that were rescued from squalid conditions on a farm in Co Antrim last month.

More than 60 horses, ponies and donkeys were rescued from the site, in a case, which echoed the Spindles Farm case in Buckinghamshire in 2008.

Nine horses were found dead and a further four were put down.

The 23 animals will have a permanent home at Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk. They are only now deemed well enough to travel.

Nic de Brauwere, head of welfare at Redwings, helped with the rescue operation.

“We were initially asked to get involved with the case because of our expertise in dealing with multiple horse cases,” he said.

“But once we had seen the gravity of the situation we felt we had to go further to offer not only our veterinary assistance but also to provide a permanent home for a number of these animals.”

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Police are investigating the discovery of nine dead and 60 emaciated horses and ponies on a farm in Northern Ireland, echoing the Spindles Farm case in 2008.

The animals were found on a farm in Co Antrim on 22 November. They had been left without food or water and were standing knee-deep excrement.

Vets say the scene was reminiscent of those in 2008 when more than 100 horses, donkeys and ponies were removed from a farm in Bucks.

Vet Nic de Brauwere of Redwings was part of the rescue at the farm. He said the conditions were “as bad as anything he had seen in 20 years working in horse welfare“.

“It was imperative that action was taken to protect the horses, ponies and donkeys from further suffering,” he added.

The Donkey Sanctuary also stepped in to help.

Allen Andrews of the Donkey Sanctuary said: “It was clear that these animals had been severely neglected and the surviving horses and donkeys were the most emaciated I have ever seen.

Only time will tell whether these desperate animals will be able to recover fully.”

All 10 donkeys were taken to the Donkey Sanctuary’s Northern Ireland centre and the other animals to the Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary in Ballynoe.

Sergeant Alison Liddle from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: “No animal should be made to endure such horrendous cruelty.

This has made us determined to pursue the persons responsible.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 December)

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A ranch owner has been charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty, following the discovery of 28 dead horses at his stables.

Dwight Bennett, 57, of the Whispering Pines ranch in Susanville, California, is in jail awaiting trial. He has also been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Fifty-six horses – at least 18 of which are in foal – were rescued from the ranch suffering from malnutrition and are being cared for at an animal sanctuary.

In a case that has echoes of Spindles Farm in the UK, the horses appear to have died because their owner failed to feed them or take basic steps to ensure their survival.

Beth DeCaprio of the Grace Foundation, which is looking after the surviving horses, said it was the worst case she had ever seen.

Ms DeCaprio said: “It was a graveyard for horses. Some of them were just skeletons.”

A video shot by the Grace Foundation at the site shows carcasses in various stages of decomposition. Others had been thrown into what she describes as “burial pits”.

Three dead dogs were also found, one hanging from a tree, in what appears to have been a deliberate killing.

According to local reports, Mr Bennett claims the animals were poisoned. Until he was charged on 28 October, he had been attempting to regain ownership of the horses.

“This is not a time of celebration,” said Ms DeCaprio. “At least 28 horses and three dogs lost their lives because the system did not work like it should have to protect them.

“But it is a great lesson for our volunteers to remember that each and every one of us has the ability to create change and right a wrong.”

After weeks of care, the surviving horses are said to be doing well and one is to be re-homed as a police horse.

The Grace Foundation has launched a campaign to raise the estimated $150,000 ( £93,000) they will need to care for the horses and unborn foals over the next year.

Below is a film made by the Grace Foundation about three of the surviving horses. You may find some of the scenes upsetting:

If you would like to make a donation to help with the rehabilitation of the horses, visit: http://thegracefoundationofnorcal.org/

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One of the ponies rescued in terrible condition from Spindles Farm has found a happy new home.

Star, a 13hh five-year-old black gelding, last week travelled from The Horse Trust in Speen, where he had been rehabilitated, to his new home at Oakwood Youth Challenge, a children’s charity in Berkshire.

At just eight months old Star was the youngest pony to be rescued from Spindles Farm. He was severely underweight and suffering from a salmonella infection, but soon put on weight in the care of The Horse Trust.

As Star is calm and friendly with children it was decided that the Oakwood Youth Challenge, which provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to young people, including riding tuition to disadvantaged and disabled children, would be the ideal home for him.

“Star settled in well straight away — he was very calm and interested in what was going on,” said the Oakwood Youth Challenge’s Caroline Gilford. “Considering what he went through in his first year, he is a very sweet pony.

“We hadn’t told the kids that Star was arriving, so it was a lovely surprise. They absolutely love him as he’s such a good looking pony and so friendly,” said Caroline. “It’s nice to give him a second chance as he hasn’t had a great start in life, like many of the children we work with.”

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Spindles Farm rescue horse Disney is settling into life with the Horse Rangers Association (HRA) after being rehomed by The Horse Trust.

The Horse Trust was one of a number of UK charities which rehabilitated horses removed from trader James Gray’s Buckinghamshire farm in January 2008.

When he arrived at The Horse Trust in Speen, the unbroken colt was emaciated and suffering from a salmonella infection.

He was rehomed in August 2010 to the HRA, a charity which helps young people to learn how to ride and care for horses. And, according to Theresa Barrett, stable manager at the HRA, his training has exceeded all expectations.

“Disney’s training has progressed amazingly fast. After just two weeks of training, I was able to sit on him and begin ridden work,” she said.

“Over the past couple of months, all the grooms have been riding him regularly and we plan to have Horse Rangers riding him within three or four months.

“He has been the dream horse to back as he is so chilled out.”

Liane Crowther, who manages the rehoming scheme at The Horse Trust, was delighted to hear about Disney’s progress.

“I thought he would be the perfect horse for the HRA because of his personality, but it’s always hard to know how long it will take to train a horse, particularly a rescue horse that has had a traumatic experience,” said Liane.

