Today, Tuesday 17 June, at Dorking Magistrates Court, Surrey, Christine Mahoney, 58, of 50, Searchwood Road, Warlingham, Croydon was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Freddie a Shetland type pony in her possession. She was fined £250 and ordered to pay £5,150 costs.

Following a complaint to the ILPH (International League for the Protection of Horses) their Field Officer, Ted Barnes, visited Freddie in Warlingham on 9 May 2001. He was found to be lame and to have extremely long feet. The ILPH paid for a farrier to visit to trim his feet. On 19 December that year the ILPH received a further complaint about Freddie. His feet were again found to be very long, the ILPH again paid for his treatment.

Following a third visit on 10 June last year Freddie's feet were found to be worse than before, he was lame on all 4 feet and x-rays showed pedal bone rotation in all his feet. At this point he could not get up and spent his time lying down. It was only from this position that he could eat, clearly illustrated by the circular area of grass eaten around him.

Comments Ted Barnes, "Mahoney had no excuse, she was perfectly aware that the pony needed to have his feet trimmed regularly, he must have been in agony. This conviction sends out all the right messages the element of cruelty in this case was proven by the owner's neglect in assuring that the pony had his feet trimmed regularly. She has got what she deserved, and the pony's future is assured as he will now spend the rest of his life in ILPH ownership."

www.ilph.org

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