Two men banned from ownership after causing unnecessary suffering to a pony
Two men have been given “indefinite” bans from keeping horses after causing unnecessary suffering to a pony.
David Alan Jones and Richard John Jones both of Gloucester Road, Upper Swainswick, were disqualified from keeping horses on Friday 1 May.
The pair appeared at Bath Magistrates’ Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a pony called Charlie, and one offence of failing to meet the pony’s welfare needs. The pony was later put to sleep.
The RSPCA was contacted about Charlie in November 2014. He was one of several animals that had been allowed to escape onto the nearby main road.
He was suffering from wounds on his hind legs that had not been treated and had long, overgrown hooves. His condition was so serious that he was put to sleep.
“This poor pony was in a terrible state and hadn’t been looked after,” said RSPCA inspector Becky Jeffery.
“He had deep wounds on both hind legs that were badly infected, his mane was extremely matted and his back hooves were severely overgrown.
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“There is no excuse for leaving an animal in this state without even the most basic care.”
Both men admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Charlie between May and November 2014 by unreasonably failing to provide hoof care; and by unreasonably failing to provide veterinary care and attention for his wounds.
They also pleaded guilty to failing to meet the pony’s needs to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease by not adequately treating and investigating the causes of his poor weight between July and November 2014.
Neither can apply to have the ban lifted for five years.
They were also both handed 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
David Jones was ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid work and to pay £936.48 in costs. Richard Jones was given a 12-month supervision order, a 12-week nighttime curfew and was ordered to pay £1,182.42 in costs.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.