“When Disney arrived at The Horse Trust in January 2008, I wasn’t sure if he would survive. I’m thrilled that he’s got such a bright future ahead of him training kids to ride.”

Not only is Disney’s backing progressing well, but he has also coped well with living in the HRA’s busy stable complex.

“We have around 300 children passing through here at weekends, so it’s quite a lot for a horse to get used to. But Disney has taken it in his stride and loves the attention from the children,” said Theresa.

The Horse Trust is currently looking for a home for various horses, including Spindles Farm rescue horse Star. To offer a home to Star or another horse, contact The Horse Trust on 01494 488 464 or info@horsetrust.org.uk

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James Gray must pay a further £200,000 in costs to the RSPCA to cover the charity’s expenses for his unsuccessful appeal — a judge has ruled today (12 November).

The RSPCA removed 32 dead horses and ponies and rescued 111 equines from Gray’s Spindles Farm in January 2008.

And they, and other charities, have had to pay for the animals’ keep since then, as well as court expenses — in all as much as £2m.

Gray lost his appeal against a life ban on keeping horses and 24 weeks’ jail in May, and today Judge Christopher Tyrer, at Bicester Magistrates Court, awarded extra costs to the RSPCA — bringing the amount the horse trader owes the charity to £600,000.

According to a local newspaper, court papers produced at today’s hearing show Spindles Farm has been sold for £1.2m, but Gray filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Gray’s estranged wife Julie, who also appealed but was convicted of two offences of cruelty, has also been ordered to pay £200,000 costs. Mrs Gray has so far only paid £5 of the £750 she was ordered to pay from the original trial.

The Grays’ elderst daughter Jodie Keet was told to pay £500 and her sister Cordelai Gray must also find £750 costs.

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The sale of horror property Spindles Farm has still not gone ahead, seven months after being put on the market.

A local man made an offer for the entire farm — which is for sale in four lots — and it has been accepted.

But because James Gray was declared bankrupt in April, Peter Smith, a chartered accountant for property agents PJSA, who are handling the sale, says it is taking longer than usual to progress.

“The buyer is being incredibly patient,” he added.

Mr Smith also told a local newpaper that there had not been much interest in the 40-acre farm and five-bedroomed farmhouse.

He said: “There wasn’t a vast amount of interest. There was enough to make it a competitive market but there wasn’t a great deal to be honest.

“It’s been let go quite badly. The buildings are fairly dilapidated and the house isn’t in a fantastic condition.”

The planned HS2 high speed rail line is also set to go underneath the farm in a tunnel.

• See today’s H&H for how the planned HS2 link will affect equestrianism in the Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire area.

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Dealer James Gray has been released from prison after serving just over 12 weeks of an eight-month sentence for cruelty to around 150 equines.

The appalling conditions discovered at Spindles Farm, Amersham, in January 2008 attracted national and worldwide media coverage.

The case is one of the biggest brought by the RSPCA and cost the charity around £2.3million.

Gray was sentenced to eight months in jail at Aylesbury Crown Court on 27 May, after two weeks on the run.

He was also banned from keeping equines for life.

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards, which assisted the RSPCA in the case, confirmed to H&H that Gray has been released from prison.

But the horse dealer is not living at Spindles Farm, which is currently being sold.

Peter Smith, of chartered surveyors PJSA, said a local man had made a sucessful offer for the 40-acre farm and five-bedroom farmhouse.

But he said because Mr Gray had been declared bankrupt in April, the sale is taking a long time to progress.

Mr Smith said: “We are having to deal with the trustees in Mr Gray’s bankruptcy so it’s quite slow, but the process grinds on. The buyer is being incredibly patient.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (16 September, ’10)

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The Horse Trust is holding a rug and tack sale on Saturday 11 September at its Buckinghamshire sanctuary to fund the care of the horses living there, including those rescued from Spindles Farm.

The charity regularly receives donations of rugs and tack from supporters, and its rug and tack store is now overflowing, so it has decided to sell the surplus.

A similar sale raised £3,000 last year — the equivalent of one horse’s annual keep.

Spokesman for the charity Susan Lewis said: “This is a great opportunity for horse owners to pick up an affordable high-quality rug or tack, at the same time as supporting the Spindles Farm horses.

“It would be great if we could beat last year’s amount to enable us to continue taking in welfare cases.”

The Horse Trust is currently caring for 10 horses, ponies and donkeys that were rescued from James Gray’s Spindles Farm in January 2008.

The rug and tack sale will take place at the Home of Rest for Horses, Slad Lane, Speen, Princes Risborough, HP27 0PP between 12pm and 4pm on 11 September.

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A horse rescued from Spindles Farm is to undergo radiation treatment for sarcoids at the University of Liverpool.

Duke, who is thought to be two to three years old, is to have the life-saving treatment to remove the growths on his eyelids free of charge.

Duke will receive iridium wire treatment at the University’s Equine Hospital — the only centre in the UK to deliver the complex procedure. Liverpool will also fund the treatment.

“Removing tumours surgically from the eyelids would be almost impossible because the scar tissue would leave the horse unable to blink,” explains Professor Derek Knottenbelt.

“Instead we kill the diseased cells from within using iridium radiation treatment, where gamma radiation is delivered through wires inserted into the tumour.”

Duke was one of more than 100 horses rescued from James Gray’s Spindles Farm in Amersham in January 2008.

He has been recovering at the Horse Trust since, but recently developed the sarcoids, which needed urgent treatment.

“Although sarcoids don’t spread to internal organs like many other cancerous tumours, they can be severely debilitating, so it is important that they are treated quickly to ensure long-lasting recovery,” added Professor Knottenbelt.

