Mum's heartbreak at £12k fine over seized horses

Olivia, 17, says Lola, one of the three seized horses, is her "best friend"

A woman has spoken about receiving a "heart-wrenching" fine of almost £12,000 after three horses she had illegally tethered on council land were seized.

Jade Holdsworth, from Keighley, said she could not afford to pay the fine for the return of Lola, Hercules and Bob, and feared they might end up sold or rehomed.

Ms Holdsworth, 30, said she normally kept the horses, one on a long-term loan, in a rented field, and had only temporarily tethered them on council land, adding that their seizure was "like someone has stolen my child".

A Bradford Council spokesperson said illegal "fly-grazing" was a "safety risk" for the public and animals, and the authority used a contractor to tackle the issue.

The spokesperson said the contractor "always endeavours to issue Notices of Intent prior to any impoundment".

'Want them home'

Ms Holdsworth, a mum-of-four, explained that during the summer holidays she often brought the horses down to a nearby housing estate "so the children have easy access to them".

However, she said that at about 01:00 BST on Wednesday 10 September, all three tethered horses were led by contractors down a nearby ginnel before being put into a metal trailer attached to a 4x4 truck and driven away.

The contractors who took her horses left two A4 laminated notices behind on the ground with an email address to contact, she said.

"I know if I'd been given a notice beforehand, my horses would've been moved that same day," Ms Holdsworth said.

"It wouldn't have been worth losing them. I didn't think that by having them down for two or three days it would lead to this.

"It's like somebody has stolen my child. It's heart-wrenching, soul-destroying. I just want them home."

The patch of grass on a Keighley housing estate where the three horses were illegally tethered

Ms Holdsworth is the guardian of 17-year-old Olivia, who uses Lola as a therapy horse to help her cope with mental health issues.

Olivia said Lola was "completely untrained when I got her six years ago".

"I taught her how to jump, how to be ridden. I taught her absolutely everything, I taught her tricks," she explained.

"She's my best friend and I just want her back."

Ms Holdsworth said she had asked for a breakdown of the costs involved in the £12,000 fine, but "they've still given me nothing".

"All they want is that money for them to release my horses," she said.

"But I'm never going to get that amount in the time they've given. I just don't think it's fair."

'Reunited with owner'

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Fly-grazing poses a safety risk to the animals left without supervision as well as members of the public, and impacts the space available for communities to use.

"Naturally, this concerns residents who expect the council to act.

"The contractor always prioritises the safety of any animals involved, themselves, and members of the public, and always endeavours to issue Notices of Intent prior to any impoundment."

The council spokesperson said the authority was "unable to share" how the charge for the return of each horse was set.

"One of the animals in question has already been reunited with its owner, and we expect the others to follow suit soon," they added.

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