One year on, horses rescued from horrific neglect case are now thriving

Eight horses saved from a site in Barnard Castle, County Durham, where dead horses were left where they’d fallen, have blossomed in the care of our Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, in Aberdeenshire, with most finding loving new homes already. 

The eight horses – including a foal – were among 22 found in appalling conditions a year ago, after our Field Officer Seema Ritson was called to assist the RSPCA. Now, a woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty in October to charges relating to 22 horses and 21 dogs. 

“Sadly, I do see cases of severe neglect in the course of my job and consequently have had to build up a level of resilience, but some cases haunt me and this is one of them,” explains Seema. “Finding dead horses left in barns, with the remaining survivors shut in with no food, no water, no bedding and, in some cases, no light was truly horrendous.  One stable was so dark that until I used my phone as a torch, I couldn’t even tell that there was a foal in there, stood all on her own in the pitch black.”

With the situation truly dire, Seema and one of her colleagues urgently assisted the RSPCA to remove the horses to safety the very same day, so that they could get the care they so desperately needed. Once strong enough to travel further, eight horses came into the care of our Aberdeenshire centre, where the team set about transforming both their health and their confidence. 

Supervisor Sarah Hector has cared for one of the younger horses in the group, a Shire mare named Thora (top picture), since she came to Belwade Farm. “Thora has come on in leaps and bounds since arriving with us. She had minimal handling skills on arrival, along with untreated feather mites which had caused painful sores on her legs,” explains Sarah. 

“To begin with she was understandably defensive about having her back legs touched, but once the mites were treated I started building her confidence with having her legs handled. Thora is a very quick learner and responded really well to positive reinforcement (treats!). She’s gained over 100kg since she came into our care and is now great to catch, lead and groom. She’s really friendly and is always one of the first over to greet you in the field – and has grown to a majestic 18hh.”

Seema adds, “When I visited the farm in the summer, it was magical to see how they’d blossomed. Their new-found confidence showed how much work the grooms had put in already. Even the terrified little foal I found shut in the dark has now transformed into a curious, healthy youngster (pictured below). She’s found a loving home and we hope she has a very bright future ahead.”

Having pleaded guilty to 15 offences relating to 22 horses and 21 dogs and one count in relation to breaching a previous ban on keeping animals, Kerry Pickersgill was given a two-year custodial sentence, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, 100 hours of unpaid work, and a six-month mental health treatment order. Her daughter, Ellie Newby, admitted two offences relating to two dogs and was disqualified from keeping dogs for five years. She was also given a 12-month community order, with 150 hours of unpaid work.

Rehoming is a vital part of our work, in order to make life-saving space that enables horses in need to come into our centres. If you could offer one of our horses or ponies a home, check out our rehoming pages now.