HORRIFIC HORSE NEGLECT BY JULIE LEE IN OSWALDTWISTLE LEADS TO EUTHANIZATIONS

In a deeply distressing case of animal neglect, Julie Lee, a resident of Oswaldtwistle, has been found responsible for the severe mistreatment of her six horses, which ultimately resulted in the tragic necessity of euthanasia for four of them. Lee, born around 1970 and residing at Spitten Farm on Haslingden Old Road, was convicted in 2022 of neglecting her equine companions, a situation that drew the attention of local animal welfare authorities and the RSPCA.

On October 12, 2021, inspectors from the RSPCA, Susie Micallef and Alison Fletcher, along with officers from World Horse Welfare, responded to a distress call after a concerned member of the public reported the dire condition of the horses. The animals were found grazing in a field at Hen Heads Farm, located on Kings Highway near Haslingden, a location not far from Oswaldtwistle. The inspection revealed a heartbreaking scene: four of the horses had severely overgrown hooves, with some so overgrown that they were unable to walk properly. A veterinarian later confirmed that all four were lame, suffering from pain and mobility issues caused by neglect.

Among the horses was a 12-year-old Shetland pony, which was in such agony that it could barely stand or move. The inspector, Alison Fletcher, described the scene: “She had extremely overgrown hooves, with the front hooves curling upwards and over. The pony looked extremely uncomfortable in its standing position. Every little move appeared to leave the pony in agony and she was reluctant to move at all. It was obvious that she was in need of urgent veterinary attention.”

Further examinations revealed that some of the horses had not received proper dental care, and three of them were overweight, indicating neglect of basic health needs. The situation was so severe that the RSPCA had to call in veterinarian Suzanne Green to assess the animals. Tragically, she had to make the heartbreaking decision to put three of the horses to sleep at the farm to end their suffering. The first was the Shetland pony, which was carried off the moor by the inspectors, vet, and charity workers, as she was in such pain that she could not be moved without assistance. X-rays later confirmed that her hooves were severely overgrown, curled, and that she was chronically lame.

In addition to the Shetland pony, an appaloosa mare and a gelding, both suffering from overgrown hooves and pain, were also euthanized by the vet. The mare was so lame that she was shifting her weight from one foot to another to alleviate discomfort, while the gelding had not been treated by a farrier for at least a year, further exacerbating his condition. A Bay Welsh mare, another victim of neglect, was also euthanized just three days later because her suffering was deemed unbearable. The examinations revealed that she had not received dental treatment for several years, compounding her health issues.

In total, the neglect was characterized by a lack of basic veterinary and farrier care, which is considered a fundamental responsibility of responsible horse ownership. The vet’s statement emphasized this point: “The severely overgrown hooves and painful lame hooves were easy to be seen even by a lay person and the owner should have sought both veterinary and farrier attention for this. A responsible horse owner should be expected to provide farrier treatment every four to eight weeks and dental care every 12 months.”

Julie Lee pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act. Following her conviction, Inspector Micallef expressed her dismay: “This was a really harrowing case and all the staff who dealt with it were upset with what happened. The defendant told us she’d just get the knackerman down and have all the horses shot. They’d all just been left in a field unable to walk. This sad case reminds us that treatment of equines such as this simply will not be tolerated.”

Lee received an 18-week suspended prison sentence, was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, attend 10 rehabilitation activity days, and pay a total of £828 in fines and costs. Additionally, she was banned from owning horses for life, although she has the right to appeal this ban after 10 years. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper animal care and the consequences of neglect in Oswaldtwistle and beyond.