Horses ban for racing writer (From The Northern Echo)

Horses ban for racing writer

8:26am Friday 27th February 2009 in

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A RACING correspondent has been banned from keeping horses for ten years after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to a mare.

Josephine Jane Kirk-Scott of West Witton, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was also ordered to do 200 hours of community service and pay costs totalling £2,522.

The 62-year-old, a freelance journalist who writes on racing for the Darlington and Stockton Times, sister paper to The Northern Echo, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates Court for sentencing on Wednesday.

She had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dark bay mare called Berriedale by failing to provide veterinary attention for lameness.

The charge was brought by the RSPCA. After the case, Inspector Will Rippon said: “I am very pleased that the court took this case so seriously.

“This horse suffered horrendously because of Mrs Kirk-Scott’s failure to act and that is unacceptable.”

The horse was kept in a field off Watery Lane, West Witton.

Officials were called following a call from a member of the public in May last year.

The animal was taken away and placed in RSPCA care before being put to sleep with Kirk-Scott’s permission.

Prosecutors said the horse was suffering from long-standing arthritis, re-occurring joint infection and abscesses.

They said it had been in acute and severe pain for up to nine months.

Inspector Rippon added: “Records show that the horse hadn’t been seen by a vet since the previous August – about nine months before we became involved, and that Mrs Kirk-Scott had been told at that time that Berriedale was very lame.

“Veterinary testimony described Berriedale’s condition as one of the most serious and painful conditions encountered in equine orthopaedics and that the prospect of any horse having to bear such severe discomfort for such a prolonged period was extremely disturbing.

“Mrs Kirk-Scott failed this animal terribly and I hope she won’t be in a position to do so again.”

In mitigation, the court heard that Kirk-Scott knew the horse needed to be put down and was intending to get someone to carry this out when the RSPCA intervened.

Magistrates were told that Mrs Kirk-Scott had owned ten riding or racing horses, three ponies and one donkey over the past 30 years.

Her solicitor, Richard Buchanan, said she had always sought appropriate veterinary advice where needed.