Horse and Pony Protection Association

Man banned for life from keeping equines
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HAPPA are delighted that justice has been served on a horse owner charged with cruelty to animals.

John Woodward from Cheshire pleaded guilty to 12 charges of unnecessary suffering and was fined £1,000, given a four month suspended prison sentence and banned for life from keeping equines.

Many of the animals removed from Mr Woodward were brought to HAPPA’s Northern Rescue Centre at Shores Hey Farm, Nr Burnley by RSPCA Inspector Rachel Andrews, where they have received specialist care during the past twelve months.

Centre Manager Julie Jackson said it was one of the most distressing cases of equine neglect that she has ever experienced. “A young black colt, a chestnut filly and a mature black fell mare with a foal at foot came in first. They were all emaciated and needed twenty four hour care and an intensive rehabilitation programme to help them recover from their ordeal. We were then asked to care for a further two animals that Mr Woodward had voluntarily signed over to the RSPCA and one grey mare was in such a desperate condition that she couldn’t stand and was in a sling in our intensive care accommodation for some time. Thankfully all the animals are now the property of HAPPA and I am delighted that they have recovered well and we can now begin to school the more mature animals as riding ponies and place them in private homes through our loan scheme and begin the weaning and breaking process with the foals”

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