Women are banned from owning horses for a decade after one was left so hungry it was forced to eat a wooden fence post
Two women were today banned from owning horses for a decade after one was found so hungry it was eating a wooden fence post.
Shocking footage shows an emaciated 15-year-old ex-racehorse, called Magic, 'chewing a wooden fence post' - having been found severely underweight.
Inspectors from the RSPCA added that the field in West Sussex where the horses were kept was '75 per cent flooded' and 'deep with mud', and that trees and hedges had been 'stripped of their bark' by the horses.
Two women were today banned from owning horses for a decade after one was found so hungry it was eating a wooden fence post
Shocking footage shows an emaciated 15-year-old ex-racehorse, called Magic, 'chewing a wooden fence post' - having been found severely underweight
The two women, Nybella Stephens, 25, and Gemma Stevens, 36, were banned from owning horses for ten years and ordered to pay fines of £660 each, as well as court costs of £425.
The case was proved in their absence, as both defendants failed to attend any of their court hearings at Brighton Magistrates' Court.
RSPCA Inspector Cora Peeters, who attended the field in Bognor Regis a year ago, said: 'Approximately 75 per cent of the field was flooded and the remainder of the field was deep with mud.
Inspectors from the RSPCA added that the field in West Sussex where the horses were kept was '75 per cent flooded'. Pictured is one of the underweight horses
Chestnut coloured Magic was said to have dragged his rescuers to grass as soon as he was taken from the field, and was at least 100kg underweight when he was found
Left: The fence is pictured showing where the horse tried to eat it (shown right)
'The hedges and trees had been stripped of their bark by the horses, and I couldn't see any form of Ad-Lib feeder or hay on the ground.
'Both Magic and Lexi were extremely thin and their bony protrusions were clearly visible.
'A vet attended and confirmed both horses were in a suffering condition to the extent that they were in an emaciated state.'
Both Magic and Lexi were seized by police and taken to a boarding facility where they have since gained weight and made great recoveries
Chestnut coloured Magic was said to have dragged his rescuers to grass as soon as he was taken from the field, and was at least 100kg underweight when he was found.
Both Magic and Lexi were seized by police and taken to a boarding facility where they have since gained weight and made great recoveries.
The pair will be rehoused by World Horse Welfare in the near future.