Rescue stories
Elderly Laddy's new lease of life
The owner of an elderly horse has been banned from keeping horses for ten years after admitting causing him unnecessary suffering; palomino Laddy has made a fantastic recovery at Redwings and is guaranteed a safe and happy home for the rest of his retirement.
His owner, Sally Branson, 60, from Norfolk, was also given a 12-month community order including 250 hours of unpaid work by Norwich Magistrates Court.
Laddy when he arrived at Redwings
31-year-old palomino Laddy was severely underweight and suffered with profound dental problems that had been ignored. His teeth were so poor that he was unable to graze properly; but with dental care and the supplementary feeds given by the team at Redwings he made a dramatic recovery. His companion, an appaloosa, was in chronic pain with an infection in a sensitive area. He was also moved to Redwings where his pain was well-managed and his unusual infection was being assessed but sadly he has since passed away from an unrelated attack of colic.
RSPCA Inspector Carrie O’Riordan said: “We are very pleased with this sentence, which sends a clear message to pet owners that they must be prepared to take responsibility for their animals, which includes meeting all their welfare needs.”
Redwings Senior Vet and Head of Welfare Nicolas De Brauwere said: “Just because a horse is old, does not mean it needs to be underweight. The fantastic recovery that Laddy has made since he has been in our care is proof of that. With good dental care and the right nutrition an elderly horse can still have an excellent quality of life. There is no excuse for allowing your horse to get into such a state and the severity of the sentence in this case reflects this.”
With simple feed and dental care, Laddy has made an amazing recovery
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