AK 1 & AK 2
During 2006 a Norfolk couple pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a young gelding after he was found with an open, infected wound on his hind leg. The wound had almost certainly been caused by the machinery and building materials which littered the field in which the gelding and his mother lived. The injury clearly needed treatment, but no vet had been called so Nic concluded that the horse had been caused unnecessary suffering by the neglect of his owners.
Both the gelding and mare (known as 'AK1 and AK2') were boarded at Redwings to prevent the stress that their separation would have caused. As well as administering drugs to combat the infection, Redwings’ veterinary team had to clean and dress the wound every day for many weeks. It cost Redwings over £1,000 to treat the wound, on top of the costs of caring for the horses for eight months.
When the case was heard in June, Norwich magistrates were satisfied that the couple did the regret the suffering they had caused their horse. The couple were fined and told that they could only have their animals back if they drastically improved the environment they provided for them. Following a successful home inspection, Redwings staff took this lovely pair back to their new, safer field. The horses will be checked regularly to ensure that their welfare does not suffer again in the future.
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