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Search forHorse expert faces cruelty charges
Thursday, August 14, 2008, 08:00
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."
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