“The treatment will be delivered over a period of 10 days, during which we aim to eradicate the diseased cells to allow new healthy cells to grow in their place. The condition is very unpredictable, but we hope that Duke will make a good recovery.”

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Rescue horse Disney has become the first of the Spindles Farm cases to be re-homed by The Horse Trust rescue centre in Speen, Buckinghamshire.

The charity was unable to re-home any of Jamie Gray’s horses until permission was granted by the courts in May, when the Gray family lost their appeal.

Disney arrived at his new home with the Horse Rangers Association – a charity that helps young people learn how to ride and care for horses – in East Molesey, Surrey on Friday 6 August.

“Disney has settled in well, given his background I thought he might be nervous about getting on a trailer again, but he was absolutely fine,” said Theresa Barrett, stable manager at the Horse Rangers Association.

Found at Jamie Gray’s farm in Amersham in 2008, Disney was severely underweight and suffering from a salmonella infection, but within a year his bodyweight had doubled.

“After everything he’s been through, Disney deserves to be properly looked after,” said 14-year-old Ranger Layla Thompson (pictured with Disney and her sister Mae).

“I hope that interacting with all the Rangers will help him forget about the past and build up trust again.”

Disney has never been ridden so it was important to find a home where they would be able to train him from scratch.

“We are thrilled that the Horse Rangers Association has been able to offer Disney a new home. I’m sure he will love being pampered by the Rangers,” said Liane Crowther, welfare and education officer at The Horse Trust.

Disney arriving at his new home was filmed by the BBC and will be screened on the Animal 24:7 programme on BBC1 later this year.

• View pictures of Disney on arrival at the Horse Trust and prior to being rehomed, along with other horses rescued from James Gray, here

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A pony rescued from Spindles Farm in Amersham is set to take on a Pony Club mounted games team in a display at the Pony Club Championships in Derbyshire.

The charity demo will see a team of four ponies from the Burford Blue Cross centre compete against members of the South Trent Pony Club in between the action in the equitation arena on 17 August.

The 12.2hh Tabitha was rescued from Jamie Gray’s farm in 2008. Thin and suffering from dehydration and worm damage, she was cared for by the RSPCA before being recently transferred to the Burford equine welfare centre.

Tabitha will be joined by three other Blue Cross ponies, and their adult grooms, to do battle with Pony Club members Chloe Slater, Francesca Hibbins, Sophie Gates and Daisy Powell.

“It’s amazing to think how far Tabitha has come since she was rescued from Spindles Farm,” said Burford Blue Cross equine manager Vicki Alford.

“Going to the Pony Club championships will be a great experience for her and we hope that soon after she’ll be ready to find a loving home.”

Events include a bending race, mug race, sack race and stepping stones.

This is the first time the charity mounted games demo has been held at the championships and the teams will be performing at 11am and 3.40pm.

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Disgraced horse dealer James Gray was last week convicted of five offences relating to horses transported through Dover in 2007.

At Folkestone Magistrates Court on 26 July, Gray received a three-year conditional discharge and £9,145 costs.

A spokesman for Kent Trading Standards told H&H: “The offences included transporting 17 horses, who were not individually partitioned within the vehicle, his horses did not have health certificates to be imported/exported and he breached a formal notice not to use an unsuitable vehicle to transport his horses.”

Gray pleaded guilty to the health certificate offence only, but was convicted of all five offences. He has been ordered to pay the costs to Kent County Council within six months.

On 27 May, Gray was sentenced to eight months in prison by Judge Christopher Tyrer at Aylesbury Crown Court.

His sentence was increased by two months for absconding from that court on 12 May.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (5 August, ’10)

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Esther the donkey foal, the poster girl for the 97 horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from Spindles Farm in January 2008, is now the face of Redwings’ adoption scheme.

Esther was aged just a few months when she was rescued from James Gray’s farm in Hyde Heath and moved to Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk along with her mum Martha.

She caught the imagination of the public, with H&H forum members choosing her as the image of their campaign to help the charities with donations of feed and rugs — Operation Esther.

Esther has settled well into Redwings’ Hapton headquarters near Norwich where she will be available to visit at the charity’s summer open weekend on 17-18 July.

And people can again have the chance to play a part in her future by adopting her under the charity’s adoption scheme.

For £12.50 a year, adopters receive a photo, certificate and six-monthly update, and then on her birthday they receive a second update and an invitation to her birthday party in October.

“The public adored little timid Esther at the time of the rescue so she received many kind letters as well as gifts,” said fundraising manager Gemma Carnell.

“We were touched by the outpouring of love for her. We wanted to do something so people could keep in touch with her and feel as if they were helping. We are entirely funded by public donations so every single adoption makes a difference.”

To adopt and meet Esther, visit www.redwings.co.uk or call 01508 481010.

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Waitrose customers have shown their support for the horses of Spindles Farm by voting to donate to The Horse Trust.

Last week a cheque for £375 was presented to the charity from the Beaconsfield branch of the store.

The money from Waitrose’s Community Matters programme will be put towards the care of the horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from Spindles Farm, which are currently being looked after by Buckinghamshire charity The Horse Trust.

Each month £1,000 is split between three local charities chosen by customers.

“We are thrilled and hope that some of the customers who voted for us will come by to visit sometime so they can meet the horses, ponies and donkeys they have helped.” said Susan Lewis of The Horse Trust.

The Horse Trust is currently looking after 11 horses, ponies and donkeys that were rescued from Spindles Farm in January 2008.

For more information visit: www.horsetrust.org.uk

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Seventeen horses and ponies rescued from James Gray’s Spindles Farm are now available for rehoming by the RSPCA.

Mainly youngsters, the cobs and Shetlands are ready to go to approved homes.

