Somerset owner ban after horses found with “bones protruding”

A man has been banned from keeping horses for seven years after the RSPCA found animals in his care to be “severely underweight” and “in need of urgent care”.

Kevin Roper, of Turnpike Road in Axbridge, Somerset, admitted an animal welfare offence and was ordered to pay £400 costs and a £240 victim surcharge during sentencing at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on 15 December.

An RSPCA investigation found he had failed to give his three cob-type horses “the care they desperately needed”.

The horses, named Brie, Halloumi and Cheddar, two of which were pregnant, were found with their “bones protruding” on land at Winscombe, the animal charity said.

RSPCA inspector Kim Walters visited the land after concerns were raised about the welfare of horses owned by Roper.

Ms Walter said one of the horses “appeared lethargic and reluctant to graze”.

“I was able to see her hip bones, ribs and spine easily despite having a long coat”, she said.

Ms Walter said she also saw another young cob that “appeared extremely underweight with her ribs, spine and hip bones being easily seen and felt”.

“Also amongst the herd was a skewbald cob mare, and I could see all her bony prominences and her spine and hip bones were protruding,” she said.

The three horses are recovering at Bristol rescue charity HorseWorld and two of them have given birth to healthy foals.

In mitigation, Roper said he loved his horses and that he was not aware of the extent of the problems.