Horse Dealer jailed for Causing Unnecessary Suffering to Horses

On Wednesday, January 16th, at Reigate Magistrates Court a Surrey horse dealer
was sent to prison for two months for causing unnecessary suffering to 4 of his
horses.

Fred Harber, of Careys Wood, near Horley was sentenced to two months
imprisonment for each of the four horses to run concurrently, and banned from
keeping horses for 10 years.

Following complaints to the ILPH from members of the public on 25th and 30th April
last year about the emaciated state of horses in a field at Burstow Lodge Business
Centre, Nr Gatwick Airport their Field Officer went to the premises on 2nd May to
investigate.

Says Ted Barnes, ILPH Field Officer investigating the case, "I am extremely pleased
with the Court ruling, Mr. Harber has been flouting the horse welfare rules for many
years. The severity of the sentence reflects the crime, it's a pity that more courts don't
give prison sentences for this level of animal abuse. This sentence is sending out all
the right messages."

RSPCA Inspector Mike Harley added, "I was absolutely appalled at the dreadful way
in which these animals were being looked after and have rarely come across so
serious a case of neglect during my time with the Society."

Scarlet, Jemma, Jessie and Reg were taken to Cherry Tree Farm, the ILPH
Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, nr Lingfield in Surrey. Comments Ian Gibbs,
Centre Manager, "All four animals were severely emaciated and covered in lice when
they arrived. Sadly on veterinary advice, Jessie, a brown mare, has had to be
euthanised due to mouth abscesses. Since arriving she had undergone extensive
dental work with the hope that she would eventually be able to eat properly, but it was
not to be. The other three, however, are all fine and now in work and will soon be
ready to go out to suitable loan homes."

Jemma before

Jemma after

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