A woman from Doncaster and a man from Darlington have been banned from keeping equines for 10 years after being found guilty of severely neglecting nine horses. The horses were found in unsanitary conditions with severe health problems, leading to two being euthanized and three being rehomed by World Horse Welfare.

RSPCA officers, a World Horse Welfare expert, and a vet visited the locations in May and June 2023, finding the horses in terrible conditions with overgrown hooves, infections, and mites. The owners had neglected the horses’ basic care needs, resulting in severe health issues and suffering for the animals.

Despite receiving advice and education from World Horse Welfare over several years, the owners failed to improve the horses’ living conditions. The owners disputed ownership of the horses, leading to their removal and the subsequent legal consequences, including a ban on keeping equines, unpaid work, and financial penalties.