“We’re looking for patient, experienced owners who have the facilities, time and money to care for the horses for the rest of their lives,” said RSPCA rehoming officer Sally Learoyd.

Visit www.rspca.org.uk/amersham.

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When 32 dead horses and 111 other equines were removed from Spindles Farm in in January 2008 the horseworld was appalled. We wanted to know how could this happen, why did it happen and what was going on?

But despite 30 weeks of court time — covering the original trial and the Gray family’s appeal — so many questions remained unanswered about the situation at Spindles Farm two years on.

So when the court appeal ended on 12 May with James Gray’s sentence increased from 24 to 26 weeks jail we decided to try to find some answers.

Abigail Butcher (head of news) and I split the feature into two parts — she would look at the issues of what James Gray was doing at Spindles Farm and the theories of possible criminal activity within horse dealing.

I would look at Gray and his family themselves. Learn what I could from his neighbours in Hyde Heath, investigate the lurid claims surrounding his finances and try to find out how a traveller family came to be living in a £2m property in leafy Bucks.

Thursday 13 May

My first day on the case. I downloaded the synopsis of the original case from www.judiciary.gov.uk/docs and sat down for a long read.

There was lots of new information from the trial that I was not aware of having only been able to spend one day in court.

Gray’s casual attitude to his horses’ distress was appalling. “You’re always going to have a few [horses] die when you’ve this many,” he nonchalantly told RSPCA chief officer Robert Skinner, blaming their deaths on worms.

These horses were not thought of as individual, sentient creatures, they were not even treated like sheep or cattle, more like a dirt cheap commodity, to be dealt with in bulk.

“The smell of rotting horseflesh was overpowering… the animals had obviously been dead for days,” said vet Katie Robinson. Another pony was emaciated and propped against the water trough, its penis massively swollen, blistered and sore, with blood dripping from it and staining its hind legs.

And yet Gray was unrepentent and obstructive, letting ponies out to impede the rescue, oblivious to his dogs gnawing on the carcasses.

I go home saddened.

Friday 14 May

Have been looking into the background of the case, digging out the deeds of Spindles Farm with the Land Registry and downloading the stuff relating to his business Grays Horses from Companies House.

We knew the RSPCA has a charging order on the sale of Spindles Farm to try to recoup the £400,000 costs imposed by district judge Vickers at Aylesbury last June. But why does Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre at Barnwood, Gloucester have one too? Intriguing!

And who would have thought that James Gray claims to be a member of the Welsh Pony and New Forest Pony societies.

Dug out letters and details of calls from people living in the local area who contacted us after news of the Spindles Farm horses broke.

And I am trying to arrange a viewing of Spindles Farm with the agents PJSA.

Monday 17 May

Not much time to dig around in the Grays’ history today but have drawn up a (very long) list of people I’d like to speak to — including his farrier.

Tuesday 18 May

Today I heard Gray owes £500,000 to HMRC and has a number of other outstanding bills, including a £7,000 electricity bill.

Wednesday 19 May

Have arranged to talk to Hyde Heath villagers tomorrow about their experiences of Gray and Spindles Farm.

The agents for Spindles Farm have told me that Mrs Gray wants all prospective buyers to visit the property at the same time so she can be out of the way. No chance we can view in time for the article.

Thursday 20 May

A two-hour drive up to Amersham in the sunshine and a visit to the lovely village of Hyde Heath. It’s hard to believe that such a pretty place was the setting for such cruelty.

Villagers are all willing to talk and appalled at what was going on behind the gates at the farm but no-one wants to be named — the fear of reprisals is very real for them.

I saw Julie Gray — Jamie’s wife — outside their £1m house, which is currently on the market, but don’t think she wanted to chat!

Neighbours say the family has moved into breeding goats now they are banned from keeping horses.

I am pleased to see the RSPCA van cruising by the farm late morning. Hear later they were called out to inspect a lame goat. Looks like the community is keeping an eye on Spindles Farm.

I return to London with a full notebook and a very busy day ahead of me tomorrow.

Friday 21 May

Now the hard slog begins — writing the piece for H&H.

There is so much information I’d like to include, like hearing James Gray’s father, also James, is such a hard nut his party piece is placing his hand on a table and whacking it with a club hammer. He doesn’t even wince apparently!

Feel a little bit disappointed that I’m not going to be in the office on Monday when the story is finally knitted together and the pages designed — I’m off on a family holiday to Ireland at 3am — but I know we’ve done a good job.

I also have some good tip offs for future investigations — so watch this space!

Read Abigail Butcher’s blog of her work to bring this exclusive news feature to press.

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Disgraced horse dealer James Gray has been given an extra two months in jail for absconding from court.

James Gray of Spindles Farm is beginning an eight-month jail sentence this morning after appearing briefly at Aylesbury Crown Court at 10am today.

Gray was re-arrested yesterday morning after absconding from Aylesbury Crown Court two weeks ago. In his absence, the dealer was sentenced to six months in jail for cruelty offences relating to around 150 equines.

RSPCA chief inspector Rob Skinner, who was first to enter Spindles Farm in January 2008, said he was happy with the sentence.

“I’m pleased the police tracked Gray down and that he is now serving a sentence which reflects the severity of the cruelty suffered by so many horses, ponies and donkeys,” he said.

“This investigation has been one of our biggest ever and has so far cost the RSPCA more than £2.3 million.”

James Gray was arrested at 10.35am yesterday morning (Wednesday, 26 May) on the M5 near Kidderminster.

• See Horse & Hound’s special investigation behind the scenes at Spindles Farm, out today.

Video of James Gray being taken into court

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James Gray has been arrested after being on the run for the past two weeks.

Police arrested horse trader Gray this morning (Wednesday 26 May) at 10.35am on the northbound M5 near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire during a random spot check.

