CONVICTED (2024) | horse breeder Janet Marr, born 4 June 1950, of Sandall Park Drive, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster DN2 5RA – “deliberately and cruelly” neglected 19 miniature Shetland ponies who had not made the cut for county shows. Cruel horse breeder Janet Marr received a 12-year custodial sentence and indefinite ban on keeping animals after she left 19 horses she deemed sub-standard to their fate Marr, who bred and sold ponies under the name Sherbrooke Miniature Shetlands, admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and breaching the duty of a person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare. Sheffield Crown Court heard her neglect between May and July 2023 had been so severe, eight of her ponies had to be put down. The court also heard she had previously been subject to a written caution in relation to neglect of her Shetland ponies in June 2020. The RSPCA and World Horse Welfare worked together to rescue 19 Shetland ponies found in varying states of neglect. Sadly many of them had to be put down due to their immense suffering. In July 2023, charity World Horse Welfare (WHW) received a report from a concerned member of the public about the horses kept on Marr’s land in Wrancarr Lane, Moss, Doncaster. After making an initial visit, WHW called in the RSPCA to investigate further. Officials from both charities visited the premises and found a “considerable” number of miniature Shetland ponies in a “suffering condition”. Aside from their dire body condition and poor living environment, many of the ponies had severely overgrown hooves, severe lameness, and dental issues. The court heard Marr had been breeding the animals as show ponies. In her witness statement, RSPCA Inspector Tamsin Drysdale said: “Several of the mares showed severe laminitis with overgrown hooves. “One of the mares was not moving at all and it was clear she was in pain, as were several of the others.” Several animals had also suffered from obesity, lice infestation and “significant” dental problems. None of the animals had been examined by a vet or seen by a farrier “for a long time”. Inspector Drysdale continued: “A specialist equine vet concluded in their witness report that all the problems and suffering seen in these horses could all have been avoided by reasonable practical means, and that they are of the expert opinion that Marr did not take reasonable steps to meet their basic needs.” A number of the ponies displayed symptoms consistent with laminitis, an extremely painful condition of the feet. Housed separately from the neglected ponies were two others which Marr stated she had entered into various competitions across the region. Judge Richardson told the court: “In marked contrast to the other horses on site, there appeared to be no issue with either of those animals.” He said the animals for show had been well looked after but those that had not made the grade had been “abandoned to their fate”. In total, eight horses had to be put down while the remaining 11 were re-homed. Some of the animals could barely move due to the severity of the neglect The court heard how there had been no question of poverty and that Marr had stated how she had wanted to give the ponies “one more summer”. Judge Jeremy Richardson said that notion “almost defies belief”, adding: “You were giving those ponies one more summer of neglect and, in several cases, a summer of agony.” He told the defendant her offending had been so serious, only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified. “You visited terrible cruelty upon those Shetland ponies,” he said. “At the time you were masquerading as a responsible and caring horsewoman – you were nothing of the kind. You were a cruel woman.” After sentencing, Inspector Drysdale said: “I am relieved that together with World Horse Welfare, we were able to rescue these ponies. It’s really important that horse owners carefully consider whether breeding their animal is a good idea.” Sarah Tucker, a World Horse Welfare Field Officer involved in the rescue, shared her relief and satisfaction with the outcome: “One of the best parts of my job is seeing horses thriving after the pitiful state they are in when we rescue them. So many of this group of Shetlands were suffering with laminitis, which is an excruciating condition. “We also welcome the deprivation order the court served to remove the remaining ponies in her care so that all of them can face a secure future. Sadly, this is another case showing one of the outcomes of uncontrolled breeding. Sentencing | 12 months’ imprisonment. A deprivation order was granted for two Shetland ponies that remained in Marr’s care. She is banned from having or keeping animals indefinitely. BBC News ExaminerLive