“Poor Body Condition”: Equestrian Teen Faces 10-Year Ban for Cruelty to Miniature Pony

Published 10/10/2023, 4:21 PM EDT

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A 19-year-old girl named Lucia Kate Stanton has been ordered to pay 820 euros. Last week, the judge claimed the sum for her criminal offense after her Palomino Shetland pony was discovered in a state of poor health by an RSPCA inspector. The veterinarian later determined that the pony was suffering from a severe lice infestation.

It was disclosed in the Birmingham Magistrates Court last week that Stanton failed to recognize her pony. The little pony, Waffles, was underweight and suffering from a parasite issue that led to this heart-wrenching situation. Waffles shared a field in Worcestershire with four horses owned by Charlie Virginia Hingley. She is a 27-year-old resident of Netherton in the West Midlands.

Pony neglect case disclosed in the Equestrian community

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Both Stanton and Hingley received sentences on September 25 after admitting that they were the reason for the horses’ suffering. The nearby witnesses observed a tractor on January 22, which is being used to lift a collapsed horse. The pony sag in the field which is located on School Lane in Bromsgrove. They informed the equine police on time, who then urgently requested Hingley to call a vet.

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The scene after the veterinarian’s arrival was more shocking, as there was another horse who had also slumped. Hingley’s second horse, Sonny’s condition, was so dire that the veterinarian had to take him on medical grounds immediately. Earlier in the same day, another horse named Celly, who was severely undernourished, had to be lifted with a tractor. Hingley ultimately gave up Celly to a constable, and the horse was removed from her stable.

The RSPCA was contacted to assess the welfare of the remaining horses owned by Hingley and Stanton. Inspector Suzi Smith, a specialized equine officer from the RSPCA, arrived at the scene. She expressed concerns about two specific horses called Luna and Waffles. Despite their fluffy winter coats, both horses appeared to be in “poor body condition.” Luna had developed rain scald on her back, a skin condition that happens by exposure to wet weather.

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Equine rescue alert

A legal case was assigned in the name of Stanton and Hingley for the mistreatment of horses. Stanton has been subjected to penalties, such as disqualification from owning horses for a period of 10 years. For the first 5 years, she won’t be able to appeal as well. She was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £400 in costs, along with a victim surcharge of £120.

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Hingley, on the other hand, faced more severe consequences. She has been permanently disqualified from owning equines, with no opportunity for an appeal. In addition, she received two 12-week prison sentences, which have been suspended for a period of 12 months. She further had to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement spanning 15 days and was ordered to pay £400 in costs.

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Written by:

Shayni Maitra

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Shayni Maitra is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing her degree in Psychology from a reputed institute, Shayni has been actively involved with entertainment writing for a year. Her role as an Olympic writer combines her admiration for sports, especially Gymnastics.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty