JANE HUNT BIDEFORD HORSE ABUSE SCANDAL REVEALED

Jane Elizabeth Hunt, a known equine business owner residing in Saddlestones, Littleham, Bideford, with the postcode EX39 5HW, was convicted in 2018 of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, specifically a horse named Polly. The case highlighted serious concerns regarding her neglect and failure to provide proper care for her animals.

Hunt was found guilty on two separate counts related to her treatment of Polly. The first count accused her of neglecting to investigate and address the underlying causes of her horse’s deteriorating health, which included significant weight loss and a hoof abscess. The court determined that Hunt had not taken the necessary steps to diagnose or treat her horse’s condition, thereby contributing to her suffering.

The second count focused on her failure to seek appropriate veterinary intervention for Polly’s hoof abscess. Despite the presence of a painful and potentially dangerous condition, Hunt did not pursue professional medical care, which could have alleviated the horse’s pain and prevented further deterioration.

As a result of her convictions, the court ordered Hunt to relinquish ownership of Polly under section 33 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This legal action was intended to protect the horse from further neglect. However, the court did not impose a disqualification order preventing Hunt from owning other horses, as it was noted that her other animals appeared to be in good condition at the time.

Following the legal proceedings, Torridge District Council took additional measures against Hunt. They instructed her to cease operations at her equestrian business, Welcombe Equine, citing concerns that the business was unlicensed and uninsured. This action was part of the council’s efforts to ensure animal welfare and public safety. Promotional material for Welcombe Equine, which had been ordered to stop trading, was circulated to inform the public of the closure.

In terms of sentencing, Hunt was ordered to pay a total of £835 in costs and charges. Additionally, she was sentenced to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service within the following 12 months. Notably, no ban on owning or operating horses was imposed at that time.

Further developments in January 2019 revealed that Hunt faced a separate penalty for operating a riding school without a license. Following an investigation by Torridge Council, she was fined £2,000 in total for this breach. The council also imposed a two-year ban on her from holding any riding school license. Despite submitting an application to rectify the licensing issues, her business, Welcombe Equine, was deemed to fall seriously short of acceptable standards by veterinary inspectors. Although she was cautioned not to operate until her application was approved, Hunt continued to advertise her services on Facebook, demonstrating a disregard for legal requirements.

Councillor Ken James, the lead member for the environment, emphasized the importance of the licensing regime, stating, “The animal licensing regime exists to ensure the welfare of animals as well as the health and safety of customers using facilities. Through her actions Mrs Hunt has shown a blatant disregard for her responsibilities under the law, which has been confirmed in court.”

The case also drew attention to Polly’s condition, as the RSPCA removed her from Hunt’s care after she was found in poor body condition with a burst abscess above her hoof. This incident underscored the failure of Hunt to seek appropriate veterinary care, leading to the horse’s suffering and subsequent rescue. The full story was reported by Horse & Hound, highlighting the ongoing concerns about animal welfare violations associated with Hunt’s activities in Bideford.