PETER ASH HORSE TRADER FROM LANDPORT SENTENCED AFTER HORSES DIE IN HIS CARE

Peter Ash, a horse trader from Landport, Portsmouth, was convicted in 2016 of neglecting his animals and causing unnecessary suffering to multiple horses under his care. Born on September 9, 1958, Ash resided on Charles Street in Landport, PO1 1JD. His failure to seek proper veterinary treatment for his sick horses led to the tragic death of three of these animals, highlighting a grave case of animal cruelty and neglect.

Investigations by RSPCA inspectors revealed the dire condition of the horses in Ash’s possession. The animals were found in a state of severe neglect, with some emaciated and suffering from diarrhoea, while others exhibited signs of dental disease and had weeping eyes. One horse was identified as needing urgent veterinary attention, yet Ash had failed to provide any medical intervention. The inspectors reported that there were as many as 80 horses in the field, but only five were seized due to their poor condition. These five horses became the focus of the criminal charges against Ash, with three of them succumbing to their injuries and neglect.

The court proceedings uncovered that Ash sold horses to the traveling community under the business name Peter Ash Gypsy Cobs. During the trial, the judge, District Judge Peter Greenfield, expressed his disapproval of Ash’s conduct, stating, “It seems to me that when under pressure as a commercial enterprise you were doing anything to avoid paying the money for treatment, almost like there was an acceptable attrition rate.” The court also noted that Ash had neglected to treat his horses for red worm, a parasitic infection that can develop rapidly and cause significant health issues, choosing instead to prioritize profit over animal welfare.

At the time of the investigation, Ash kept the horses at a location near Romsey in Hampshire, specifically in Braishfield. Despite the severity of the neglect, the court allowed him to continue transporting and trading horses, although he was deprived of the four horses still in RSPCA care. Among these were two foals, the offspring of the adult horses that had been removed from his possession. The court’s sentencing included a 12-week prison term, suspended for two years, along with 300 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £1,500. Additionally, Ash was disqualified from owning, keeping, or being involved with the care of any horses for a period of five years, a ban that expired in April 2021.

This case underscores the importance of animal welfare laws and the ongoing efforts of authorities to prevent cruelty and neglect within the equine industry, especially among those involved in the trade and transportation of horses in the Portsmouth and Hampshire areas.