Trio banned from keeping horses after neglect

Despite putting on weight in RSPCA care, Autumn had to be put to sleep due to health issues

Three people have been banned from keeping horses for seven years after admitting neglect.

Kerry Ruth Pugh, 43, and Jessica Paige Pugh, 21, each pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence relating to a horse called Autumn, which a vet described as the thinnest he had ever seen.

Despite putting on weight after being taken into RSPCA care from the stables at Wellington Heath near Ledbury, Herefordshire, Autumn had to be put down.

Oliver Daelan Fairy, 21, pleaded guilty to an offence relating to another horse, Totti.

Hereford magistrates' court heard the two horses were found to be emaciated, which was likely to be due to high worm burdens and lack of a suitable diet.

Autumn's story

Kerry Pugh, of Bosbury near Ledbury, and her daughter Jessica Pugh, of Arlingham Place in Broomhall, Worcester, had entrusted someone else to look after the horse and feed her daily.

However, the pair admitted they should have taken responsibility themselves and checked on Autumn's welfare.

They called a vet when the first signs of choke (obstruction to the oesophagus) showed.

A vet described Autumn as the thinnest horse he'd ever seen

In a written statement to the court, RSPCA inspector Suzane Smith said she went to the stables on 22 March 2023, after the society received a call concerning underweight horses.

Ms Smith said: “[Autumn] was wearing a rug, but despite the rug I could see she was extremely angular with the rug hanging on her like she was a coat hanger.

"There was no food or water in the stable, there was no bedding, there was some faeces.”

She added: “I went into the stable and removed the rug.

"As I suspected, the horse was extremely underweight with all bones exposed, a clear thigh gap between her buttock cheeks, the rib cage was fully visible with a shelf along the top where it met with the spinal processors."

A vet who assessed Autumn said that he had spoken with the owner the previous evening but a visit was not agreed by the owner.

Ms Smith added: “He then clearly said that the horse was about the thinnest horse he’d seen and confirmed suffering.”

Despite being taken into RSPCA care and putting on weight, Autumn had lameness issues and the decision was made to put her to sleep.

A vet described Totti's weight loss as "severe"

Totti's story

The inspector was also informed that a second horse, Totti, had left the yard a few days earlier and had been returned to its owner in north Wales after being loaned to Oliver Fairy.

Ms Smith located Totti, with a vet confirming that the horse had been suffering and had an “above normal faecal worm egg count”.

The weight loss was described as “severe” and would have occurred over a long period of time.

The court heard how Fairy, of Tan House Lane in Malvern, had limited involvement with Totti and another person had been attending to the horses, but ultimately he had the overriding responsibility for her care.

Oliver Fairy admitted he failed to ensure Totti had the correct vet assistance and nourishment

All three defendants were disqualified from keeping horses for seven years.

Fairy was handed a £450 fine, victim surcharge of £180, and was ordered to pay £200 costs.

Kerry Pugh and Jessica Pugh were jointly handed a £196 fine, a victim surcharge of £78, and ordered to pay £200 costs.