Woman who rode emaciated horse at equestrian event sentenced at court

Charlotte McPherson aged 22, of Park Lane, Kidderminster, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today to be sentenced for two offences.

She was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a horse by failing to investigate and treat the cause of his poor body condition, and failing to take steps to ensure that the needs of the animal were met, by failing to protect him from pain, suffering, injury and disease by riding him when he was not in a fit state to be ridden.

As well as the 10-year disqualification order, magistrates gave McPherson a 12-month community order, ordered her to do 160 hours of unpaid work and told her to pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

McPherson pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing in August this year.

The RSPCA were made aware of the 10-year-old thoroughbred ex-racehorse, whose racing name was Hoare Abbey but was known by his stable name of Thor, after images of him looking underweight were posted on social media.

RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith, who investigated, said:

A vet examination of Thor, who was kept at stables in Stourton, showed that the cause of his weight loss was because of inadequate condition and a high worm egg count, as he had not been wormed properly.