PETER and JANE HOPE – WORCESTER Peter Hope, 65, and Jane Hope, 59, from Powick,…

❌PETER and JANE HOPE – WORCESTER❌

Peter Hope, 65, and Jane Hope, 59, from Powick, Worcester WR2 – for the starvation and neglect of two horses found starving, riddled with worms and lice and with overgrown hooves.

The Hopes, who bred and sold horses under the names Foxboro Stud or Foxboro Performance Horses, pleaded guilty to seven animal welfare offences in relation to fillies Fox and Rain..

In a witness statement provided to the court RSPCA Inspector Suzi Smith said she attended a field in a field in Martley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, after receiving a report of concern for the welfare of horses kept there.

Six equines were held on a part of the field which was fenced off.

She said: “The fenced off area was approximately three acres and had no grazing left available to them. The ground was just mud or dried mud/soil. There was an automatic water trough, and along the gate side of the field was the remnants of what appeared to be straw. What was left was soiled.”

Foxy, a young chestnut horse, was wearing a blue rug.

Inspector Smith said: “The rug hung on her like she was a coat hanger showing angular lines along the spine and pelvis. I pulled the rug off her back to see her body condition.

“She had a clear shelf forming at the top of her rib cage where her spinal processes extend up, her pelvis was angular showing the bones clearly, and she had no neck muscle, she also lacked muscle between her hind legs and formed a gap.”

There was also a buckskin young horse, Rain, who Inspector Smith said was “very underweight”.

She added: “She had no rug on and had a fluffed up winter coat. Despite the thick coat you could see her spine stood up, with a drop away either side to the top of her rib cage forming a shelf where she lacked muscle and fat.

“Her pelvis was angular with bones showing and she had a gap between her hind legs where she lacked muscle and fat.”

A vet attended the site and examined the horses and confirmed that Roxy and Rain were both in a suffering state. Both horses were removed from the site by the RSPCA.

A warning notice was issued to the Hopes to provide access to dry lying and ensure sufficient access to good quality forage to maintain a healthy weight for the remaining equines.

The court was also told that the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare had previous contact with the Hopes and had provided them with advice and guidance.

Following sentencing Inspector Smith said: “It’s awful when horses are caused to suffer at all, but in this case it is even more frustrating when advice was given to the owners previously to improve matters. Sadly this was not acted upon, resulting in unnecessary suffering being caused to Rain and Foxy.

“I implore owners to be realistic about the care they can provide, both physically and financially for any animal in their care. If they are unable to meet their needs, they need to take action, rather than leave them to suffer.”

While Foxy is now thriving in a new home, Rain was sadly put to sleep after she developed significant lameness.

12-week custodial, suspended for 12 months, with additional four-week suspended sentences for each of the other six offences to run concurrently; ordered to each pay £350 and a victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from keeping equines for 10 years.