Livery yard manager found guilty of causing ‘unnecessary suffering’

A woman from West Sussex who ran a livery yard has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to two horses.

Lynda Smith, also known as Lynda Kennedy, was found guilty at Horsham Magistrates’ Court last month (16 September 2016), in a case brought in by the RSPCA.

Smith, of Beaumont Park, Littlehampton, West Sussex was accused of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the welfare of two horses known as Hamish and Ava, between August 2015 and February 2016.

The RSPCA received a complaint about the condition of Hamish and Ava, who were owned by Smith and kept at stables at Lickfold Farm in Wiggonholt, Pulborough.

When they were visited by the RSPCA in February, both horses were found to be emaciated and malnourished.

Smith was found guilty of three offences of causing unnecessary suffering under section 4 and one welfare offence under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but acquitted of one allegation of poor welfare relating to a horse’s teeth. She was deprived of the two horses in question, received a £900 fine, ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

After the initial visit, RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley tried to contact Smith by telephone and left notices at the stables, but these were ignored.

Inspector Woodley was left with no choice but to call a vet who confirmed that both Hamish and Ava were suffering. Police then removed them and placed them into RSPCA care.

“For six months these poor horses suffered because Lynda Smith failed to get a vet out to them, even though they rapidly were losing body condition,” said Inspector Woodley.

“Quite simply these horses were not provided with adequate feed and reasonable level of care. Smith ignored my attempts to contact her to offer advice on improving their welfare. Both Ava and Hamish had high worm burdens, their teeth were in desperate need of specialist equine dentistry and they were emaciated.

“Thankfully both horses have been in RSPCA for some time now and are looking fantastic. It’s sad to think they horses suffered so much but now this case had concluded they can go on to find the caring forever homes they deserve.”