A pony discovered crawling with thousands of maggots and barely able to stand has been described by an RSPCA inspector as “the worst equine case I’ve ever seen”.
The RSPCA found the blue-eyed skewbald in a derelict farm building in Wingate, County Durham, on 4 June. Despite immediate veterinary care, the pony was “too far gone” and did not survive.
Inspector Nick Jones said the large wounds across the pony’s right side were riddled with maggots.
“This is as bad as it gets,” he said. “Hand on heart this is the worst equine case I’ve ever seen.
“The right hand side of the pony looked atrocious with a three-inch-thick line of maggots running the length of the neck.
“There were so many you could hear them. It sounded like the popping of a fizzy drink. It was grotesque.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“Even as an inspector who deals with neglect cases every day, this was devastating to see. The poor pony was on his feet when I arrived but he was in such a bad way.”
The British Horse Society (BHS) contacted the RSPCA after a member of the public reported the two-year-old cob’s suffering.
Mr Jones contacted a vet, who treated the wounds.
“He was then taken to a BHS stables for recovery but sadly he didn’t make it. He was too far gone and his wounds were too severe. It is heartbreaking.
“We have no idea how long he had been there or the cause of his wounds but it is very clear that the pony had been severely neglected by his owner.
“We are now appealing to anyone who may have information on how the pony came to be in this state to do the right thing and contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 1238018 and ask to leave a message for inspector Nick Jones.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