Gray absconded from court as he and his family were hearing their appeal against sentence on Wednesday 12 May.

He was sentenced in his absence to six-months in prison for cruelty to more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys.

Gray is due to appear in court at 10am at Aylesbury Crown Court tomorrow (Thursday 27 May).

See tomorrow’s (27 May) issue of H&H for a special Spindles Farm investigation

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Thursday 13 May

James Gray skipped court yesterday, and in our subsequent news meeting, we decide it’s about time we try to find out what he was actually doing at Spindles Farm — an oft-asked question over the past two and a half years.

When the story broke in January 2008, H&H was inundated with calls from locals — and those further afield — who claimed to know the exact story. But while allegations and speculation abounded, there were and never have been any hard facts.

We all hoped more would come out in the court cases — how on earth can someone really starve around 140 horses, 31 of those to death? Nobody knew. And it didn’t emerge in court, either.

We decided to run the story in our 27 May issue, which gave us 10 days to do as much digging as possible to find out more about the man himself, and whether there’s any truth behind any of those rumours.

Charlotte White (H&H deputy news editor) and I divvy up the work on this — it’s a big job with not much time, and though there’s a lot to do, we’re really excited about uncovering some little-known facts. All we’ve reported so far is details of the case.

Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May

Monday and Tuesday are caught up with dealing with the rest of H&H’s news pages — planning, commissioning, writing and dealing with myriad queries. I do, however, download the 136-page judgement issued from Aylesbury Crown Court for some light bedtime reading.

I also write up a conversation I had with a renowned horse dealer the previous week. I’d seen this chap (who, like most in this blog, will remain nameless) at a horse sale about four years ago and was quite nervous about talking to him — he “ran the show”, has a lot of clout and is quite an intimidating individual. I obtained his number via a good contact, dialled and, amazingly, got straight through to him.

I’d actually called him about another matter, and think I’ve persuaded him to meet me to talk about it, but he did tell me one or two things about Jamie Gray. Everyone knows everyone in the horse dealing business, but there isn’t a horse owner (good or bad) in the country who doesn’t know about Jamie Gray and Spindles Farm.

I arrange meetings with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare inspectors, who were first in at Spindles Farm on 4 January, and with Buckinghamshire Trading Standards. The latter tell me the Gray family issued death threats to everyone involved, and warns me to “be careful” — a message I reiterate to Charlotte.

Wednesday 19 May

I spent this morning talking to Peter Green, an expert witness in the case, vet and RSPCA consultant. He tells me some horror stories — like the horse, referred to in the case just as ‘C20’, who was dragged by its tail and head into a trailer by Jamie Gray and his son, driven home to Spindles Farm and left to die. It makes me feel quite sick. Peter tells me that he is very relieved the case is over — everyone is.

I question Peter about the various rumours that have been circulating — drug smuggling, money laundering, using the horses as donors for blood. He said a lot didn’t stack up — Jamie was importing a number of horses, which was unusual for a man who had a number of essentially meat animals — and the fact that he let them starve wasn’t business sense. But he, like everyone I questioned, told me no evidence was ever found that James Gray was doing anything other than horse dealing.

Peter gets quite forceful with me when I suggest bloodletting — he says he’s never come across it in the UK in 25 years of dealing in horse welfare. But then again, would he, as a legitimate and respected vet? We believe it happens on the Continent because it is allegedly the source of the swamp fever outbreak in Ireland in 2006.

Thursday 20 May

I’ve got a “secret” meeting in Amersham today with some people who give me a lot of background on James Gray and horse dealers like him. I realise how little I know about this “underworld” of our society. There are hundreds and hundreds of dealers like James Gray who make money on horses however they can — cash deals at markets and fairs up and down the country. Horses are a commodity to them like a sack of potatoes or a caravan — passports can be forged and money is made wherever, however.

I talk through lots of the theories — again, there is no evidence to support any of them. It hasn’t ever even been proven that the smell of horses can mask the smell of drugs or cigarettes if they’ve been hidden under the floorboards of a horsebox.

Later, I meet David Boyd and Nick White, World Horse Welfare field officers. Nick was first in with the RSPCA at Spindles Farm, and we’ve arranged to drive past so I can see for myself.

Bizarrely, as we stop in a layby at Keeper’s Lane to get into one car, we see RSPCA vans. It turns out to be Martin Rivett, a local inspector, and Rob Skinner, the area chief inspector who was first on the scene on 4 Jan 2008.

They have been back into Spindles Farm about a lame goat — they can’t quite believe it. The inspectors all greet each other like long-lost friends. I talk to Rob about the criticism the RSPCA came under — particularly for being “scared of travellers”.

He looks down at me (I think he’s about 6ft 3in), smiling gently and with confidence. “Abi, we’ve just been in to Spindles Farm a week after they went to court. We are not intimidated and Spindles Farm is not and never was a ‘no-go area’,” he said.

We drive past Spindles Farm, and Nick White stops to show me the metal gates

through which the dead horses were all dragged. I can tell this case had a profound effect on him, too. He believes the muck heap at Spindles Farm will probably contain even more horrors.

The most startling thing to me is that between the Gray’s family home and the farmyard where the horses were found, is a smart livery yard. How the family and James Grey got away with this, as the judge said, beggars belief.

I then head on to Aylesbury to speak to Trading Standards — to ask them why they didn’t prosecute James Gray for passports infringements. He had 51 passports for 140 horses. I’m told it was a decision was taken with the RSPCA to prosecute on welfare grounds and that cases can be thrown out if the authorities were seen to be “over zealous”. And anyway, if he had been sentenced for passport offences it would have run concurrently, not on top.

