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Woman who took selfie with neglected, skeletal horse prosecuted after being caught on Facebook | Woman who took selfie with neglected, skeletal horse prosecuted after being caught on Facebook |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A woman has been banned from keeping horses after pictures of her riding a skeletal ex-racehorse appeared on Facebook. | A woman has been banned from keeping horses after pictures of her riding a skeletal ex-racehorse appeared on Facebook. |
Charlotte McPherson pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty at Birmingham Magistrates Court after RSPCA campaigners found pictures of her riding and taking selfies with the starved animal at a riding event in March. | Charlotte McPherson pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty at Birmingham Magistrates Court after RSPCA campaigners found pictures of her riding and taking selfies with the starved animal at a riding event in March. |
The court heard how the 22-year-old had covered the horse’s hindquarters with an exercise sheet, which is designed to keep the horse warm, but it stopped the event judges seeing how thin he was. | The court heard how the 22-year-old had covered the horse’s hindquarters with an exercise sheet, which is designed to keep the horse warm, but it stopped the event judges seeing how thin he was. |
Following an investigation it was revealed that the horse, called Thor, had lost weight due to a high worm egg count in his intestines as he had not been wormed properly. | |
RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith said: “Thor looked incredibly thin and you could see pretty much every bone in his body. | RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith said: “Thor looked incredibly thin and you could see pretty much every bone in his body. |
“He was obviously unwell, and after a vet examined his body, his body condition was rated zero out of five because he was that thin. | “He was obviously unwell, and after a vet examined his body, his body condition was rated zero out of five because he was that thin. |
“McPherson continued to ride him twice a week in this condition, including at a fun ride in Bissell Wood, Blakedown, in March.” | “McPherson continued to ride him twice a week in this condition, including at a fun ride in Bissell Wood, Blakedown, in March.” |
She said Thor also had a sore on his spine directly under the saddle meaning it would have been incredibly painful for him to be ridden. | She said Thor also had a sore on his spine directly under the saddle meaning it would have been incredibly painful for him to be ridden. |
Ms Smith said Thor had had a long road to recovery as he had to gain weight before he could be dewormed. | Ms Smith said Thor had had a long road to recovery as he had to gain weight before he could be dewormed. |
She thanked the Retraining of Racehorses charity which helped pay the veterinary costs to look after him. | |
He has now been restored to full health and been rehomed. | He has now been restored to full health and been rehomed. |
“He is loving his new life and when he trots across a field, you would find it hard to believe what he was like earlier this year”, Ms Smith said. | “He is loving his new life and when he trots across a field, you would find it hard to believe what he was like earlier this year”, Ms Smith said. |
McPherson, of Kidderminster in Worcester, was also handed a 12-month community order and ordered to do 160 hours of community service. | McPherson, of Kidderminster in Worcester, was also handed a 12-month community order and ordered to do 160 hours of community service. |
She was also told to pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. | She was also told to pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. |
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