A woman has been given a 16-week suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping horses for ten years after leaving her animals to suffer with untreated injuries.

Hayley Marie Croshaw, 33, of Devonport, Plymouth, appeared before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 28 where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at an earlier hearing.

Two horses owned by Croshaw were discovered with severe injuries after an RSPCA inspector was called to a farm in Callington, Cornwall by concerned members of the public on May 18 2019.

A bay gelding, known as Spirit (pictured above), was discovered with bite and kick wounds which had been caused by stallion and left untreated.

Upon further examination, the pony was found to have multiple wounds all over his body including an abscess on his neck and a large necrotic wound with fly strike on the left thorax measuring approximately 4 inches by 5 inches.

He also had infected wounds on his right hind leg and an infected wound on his back right leg causing significant lameness to right hind limb.

Veterinary experts concluded Spirit was suffering and had been suffering for a significant length of time, with the wounds indicating they had been left for at least a couple of weeks and that the suffering could have been avoided by appropriate management to prevent fighting among the horses.

A second horse, known as Maybelou, was found with untreated injuries that had been caused by an ill-fitting headcollar.

Read more: RSPCA contacted about 376 horse related incidents in Cornwall last year

RSPCA inspector Jon Phipps, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “These horses were left to suffer needlessly as a result of irresponsible ownership and lack of care.

“These two horses were both left with serious injuries for which no veterinary attention was sought. Owners have a duty of care to their animals and must ensure they are safe from harm and receive the care they need.”

Alongside the 16-week prison sentence, which was suspended for one year, and disqualification order, Croshaw was also ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Both horses have since recovered and found new homes.