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A 27-year-old groom has been banned for keeping equines for two years.
Hannah Sawyer, of Camel Road, appeared before Yeovil Magistrates Court in Somerset last week (14 October). She pleaded guilty at the last minute to causing unnecessary suffering to her 15 year-old mare, Miah, between May and September 2013.
She was also fined £245, ordered to pay costs of £250 and a £24 victim surcharge.
The chestnut mare was found in an emaciated state in a field in Queen Camel in September 2013 and removed by police into the RSPCA’s care.
Sawyer had repeatedly ignored warnings about the declining condition of her horse from the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare.
“Miah was in a terrible state when we found her,” said RSPCA inspector Marie Griffiths.
“We had, along with field officers from World Horse Welfare, given the owner advice on several occasions over the previous few years which had not been followed.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The owner pleaded guilty at the last minute and signed over the horse into our care, but if that had been done earlier, it would have meant that Miah could have gone to a new home much earlier.
“At least now she has a chance at a better life in a new permanent home.”
World Horse Welfare field officer Jeff Herrington added: “It’s a real shame because Hannah should have known better as she works at a local yard, but she still needed constant reminders about getting her horses’ feet trimmed.
“It was a question of management and making day-to-day decisions for the good of her horses but she made the same mistakes over and over again. I spent a great deal of time travelling to her premises to remind her of her responsibilities but she ignored my advice each time.
“Eventually, it wasn’t just the horses’ hooves I was concerned about, it was their condition which had started to drop. I liaised with the RSPCA and we agreed that Hannah had been given enough chances to get on top of her horses’ care.”
Miah has now put on weight and is available for rehoming (pictured below).
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