RSPCA inspectors rescue sick horse with '˜green eyes' from Portsmouth trader

An RSPCA inspector has revealed how the charity rescued a group of five sick horses from a Portsmouth trader, who was later convicted of animal cruelty.
Rosie the horse after being rescued. Picture: RSPCARosie the horse after being rescued. Picture: RSPCA
Rosie the horse after being rescued. Picture: RSPCA

The man was found guilty of five allegations of causing unnecessary suffering to five equines at a trial in March last year.

He was given a suspended sentence, ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work, fined £1,500 and disqualified from keeping horses for five years after failing to seek veterinary treatment for his animals.

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RSPCA inspector Tina Ward explained: ‘We worked really hard to help the owner improve the welfare of his horses over an extended period, but he continued to let them down.

Rosie the horse. Picture: RSPCARosie the horse. Picture: RSPCA
Rosie the horse. Picture: RSPCA

‘Over a three month period five of them were caused unnecessary suffering as a result of his actions, or lack of them.

‘Three of them died from their illnesses after coming into our care.

‘What happened to piebald mare Rosie particularly sticks in my mind. When we attended in January last year she had a gunky eye and we advised the owner that he needed to seek veterinary treatment.

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‘We returned less than two weeks later to find her eyes in such a bad condition that they had literally gone green - it was an awful sight.

Rosie the horse. Picture: RSPCARosie the horse. Picture: RSPCA
Rosie the horse. Picture: RSPCA

‘After we removed her, it turned out she had bacterial meningitis and was extremely poorly.

‘Thankfully she survived and is now doing well but if we had not taken action it could have been a very different story.’