‘Strasser’ trimmer successfully appeals against sentence

A Suffolk horse owner who caused unnecessary suffering to a horse has had her sentencing and costs reduced on appeal.

In August 2006, Mary Jo Kowalski of Baylham, Ipswich, was sentenced by Ipswich Magistrates Court to 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £10,000 costs and banned from keeping horses for a year.

But on 13 July, Ms Kowalski’s sentence was shortened on appeal at Ipswich Crown Court. Judge John Holt resentenced her to 30 hours unpaid work, which she had already done, and quashed the £10,000 court costs.

Kowalski had denied charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Brambles by using the “Strasser” barefoot method of hoofcare.

A World Horse Welfare spokesman said: “We are obviously disappointed in the result and we stand by our initial claim that Brambles is the most in-pain pony ever to come into our centre in Norfolk.”

www.worldhorsewelfare.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (24 July, ’08)

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