Couple prosecuted over obese pony

A British couple have been banned from keeping horses for five years after the charity World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA removed two Shetland ponies from their care, one of whom was grossly overweight.The couple, from Cleveleys in Lancashire, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a 21-year-old mare called April and failing to meet the needs of a 12-year-old stallion called Dale.A World Horse Welfare field officer and an RSPCA inspector visited the rented field in Blackpool on November 4 last year and found that April’s feet had not been trimmed for a very long time. She was lame and in pain. Her companion Dale had been allowed to become grossly overweight. Both ponies were seized immediately received the care they needed: Dale was put on a strict diet and exercise programme, but April did not respond to treatment and the difficult decision was made to euthanize her.The couple were ordered to pay costs of £500 each and a three-month curfew was imposed, enforcing them to be resident at their home between 10pm and 6am. They indicated their immediate intention to appeal their five-year ban.