Horse expert faces cruelty charges
EQUINE nutritionist Sue Jenkins is to face eight charges of causing unnecessary suffering to horses.
The Kilcot woman, who is living in Spain, faces charges relating to 15 horses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in the UK.
Spanish media reports claim she has also been accused of starving 16 horses to death in Cadiz, Andalucia.
Now the 32-year-old has been ordered to attend Forest of Dean Magistrates' Court in Coleford on October 13 to face the UK charges. She has not been summonsed in Spain.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA, which is prosecuting Jenkins in this country, said October's case could be heard in her absence.
Guardia Civil animal welfare arm Seprona is reportedly investigating the case in Spain.
Vets from the Junta de Andalucia have been called in to save the remaining horses.
Spanish media reports claim the thoroughbred Trakehner horses died on scrub land in Cadiz and that another 36 horses are so ill they may have to be put down.
It is understood Jenkins bought some of the horses from the Singing Stud stables in Ross-on-Wye in 2003, where she used to treat some of the animals.
Stables owner Marleen Fewtrell said: "We just can't believe this has happened.
"As an animal lover, I find this unbelievable."
Jenkins is believed to have moved to Spain from Kilcot last year.
Antonio Moreno, a spokesman for Spanish animal charity Colectivo Acma, said: "The situation is chaotic.
"When we got there one horse had just died while a colt was on the verge of death. Many other horses were so ill they were unable to stand. It was horrific."
Under Andalucian law all horses seized in such cases must be put down.
Animal activists are lobbying to allow the horses to be rescued and given new homes or repatriated to the stud in Britain where they were bred.
Donations and charity funds are being used to feed and treat the remaining 36 horses including the Trakehners.
Jenkins has claimed the animals died after drinking salinated water or eating hay containing thorns.
Approached by the English language newspaper for Andalucia, The Olive Press, she denied all the allegations.
She is quoted as saying: "None of the horses died from malnutrition.
"First there was the water problem and after we sorted that out I had a delivery of hay contaminated with small thorns. It was impossible to detect but when the animals ate it they got a mouthful of thorns and couldn't eat.
"I have saved my horses, no one else.
"I'm devastated at what's happened and extremely angry at these false claims."
16 Comments
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by Linda Cadiz, Cadiz. Spain
Thursday, October 23 2008, 1:14PM
“GUILTY as charged! justice at least for some of the horses. Now we can concentrate on geting justice for the dead horses here in Spain and preventing any more suffering and death!”
by Sacha Rowson, New Zealand
Sunday, October 12 2008, 9:06PM
“This is disgraceful! These horses have been neglected for several months to get in such poor condition. Contaminated feed? absolute hogwash!! This woman is a disgrace to the human race and should be locked up. We too own a Holme Trakehner stallion who we brought with us to NZ from the UK as well as several other purebreds. A tragic loss and waste of a beautiful and noble breed.”
by Penny, Cadiz, Spain
Wednesday, September 17 2008, 3:04PM
“Anyone interested in this case should contact CACMA colectivoacma@gmail.com. They will give the contact numbers for the people in Cadiz. We are grateful for any offers of help. Looking forward to meeting any or all of you.”
by Katy, Spain & England
Tuesday, September 16 2008, 3:42PM
“I have been reading your comments with great interest.
Poor horses if what is said is true, lets help instead of Bi*ching!!
Penny you seem to be the one with the facts, before I comment and place donations via the Trek website please could you verify how you have information that 6 more horses have passed away and indeed that this is a real case and not another internet scam as there seems to be so many nowadays!!”
by Kim Farrington, Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz
Monday, September 15 2008, 9:19AM
“We live very close to this womans farm and I have contacted Antonio to offer help, the local Spiller rep has also shown an interest in helping out with food and I have passed on his number to Antonio. I hope they do get in touch. I have 2 horses, a retired showjumper, i was given this spring because he busted his tendon and they were going to put him down, he is recovering well and hacking now, he is the sweetest natured horse in the world and I have a dutch harness horse who is nutty and sensitive, and extremely cuddly. I adore them both. we have a tiny farm but we have offered to help in anyway we can and I hope everyone else in the area will too, Im going to speak to my friends here and hopefully we can find good homes, temporary or permanent for these poor horses whatever their breeding. I am saddened by this and disgusted that it has been going on for so long, Lets all pull together and help in any way we can.
