A woman has been found guilty of causing a number of ponies to suffer following a welfare case at Lincoln Magistrates Court.Three ponies a piebald colt, a chestnut Shetland gelding and a bay miniature pony gelding suffered unnecessarily, while a fourth a grey miniature pony gelding did not have his needs met.The court heard that in February 2024, the RSPCA and Bransby Horses investigated the neglect of several horses at a location in Meadow Lane, North Scarle, after reports of welfare concerns were made to the charities.RSPCA Inspector Annette della-Porta, accompanied by officers from Bransby Horse Rescue, observed the horses and ponies in wet, muddy paddocks containing hazards. The team noted several horses owned by Beth Lane, 26, of Eagle Moor, were unwell, including a piebald pony who was very underweight, extremely uncoordinated and unsteady on his hind legs and a small chestnut colt who was extremely underweight and had severe hair loss across his loins.In total, four horses were removed by Lincolnshire Police and placed into the care of the charities. By April 2024, all four horses had begun to gain weight.They included a one-year-old bay colt, who was discovered with muscle wastage on his back and lice. He had sharp teeth and nasal discharge with frequent coughing, and wheezy lungs.Another pony, a one-year-old grey colt, also had muscle wastage on his back and lice. He had very long, overgrown feet, sharp teeth, and weakness when turning. When tested by the vet, his lungs were wheezy.A specialist equine vet who examined the horses concluded that three had been suffering unnecessarily between two and three weeks due to Lanes failure to manage parasites, and by failing to address their poor body condition. All four horses were so underweight that they had a body condition score of just one out of five.Lane was sentenced earlier this month (2 June) following a trial.She was given a 12 month Community Order and must attend 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, and received a 500 fine. Lane must also pay 10,000 in costs.Charities worked together to bring the ponies to safetyIt was incredibly sad for our team to see these ponies in such a poor state, said RSPCA Chief Inspector for Lincolnshire Rebecca Lowe after sentencing. Its essential that issues such as weight loss and parasites are adequately addressed, and the fact that these ponies have made a good recovery since being removed, shows that they werent given the appropriate care that they really needed.Positively, this investigation was a great example of the joint-work that goes on between welfare charities. Collaborating with equine welfare specialists like Bransby Horses forms a huge part of our rescue work and wed like to thank their team for the fantastic work theyve done in helping us with this case, and these ponies.The ponies are now in charity careThe four horses have made a good recovery under the care of the charities.At sentencing, the District Judge acknowledged that Lane acquired horses which were unwell and suffering but therefore became responsible for them, and she fell short of what was necessary which prolonged their suffering.In mitigation, the court was told that Lane reduced her horses to 12, keeping them between two sites only.Making progress after their rescueMore from Your HorseBest fly sprays for horses as tested by our team of owners and ridersTwo in-hand exercises to improve a horses core strengthCommon causes of coughing in horses and what to do about itNervous out hacking? This is how hypnotic language could boost your confidenceThe post Incredibly sad to see: Owner in court after emaciated ponies rescued appeared first on Your Horse.