A former animal welfare officer has been fined after failing to care for her thoroughbred horse properly.

Jennifer Ann Corran, of Ballaughton Close, in Douglas, pleaded guilty to an offence of wantonly causing suffering to her horse, Ben, between November 2018 and April 2019.

Corran was said to be a former animal welfare officer who had worked at the ManxSPCA. Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court that retired 68-year-old Corran kept three horses in a field at St John’s.

On April 16, a farrier visited Corran’s horses and found that Ben was lame.

The horse had last been seen in June 2018 although it was said that they should be seen every seven or eight weeks.

The farrier said that they were shocked by the condition of Ben’s feet as one of his hooves was badly cracked and he was reluctant to walk.

It was said that there had been a loss of the hoof wall with a large cavity close to the bone which could have resulted in infection.

The farrier said the condition of the hooves was clearly visible even to a person uneducated in such matters.

A vet treated the horse which was also said to be very thin with a poor quality coat and found to have a heavy worm burden.

Neglect

The horse was described as being ’severely neglected for many months’ and in ’significant pain and suffering’.

Corran was interviewed and said that she visited her horses every day and didn’t think Ben’s hooves needed looking at over the winter.

She said he was always reluctant to walk over stone and that he was wormed every six months so she could not explain the high worm count.

The court heard she has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said: ’The vet says in their statement the suffering could have been avoided by appropriate farriery. The charge relates to the hooves, not the overall condition.’

Mr Taylor said Ms Corran’s other two horses had been found to be in good health.

’The other two are more robust,’ said the advocate. ’They have had the same care regime. But Ms Corran realises now, as Ben has got older, the same care regime cannot be applicable. Unfortunately she took her eye off the ball with regards to Ben.’

The advocate said Corran had been looking after her sister at the time who had broken her hip and also handed in a letter of support from a vet which he said ’painted a very positive picture’.

’It was not deliberate neglect,’ said Mr Taylor. ’The horse was not in a field on its own deprived of food and water. He has since been moved inside onto different ground and had his hooves trimmed. She now realises he has to have greater care and she has given him greater care.’

Magistrates chair Charles Fargher said: ’We can tell by the way you have presented yourself you greatly regret this incident.

’Clearly there was neglect going on for some time and we are surprised someone of your experience allowed it.’