Kim”
by Penny, Cadiz, Spain
Sunday, September 14 2008, 4:11PM
“A further 6 horses have died making a total of 22 (in Spain). Add the 3 dead in England she has killed 25. The only lucky ones are the 5 the RSPCA took away from her.”
by charles slatter, kilcot, glos
Wednesday, September 10 2008, 5:42PM
“I live half a mile from the farm that the Jenkins' own in Kilcot, it is now on the market. I drove past daily and saw the terrible muddy conditions a very large number of horses lived in. I once counted 22 in one 4 acre paddock, not a blade of grass in sight. Horse nutritionalist? I doubt it. Compassion? Not an ounce. I hope she gets a prison sentence. No animals deserve to be treated like those horses. What pleasure could be derived from seeing them like that? Was she driven by greed or ignorance? Who knows, but it shows that we should all be vigilant, because these things can occur right under our noses. We must all be champions of animals, they cant speak, but looking at them can tell us a story.”
by Amanda Le Verdier, Andalucia, Spain
Friday, September 05 2008, 4:20PM
“All of the comments made are well meant.
Having spoken to Antonio Moreno from the charity CACMA (the man on the ground) what is most important is time (Spanish law can move very slowly). They need good food, pure water and veterinary care right now, while the legal battle goes on.
Lets get some money/help to those who are working hard to assist these horses recover to a level where being moved is possible.
Antonio sounded very emotional about what he discovered and we wish him every success in his work.
What you can do is donate some money (e.g. 100 euros pays for about 20 bales of hay/foraje) and contact him on the CACMA web site if you can physically help or provide a permanent (or temporary) home for any horses whatever breed.
Donations can be sent to.
CACMA (the charity)
German Bank Málaga/Deutsche Bank Málaga
Bank account No 0019 0090 15 4010048056
IBAN ES35 0019 0090 15 4010048056
SWIFT (BIC) DEUTESBB 0019 0090 15 4010048056
Postal adress:
Deutsche Bank Málaga
Avd. Andalucía 7
29002 Málaga
Telf. 952356011”
by Pat Marlin, Newport Pagnell
Tuesday, September 02 2008, 7:54AM
“I too own three beautiful Holme Trakehner horses. I just cannot bear to think of these beautiful animals suffering at the hands of this monster. I get upset if my horses are out in the rain for too long, imagining they are uncomfortable and it's my responsibility to keep them safe & comfortable. I just can't bear to think how they have suffered & are continuing to suffer. The authorities MUST allow the relevant charities to act quickly. These beautiful loyal animals deserve our help. This woman MUST be brought to justice. I would hope she could be given a custodial sentance in a filthy stinking jail somewhere abroad, which would still be a better outcome for her, than her horses received...They effectively have been tortured as well as starved & neglected.”
by Christopher Bennett, durham..england
Saturday, August 30 2008, 8:34AM
“My wife and I are the owners of lots of animals,one of which is a 4yr old trakehner gelding,knowing how spirited these horses are only saddens us more to think how much they must have suffered and the womans claims that none of them died from neglect and starvation are proved to be ridiculous when you look at photos of the horses and the conditions they were kept in!.....it disgusts me that people like this can continue to get away with this type of behavior....she should be subjected to the same sort of cruelty that she has obviously shown her horses....locked in a hot room with no food,water or medical care and made to suffer the same fate....i only hope our unfortunately poor justice system take the correct action against her and she gets whats she deserves!!”