I’d hoped to call in to The Horse Trust, who have 11 horses, ponies and donkey from Spindles Farm, but I’ve run out of time and energy.

Friday 21 May

Charlotte and I have a de-brief with our editor, news team, designers and picture desk. It’s all fascinating stuff and we spend the day writing furiously and making even more phone calls.

I speak to a laboratory that runs a farm producing horse blood to find out if they’d heard of blood being sold on the blackmarket in the UK. They haven’t, but they tell me horse blood is sold into human medicine — I’d assumed it was taken to make plasma and products for horses only.

I also decide to visit a horsemarket outside Buckingham on Sunday with Trading Standards, who are going along for a recce and to check passports.

Sunday 23 May

Back up the M40 from London at 8.30am. I meet Trading Standards in a café at a nearby Tesco to talk through the plan.

We arrive at the market and wander around — I feel so conspicuous, and stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not a horse trader and I don’t look like one. As I wander around the pens of mainly coloured, gypsy cob-type horses, I am eyed suspiciously. One dealer looks particularly unamused by my presence and stands in front of a pen of colts I’m trying to appraise.

There are a lot of colts here — they’re worthless as the owners can’t afford to castrate them. There are two donkeys, one of which looks quite elderly, and one horse looking very stressed and uncomfortable and Trading Standards ask to see its passport. It turns out not to be the correct passport for horse, so the owner agrees to withdraw the horse from the sale and the passport is confiscated.

Kirsty Hampton is also at the market. Kirsty is an RSPCA inspector and the equine “expert” for this area — she too, together with Rob Skinner, was first in at Spindles Farm on 4 January.

Kirsty tells me she’s at the market (in uniform) on her day off because she feels it’s so important the RSPCA have a presence there. Though there are no real welfare concerns that we can see, I feel very reassured by this. I talk through more of the case with her — she, too, is baffled by what Gray was really doing. It’s good to have met these RSPCA inspectors — the RSPCA gets a lot of stick but I have an enormous amount of respect for the inspectors out there on the streets. It’s been an education.

Monday 24 May

A 12-hour day in the office putting the investigation together. Charlotte isn’t in today, but phones in from Ireland with her “editorial comment” to go with the story.

I speak to the UK Borders Agency, who aren’t much help at all — neither they, nor the Crown Prosecution Service, can tell me whether any horseboxes have ever been found and drivers prosecuted for smuggling drugs or contraband.

Similarly, Thames Valley Police can’t tell me whether they investigated James Gray for any other wrongdoing, nor what they are doing to try to find him. Whether his actions of skipping court will make things worse for him is a matter for the court to decide, says the police press officer.

Our picture desk, art department and other newsteam member, Amy, all do stirling work on the pages. It looks very different from the usual H&H report and I really hope people find it interesting – and that they let us know their thoughts. I want to do more of this kind of work, and whether we do or not depends on your feedback.

• Did you enjoy our four-page special investigation? Send your thoughts to hhletters@ipcmedia.com

Read Charlotte White’s blog of her work to bring this exclusive news feature to press.

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The horses rescued from Spindles Farm in January 2008 finally have their future secured. The RSCPA was awarded ownership when James Gray lost his appeal against his conviction on 12 May. The horses will now be signed over to the charities that have been caring for them for the past two years.

Spindles Farm horses: then and now

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Equine welfare charity The Horse Trust is looking for a new chief executive. Current head of the organisation, Paul Jepson, will retire at the end of July after 13 years in the post.

Adverts went out this week in national press and on this website, for a new chief to: “develop further the charity’s profile, resources and impact on equine welfare issues”.

Brig Jepson told H&H that he will continue much of his work — in particular with exotic diseases and the equine health and welfare strategy.

“I will be staying on in a consultancy basis, but am looking forward to spending more time at home in the New Forest,” he said.

Brig Jepson said his abiding memory from his time at The Horse Trust will be “experiencing first-hand the unprecedented level of wanton neglect at Spindles Farm” — followed by rehabilitating the equines that were rescued.

• For more information about the vacancy at The Horse Trust, visit www.horsetrust.org.uk

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James Gray’s Spindles Farm has been under scrutiny from animal welfare inspectors yet again.

Last Thursday, 20 May, the RSPCA was called out to the disgraced horse dealer’s property after a member of the public reported a lame goat on the farm.

The visit to Spindles Farm was only a week after James Gray went on the run as he and his family were re-sentenced in Aylesbury Crown Court.

Chief inspector Rob Skinner told H&H: “We had a call regarding a lame goat, we have given advice and did not leave Spindles Farm until a visit from a vet was booked.”

The RSPCA is returning this week to follow up the case.

James Gray and three members of his family have been banned from keeping horses but are allowed to keep other animals, because they were not found to have neglected any other species during the raid on Spindles Farm in January 2008.

The family are understood to have 18 goats at Spindles Farm, which is currently up for sale.

• See this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (27 May) for a special investigation on James Gray and what he was really doing at Spindles Farm.

• If you see James Gray, or have any information about his whereabouts, call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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A warrant has been issued for the arrest of disgraced horse dealer James Gray, who this afternoon absconded from court.

Gray was present at Aylesbury Magistrates Court this morning, but this afternoon disappeared from court and was sentenced in his absence.

Last Thursday, James Gray (pictured above) lost his appeal against his conviction for horse welfare offences. Last year, Gray was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail and given a life ban on keeping horses.

Today, that sentence was increased to 26 weeks in jail and a hearing on costs was reserved to a later date.

James Gray absconded from court leaving his family to hear their sentences. His wife, Julie, (42) and daughters Jodie (27) and Cordelia Gray (21) were also unsuccessful in their appeals. They will each have to complete 150 hours of community service and are banned from keeping equines for 10 years.

