Professional rider jailed for neglect

Five young horses were neglected by a Grand Prix level dressage rider who has now been sentenced after he was found guilty in November 2022

Following an 11-day trial back in November 2022, Sam Duckworth from Cambridgeshire was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to five young horses. Mr Duckworth was given an immediate 18-week custodial sentence and a lifetime ban from keeping all animals with no appeal for five years. He was also ordered to pay £68,860 in costs.

Mr Duckworth failed to investigate and address the cause of poor bodily condition and weight loss of animals that were in his care. He was also found guilty of failing to seek veterinary attention, provide adequate parasite control plan, required farriery and a suitable diet.

RSPCA inspector and equine officer Suzi Smith said: “As an experienced horsewoman, it is very difficult for me to see any horses in such poor condition, especially for these youngsters who have been given such a poor start in life, when they should have been receiving professional care. It’s very upsetting when owners and those caring for animals, don’t take the necessary steps to meet the needs of the animals in their care, and suffering occurs as a result. It’s even more frustrating when the person responsible has been provided with all the necessary advice from a veterinary surgeon and that advice is not followed”.

In their witness statement, the veterinary surgeon who examined the horses stated that the body condition score of the five animals was ‘unacceptably low’ and ‘due to a combination of a heavy worm burden and malnutrition/starvation’. They also noted that the problems had been ‘brought to the owner’s attention in October 2020 and he allegedly followed veterinary advice, which included advice on worming and feeding. If the advice had been followed, then a definite improvement in the body condition score would have been expected over this two-month period.’

Mr Duckworth was found guilty of several offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but has since appealed against the conviction and sentence.

For more information and advice on animal welfare, visit rspca.org.uk