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image captionPhotographs shown to the court showed horses with their spines, hips and ribs clearly visible
A sanctuary owner has been banned from keeping horses for 10 years after she admitted causing the suffering of 22 animals in her care.
Some horses at Whispering Willows in Swansea had been suffering for as long as six months and two had to be put down, Swansea Magistrates Court heard.
Sandra Jane Kaverneng-Stolp, of Derwen Road, Pontardawe, admitted four animal welfare offences on Monday.
The RSPCA led an operation to remove 137 horses in November 2019.
The horses were found at sites in Alltwen Isaf Farm in Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, Gowerton in Swansea, and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
Horse & Hound
Trending: Credit: RSPCA
The owner of a sanctuary from which 137 horses were removed after concerns were raised for their welfare has been banned from keeping horses for a decade.
Sandra Jane Kaverneng-Stolp, known as Sandra Stolp, who ran the Whispering Willows sanctuary, pleaded guilty to causing suffering to animals in her care.
The 54-year-old, of Derwen Road, Pontardawe, Swansea, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, relating to 22 horses, at Swansea Magistrates’ Court yesterday (15 February).
The 137 horses, found at three sites, were signed over to equine charities in November 2019, after concerns were raised. A multi-agency operation involving the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, Redwings, the British Horse Society, the Horse Trust, Blue Cross, Bransby Horses, the Mare & Foal Sanctuary and the Donkey Sanctuary was described as an “incredible illustration” of what can be achieved for animal welfare by joint working.