James Gray Junior (17) has to complete a 18-month supervision order and is banned from keeping equines for 10 years.

RSPCA inspectors discovered more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys and the bodies of a further 32 equines at Gray’s property — Spindles Farm near Amersham — between Friday 4 and Wednesday 9 January 2008.

If you see James Gray, call Thames Valley Police urgently on 08458 505 505 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

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James Gray has lost his appeal against conviction for horse welfare offences. He will now be re-sentenced on 12 May.

His wife Julie Gray (42), and daughters Jodie (27) and Cordelia Gray (21) were also unsuccessful in their appeals.

Gray’s 17-year-old son, also James, was acquitted on two charges, but convicted of the rest.

RSPCA inspectors discovered more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys and the bodies of a further 32 equines at Gray’s property — Spindles Farm near Amersham — between Friday 4 and Wednesday 9 January 2008.

In a judgement delivered at Aylesbury Crown Court at 10am today, Recorder Christopher Tyrer said: “We are satisfied that these horses were neglected and starved. It follows that the appellants [James Gray and the boy] failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of their protection and they knew or ought reasonably to have known that this would have that effect….

“…We have found that all the appellants were responsible for all these animals and that they knew what was happening on the premises and took no action to alleviate the problems.”

Referring to James Gray, he added: “We are satisfied that, at the time [the RSPCA] visited Spindles Farm in January 2008, these animals were not being fed or watered adequately or at all….he [Gray] sought neither assistance nor veterinary attention to his animals and was still acquiring even more animals from outside, despite being unable to look after them or those he had already brought to the premises.”

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton, who investigated the case, said: “We’re pleased the extent of the cruelty, neglect and suffering endured by the animals in this case has been recognised — and also the RSPCA’s hard work and experience, which was crucial in successfully bringing the case to court.”

The court case and appeal has so far cost the RSPCA more than £1million, including veterinary treatment and care of the rescued horses. The investigation has been one of the RSPCA’s biggest ever.

Gray was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail with £400,000 costs and a life ban from keeping, trading in or transporting horses, on 12 June 2009.

He will learn next Wednesday whether the sentence still stands.

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Spindles Farm — the site from which 115 horses, ponies and donkeys in a poor condition were removed in January 2008 — is up for sale.

Owner James Gray appeared in court in January to appeal against his conviction and sentence for cruelty to hundreds of horses in his care.

More than 100 equines were removed from Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath by RSPCA officers. A further 31 were found dead.

He will learn if the judge will overturn his 6-month jail sentence and lifetime ban from keeping horses next week (6 May).

The property is up for sale in four lots with PJSA Ltd in Windsor.

Lot one is the farmhouse and garden, which is for sale at £1.1million.

Lot two is a 2.8 acre patch of land — £100,000

Lot three is 13.33 acres — £150,000

Lot four is a farmyard with 22.69 acres — £450,000

Lot 4 is subject to an interim charging order on behalf of the RSPCA on the beneficial interest of James Gray made at Winchester County Court on 23 September 2009.

PJSA confirmed Spindles Farm has received a lot of interest and that the property splits naturally into two parts.

James Gray received the maximum penalty possible for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on 12 June 2009.

But he and his co-defendants — his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie and a boy who cannot be named — all appealed the outcome of the case.

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Convicted horse abuser James Gray was back in court yesterday (11 January) to appeal against his conviction and sentence for cruelty to hundreds of horses in his care.

He contends the horses died of natural causes.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were later removed.

Gray received the maximum penalty possible for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail with £400,000 costs and a life ban from keeping, trading in or transporting horses, on 12 June 2009.

But he and his co-defendants — his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie and a boy who cannot be named — all appealed the outcome of the case.

Now Bicester Magistrates Court, sitting as Aylesbury Crown Court, will go through all the evidence from the trial again, in a case scheduled to take at least five weeks.

Gray and the youth were both found guilty of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Mrs Gray and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years and given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

They were found guilty of failing to protect the animals.

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The date when Buckinghamshire horse dealer James Gray and his family will appeal their convictions and sentences for horse cruelty has been changed to 11 January, to give the magistrates more time to prepare.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and a youth who cannot be named, of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray was sentenced to six months imprisonment, ordered to pay £400,000 and banned from keeping horses for life. The youth was banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

Gray’s wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years and given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

They were found guilty of failing to protect the animals.

The appeal was due to be heard at Bicester Magistrates Court on 4 January but has been put back by one week.

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Amersham horse trader James Gray has returned to court after breaking his bail conditions for a second time, H&H has learned.

Gray appeared at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on 1 October after failing to keep to a curfew between 11pm and 5am.

His passport has been confiscated and he must report to police thrice weekly under strengthened bail conditions.

Gray has also been forced to start paying the £17,000 fine imposed for a previous cruelty conviction in 2006.

Gray, his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie, and a youth who cannot be named, were found guilty of cruelty to horses at Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath in June.

All five have appealed their sentences and convictions and a hearing is due to take place at Bicester Magistrates Court from 4 January 2010.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (26 November, ’09)

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James Gray has been charged with breaching his bail conditions.

The horse dealer at the centre of Britain’s worst equine abuse case appeared before Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Friday 17 July. He had handed himself into Amersham police station earlier that day.

James Gray from Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, was released on bail in June after appealing against a six-month jail sentence.

He was granted that bail by a judge at Oxford Crown Court on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

But two weeks ago Gray was pictured in The Sun newspaper at a horse fair near Slough in Berkshire. His son, James Gray junior, was also pictured — despite under similar bail conditions.

Police at Amersham arrested him on Friday morning, on suspicion of four bail breaches. During the afternoon hearing he was found guilty of two breaches of bail, but cleared of two others.

