Horse and Pony Protection Association

Burnley man pleads guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a mare and foal
Kiwi and Bertie almost died

Simon Anthony Fielding of Sunderland Street, Burnley, has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two equines by failing to provide a mare called Kiwi with an adequate diet and failing to provide her with appropriate veterinary treatment for a severe skin condition . He also failed to provide a foal, Bertie, with appropriate veterinary treatment for injuries sustained when he was attacked by a dog.

HAPPA Welfare Officer, Janine Ashworth attended White Goats Farm, Whalley, Clitheroe in December 2008 in response to a request made by Mr Ron Thompson BVSc MRCVS of Stanley House Vets. Mr Thompson had been called to the farm by a groom to examine the foal and found him in a collapsed state and the mare in a severely emaciated and neglected condition. He issued a Certificate of Unnecessary suffering and called for his colleague Mr N. Johnson to assist him in caring for the animals on site. HAPPA Rescue Centre Manager, Julie Jackson and Head Groom, Sarah Backhouse also arrived with transport and helped care for the animals at the scene.

Bertie the foal was unable to rise, had a low body temperature and a rapid heart and respiratory rate. His extremities were cold and he suffered multiple wounds. He was totally unable to bend his left fore fetlock. His condition was so severe that euthanasia was discussed. Kiwi the mare was also in a very poor state with a body condition score of 0. Both animals had been attacked by Mr Fielding’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog in October 2008 but no one had sought treatment for their multiple wounds since that date.

The animals were given emergency treatment on site and HAPPA arranged for the them to be transported to their nearest Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe, Nr Burnley. Bertie was taken first as he was in a critical condition and his joint needed to be radiographed. With the help of the HAPPA team, veterinary surgeons and the Police. Bertie was sedated and lifted onto a rug then carried to the horsebox and driven carefully to the Centre where he was greeted by HAPPA staff and volunteers who had remained on site to assist with the rescue. On arrival, Bertie was carried out of the trailer and put into slings as he was too weak to support his own body weight.

Once Bertie was settled, staff returned to White Goats Farm to collect Kiwi. She was quickly loaded onto the horsebox and transported back to Shores Hey Farm to be reunited with her foal and to receive further treatment.

Staff worked around the clock to keep Bertie alive, administering antibiotics and lifting him into slings and then helping him back out of the slings to allow him to rest. This treatment continued for several weeks as gradually he began to recover. Kiwi’s skin condition was treated and she was fed a carefully managed diet to help re-establish a healthy body weight. Thankfully, both animals are now fit and well and enjoying life at Shores Hey Farm.
On Monday 16th November Mr Fielding was given a two year conditional discharge and disqualified from owning horses and ponies, disqualified from keeping horses and ponies, disqualified from participating in the keeping of horses and ponies, disqualified from being party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way in which horses and ponies are kept, disqualified from dealing in horses and ponies, disqualified from transporting horses and ponies and disqualified from arranging for the transport of horses and ponies for ten years, under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He was ordered to pay HAPPA costs totalling £7,836.58 plus court costs of £1,150 within three months.

Magistrates stated that Mr Fielding had been given advice and recommendations that he should call a veterinary surgeon to look at the animals but did nothing. They added that this cruelty to these animals was avoidable and it was not one horse, but two, that have suffered as a consequence of his neglect.

HAPPA Welfare Officer, Janine Ashworth is satisfied with the magistrates ruling. “It would be wrong to say that I’m pleased because this whole sorry situation should never have happened in the first place. There is no excuse for leaving animals to suffer from untreated wounds and for omitting to provide them with adequate food and care. It is nothing short of a miracle that both animals have now made a full recovery, largely due to the dedication of our Rescue Centre staff and I gain some comfort from the fact that Bertie and Kiwi are now safe and happy in a loving environment having been signed over to HAPPA.. Bertie and Kiwi are just two of the rising number of equines that HAPPA rescue on a regular basis. Complaints of cruelty and neglect have risen by over 30% this year alone yet our legacy income and general donations are on the decline. If anyone would like to make a contribution to HAPPA to help us save the lives of many more animals like Bertie and Kiwi then please call 01282 455992 or visit www.happa.org.uk for further information”

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