Noggin the horse just one of cruelty incidents that shame region

Figures published today reveal County Durham is ranked the fourth worst place for horse-related complaints while North Yorkshire comes in at number seven.

In 2017, 646 complaints regarding equines were made in County Durham, with 734 made the previous year, while in North Yorkshire 503 complaints were made last year and 587 in 2016.

Horse-related cruelty complaints were just some of those to make up the overall 3,384 investigated in County Durham in 2017, 3,388 in 2016, and 3,253 in 2015 - placing it at 11th out of all counties in the country.

Christine McNeil, the RSPCA’s inspectorate national equine co-ordinator, said: “We’ve been talking about the horse crisis for several years now, but the truth is the situation is just as severe today as when it started.

"Last year we took in more horses than we have in any of the past four years (980), and with our inspectors being called to rescue more and more every week, we are stretched to the limits.

“Up and down the country, horses are being found sick, or dumped liked rubbish, dying or dead.

"Distressingly, this is common and it’s a huge issue.

"We are constantly receiving calls to our cruelty line - on average 80 per day about horses alone - as well as messages every day on social media from very concerned and upset people asking for our help."

County Durham alone was ranked as having the second highest number of horses rescued between 2015 and 2017.

Fifty-six were rescued in 2017, 61 in 2016 and 96 in 2015.

Among them was ‘Noggin’, a yearling cob colt found in a swamp-like, muddy field in Tow Law by RSPCA inspectors and the British Horse Society on December 22, 2016.

RSPCA chief inspector Mark Gent said: “We had removed a large herd of 23 abandoned and suffering ponies from Tow Law.

“The horses were in very poor condition, the field they were in was barren and there was nothing to shelter the group from the extreme winter weather.

“They were all loaded up onto the lorry and I went to do a last check of the field, that’s when I found Noggin.

“He was collapsed, exhausted, extremely cold and almost invisible in a sea of mud, barely alive. In fact my first thought was that he was dead. He was so lucky.”

Months of intensive care and rehabilitation followed at a private boarding establishment for the 12hh, two-year-old until he was finally ready to be rehomed and transferred to RSPCA Felledge Equine Centre, in Chester-le-Street.

Staff took him to Equifest - the annual five-day horse show and one of the biggest competing events in the UK - where he took part and secured two titles.

The very sociable little pony such an impression on BHS member Wendy Suddes, she decided she had to have Noggin in order to secure his future.

She said: “This pony has been through such a lot and I just had to have him - the adoption process was very straightforward, I would always recommend helping a rescue pony if you possibly can.”

The original owner of the ponies was never traced.

In 2017 the RSPCA secured 67 convictions against 38 people in County Durham, 44 against 22 in North Yorkshire and 47 against 26 in Tyne and Wear.

Heathcock, left, Finch, right and the x-ray of the dog showing the nail

Among the cases successfully prosecuted was against close friends Michael Heathcock and Richard Finch who buried Heathcock’s pet 'Scamp' alive after hammering a nail into its head.

The terrier was left to suffer with an untreated brain tumour for months before the botched DIY euthanasia attempt Kirkleatham Woods, Redcar, in October 2016.

They were sentenced to four months in prison when they appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in March 2017.

The terrier’s owner was also disqualified from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £100 costs and £115 victim surcharge after admitting two offences of causing unnecessary suffering.

Finch was also disqualified from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £100 costs and £115 victim surcharge after admitting one offence of causing unnecessary suffering.