He was granted bail on the condition that he does not keep any equine, nor goes within 100 yards of any equine except at his home, where his family are entitled to keep equines while appealing their convictions. He is not allowed to attend any venue used to house horses — such as a horse fair.

On Friday, 12 June, Aylesbury Magistrates Court sentenced James John Gray, 45, to six months in prison, ordered him to pay £400,000 costs and banned him from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life. He served four days before being released on bail, provided he had no contact with equines and pending appeal.

An appeal date for James Gray has yet to be set. He and four members of his family lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

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Horse charities have condemned the actions of disgraced horse dealer James Gray, who has been seen breaking terms of his bail.

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray was released on bail last month after appealing against a six-month jail sentence.

He was granted bail on 17 June by a judge at Oxford Crown Court on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

But today, Gray has been pictured in The Sun newspaper at a horse fair near Slough in Berkshire. His son, James Gray junior, is also pictured — despite under similar bail conditions.

A source told The Sun that father and son were “totally engrossed” with horse dealing at the fair, and were “right in the thick of the action”.

World Horse Welfare took in some of the horses from Spindle Farm in January 2008.

The charity’s chief executive, Roly Owers, said: “It beggars belief that having been convicted of the worst case of horse cruelty in UK history and just a matter of days after being released from prison, James Gray is so blatantly abusing his bail conditions.

“World Horse Welfare was one of the first charities to be involved in this case and our Field Officer will never forget the horrific cruelty that James Gray inflicted on his horses.

“Anyone like us who cares for horses has to ask, what will it take to stop this happening?”

Redwings Horse Sanctuary has 29 ponies and donkeys from the Amersham rescue in its care. Chief executive Lynn Cutress said the organisation “felt extremely disappointed” to see the pictures of Jamie Gray at a horse fair recently.

“I know our loyal supporters and the public at large will be very angry to see these images,” she said. “It’s a very defiant attitude to take against the courts and the legal system, showing absolutely no respect for the process.”

James Gray and four members of his family lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

On Friday, 12 June, Aylesbury Magistrates Court sentenced James John Gray, 45, to six months in prison, ordered him to pay £400,000 costs and banned him from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

An appeal date has yet to be set.

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Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray has been released on bail after appealing against a six-month jail sentence given to him last week.

Gray was released from prison yesterday (Tuesday, 17 June) after being granted bail by a judge at Oxford Crown Court. Gray was bailed on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

James Gray and four members of his family from Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, have lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

On Friday, 12 June, Aylesbury Magistrates Court sentenced James John Gray, 45, to six months in prison, ordered him to pay £400,000 costs and banned him from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray and daughters Jodie and Cordelia, were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years, which they cannot appeal for five years. They were given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

Julie Gray was ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia and Jodie £500 each.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

An appeal date has yet to be set.

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Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray has been sentenced to six months in prison and banned from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life.

He was also ordered to pay £400,000 by Aylesbury Magistrates Court, where he and his family appeared for sentencing today.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James John Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and his son James Gray Junior of nine charges of causing unneccessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray’s wife, Julie, and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were found guilty of the two charges of failing to protect the animals.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

This morning, James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray, 42, and daughters Jodie Gray, 26, and Cordelia Gray, 21, have also been banned from keeping equines for 10 years, which they cannot appeal for five years. They have been given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

Julie Gray has also been ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray £500 each.

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton described the conditions the horses were kept in as “grotesque”.

Speaking after the sentencing, Hampton said: “The RSPCA is pleased the district judge has recognised the extent of the cruelty, neglect and the suffering endured by the animals in this case.

“We see the disqualifications from keeping horses as an effective measure to prevent animals suffering in future.”

If anyone would like to help contribute towards the costs of rehoming and rehabilitating the Spindle Farm horses, visit www.rspca.org.uk/amershamhorses

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Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray is due to be sentenced this afternoon.

James Gray and his family have appeared in Aylesbury Magistrates Court for sentencing following their convictions last month.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James Gray, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and his son James Gray Junior of nine charges of causing unneccessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray’s wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were found guilty of the two charges of failing to protect the animals.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

This morning, James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray, 42, and daughters Jodie Gray, 26, and Cordelia Gray, 21, have also been banned from keeping equines for 10 years, which they cannot appeal for five years. They have been given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

Julie Gray has also been ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray £500 each.

James John Gray will receive his sentence this afternoon.

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The charities that rehabilitated the horses, ponies and donkeys taken from Spindle Farm, Amersham, have mounted separate appeals to recoup some of their £1.2million costs.

The RSPCA rescued 111 equines from James Gray’s farm between 5-9 January 2008 (news, 17 January 2008).

Since then approximately £1,232,000 has been spent on them by four charities.

Helen Briggs of the RSPCA said: “We are very grateful for the charities agreeing to pay for those animals they took in. It’s not been cheap for any of us.

“Eleven went to World Horse Welfare, 21 to Redwings, 14 to the Horse Trust and we have looked after the others.”

Costs have included feed, veterinary treatment, staff wages and livery bills.

The future of the horses will be decided after James Gray and his family are sentenced on 12 June.

• To donate, go to the charities’ websites — www.rspca.org.uk , www.horsetrust.org.uk , www.worldhorsewelfare.org/donate and www.redwings.org.uk

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 June, ’09)

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The trial of Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray on trading standards charges restarts today (Tuesday) at Folkestone Magistrates Court.

Mr Gray, of Spindle Farm, Amersham, faces fives charges, dating from September and October 2007, which are being brought by Kent County Council.

He is accused of travelling horses through Dover in an unsuitable lorry and without a valid health certificate for the animals.

The case was due to be heard on 27 May but Mr Gray was unwell. He denies all the charges against him.

A verdict is not expected until 17 July.

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